I just couldn’t get into this one. I really didn’t like the 1961 version of *West Side Story*, and I regret that. Honestly, I thought almost everything about it was pretty bad. There wasn't any spark between the actors; no one stood out, and even the casting choices seemed questionable. The songs mostly fell flat, with the exception of a small portion of "Tonight," and the story felt contrived. The musical numbers were overly theatrical, creating a sense that I was watching a stage show instead of a movie. It actually made me think the actors were just plucked from Broadway—like in *Jersey Boys*. New York City didn't feel authentic either; it lacked a sense of reality or life beyond the central characters. I’ll admit musicals aren’t usually what I choose to watch, but I can still appreciate them. This one simply didn’t click with me. It wasn't terrible, just disappointing—at least, that’s my opinion. Apparently, lots of people, including the Academy Awards voters, feel differently! Despite all this, I am curious about checking out the 2021 remake to see what Steven Spielberg did with the material.

Source on TMDB