West Side Story, Explained - All The Differences Between The Films

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Did you catch how much changed between the classic West Side Story and the 2021 remake? In Stephen Spielberg’s movie we’re still witness a turf war between the white Irish-American and Polish-American Jets, and the Puerto Rican Sharks. But despite the overlap, the update to Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins' 1961 film diverges in many notable ways. So what's different, and what's the same?
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[@thetake]

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[@AxxLAfriku]

yea

[@trinidadapodaca7027]

that new chick dont fit the part her hair is too striaght chicks curled theyre hair then, and her make up dont fit

[@trinidadapodaca7027]

sta*

[@emmeoliver5007]

Even though Anita's assault in the updated version is brutal and even harder to watch than the original a detail I love that they included was the white women associated with the jets begging them not to hurt her. Showing that despite their racial and cultural differences these women are looking out for each other and are appalled at the danger the jets put Anita in. I love how it enforces the feminine bond despite these women not knowing or really understanding each other.

[@beethovensfidelio]

Yet Graziella told Anita to go away. Not because Graziella was concerned about Anita’s safety but because Anita was Puerto Rican. In other words, Graziella was like “I can excuse racism, but I draw the line at rape”.

[@martakhry302]

I kind of rolled my eyes at that. It’s a valid interpretation. But. Even women perpetuate misogyny and sometimes look on and excuse sexual assault. They’re not suddenly angels when it comes to this issue just because they’re women.

[@emmeoliver5007]

@@martakhry302 I totally agree that women can perpetuate misogyny and be complicit in rape culture. The take has a really good video about that when they analyze promising young woman another movie I love. But I think this scene the girls though not angels as you said disregard their preconceptions about Anita and try to help her turning against the jets which as Riff explains is very frowned upon. I think that in that moment the girls realize that their hatred has contributed to this moment and put their association with the jets in jeopardy to do what’s right.

[@Vixin24]

I also really liked that too especially because we had just seen them being dismissive and racist to Anita before this but when they realise what was about to happen they tried to stop it. Despite their own prejudice they couldn't just stand by and let that happen to another woman when they were intimately familiar with that sort of violence (likely even more so in that era)

[@CarlosEmilioEsq]

I thought it was silly. The story takes place in the 50's, not in the 90's "Girl Power" age or the "Me too" of today. The entire premise of the story is that, outside of Tony and Maria, none of the other kids can see past their "gangs." They aren't looking for the things that they have in common, they are obsessed with what makes them different. The Jets girls suddenly caring about Anita is totally out of character, though I get why they did it. To make everyone feel better.

[@trinaq]

I love how they brought the legandary Rita Moreno back as Valentina, her rendition of "Somewhere" brought tears to my eyes. Also, I liked the detail of her being Doc's Widow, and being given that they were in an interracial relationship, like Tony and Maria, she's able to give them some advice.

[@wijcik]

And by her being a widow, the film provides foreshadowing for the ultimate fate of Tony and Maria.

[@Emimousiekin]

Omg, Rita Moreno's rendition of "Somewhere" was where I actually lost it and was literally sobbing. Bringing her back for this movie was such a good move.

[@kellyvega6372]

I feel ya D':

[@kellyvega6372]

As a Puerto Rican, the scene where Anita said "yo no soy americana, yo soy puertorriqueña", destroyed me. As a female, seeing the white woman scream and beg them not to rape Anita, made me realize that they had more in common with each other probably than with the men of their ethnicity, just because of the way women were treated as second class citizens. The latter, in the same way that these lower class citizens, believed each other to be the problem, when in fact, they probably had more in common with each other than with the higher social class of their own ethnicity. The intersectionality explored in this musical is devastating.

[@CarlosEmilioEsq]

Except that they weren't looking for commonality in 1958. That wasn't part of the story. In fact, the entire premise of the story is that none of them are looking for intersectionality. They can't see past themselves, save for Tony and Maria.

[@kellyvega6372]

@@CarlosEmilioEsq i know, its sad, especially for us as viewers because we do get to explore it, and its implied in at least 3 scenes. One being how the detective treats both of them like scum, and how they are, both groups, left "al desamparo", betrayed by their own communities, because of their class. There is a lot of intersectional issues in this story.

[@sarahtobore2832]

Except that the white women's motivation has always been been "better them (Black/POC women) than us (White Women)".

[@Lulaa_the_human]

Me gustó mucho de la nueva versión que las mujeres la defiendan. Creo que ayuda a ver las dos problemáticas: ser inmigrante y ser mujer.

[@trinaq]

One aspect of the story that I never quite bought was Maria forgiving Tony far too easily. Yes, he's genuinely remorseful, yes, he wanted to turn himself into the police, and yes, it was an accident, but girl, HE STILL KILLED YOUR BROTHER! If I were in Maria's position, the last thing that I would be doing was sleeping with the guy who took my brother's life.

[@sophieamandaleitontoomey9343]

But then again, that's a problem with the play too.

[@beyiince]

i have two reasons: 1. the easier: it's just Romeo & Juliet rewritten. Juliet forgives Romeo and moves on 2. in the new version, they gave Maria more background, probably showing she already was familiar with the gang's violent nature. the reason she doesn't "want" Chino is because she knows he wanted to join the gang world (he goes to college/night school and works, which are things she wants to do, it wouldn't make sense for her to not want him lol) while Tony is getting out of it. she wants independence and Tony gives a sense of that in the few days they're together. that's why she's more shaken by Tony's death than Bernardo's. she never expected Chino to kill Tony, for Tony to die or for herself to see someone die. welcome to my ted talk

[@miriam9267]

I thought it was really interesting, that her reply to Tony wanting to turn himself in, was to see it as even more pain being afflicted on her. She says she could never forgive him for taking her love away after he just took her brother away. I think if you subscribe to the notion of all encompassing love at first sight (I personally do not but the story does) there is a certain logic to that response. In a way she is forgiving him out of self preservasion because loosing the two most important men in her life in the same day would be too painfull.

[@alexisgrey3633]

I mainly put it to bad writing, imo they should have made it Tony accidently killed him or was framed, but also people act like Bernardo wasn't rather overbearing and controlling to Maria (edit looks like it's a bit different in the new film but in the old one and original musical) and trying to force her to marry someone she didn't want to (obvs he didn't deserve to die though and I'm saying this as someone who very much believes biological family is not the be all and end all and chosen family is a thing and imo people put too much importance on being loyal to family members, especially for women, but like I said, bad writing Imo Bernardo's death should have either been an accident or Tony should have been framed).

