West Side Story (2021)

Spielberg’s first musical is a dazzling, swooningly beautiful reworking that feels definitive and serves as a timely testament to Sondheim’s genius. It fuses Golden Age musical euphoria with the grandeur of an immigrant epic and is the director’s finest film in 20 years.

Spielberg delivers a breathtaking, muscular and terrifically cast version that supercharges the story with new urgency and smart structural tweaks while nodding to the 1961 film. The songs, score, choreography and performances, especially from Ariana DeBose and Rita Moreno, make it a standout musical.

Spielberg delivers a beautiful, emotionally precise first musical that faithfully adapts the story while updating it with sharper details like Spanish dialogue and a lived-in world. The critic singles out the director's command of the camera and the standout performances from supporting players like Mike Faist, Ariana DeBose and Rita Moreno for making the film heartfelt and alive.

Spielberg's brilliantly directed film is his most exhilarating in years, with kinetic camerawork, superb choreography and vibrant performances that breathe fresh life into the classic musical. It balances gritty realism with radiant stylization while thoughtfully addressing cultural representation.

Spielberg delivers a reverently faithful production with panache, excelling in staging and choreography, though it may not eclipse the 1961 version; praises the cast and thoughtful updates.

Spielberg’s remake is a visually staggering, hyperreal revival of the classic musical that retains the songs and period setting while making smart adjustments to the book. The critic praises the director’s technical mastery and gives their heart to this poignant American fairytale of doomed love.

The film is thoughtful with luminous shots and transcendent moments in character-driven scenes like the 'Tonight Quintet,' but feels dispassionate and too zoomed-out overall to fully capture the story's urgency.

The critic praises Spielberg, Kushner and Sondheim for reworking the musical from within to deepen characters and clarify themes, giving fuller life to the Sharks and balancing the story while connecting it to contemporary issues. The film is seen as a tasteful, impeccably crafted revival and a strong example of classical big-screen cinema, though it may not quite match the original's raw power.

Spielberg almost pulls off remaking a classic with an exhilarating, stunningly choreographed spectacle that improves on casting and adds progressive updates like un-subtitled Spanish and gentrification themes. It falls slightly short of the original in emotional intensity and visual magic but remains a major success.

Spielberg approaches the material with care that gives it modern resonance, creating a solidly entertaining remake with intimacy, emotion and a few transcendent moments while emphasising beloved elements without radical reinterpretation. Greater consideration for the Puerto Rican characters and Rachel Zegler’s radiant Maria stand out.

The critic notes Spielberg makes it a true movie with dynamic camera work and makes smart narrative tweaks for sociopolitical depth, though the leads lack chemistry; it surpasses the original for some despite the critic's prior reservations.

Spielberg and Kushner deliver an eloquent, graceful and often mesmerizing restaging that stays loyal to the original while adding fresh vitality through strong performances and staging. The standout is Ariana DeBose's showstopping 'America,' though Ansel Elgort's casting as Tony is a notable weak spot.

The critic praises the sumptuous reimagining with inclusive casting and timely depiction of racial intolerance, noting it pulses with fresh vitality though it won't replace the 1961 version.

Spielberg buoyantly reboots the classic with reverence, deft changes and standout performances (especially from Zegler), delivering a peerless cinematic homage that is typical Spielberg but perhaps too perfect and reverential.

The critic finds the remake tinged with melancholy from gentrification and nostalgia for the original, with thoughtful updates that boost secondary characters like Ariana DeBose’s Anita. However, the central romance between Tony and Maria lacks convincing chemistry and emotional pull.

Spielberg's version aims for greater earthiness and authenticity than the 1961 film but feels dutiful overall despite its handsome production and panache. Rita Moreno's rendition of 'Somewhere' stands out as the most moving and daring moment.

Spielberg launches into this new adaptation that feels fresh and immediate while retaining the classic feel, with politically pointed script updates and stunning camerawork and choreography. The cast shines, especially breakout talents like Zegler, Faist and DeBose, making this easily one of his best recent works.

The critic praises Spielberg's vibrant and exuberant reimagining as a knockout and one of his best films, highlighting the lively musical numbers and modern sensibilities. They single out the energy and life in the performances and direction for praise.

Spielberg delivers a stirring and necessary new take on the classic musical, honoring the original while updating it for today. The critic singles out the deepened emphasis on themes of racism, division and the possibility that love can still prevail amid intolerance.

Spielberg delivers a masterful musical that improves on the original with a provocative take on America's soul, using the material's themes of bigotry and cultural divides to striking effect. The critic singles out the film's visual craft, particularly the inventive 'Tonight' balcony scene and overall cinematic energy.

Spielberg respects the original but makes the story his own through ambitious script tweaks, authentic Latinx casting and unsubtitled Spanish dialogue, plus dynamic camerawork that immerses viewers in the action. He has managed a remake that justifies its existence artistically as an act of fervent fandom.

Spielberg and Kushner revere the source material but are not afraid to tinker with it, resulting in an electrifying and satisfying version. The critic singles out the fresh staging of numbers like 'America' and the strong ensemble, especially Ariana DeBose as Anita.

Spielberg offers a realist correction of the original with better contextualization of racial and economic dynamics, authentic casting and language use, and cinematic integration of dances into narrative. The result amplifies the story's relevance and timeliness through blunt attention to racism, misogyny and disparity.