Reviews for 'The Great Gatsby' book and film
I had first read The Great Gatsby when I was in high school, many years ago. All I could remember was that I really liked it. I thought it was poetic. It was one of my favorite assigned books, yet the only detail I could recall was that Gatsby ends up dead in the pool. But I could not remember what happened to lead to that event. Well, let's face it, it's been over 10 years since I graduated H.S. and my memory is not the best.
With Baz Luhrmann's version coming out this May I wanted to reread it. I feel like I enjoyed the book much more now than when I was in high school. Having the scenes from Baz's film play in my mind enhanced the experience. I gasped and face-palm at certain points in the film when I finally recalled the events that lead to the end.
Baz knows how to make gorgeous films. The visuals were so stimulating. I saw it 3 times, so far. Once in 3D and I can say I liked it better in 3D.
I am also so glad that it remained 90% true to the story. Almost all of the dialogue is straight from the book.
A friend of mine, who is not a fan of Luhrmann's films said: "Baz never strays from directing his actors to highly stylize their performances, therefore his characters never feel real.
That is what I like about Baz. The way he does it, it works. Especially for Gatsby. He's life was stylized for Daisy. Who was he really? He reinvented himself into an idea of who he should have been to impress others, especially Daisy. And then he pays the price for it. That is why Baz was the perfect director for the story and the decade of Gatsby.
It is certainly a tragic story, and the moral is never put people on pedestals. They'll only let you down. Book: 5 out of 5 Green lights Film: 5 out 5 Little Parties That Never Killed Nobody.
The soundtrack: With the exception of Jay-Z, who I can't stand, I love the soundtrack. I wish Jay-Z would just shut up. "No Church in the Wild" should be instrumental because I like the beat, but his rapping - UGH!
The compilation of songs is a good mix of a fun party and then empty sadness.
Good interview:
With Baz Luhrmann's version coming out this May I wanted to reread it. I feel like I enjoyed the book much more now than when I was in high school. Having the scenes from Baz's film play in my mind enhanced the experience. I gasped and face-palm at certain points in the film when I finally recalled the events that lead to the end.
Baz knows how to make gorgeous films. The visuals were so stimulating. I saw it 3 times, so far. Once in 3D and I can say I liked it better in 3D.
I am also so glad that it remained 90% true to the story. Almost all of the dialogue is straight from the book.
A friend of mine, who is not a fan of Luhrmann's films said: "Baz never strays from directing his actors to highly stylize their performances, therefore his characters never feel real.
That is what I like about Baz. The way he does it, it works. Especially for Gatsby. He's life was stylized for Daisy. Who was he really? He reinvented himself into an idea of who he should have been to impress others, especially Daisy. And then he pays the price for it. That is why Baz was the perfect director for the story and the decade of Gatsby.
It is certainly a tragic story, and the moral is never put people on pedestals. They'll only let you down. Book: 5 out of 5 Green lights Film: 5 out 5 Little Parties That Never Killed Nobody.
The soundtrack: With the exception of Jay-Z, who I can't stand, I love the soundtrack. I wish Jay-Z would just shut up. "No Church in the Wild" should be instrumental because I like the beat, but his rapping - UGH!
The compilation of songs is a good mix of a fun party and then empty sadness.
Good interview:
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