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West Side Story

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Free Essay Submitted by bignerds on 06/28/2008 08:11 PM

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  • Category: English
  • Words: 598
  • Pages: 3
  • Views: 21
  • Popularity Rank: 166

West Side Story

Nick Farinas
30 August 2000
West Side Story
Welcome to 1960’s New York. Where petty thugs and hoodlums are no comparison to modern day gangs. But nonetheless considered savages for their time. Yet, amongst themselves there is love and friendship.
West Side Story is a story about love, intolerance, and friendship. It uses many of the 9 elements of a well-made film. The story revolves around 2 (two) rival gangs know as the Jets (Americans) and the Sharks (Puerto Ricans) who friendship is un-foreseeable due to the race difference between them. But as irony would have it 1 (one) member from each side falls for each other during a high school dance. Causing even more friction between the 2 (two) groups and the 2 (two) lovers who cannot be together when they want.
Sound is a key element for West Side Story, which is a musical. The Music itself is excellent and follows the motion of the actors well. But the structure of the songs is very hard to understand and it was hard to figure out what was going on in the mind of the characters. And since music dominated the entire film, it eliminated the sense of realism (i.e. the lack of Natural and ambient sounds) But the songs were appeasing to the ears were catchy, the key to success while making a popular film.
Costuming, makeup, and setting are one of the most effective tools in creating a sense of realism and they did their job in this movie. It was apparent from the start of the movie that this took place in the inner city. Due to the Lighting, use of shadows and the dull yet vivid backgrounds that depicted the inner city. The graffiti, jagged fences. And broken, crumbly walls also had an astounding effect.
Speaking parts were seldom used in the movie. Almost all emotion was expressed through song and dance. But when used they were very simple. For example in the scene where the Jets meet with the Sharks at Doc’s place to discuss the rumble, they used 3 (three) word...

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