[@alexisgrey3633]

In Vanara (amazing post apocalyptic musical retelling of Romeo and Juliet, I recommend) SPOILER ALERT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . They make it the Romeo character kills the Juliet characters brother totally by accident, which imo was better.

[@janesmith3022]

Rita Moreno is an international treasure.

[@trinaq]

Indeed, I love how they brought Rita back as a more prominent role. She's 90 years old, but the woman is as iconic as ever!

[@valentinacastaldi7422]

Seriously! You ever watch the one day at a tome reboot? She makes me laugh so hard!

[@lizhutchinson6978]

Romeo and Juliet was never a love story. It was always a tragedy.

[@kittykittybangbang9367]

A lot of people tend to forget that the original title was actually The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet

[@alejandrocervantes3624]

I heard somewhere that the Romance elements of the play are supossed to be parodic to beguin with 🤔😳

[@timy9197]

A love story that ends tragically

[@seaofghosts]

Can't it be both?

[@georgeprchal3924]

Kinda unrealistic, even the Medici and Pazzi had a marriage.

[@trinaq]

I really loved how the backstories of multiple characters were expanded upon, especially Anybodys, Tony and Chino. It was interesting to have Anybodys, typically a tomboy, become Trans here, especially with the 1950's setting. Tony spending time in jail for almost killing someone adds more depth to his character than simply getting bored with the Jets, and Chino having a promising future is more tragic.

[@POKIWOKI3]

I thought all these back stories are a thing now in Hollywood. Everything and everybody needs a backstory now. Best example are Disney's Maleficent and Cruella who even got their own backstory movies.

[@leslievanhouten]

Tony’s backstory is unnecessary. It should be enough to just want more, be better. The other two make sense.

[@afonsolucas2219]

Agree with you in the Tony, it gave more force and power to his motivation but him wanting a better life and maturing when his friends don’t is just as relatable and understandable. Anybody’s felt a bit forced. She was just a tomboy in the original. If I remember correctly she was ultimately accepted into the group. I don’t know, doesn’t add much into the film. Those two. Chinos promise is better however.

[@georgeprchal3924]

@@POKIWOKI3 kinda ruined Maleficent's character and her mystique.

[@cascharles3838]

@@afonsolucas2219 to me Anybodys seemed like they could easily be trans in the original film, so it just seemed like the next logical sense to make it explicit in the new one

[@CortexNewsService]

One thing I noticed in the 2021 attempted rape scene I didn't in the original was how the women were reacting. You can clearly seen one of them trying to bring Anita with her as she's taken out. It reinforces Valentina's line.

[@kcorpora1]

@@zacharytaylor2983 what? You want everything perfect in your mind. Anybody could not do anything, they did not even respect her. You are reading too much into it.

[@aeh5109]

The new Riff really looks like he was transported from the 50’s. The actor did a great job.

[@Quackervoltz]

That's Mike Faist for you

[@wijcik]

I took the re-assignment of "Somewhere" also as a meditation of the death of hope that racial prejudice would be overcome. That despite the example she and Doc tried to live out she now feels that it has yielded nothing. It fell upon deaf ears.

[@artemicionkupo4367]

Absolutely fell in love with Chino and OMG Anita in the new version just had me in a trance. Her dancing was just pure beauty. Cheers to steven for shining light on a tough subject and making a really enjoyable film to people like me who really are not into musicals. Hope that Anita actress gets nominated at least.

[@afoolishfopdoodle3284]

Fast forward to when she won

[@dw7896]

Ariana DeBose is a force of nature

[@manne7080]

My mom was a child and teen of the 60s and introduced me to this musical and other musicals. It has always been one of my favorites. I've watched the new one twice and I have to say that I enjoyed both films. 😉 Both are very good films in their own way.

[@apizzathatgiantforthesimpl5191]

Rita Moreno herself was assaulted at a young age. I wonder even today if her speech at the end where she confronts the Jets was cathartic in some way.

[@rpbphx]

My takeaway is that Riff and Valentina (Mike Faist and Rita Moreno) needed to be be nominated for Supporting Actor/Actress. They were the standouts for sure.

[@Bleuryder]

I haven't seen the movie, but from the tiny clip they showed the version of the anthem (La Borinqueña) that the Puertorricans sing in the movie isn't the official version, but rather a version that revolutionaries have sung and still sing as a symbol of rejection of the colonialism we endure to this day. I haven't seen the new movie, but that's a deliberate choice in part of the production and worth discussing in its own right. (Not a whole video, but indeed a talking point.)

[@julaju3218]

It was the original and it’s our true hymn, but it was even banned for a time. In the 70s, the government went with Fernandez Juncos version because it was less subversive for the US and ELA. We have the correct one and the colonial one.

[@laurengin4581]

the explicit anticolonialism rings true to reality

[@KittiyKyat]

I sort of wished they had subtitled the Spanish. I've seen other movies ridiculed for not subtitling foreign languages, as it tends to distance the audience from those characters. I like the idea of making it seem like a real bilingual conversation, but as a non-speaker I missed parts of the conversation.

[@cicihoustonsudholt1452]

That was the intended effect. That distance you felt, being left out of the conversation, is how immigrants might feel every day when English is not their first language. The specific content of their conversation was not as crucial for the audience as the feeling of alienation.

[@dw7896]

I think that was the point. There aren't subtitles on real life, and we aren't a part of their world at all. Perhaps consider that the movie was intended to bring the authentic Puerto Rican immigrant experience to life without making it easier for the rest of us to digest it.

[@magalicochet4327]

​@@cicihoustonsudholt1452 if that is the intent, It seems very overdone to me. As if there are people who never hear a foreign langage once in a while. We all know the feeling. It is however nowhere the same as the distance you feel being an immigrant.

[@mimimirie]

I think this video does a great job at pointing out the differences without implying one approach as better than the other! I prefer the original and many prefer the new one, but both are great interpretations worth appreciating.

[@cbpd89]

Agreed. Musicals in theater are meant to be adapted, reinterpreted, and revived for new audiences. It's great that with the same source material directors can find new things to say and new ways of saying them. They're both stunning films, I don't know if I could choose a favorite. They both make me want to sing and cry but at different times for different reasons.

[@chrisparkes]

I spent the entire time in the cinema with my jaw on the floor when I saw Spielberg’s version; the filmmaking on display is just stunning.

[@Igorcastrochucre]

20th Century Studios is making a movie about Romeo and Juliet centered on Rosaline. If you ever make an essay on it please use this as a thumbnail: "Romeo and Juliet are dying" Rosaline: "This isn't about them."

