Yahoo Movies 'Drab' first look at Spielberg's 'West Side Story' is getting a bit of a slating online
Steven Spielberg is in the middle of remaking the classic, Oscar-trawling musical West Side Story, and now we've got our first idea of what it's going to look like.
Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment and 20th Century Fox have revealed the first shot from the movie's set, with Ansel Elgort's Tony and Rachel Zegler's Maria front and centre.
They're flanked by the Jets and the Sharks on each side, presumably eyeing each other up for a 'rumble'.
But dipping a toe into the online reaction, and things aren't quite as celebratory as the studio may be hoping.
In fact, it's getting a bit of a battering for looking more like a muted Gap advert than a vibrant re-telling of Bernstein and Sondheim's electrifying musical, or Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins' vibrant 1961 movie.
The colours are drab as Elgort's khakis.
The first image from Spielberg’s #WestSideStory literally looks like a @Gap advertisement
— matt (@_unenthused) June 18, 2019
I already didn't give a damn about this and now I give even less of a damn...it's so drab...#WestSideStory pic.twitter.com/YC9szALWXC
— So...I'm Watching This Show (@soimwatching) June 17, 2019
west side story 1961: technicolor
west side story 2019: drab, apparently takes place in germany 1944 https://t.co/h0VlyOicKg— Brooke Carrera (@brookedestroys) June 18, 2019
a little insight into the making of Steven Spielberg's WEST SIDE STORY pic.twitter.com/yYyHQZ48JJ
— kambol-Eva Unit 01 (@kambolecampbell) June 17, 2019
I hold out hope for Spielberg's take on West Side Story, but I hope it's not visually as earthy as that picture. Part of what I love about the original was the use of color. Not enough blockbusters use vibrant color interestingly these days.
— Optigrab (@Optigrab) June 18, 2019
But luckily, some folks have 'fixed' it, and to be fair, it looks 10 times better.
a little saturation goes a long way....#WestSideStory pic.twitter.com/Z4B0UvEHgk
— Tyler Messervey (@TylerMesservey) June 17, 2019
Of course, all this has brought into question why Spielberg is bothering to try and better a movie which landed a ludicrous 10 Oscars, including Best Picture.
It’s still a period piece?! Then, why remake this? I thought it was going to be updated to current times 🤔🤔🤔🤔 #WestSideStory https://t.co/yV7iPPjdcs
— Grace Randolph (@GraceRandolph) June 17, 2019
Wait, they're remaking West Side Story?
... Why? https://t.co/tPaaGzXBNP— Signore Sammy (@signoresammybkk) June 17, 2019
why why why why why WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY (and i cant stress this enough) WHYYYYY are they remaking Westside Story? Who greenlit this? Who thought this was a good idea?
— Sogol Razi (@soggy37) June 17, 2019
Also starring Rita Moreno, Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, and Corey Stoll, it's due for release in December, 2020.
