I watched reluctantly as the original is close to perfection. I was very pleasantly surprised- still packed with great dance routines albeit my heart still belongs to the Jerome Robbins choreography.
However the casting is spot on and Spielberg has bought a raw and highly emotional side out of the film. The tears started at the 20th century for logo, weeping from Tonight and a sobbing exhausted puddle at the end!
If you like me wanted nothing to do with the re make- give it a go, I have space in my heart for both of them.