[@Mercedes.666]

I knew basically nothing about west side story before watching the 2021 remake. It was not what I expected at all cause I had no idea it had a "romeo and juliet" kind of love story, a tragic one it broke my heart but, I am so happy that I was allowed to experience everything with almost no preconceptions I loved every second of the movie, even though I am usually not a huge fan of musicals what a good movie...

[@aimeesutherland7063]

What I love about the original movie is how similar it felt to the stage production. In stage musicals choreography stays the same just like the songs, no matter where you may see it. I dance in my head to the numbers as much as I sing along, so the original felt like I got to watch my favourite musical on the screen. I adore the new version for the necessary changes they made from the original, the more cinematic scope makes it feel like an actual movie adaptation rather than a translation. Two different movies that I enjoyed for different reasons.

[@gpapa31]

Perfectly put. When people feel the need to put on version down to elevate the other is really a low cheap blow. Wise intended to create a film adaptation of the stage play. The choreography is immaculate and ballet like, the camera framing remains always at a distance so you can see the dancers head to toe and the entire group, like sitting at the front row at Broadway watching the play develop. Spielberg on the other hand wanted to ground the story as much as humanly possible but keeping the elements of the musical. Hence why is darker more rough, the scenery settings far less idyllic (with some exceptions) there’s more dialogue, character development and backstories. Also the dance numbers were stripped of the ballet style perfection Robins gave them in the 1961 version and we have something IMHO more appropriate for street gang members. It looks more rough and violent, less neat. Finally the camera during the choreography is within it. It makes you feel like part of the dance number. So yes, two different approaches both exquisitely done.

[@GiantButterKnife]

Woah, I'm gonna have to majorly disagree with your Take that we're supposed to believe that Tony and Maria/Romeo and Juliet had genuine True Love (tm). The point of any version of this story has always been not that theirs was a love worth dying for, but that the intense family conflict didn't allow their young puppy love to play out past the honeymoon phase. Their emotions were intense because what they had was new, forbidden, and exciting, but as we see in the subway scene, probably would not last long term. To reiterate, this is not a story about True Love (tm), rather it is about an immature puppy love that is not being allowed to run its course.

[@alexandramagdalenaolivera4036]

i completely agree with you, i think it's about how people around will not see the consequences of their nonsensical feud unless a tragedy like this happens, and only then do they see their hatred caused them all this pain they now have to face the love story is only the means to an end

[@lotrfan8]

I watched the original a few months ago with my roommate and told him that I loved West Side Story but hated Tony and Maria. He gave me a weird look, but a few minutes into their meet cute, he's like "I see why you hate them, I do too!"

[@mydogdeli]

True dat. Apparently, Shakespeare originally intended Romeo and Juliet, upon which WSS is based, to be a cautionary tale against disobeying this wisdom of your parents, and, let's honest, who amongst us wouldn't discourage a 13 year old girl from hooking up with a 16 year old boy from a rival family who had been hopelessly in love with another girl just the day before?

[@yanagelfand4337]

@@lotrfan8 ikr! I love the language in Romeo and Julliet, it's definitely not my least favourite play, but I always roll my eyes at the two characters themselves.

[@starrylapin5369]

There was a lot of details in the new version that, as a Latina, who was never much impressed with the original, loved to watch and notice. I love all the new details like the realistic darkness of Riff and the sharks, because as a Latina, they felt too dangerous to me to be portrayed so harmlessly. Also I love Mike Faist so to see his effort really pay off was just nice in general. While I don’t like Maria or Tony much, I liked them more in the new version. There’s a lot more effort put into this version. I especially love how latino people were hired for latino roles and not in brown face, although I would’ve loved for more Puerto Ricans to be cast.

[@starrylapin5369]

I also appreciated Graziella trying to pull Anita out with her as even though they have no reason to really hate or like each other, Graziella threw it all out the window in a moment of pure fear and desperation to help Anita, who really needed it and reciprocated it. They both knew what was happening as soon as it began. As women (or even with feminine presenting people), there are shared experiences that ethnicity, age, or location cannot change.

[@shoujokadyan5502]

In the scene at the bleachers, it was Maria who kissed Tony first. In the 1961 film, it was Tony who made a move first.

[@prettynpetty8342]

Yeah, that was surprising.

[@Siijiska]

I really liked that the movie made it obvious that Tony and Maria's love story is a tragic impulsive teenage passion, not some kind of magical True Love. Was really annoyed at the Spanish being un-subtitled though. I watched it in a Swedish cinema where they subtitled the English but not the Spanish, which ended up making the Puerto Ricans feel even more foreign and hard to understand.

[@kahkah1986]

I feel at the time, marrying someone who was different was much more of an issue for people, so they had to fall hard for it to make sense to the audience. Poverty and privilege are the issue nowadays, so they had to address that much more explicitly, whereas a 60s audience understood that part of the subtext more imo.

[@hamdialihassan1586]

I think that was intentional to make the puertoricans feel more authentic and also much of it could be understood by context clues and a basic understanding of spanish.

[@suisui7481]

@@hamdialihassan1586 ok you can understand by context clues but what if I want to know what they are saying also I am already a trilingual (eng, fre, and ara) how do i also learn Spanish?

[@hamdialihassan1586]

@@suisui7481 free? If that’s french then it’s somewhat similar to spanish which is what helped me (I haven’t learned spanish but I have learnt french).

[@Siijiska]

@@hamdialihassan1586 Yeah, I see how that makes sense and is a way to treat the languages equally in a bilingual country where Spanish is very present, like the US. When translated for an audience in a different country it got the opposite effect though, as they then treated them unequally by only translating the English (which most Swedes are fluent in) but not the Spanish (which most Swedes don't speak). I felt like while I did understand the very basics (like "mira que linda!" and "Bernardo es muerte") the nuances of the Spanish got completely lost on me, and that was a pity in an otherwise really good movie. I've also seen some comments like "as long as you focus you'll understand the Spanish" or "some monolinguals will complain but that's ok" from the film team. I don't agree with that though. I get around in four languages but Spanish is unfortunately not one of them.

[@DMMA0726]

This has always been my favorite show because the combination of Sondheim and Robbins, so I was a bit disappointed that the dance was so scaled down. But this video helped me realize: a film adaptation is meant to adapt, not like the original simply bring the stage to screen.

[@alejandrocervantes3624]

Yep, thats how you get a "newsies" 😬💀

[@DMMA0726]

@@alejandrocervantes3624 on the downside this was also how we got the monstrosity that was Cats.

