Rating: 
Summary: LOSES 1 STAR FOR INCOMPATABILITY WITH HDTV
Review: The movie has been re-mastered with the colors very rich and excellent sound but if you are watching it on the new large high definition tv it is out of focus. One of my favorite movies but only watch it on smaller tvs.
Rating: 
Summary: Breathe it, Love it , Live it.
Review: I've been a stage actior for over four years now, and I've grown to know West Side Story as one of the most intense, enchanting and romantic pieces in all Musical Theatre history. The story is told superbly by the visions of Robert Wise and Robbins' choreography is simply hypnotic and entrancing. The screen is glorified with performers such as Rita Moreno and George Chakiris, who show the classy side of Puerto Rico in America, with their style and grace. With a well rounded cast of thugs and tragic lovers, this depiction of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, becomes vibrant and alive in the hearts of every generation. I, myself, have landed the role of Bernardo in a stage production in the Bay Area; and now I, too, can live the glamour and experience the intensity that they all felt when making this movie. A standing ovation for this classic masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: Bernstein and Sondheim strike gold in this musical!
Review: I first saw this movie as an 11-year-old child, and it is just as powerful now as it was nearly 40 years ago. Bernstein's and Sondheim's score is brilliant, Robbins' choreography is superb, and Rita Moreno's performance in a supporting role is still etched in my mind. The mambo number is an explosion of colour and movement, and I still find myself humming "I want to be in America" 38 years and 12,000 miles down the road. Natalie Wood shines as Maria, even though we were spared her natural singing voice (her lip-synch defies even the best of Milli Vanilli). The story, of course, is timeless, and its emotional punch makes it one of the best tear-jerkers of the century. Curl up with your box of Kleenex and enjoy this video again and again!
Rating:
Summary: powerful,realistic , the finest musical drama I have seen
Review: This ia a very intense, fast moving story in which many of the scenes easily could have happened in real life in New York at that time. The quality of the music and lyrics blends beautifully with the action, and the choreographed dances are breathtaking.The actors fit their parts to such perfection that I could not imagine anyone else than Natalie Wood playing Maria, or George Chakiris as Bernardo, and on and on for the rest of the Jets and Sharks. My favorite musicals are those from 1950-1970 and of all the great ones like Oklahoma, South Pacific, and the Sound of Music, West Side Story impresses me as the most exciting dramatic musical of all time. It is hard to find a boring moment in this movie. When I think about this movie, the ballet numbers, choreography, and excitement stand out the most in my mind. For a fast moving drama this is a classic against which to compare other musical drama. Who would have thought that a mere conflict between two gangs could have been portrayed into such a dynamic movie. The producers certainly succeeded in bringing up to date the Romeo and Juliet saga. The romance and tragedy of Tony and Maria will always be indelibly impressed in my mind.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Realization
Review: The DVD transfer of West Side Story is absolutely gorgeous; there wasn't a flaw in the entire disc, either audio or video, which I could detect. The scope and imagination of the cinematography are beyond what I remember from seeing in the theater, and far surpass the video version. The audio soundtrack is crystal clear with no slurring of dialogue or heavy-handed enhancement of the music. It's perfect. My only criticism, as it has always been, is the total miscasting of Richard Beymer as Tony. His portrayal of Tony is closer to a 5th Avenue hairdresser than a street-wise gang leader. But don't let this deter you from owning one of the premier musicals in this fantastic format.
Rating: 
Summary: I have to admit I was dissapointed.
Review: When I heard about this movie I was expecting it to be awesome, but I was gravely dissapointed. The message itls trying to get across is great. But it was presented wrong. The music was okay, Natalie Wood gave a pretty good acting performance.. It was just alltogether boring, and depressing. Although the first dance number was good.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent release in both content and technical quality.
Review: I saw West side story both on stage and screen when it was originally released. This DVD version brought back the fulness of the experience in a way that I never expected. The technical quality of the release is excellent just as the story itself is timeless. I especially appreciated the widescreen version with its presentation of the Director's original vision.
Rating:
Summary: A Puerto Rican Perspective
Review: As a Puerto Rican, I am obviously aware of the resentment still harbored by many of my compatriots because of the negative image of Puerto Ricans allegedly presented by this film. Once upon a time, Puerto Rico to the rest of the world (and the USA) was West Side Story. But with Ricky Martin roaming the globe, several Miss Universe's, international salsa stars, legendary baseball players, world class opera singers, NASA engineers, etc., this one sided image has irrevocably been surpassed. (And besides, both the whites and the Puerto Ricans are the "bad guys", no gang is shown to be "gooder" than the other.) I, for one, love the film per se. From the stunning opening (the whistle sends chills down my spine), the jaw dropping choreography, the sets, which to me, capture the seductive soul of New York, an impecable mix of realism and fantasy, to the stirring score, definitely one of the best, most melodic and charismatic in Musicals history, and the Romeo and Juliet plotline, adapted perfectly, a poignant, sobering reminder of the power of heartfelt love and the poison of intolerance. This is a great film. I bristle a bit at the putdown of our island in the "America" number (even though I know it's satire) and at the confusion of having Puerto Ricans dance the mambo (a distinctively Cuban rythm), when our own bouncy plena would have done. But this caveats aside, I believe West Side Story is a masterpiece and feel proud to be related to this jewel.
Rating:
Summary: West Side Story is terrific on DVD!
Review: Although somewhat dated, "West Side Story" still holds its own today. The DVD is especially excellent and the widescreen version enhances the film. There is nothing more that can be said for the Bernstein score...it is terrific. Along with the music, the dancing and acting are all first-rate. A real winner!
Rating:
Summary: What a GREAT TRANSFER!!!
Review: A wonderful widescreen transfer of a wonderful movie. I am quite pleased with my copy. This is much better than the laser disc and video tape versions. END
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