Jesus wept...

I'm sure, then, you're aware that Shakespare himself wrote almost no original stories, including Romeo and Juliet (which was based on at least two earlier renditions).

And West Side Story is considered to be one of the finest, and most challenging, examples of musical theater ever written, incorporating elements of ballet (the dance at the gym, the opening sequence) and opera ("A Boy Like That"/"I have a Love") as well as classic musical comedy ("Gee, Officer Krupke"). Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim wrote the score; Jerome Robbins choreographed it--all are considered indisputable giants of musical theater. Your assertion that West Side Story "is for teeny boppers (or those of like intelligence)" seems baseless--how can you back that up?

You can defend Gigi without attacking other musicals. And really, Gigi and West Side Story are not remotely comparable--they're completely different in style and scope.

But ... ? If you object to the 'ripping off' of another author's stories, then how can you like Gigi? It's not like Collette agreed to let someone trash her gorgeous novel. Just wondering how you justify it in this case.

Let slip the Determined Kitten of Doom!

This movie takes the setting of turn-of-the-century Parisian attitudes towards coupling, and examines why we choose who we choose to live with; how we decide on committment or the lack of it; and the consequences of women passively doing what is expected of them by others, or making their own choices and asking men to abide by those choices.

We women today could learn a lot from this.

okay, I don't like the film because I don't like musicals, but my grandma was watching this thing every single day and I was on the computer in the same room listening to it. So I had no choice but to dig deep and here's what I found.

Pushing all the singing aside, the story is pretty messed up. Here's part of a little slightly comical review I felt was somewhat necesary, with a few recent additions

Throughout the duration of the movie we are lead to believe that Gigi grows from an immature school girl, into a stunningly beautiful woman. The only problem is that upon closer examination, this doesn't really seem believable. No time frame is given for the change to occur, and we are never told Gigi's true age. One day she is dressed as a school girl playing in the dirt, and then all of a sudden she is wearing a beautiful dress and looks of age. But we never really know if she is of age. for all we know she could easily be 14 years old. Gaston is obviously much older. If this film were to be made by today's standards Gaston would be considered a dirty pedophile. All the more discomforting is the fact that Gigi doesn't seem to have much of a say in all of this. Her grandmother, aunt, and Gaston are the ones collaborating for Gigi as a love interest, and although this is explained to Gigi, it was never her idea nor her initial intention. Basically we're talking about an arranged situation for Gigi to become a so-called 'kept' woman as Gaston is seen referring to the subject as "business." Yes, business. And then their's Gigi's aunt, you wonder if she may have been a prostitute or Madam of some sort. She's all up on controlling Gigi's life without even talking to Gigi. She's all up on giving Gigi lessons on how to act lady like, later on Gaston sees her behaving this way and he can't stand it. It forces him to realize what he's getting her into.

Then there's Gaston's uncle, Honore Lachaille (Maurice Chevalier) who is not only the narrator of the story, but also plays a small part in it. He is a player to the fullest extent of the word, and although is in his elder years, he hasn't turned in his player's club card as of yet. He even at one point claimed to be in love with Gigi's grandmother, but quoted, "I was so much in love with you I wanted to marry you. Yes, it's true. I was beginning to think of marriage. Imagine: marriage, me! Oh no, I was really desperate! I had to do somethin, and what I did was the soprano!" That's right, you heard correct, he was so in love he didn't know what to do so he cheated. He also let's loose with other mind numbing comments such as when he remarks to Gaston that, "Gigi will keep you entertained for months!!"

I did actually enjoy watching Gigi parade around in in variety of sexy outfits, Leslie Caron was hot. Her character may not have been of age, but I'm sure she herself was at the time. And since the movie is set in France, it's french accents galore. Nothing adds to the beauty of a young woman than a french accent.

I find the film's music scenes take away from the story. All of this disturbing stuff of forcing a young girl into a situation she knows nothing about without knowing her interests is not really explored. but it is a musical, and I don't like musicals.