[@alejandrocervantes3624]

@@DMMA0726 wait, wasnt the problem with newsies that they adapted the stage blockings & dance numbers so close to the stage versión, it didnt work? 😳

[@gaillewis5472]

I was apprehensive about watching the remake since most remakes don't live up to the original. Spielberg did this classic justice by updating, fleshing out, and bringing authenticity to the characters. I've seen it twice and I'm hooked.

[@lisaperez8276]

As a Puerto Rican, I’ve straight up never liked West Side Story because it comes off to me like a racist caricature. Rita Moreno is of course a total gift.

[@meganw1226]

That’s the whole point, it was supposed to also hilight racism - black person

[@peterholtzman3612]

As a New Yorker, WWS was Romeo and Juliet in NYC. Who their families were was irrelevant. The fact that the Sharks were puertorican was irrelevant - they could have b

[@Melanie-jy2nw]

Watching this makes me even more appreciative of the remake. I couldn't understand why I cried more for this one than the original, which I loved, but now I get that I actually had an attachment to the supporting characters in this one whereas I hadn't really cared about them in the original so more tears.

[@CM-pf1xc]

I only cried in the OG! But my younger sister said she cried more in new

[@ToscaTee]

2021 version did a good job at building the supporting characters, i find them more charming and interesting than the main couple

[@raynacarraway440]

I'm surprised they didn't mention that Anybodys is trans here and played by a non-binary actor. I remember picking up hints that it might've been the case when first watching the 2021 version, but after looking it up confirmed that to be the case I thought it was an excellent addition. Especially since the Jets actually accept his identity in the end

[@alejandrocervantes3624]

Hoorray for the racists drawing the line at being transphobic in the early 60's 😬😐😥

[@jillcnc]

And yet Anybodys is the one who tells Anita, "Leave" as he's going to find and warn Tony. He still knows what being female in a crowd of riled-up men can result in. The Jets' women don't.

[@cascharles3838]

I was expecting that to come up in the video! I loved the change tbh

[@eshepard8565]

Same, I was absolutely expecting that to be highlighted! Great way to develop the character, in my opinion. And it gives more of an arc for him too... Though kind of heartbreaking to think that approval/inclusion only comes to him at the end, when everything is a mess.

[@Shayesbel87]

⁠@@jillcnc THANK YOU! That was extremely meaningful to me too.

[@insidesoccer6498]

I just don’t get why Maria was over the death of her brother that fast. It kind felt uncomfortable. Maybe it only me.

[@josuerodriguez5094]

It's a very difficult thing to process but the way I see it, there are several lines where its shown in the 2021 version that Maria spent a lot of her childhood taking care of her father away from Bernardo while he was in the US. She cares for him but she just doesn't have the connection with him. I have never met my brother who lives in El Salvador and there's been some drama wherein neither of us has any real care or deep love because we just don't have any strong connections or experiences together. If anything, because I grew up here and he had to grow up there, there is even resentment. If my brother died today I have to be honest that it wouldn't effect me as much as if my sister (who I grew with in the US) would die. It's a distinction that I really appreciated in Spielberg's version because it's heartbreakingly true. Maria isn't seeing the past with Tony, in her eyes, he was her future (for better or worse). Whereas Bernardo left her in Puerto Rico to take her of their dad from a young age and is now trying to control her as soon as she arrives to the US, land of opportunity. Of course, they argue a lot, neither of them ever really communicated to one another about how all that displacement made them feel. Maria didn't really know Bernardo, and Bernardo didn't really know Maria, there was only their connection through their father and blood.

[@AlicedeTerre]

It’s based off of Romeo and Juliet, only it was her cousin not her brother that died. Imo it was never a good decision to have her forgive him that quickly, honestly why it always loses me as a viewer.

[@Yevdokiya]

It's a problem in the piece. Believe it or not, it would actually be an understandable trauma response for Maria to dissociate from Tony's murder of her brother and instead cling to her infatuation and jump into bed with him. But the scene is rarely directed convincingly, including in both films. Admittedly it would be a really hard thing to pull off that would I guess cheapen their "love" somewhat, but still something recognizably human.

[@zacharytaylor2983]

I loved Rita’s solo rendition of Somewhere. This turned it from a personal prayer by Tony & Maria, into an anthem for “forbidden love” in all its forms through the prism of inter-cultural (or inter-ethnic) couples. On the other hand, making it Valentina’s song meant that its heartbreaking reprise by Maria in the finale had to be replaced with a reprise of “Tonight,” which is lyrically and symbolically not as strong as “Somewhere.”

[@emmazig]

I honestly loved the focus on outside pressures in the new movie and thought it was very true to the original Romeo and Juliet. R&J isn’t my favorite Shakespeare play (because my favorites are all comedies), but I always defend it when people say it’s just dumb kids being dumb because that’s not the point! They’re two teenagers who may or may not be in love, but whether they are or not isn’t really important. The important part is that the illogical hate they are surrounded by, perpetuated by the adults that are supposed to protect them, is DUMB and their parents only realize that when their children literally die because of it. Replace family feud with racial tension, societal pressure, and poverty and you get the 2021 West Side Story!

[@ChrisBournea]

Thank you for this side-by-side analysis. I just watched both versions back to back, and your commentary helps me make sense of the differences between the two.

[@christianwise637]

I do give the edge somewhat to the 2021 version, mostly due to the stronger performances, more accurate representation, deeper characterisation and Spielberg's impeccable direction, but I think both versions are still really good in their own right. Plus, while I think the new version was better, the 1961 version still has some things that I think were done better (the dance hall scene and the first meeting of Maria and Tony being the main examples)

[@BrunaYoussefane-zl1ru]

The actors of the updated version were all INCREDIBLE. Honestly i wouldn't change a thing. Steven Spielberg is an amazing director.

[@rmcmariusable]

Very thorough commentary. Well done.

[@lucypreece7581]

Both versions have merits and flaws. While comparison was always going to happen I like to see them as different entities.

[@magma4168]

Well, casting Chino hotter than Tony certainly didn't help.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Rita Moreno Supremacy. That’s it. That’s the comment.

[@hamdialihassan1586]

I have been OBSESSED with these 2 movies ever since I saw the 2021 version in December so this was such a treat. And if there’s any justice in the world it should win Best Pic on sunday but it’ll probably be The Power of the dog. Great video!!!

