Romeo and Juliet to Westside Story

Romeo and Juliet to Westside Story
I have seen Westside story before, but had forgotten how corny the movie truly is. However, I now believe the movie parallels the book more closely than I would have ever thought. The music and dancing seem over the top, but so was the entire feud between the Capulets and Montagues. Something that really stuck out to me was the concept of “snapping.” At the beginning of the movie the Jets were walking all around their area “snapping” to prove their strength and confidence. When we are first introduces to the sharks the “snapping” occurs once again. “Snapping” plays as a representation of hatred between the two families in Romeo and Juliet. The ending of the movie ends in silence- neither group walk away snapping because they have realized that their hatred was worthless and only lead to the deaths of their loved ones.

The interaction between Romeo and Juliet and Maria and Tony were equally as obsessive. When reading Romeo and Juliet I imagine this intense love story and without thinking logically it seems it is happening over a long period of time due to its’ romantic and eloquent writing. The play, in truth, takes place in 2 days just as the movies shows too. The movie makes us see how ridiculous their love is. Westside story’s Tybalt is Maria’s brother. Although Tony kills her brother she does not take the time to mourn because she is so concerned with being with Tony for the rest of her life.

Something else I found very cool in the movie that represents the “Capulet” and “Montague” families was the differentiation in color. When Maria and Tony are kissing in Maria’s bedroom they are centered in front of a door that is checkered both blue and red. It is at this time that we see the two families are separate but it is alludes to someday the families coming together.
Although Maria does not die as Juliet does the same feeling at the end is evoked. Her facial expression of defeat and grief help both families realize this feud needs to end just as the Capulets and Montagues do over their dead children’s bodies.