Mini 'West Side Story' review.

[Auggie]

13. Quite the spectacle but pales to the original in one major way ...

Bernstein's original harmonies are lost to over-the-top musical arrangements and orchestrations in the remake. Some are hardly recognizable. Music is the entire show, you know? Damn shame it was ruined.

I thought the cinematography and lighting was a tad inconsistent throughout the first half but that's a subjective nitpick.

Acting, story modifications/updates, set decoration, and singing were top-notch, though too many of the punch lines in numbers like "I like it here in American," "Officer Krupke"and "I Feel Pretty" were stepped on.

Using the urban renewal projection in conjunction with the fight over dwindling turf was a smart metaphor.