[@selectedshipper8282]

My favourite different is that Anybodys is canonically trans in the 2021 version. Admittedly he isn’t treated very well because of the time period, but it’s about time we got a canon trans character in a big budget movie

[@kcorpora1]

If he isn't treated very well, then what was the point for it to be a trans because it is 2021 in a movie depicted in the 60's or 70's?

[@jotunfalls4026]

Trans people existed in the 60’s/70’s, they just didn’t have as many rights as they have now.

[@shilohgoes5544]

@@kcorpora1 trans people existed in the 60s ya know

[@kcorpora1]

@@shilohgoes5544 really lol

[@kcorpora1]

@@shilohgoes5544 Rock Hudson was gay, and your point?

[@FlyToTheRain]

i saw the original in high school after we finished our romeo and juliet unit in english class. watched the new one with a family friend the other day, and we were both in tears at the end. i leaned over to her and joked a little "i don't remember being this moved when i watched it in high school", still took us a couple minutes to collect ourselves haha. i thought the remake was stunning and made so many sensible updates while still telling a timeless story.

[@athenajaxon2397]

omg I also watched the original in high school the end was the only thing I remembered and still think is more emotionally effective than the 2021 version

[@afoolishfopdoodle3284]

Me and my friend Noah are absolutely obsessed with this remake, and the thing that we probably rave the most about is THE FREAKING PUDDLE. That puddle is pure majesty.

[@gregyear201]

Yep that scene with the puddle of lights blew me away seeing it on the big screen.

[@shelbybooker1478]

That technicolor of the original is 😍😍

[@beethovensfidelio]

I hate to sound like an alter kocker, but they don’t make movies like they used to!

[@jamiecrucefix4078]

Thank yoy The Take, you helped me see Spielburg's version in new light. I thought it was a another money grab but from your video I see that alot changes were made and for better like fleshing out the other Characters motivitations. Definitely looking forward to watching the full movie now.

[@octabodemes]

Surprised you guys didn't make a comment about Anybodys, I was actually really moved about how they went from a tomboy to a trans guy. It felt quite real taking in context that many assume trans people started existing in the 2000s and not before.

[@CarlosEmilioEsq]

Seemed like a pretty ridiculous (and unnecessary) change, to me. Homosexuality hadn't been decriminalized yet. So the idea that Anybodys was an out trans person in 1958, and accepted by a bunch of hoodlums and high school dropouts is pretty silly.

[@nutyyyy]

But at the same time it sort of removes any space for a woman to not be traditionally feminine without therefore being a man.

[@DwRockett]

Fantastic video, it’s truly amazing to me just how good Spielberg managed to make his remake (man, Steven Spielberg being an amazing filmmaker, truly one of the biggest surprises of the century, for sure)

[@Cablecol]

Excellent comparative analysis 💯👍. I have yet to see the new version but I'm happy that KZbin has posted the 1961 version at this time. Watch it while you can for free (Feb 2023)!! Never gets old even though I've seen it many times 💖.

[@jess__rodriguez]

when I was younger I was obsessed with the original and when found out that Natalie Wood wasn't Puerto Rican and not even close to being Latinx/Hispanic....I was so heartbroken. I actually was a huge blow to me and after a while I stopped watching. The only reason I did was bicause of Rita Moreno. The 2021 Speilberg WSS was a very emotional experience for me especially in my adulthood to see both Rachel and Ariana as the leads. I felt like my younger self got what she deserved. What every brown girl deserves.

[@jess__rodriguez]

@Dreaming Yes but she is (at least to our knowledge) the only actual Puerto Riacan cast for the sharks. Everyone else that was a Shark wasn't and they were all darkened, even bernardo and maria.

[@linnycrocus6023]

The lack of catharsis in the final scene in the remake bothered me. But now I get why it's like that after you explained

[@leilasix]

The new one is definetely one of my Top 3 best movies ever, you can feel so much love during the entire movie :') Thanks for this video!

[@ratonadebiblioteca98]

something I felt was extremely relevant about the adaptation is that, when the jets are about to assault Anita, Graziella tries to stop them and to help her as well. it feels modern because it's closely related to how we understand oppression and intersectionality today, and it doesn't feel out of place in a period film because it just comes to show that these traits have never truly changed at their core.

[@mariangelyarias3545]

I'm puertorrican born and raised and I was never a fan of the original because of the portrait of puertorricans, but I have to say that when I watch the 2021 version and the first son was la Borinqueña the revolutionary version I got tears in my eyes I learn this version in college as this original one was change because it was considered controversial as invites puertorrican to rebel against the colony and the writer Lola Rodriguez de Tió was exile because of it so this version has a really deep meaning for us so it was a really beautiful tribute to add it in the film.

[@andrewrocha9766]

NOW THIS IS AN ANALYSIS! 🤩 besides Be Kind Rewind, this one is the bomb!

[@selectedshipper8282]

5:05 The two ships that really went off were Maria and Chino and Tony and Riff because Maria and Tony had literally no chemistry

[@willbyers_clizzy]

Yeah Ansel Elgort was so bland and simply not genuine in the romantic scenes

[@Rfrostmiles]

I am really disappointed in the Tony portrayal this time. Ansel really got the the Tony-Riff relationship, but I could not buy into his Tony-Maria. It was just so unbelievable in this version.

[@alejandrocervantes3624]

*Cackles in spanish without subtittles🤣💀🇲🇽🤣💀

[@melaniedyal5883]

As a descendant of Puerto Ricans that arrived to Nyc in the 1940’s and having parents that were kids in the 50’s and having grown up in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, I still find the 1960’s version far superior and actually more authentic (in some ways). 1) the original is more focused on how trivial issues can quickly spiral to all out violence and killing amongst teens that don’t have much else to live for. It focuses on gang violence (which in the 50’s nyc was a major problem. My aunt was a member of an all Puerto Rican rican FEMALE gang.) 2) the sharks were multiracial (and not all white. Amongst the cast were one Puerto Rican (Rita Moreno), a Puerto Rican/Cuban, an American biracial, Japanese, Mexican and several Greek actors. Many of these actors adopted “American” names for professional reasons so it’s not immediately apparent. 2) the character Doc, comes from the generation that experienced WWII, so his reaction to the jets is appropriate. World war and a holocaust vs a minor turf war. 3) and BIG one. Many Puerto Ricans that came here in the 40’s and 50’s were quite desperate to assimilate and shed the label of immigrant. “Passing” was a major thing back then and Puerto Ricans were not keen on displaying their ethnicity because overt racism was alive and well. 4) Puerto Ricans ricans did not work at high end shops like Gimbels back then, UNLESS they could pass as “white”never as sales ladies, possibly as cleaning ladies. Many were in fact very good dress designers/ seamstress and hair dressers and set up shop in their neighborhoods. These neighborhoods were then scrapped and it’s residents moved to the projects. 5) the original focuses on the white jets being only a generation or so removed from being immigrants themselves. Which is accurate for the time and neighborhood in nyc. 6) the actors casted were hired because they were all veteran dancers and the choreographer Robins was a perfectionist and real A-hole to work with. 7) the fact that Bernardo is so machismo is also accurate (anyone who has ever delt with an old-school Latino man from way back in the day knows what I’m talking about!) 8) the opening scene in the original is actually shot in the original neighborhood before Lincoln center. If you look closely, you’ll see that these tenement apartments are already vacant. Over all, the 2021 version is a nice modern take on the original play but cannot be compared to the original. Totally different perspectives.

