Rating: 
Summary: HOLA MR M.
Review: Nick Carraway, played by Paul Rudd, did an absolutely wonderful job of portraying the character from the novel. He is extremely submissive and somewhat careless, though he is observing all the drama and everything that is going on around him. He cares for Gatsby, and realizes what situations he is getting himself into and tries to talk him out of it. Rudd fit the part perfectly and demonstrated Nick's perfect character traits. Jay Gatsby's character was played by Toby Stephens, and he did a superb job as well. He fit the part of Gatsby by acting conceited, elegant, and even at times desperate for Daisy the live he had always dreamed about. Overall, the actors were well chosen to fit the characters of this.
All in all, the movie was relatively similar to the pictures and acting I had in my head while reading the book. I enjoyed the story thoroughly, and I think the directors of the production and the actor's performances were well thought-out and displayed to represent the novel. Of course you cannot get all of the tiny details and meanings out of the movie that you can get from the book, but I don't think any other movie could do much better. There wasn't as much emphasis on some of the parts and scenes I thought were important in the book, but for the most part the movie was a success.
Rating:
Summary: TO MR M
Review: The VHS 2001 version of The Great Gatsby encompassed a wide range of good aspects, along with some that are not so good. From characterization to the plot line, I believe that a lot of this movie could be held in either good or bad light, depending on what you place higher value on.
First of all, I believed that the writers did an impecible job of converting this really long book into a movie. There basically wasn't ANYTHING different from the book to the movie, which is incredably hard to do. This also contributed to the movie skipping around a little bit, and there wasn't as much time for character development. Although this was a little of a downfall because the characters are so complex, I believe that it was imparitive for them to make that sacrifice because of the important events in the plotline.
Although I feel that it was important for some sacrifices to be made on part of the storyline, there were some character sacrifices that just went.. well... too far. First of all, I believe that the woman who played Jordan was not at all right for the part. I imagined her as a more athletic, blonde woman, instead of a small black haired woman. Also, I feel that her significance was too much slimmed down in the movie. Allright, I know that she doesn't even appear that much in the book, but her minute performance in this movie wasn't even relevant to the plot, and her presence wasn't really explained other than the fact that she was in the book, and therefore needed to be put into the movie. Oh well.
Another character that I thought needed help was Gatsby. I believe that the man who played him was perfect for the part in terms of looks, but that his portrayal of Gatsby was somewhat off. First of all, he seemed way too arrogant. The Gatsby that Fitzgerald wrote about was supposed to be more unsure of himself, and constantly making sure everything is perfect. That is one of the main things that was over-looked in this movie; Gatsby's obsession with the past, and making everything perfect for when Daisy finally comes to see him. I don't think that enough impact was placed on the fact that Gatsby had been obsessing over the moment when he would meet Daisy again for his whole life, and that it was the moment everything he had worked for would build up to. Therefore, when they first met, I felt that the moment wasn't shown as being big enough in Gatsby's eyes. However, although there were some problems with characterization, there were some people who did a perfect job of portraying their character.
The people who played Daisy and Nick, in my eyes, were absolutley perfect. They completely captured the essences of both characters, which was especially hard to do in Daisy's case, because she was such a complex person. It is apparent how much time the two of them must have spent working on these parts, and also that they had both read the book, for these characters are impossible to thoroughly understand without knowledge of Fitzgerald's writing style, and the more complex aspects of the plot.
In general, I feel that this movie did an excellent job of summing up the plot in The Great Gatsby, but that some of the characters were off. However, this is a risk that all directors are willing to take while casting a movie, and that you can never be sure of. I believe that this movie is good in terms of keeping close to how the book was written, but I actually didn't enjoy The Great Gatsby as a book that much, so it was hard for me to completely enjoy the movie. Thank you for your time reading my review!
Rating:
Summary: Hey Mr. M
Review: ... While the movie version does not do the book justice (as almost no movie versions can), it was made enjoyable by a few key factors. Paul Rudd as Nick was fabulous. He manages to capture the character perfectly with his attitude towards Gatsby and Daisy, and does a wonderful job narrating. The addition of direct quotes added to his performance and my enjoyment of the movie. The soundtrack was almost perfect, bringing you right into each scene. The costumes were also wonderful, although I got the impression that Gatsby's weren't flashy enough. Gatsby himself, played by Toby Stephens, was a disappointment. His smile was more eerie than reassuring, and the phrase "old sport" didn't so much as roll off his tongue as fall ungracefully to the floor. If you are a huge fan of Fitzgerald's book, I don't suggest seeing this movie. But if it was only a book you somewhat enjoyed, go rent this movie, if only to see Paul Rudd's performance,...
