Cue finger-snapping. 1961's West Side Story is an iconic film by any standard, so it was always going to take a master filmmaker like Steven Spielberg to successfully remake the musical for a new audience. Set in 1950s New York, West Side Story is a tale of Tony (Ansel Elgort) and Maria (Rachel Zegler), two kids who instantly fall in love at the school dance. However, their romance escalates the rivalry between the Sharks and the Jets - warring gangs vying for control of the streets. And like all serious gangsters, they do it with the power of song! On this episode, we discuss how the new West Side Story compares to the original, keeping the cheesy setups and get-ups intact, as well as Steven Spielberg's signature approach to the blockbuster musical. 

<p>Cue finger-snapping. 1961's West Side Story is an iconic film by any standard, so it was always going to take a master filmmaker like Steven Spielberg to successfully remake the musical for a new audience. Set in 1950s New York, West Side Story is a tale of Tony (Ansel Elgort) and Maria (Rachel Zegler), two kids who instantly fall in love at the school dance. However, their romance escalates the rivalry between the Sharks and the Jets - warring gangs vying for control of the streets. And like all serious gangsters, they do it with the power of song! On this episode, we discuss how the new West Side Story compares to the original, keeping the cheesy setups and get-ups intact, as well as Steven Spielberg's signature approach to the blockbuster musical. </p>

Talking apes and Jedi Knights are cool, but how do they impact Hollywood as a whole? That's the kind of stuff we talk about on Popcorn Culture - a mixed-bag-exploration of the movies, TV shows, and pop culture buzz that we love, as well as the ones we love (slightly) less.

<p>Talking apes and Jedi Knights are cool, but how do they impact Hollywood as a whole? That's the kind of stuff we talk about on Popcorn Culture - a mixed-bag-exploration of the movies, TV shows, and pop culture buzz that we love, as well as the ones we love (slightly) less.</p>

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