[@beethovensfidelio]

Well it’s worth noting that Ned Glass, who played Doc, was a Polish Jewish immigrant, so it’s no wonder Doc has a lot of “alter kocker” energy (that is, he’s a cranky old man!).

[@alejandrocervantes3624]

Im engaging so this coment doesnt tank to the bottom, cause wow, i hope EVERYONE reads this!

[@sarita5957]

Lol

[@ssadina-shtukaturka]

this comment should be in top...

[@julaju3218]

Hey! I’m also Puerto Rican with close ties with the diaspora and local, and I thinks it’s a matter of perspective. I could argue there are blanket statements here too, because the PR diáspora experience isn’t a monolith. Many simply didn’t pass or didn’t want to. You had to be careful for safety and jobs though. I feel that “America”showcases that pretty well in both. Also, the OG one has so many missteps when presenting PR culture that’s really hard to swallow. I still cringe at Natalie Wood’s brown face and Spanish dress. And though I agree that the Latino macho of the time is true, I liked that the new one fleshed him out because, machista or not, the OG Bernardo was lacking depth. The actors for the Sharks were not chosen just for being professionals. There was a race issue too even though for the time the movie was considered super progressive. Even Sondheim himself had said he had never met a Puerto Rican when writing this. In fact, when writing the musical, PR was put in as such an afterthought and the first lines of “America” were changed for Rita Moreno because even then it was obvious the crass way it was handled. I personally think both versions are great works of art. However, as a Cuban Puerto Rican, I don’t feel the delight others seem to feel. Also, it makes me cringe when I hear friends telling me they went someplace and when they learn they’re Puerto Rican, they have started to snap their fingers… not the best reference. I would argue that they could’ve made a better story with ethnicities they knew and understood instead of trying to marry the stereotypes they built with reality. I remember my greatgrandma telling me about Rita excitedly while also reminding me that’s not who we are. And after watching the new one, I was still left with a bad taste in my mouth because of the ending.

[@aggietrombonist]

I liked the original, but the remake absolutely blew me away. Instantly one of my top movies of all time.

[@EveryFairyDies]

"You can't burn Shakespeare!" "Yeah, but have you ever read any of it?" "I've seen... West Side Story, that's based on some of it!"

[@lauraowens01]

I literally just finished watching it for like the 10th time and this just pops up lol

[@onetouchofvenus2335]

I thought the biggest improvement on the original was in the casting of Tony and Maria. Richard Beymer in particular was absolutely DREADFUL. I didn't for a second believe him as a street hooligan or even as someone who might get into a fistfight. His mooning over her was also laughable. And I couldn't stop cringing every time I saw Natalie Wood with her spray tan and phony Latina accent. The love story felt totally ridiculous. Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler were such a breath of fresh air! They both brought so much depth and honesty to their roles. The scene where Ansel received the terrible news and then got gunned down on the sidewalk was heartbreaking and real in a way that I've never seen in any version of West Side Story before. I was initially a bit disappointed in the choreography. I fully expected to see those Jerome Robbins moves in all their glory, and what we ended up getting was something heavily abridged. However, the dancing was still pretty great to watch. And given the level of camera involvement in the numbers, it seems reasonable to scale back the dancing because otherwise, the cameramen would have gotten kicked in the face.

[@VictoriaClerici]

it's funny you mention the "phony Latina accent", because Rachel Zegler had to fake it too lol she's from New Jersey

[@onetouchofvenus2335]

@@VictoriaClerici Rachel Zegler and all of the Latin actors in this film had a world-class dialect coach help them to prepare for their roles. The fact that she's from New Jersey is irrelevant. Regardless of where she grew up, dialect coaching is an absolute must because there is no way that kids today (unless they spent a lot of time around their grandparents) could possibly know what Puerto Ricans sounded like back then. There is a huge difference between an assimilated 21st century Nuyorican accent and a 1950s "fresh-off-the-boat" Puerto Rican accent. Natalie Wood, on the other hand, used some ridiculous pidgin voice that didn't sound like any Latina anywhere. Rita Moreno said that on the set, she demonstrated absolutely no curiosity about the Puerto Rican culture. It showed in her performance 100%.

[@ElleGur]

It was really interesting that the directors cast Rita Moreno, who played Anita in the original version, as Valentina in the remake

[@joewhitehead3]

Spielberg had a role created just for her

[@thesingerintheshower]

I would have liked a more critical take on the differences between the new movie and the old movie.

[@gerileemakes]

I remember watching the original as a little girl in the 90s. I was way too young to understand the story or the violence, I just liked the singing and dancing. I hadn't seen it since then either so even though I was generally familiar with the music, going into the remake I didn't actually know what to expect. I really liked it. Thank you for the great video comparing both versions.

[@kazza6078]

Yayyy more episodes about musicals yayyyy

[@Linano7]

That’s not the Puerto Rican national anthem, it’s the revolutionary anthem. Same melody, different lyrics.

[@joewhitehead3]

Apparently it was banned in Puerto Rico in the 50’s

[@ariyatabassumabdullah1143]

i personally like the newer one more, except for ansel elgort, he was the weakest part of this. even if you ignore the allegations and pretend it didn't happen he's still so bland. i felt like rachel was truly giving her all for the romance and emotions (not to mention her singing) and he was giving her NOTHING. it was like she was acting opposite a brick wall. the colours and dancing and singing are absolutely brilliant. ariana, mike and david were acting down and mike deserved an oscar nom imo. hope ariana wins tho, she was so beautiful in the role. and rita moreno too, god she's great.

[@willbyers_clizzy]

I totally agree about Ansel Elgort, he was not right for this role. He was a bit bland and his acting didn't feel genuine at all. That's too bad cause that's kind of the only thing I disliked in the film

[@AlicedeTerre]

This and when all the other jets were so talented they killed dear officer Kruppke

[@ariyatabassumabdullah1143]

@@willbyers_clizzy yea same

[@ariyatabassumabdullah1143]

@@AlicedeTerre i loved officer kruppke, it was so much fun.

[@lizakolganova7608]

Just watched the new version yesterday, it was so good! I like musicals (not a huge fan, but really like) and this one was one of the best I've ever seen. I loved how it focused on gang stuff amd social promblems more than on just our star-crossed lovers, but it somehow made it a little less tragic (I cryed when Tony died of course, it was sad and beautiful, but still, it didn't feel that heartbreaking, like "A star is born", for example) I really loved dance scenes ("America" is just a top tier, amazing), Tony and Maria chemistry and acting, Anita character (she disappointed me in the end tho), and I want to rewatch it asap. But out of the 2021 main musicals I loved "Tick tick boom" more, I cryed my heart out and Andrew Garfield's performance was better than all "Westside story" 's performances combined imo.

[@Sofia-tv4qv]

such an incredible remake!

[@doctorposting]

that part in 13:20 with the blonde lady trying to grab anita’s hand is so powerful 😩😩😩

[@mwng4538]

It might be a controversial take but I think that I still prefer the original. Spielberg's movie is amazing, their is no doubt about it but everything I loved in the original is gone. I feel like the 61's version reads more like a work of art, the camera angles, the blurs, dream sequences, the interpretive dance for "Cool" and it might be due to Natalie Wood's maturity at that point of her career but the final scene is way more heartbreaking. Also I like that in older movies, you can feel that the directors have trust in their audience's intelligence when now every "message/theme" has to be shouted at our faces. For example Maria was a dressmarker and now she is a cleaner ; did we really need this change to understand that they were not making much money instead of relying on the modern association to the latino community to this job (Devious Maids etc...) ? That's one example out of many. Spielberg's version as mentioned, is the update that this movie deserved. But the choice to lean into darkness when the original one feels suspended in the air is why, despite all of the obvious racist shitshow embedded to this movie, I'm not sure that people will rewatch it 60 years later like the original one.

[@ssadina-shtukaturka]

I AGREE. a lot of things are exaggerated in the original as if it considers the viewers stupid

[@mwng4538]

@@ssadina-shtukaturka Maybe re-read my comment because I definitely didn't say that 😅 But to each of their own!

[@islasullivan3463]

The reason why Spielberg made her a cleaner was so they could set the song I feel Pretty in Gimbles as Sondheim didn't like the song and didn't think it made much sense for Maria to sing all the fancy words in the song and was tryin to get it cut from the movie. So Spielberg changed the setting so it would appeal more to Sondheim.

[@CarlosEmilioEsq]

I agree. The original had flaws, no doubt. But there was chemistry between the characters, and there was fun, too. The 2021 version was flash, but I didn't feel for the characters. There was some very good acting, and yes, all of the modern cinematic touches. But that was about it.

[@mwng4538]

@@islasullivan3463 But the problem was the lyrics of the song that don't match the character's personality/background. I don't see how making her a cleaner and changing the setting solves the problem. It makes more sense that a teenager would widely dream in the comfort of a small shop in the community than mess up a department store. Seamstresses were definitely struggling too back in the day and it's actually one of the skills that you could easily find in a wide variety of first generation immigrants. In the play she was singing in the comfort of her home. Is our generation so limited that the only "poor people" job we can imagine is cleaner, especially when it comes to the latino community ? Tell me if I'm missing something 😅

[@BossBrookeArmstrong]

Being Puerto Rican myself I can tell you the accents in the remake are no better than the accents in the original 🙄

[@FeelinErie]

😬

[@alejandrocervantes3624]

OOOOOF! 😥🤯😬 (havent seen the movie but low key Rachel Zegler sounded straight outta "yo soy Betty, la fea" in that clip with the dress!)

[@kellyvega6372]

Thats how my mom talks tho, so i think is good representation. Also I think accents are beautiful, because they depict we are bilingual.

[@BossBrookeArmstrong]

@@kellyvega6372 you can be bilingual without having an accent. And if your mom talks like they do then she must be faking it. Any Latino knows what a real accent sounds like. And those were not real accents. They were good enough for white people to believe they’re real

[@luna-lp6qg]

Yeah, as a latina, they were pretty shit at the accents lmao, especially maria’s actress, she was the worst lmao. bernardo seemed the most natural though

[@grapeshot]

A little off topic but I remember watching China Girl when I was in high school, which is basically a Romeo and Juliet style story.

[@alicialudden9994]

Great Take! Can you please compare and contrast Spielberg’s West Side Story with Chu’s In The Heights? Especially the reasons WWS got so many Oscar noms and ITH sadly got none!

[@kevinmay9151]

Despite my more negative feelings about in the heights and my love for the new Wss, ith just got snubbed like many movies do.

[@DeShawnHatcher]

I loved the original more but was soooo thrilled to see Rita Moreno with such a large role. I thought she would get a cameo. Now that is how you treat a legend. And when she sang "Somewhere" I was in tears more than I was at the ending. Also for me, the dancing in the second one was, Meh. The original made me feel like I was watching a beautiful urban ballet, this was ok, too grounded for me. The casting didn't work for me at all. The only two for me that did work were the casting of Anita and Chino. As Anita, she was as you expected that role to be-she was perfection. What I did like was how Steven Spielberg gave us a real sense of the place and time. I loved the outdoor scenes, I felt pulled back in time. Honestly, I just didn't feel that connection, spark you're supposed to when Tony and Maria first meet. It's the scene that sets the whole movie and gives us a sense of direction and feeling as to why, in just a day, these two cannot live without each other. In fact, she seemed more boy crazy than in love. If their connection or chemistry is off and lacking, then the whole movie just falls and for me, it fell hard. I'm glad I watched but was left with, Meh

[@MrHootiedean]

As someone who didn't care for the original, this new adaptation is spectacular! Give Spielberg and this film ALL the Oscars!

[@Angi3_6]

I haven’t watched the new one, but I loved the old one partly due to the reputation of Latinos (specifically Puerto Ricans). Although it SUCKS how racist it’s depictions were and the fact that the majority of the actors playing Puerto Rican characters were GRINGOS. Unfortunately, the movie is a product of it’s time in that way. Back then, you take what you can get. Thankfully today, we don’t have to take what we can get. We are openly allowed to have higher standards for our rep. We can demand realistic, non-racist representation. We still have a bit to go, but we are far away from where we were in the 60s.

[@ariyatabassumabdullah1143]

i highly recommend you watch the new one. they actually cast broadway actors and singers for this and as a result the dancing, singing and acting are incredible. the cinematography too, the america sequence is so colourful. not to mention there's no brownface here lol

[@layla515]

@@ariyatabassumabdullah1143 and they address the colorism that is - unfortunately- super predominant in Latin culture. It was a quick moment but a nice touch.

[@ariyatabassumabdullah1143]

@@layla515 yes yes i absolutely loved that. i'm not latin but i am south asian and live in bangladesh. and colourism over here is such a big issue too. so i really appreciated that touch in the movie with how they deal with anita's character.

[@Angi3_6]

@@layla515 Ahh, yes. If you’re “too light” or “too dark” you’re treated as not a “real Latino” or a “real Hispanic”. It’s very damaging.

[@Angi3_6]

@@ariyatabassumabdullah1143 I love reading about how different cultures and how they are similar to each other, especially when they look so different at the surface level (like Asian and Latino/Hispanic), but not for stuff like colorism. That’s just disheartening.

[@Killgore-ip2yq]

The change to somewhere is far more significant than anything else they change in the 2021 version. Somewhere is set in a bygone era that despite their efforts the 1961 musical did, the world hasn't changed that much for people like Tony and Maria and now Valentina and Doc to get that happy ending.

[@alejandrocervantes3624]

Unless im missing some context, i feel like Doc & Val got off pretty good for themselves in the end, he just passed, (unless it turns out he was killed in a racially motivated attack in which case im left looking stupid🤷🏾‍♂️🤷🏻‍♀️)

[@Killgore-ip2yq]

@@alejandrocervantes3624 In the 2021 movie, Valentina makes it a point to Tony that because she married a white man she was a gringa to people like Riff but she never thought herself one. The society couldn't accept her as puerto Rican and pretend she wasn't.

[@adolfopena7358]

This was my favorite film of 2021.

[@Tinymoezzy]

No joke, thought they were supposed to be Italian/Sicilian since that area in Manhattan was known for mostly having and Italian families, San Juan had mostly PR and Cuban families and DR as well. East Harlem was predominantly Italian too. Mostly Irish up in the Bronx at that time. The history of the Thrill Kill gang is messed up but informative on who was were during the 40s and 50s. I had a crush on Chino when I was younger. He just seemed perfect.

[@lilaaguilar2605]

Para una latina el clasico no tiene comparacion, no tenia latinos pues reflejaba el tiempo que fue filmada. Rita Moreno fue ecepcional. Y trajo mucho orgullo a nuestra Comunidad.

[@RaymondHng]

2:14 The Sharks sang "La Borinqueña" using the original 1868 wartime lyrics instead of the revised 1903 peacetime lyrics.

[@denisefreitas6727]

I love both movies, but i think i like Spielberg's version a little bit more. Awesome vídeo!

[@TequilaToothpick]

I didn't like how the Jets were made into more simple villains in the remake. In the original both sides throw racist insults at each other and the police don't like either side due to both the Sharks and the Jets bring immigrants.

[@Lulaa_the_human]

Anita is my favourite in both versions.

[@tonyd1308]

I like the original!

[@fernandolbf_]

Amazing

[@Igorcastrochucre]

Mr. Spielberg should direct just musicals from now on. Just a thought.

[@beethovensfidelio]

Well considering it bombed, he should probably not.

[@joewhitehead3]

@@beethovensfidelio Why do people care so much about how much money it did or didn’t make?

[@SkippyLaughlin]

They made tony ugly in the new one and that's unforgivable

[@r.h.6249]

Tony and Maria in this movie had zero chemistry...i didnt think once that they were in love at all...i loved all the other characters though..i dont think Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler were that good in their roles...they were good when they were playing off other characters like Bernando,Anita and Riff but they were just so boring when opposite each other

[@beethovensfidelio]

Ironic since Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer did NOT get along during filming of “West Side Story” (1961), yet they had much stronger chemistry than Rachel and Ansel.

[@kcorpora1]

the problem was they did not meet magically like in the 1961. they both standing on the side lines and they see each other from across the floor. In 2021 she is dancing with a not so confident Chino and she sees Tony and leaves Chino. That was very weak. 1961 made it as if you saw your first love for the first time.

[@joewhitehead3]

Rachel was incredible as Maria

[@gcecg]

I enjoyed the remake, but the original is one of my all-time favorite movies. Kudos to Spielberg for managing to make me like it. But the definitive version is from 1961.

[@joewhitehead3]

I liked both versions in different ways

[@eturner141]

As much as I love the 61 version I just feel like the 2021 version weirdly feels more timeless for some reason I don't know if it's to do with the acting or the directing or the writing but it just does to me

[@XanderShiller]

I live in NYC and the PR representation is close ...some act like Americans with occasional Spanish words and accent

[@sarahtobore2832]

They ARE Americans, you dolt.

[@athenajaxon2397]

I actually liked Tony and Maria more in the 2021 version it felt more intense and like they'd known each other for a while. In the 1961 version their romance feels very new and immature it's sweet but it never had that intensity

[@kcorpora1]

What?

[@luma222]

@@kcorpora1 did you not read?

[@luna-lp6qg]

Rachel Zegler isn’t latina, she’s a gringa from new jersey, they haven’t improved the representation at all, i’m speaking as a latina myself 💀

[@joewhitehead3]

She’s Colombian on her mother’s side

[@luna-lp6qg]

@@joewhitehead3 *quarter colOmbian with an O not a U on her mothers side.

[@luma222]

@@luna-lp6qg she's still Colombian

[@luna-lp6qg]

@@luma222 nope she wasn’t born there, her mother wasn’t either, only her grandmother is. she’s american

[@luma222]

@@luna-lp6qg Ethnicity and citizenship are different

[@JeFFBezosCEOoFAmazon]

My favourite movie

[@adrivoid5376]

I think the 2021 was a smart reflection of Romeo and Juliet- its a teenage tragedy, that bc of an awful feud, a bunch of children die and an innocent love is rushed and ruined before it can be seen to its end. 2021 shows how these young adults (unlike the nobility of R&J continuing an ancestral feud) and ready to fight over their neighborhood which is being taken out of their own control. So they fight eachother bc they have nothing else

[@mancal5829]

Zegler is an American of Colombian and Polish descent and terrible Spanish (Puerto Rican) accent. As authentic as passing the coasts of Hawaii for San José, Costa Rica.