Rating:
Summary: Review for "Mr. M"
Review: The movie starts out with Gatsby being shot in his pool, and his cufflinks fall from his hands. We are then taken back in time to see the events that lead up to Gatsby's demise. Nick, the narrator, is in the bond business and he moves into the house next to Gatsby. Gatsby has been waiting for and opportunity to finally see Daisy, the woman he loved but was not wealthy enough to marry. Now that Nick, who also knows Daisy, moved next door, Gatsby finally has a way to casually bump into her. Since Gatsby is wealthy, he can impress Daisy and win her heart back. The dilemma is that Daisy loves her husband, Tom, or at least she loved him at one point. They even had a daughter. This isn't a problem for long because a rapid string of events occurs, and we find that a man shoots Gatsby.
Paul Rudd played the character of Nick. I think he did an excellent job. He was exactly how I pictured Nick in the book. Gatsby, on the other hand, is a different story. Toby Stephens was not who I pictured as Gatsby when I read the book. I pictured Gatsby as being noticeably older than Nick and not phony at all. Toby Stephens appeared to have trouble performing Gatsby's smile and "old sport." They just didn't seem to come naturally to him, which hindered the image of Gatsby.
The movie followed the book very well. However, the beginning of the movie was different than the book because rather than having Nick foreshadow something bad to happen in the future, it started off with Gatsby being shot. Other than that part, I'd say the movie didn't alter the book. The scenes were just how I pictured them. For instance, Tom's house was breezy and white when we first met Daisy and Jordan. That's just how I pictured it in the book. Gatsby's house was not how I pictured it, though that is only my opinion. I thought the yard where the parties took place should have been larger, and the inside of the house should have been more spacious. The costumes were right on, even Gatsby's silver suit and gold tie from when he met Daisy again at Nick's house.
I'm sorry to say that the movie version of The Great Gatsby fell short of the novel. Though it was easy to follow and its mood seemed to match that of the book, it just wasn't impressive. The role of Gatsby could have been performed a lot better. The movie was somewhat enjoyable, but it lacked something. I recommend reading the book.
Rating:
Summary: The Great Gatsby
Review: MR M:!!!!
The movie The Great Gatsby is narrated by Nick Carraway and tells the story of Jay Gatsby (Toby Stephens), a rags-to-riches entrepreneur on a determined quest to reunite with his lost lover. His entire life is centered around Daisy, whom he has not seen for five years before their separation during the war. With Nick and Jordan's help, Gatsby finally reunites with Daisy, and this is quite possibly the most anticipated moment of his life. They begin to develop a sort of twisted relationship, despite the fact that Daisy is wed to her tyrannical husband named Tom Buchanan (Martin Donovan), who happens to also be having an extramarital affair. Finally, the air is cleared when, all at once, Daisy admits her love of Gatsby to Tom, as well as her love of Tom to Gatsby, while Tom and Gatsby argue back and forth over this issue. Nick seems to just sit back and watch the whole story unfold, while he is somewhat occupied with his love interest, Jordan. In the end of the movie, Daisy (Mira Sorvino) accidentally runs over Myrtle Wilson (Tom's mistress) while driving Gatsby's car. This leads Mr. Wilson to believe that Gatsby's was Myrtle's killer, and he shoots him in his pool, leaving him dead.
The best performance in the whole movie was Nick Carraway's, played by Paul Rudd. He fit the demeanor of Nick described in the book to the T, and interacted with the other characters perfectly. When Gatsby came to finally meet Daisy at Nick's house, Nick played the scene out very well and captured the awkward ambiance of the meeting in his casual smirks and gestures. Gatsby on the other hand delivered, in my opinion, a poor and inaccurate performance, which really offset the tone of the movie. The whole movie basically revolves around Gatsby, and Toby Stephens simply did not fit the part. From his goofy sideways smile to his cocky demeanor, his character in the movie doesn't represent the visual of Gatsby that one develops from reading the book. Also, the rendition of the famous "old sport" was too fatherly and condescending. In the book it seemed more contrived to soften a conversation, rather than just an old nickname. Playing the part of Gatsby well would be very difficult to pull off, but this doesn't change the fact that the performance hurt the film.
Visually, the movie turned out to be relatively accurate, or at least accurate in how I perceived it in my mind. Both the Buchanan and Gatsby house, and the activity inside them, were accurate to the description in the book, despite the strange appearance of Daisy's "precious daughter". I never observed a problem with the way the film was shot or any of the camera angles, and in retrospect it seems that the cinematography of the film was pretty well done. The film seemed to run into more troubles relating to the book in terms of tone and theme. The complicated social interactions that Fitzgerald describes and the subtle nuances that made the book so intriguing were difficult to convey in a purely visual setting, with only a little narrative input from Nick. The movie also seemed to lack overall depth that was portrayed so easily in the dynamic words of Fitzgerald. Fortunately, the film turned out to be of quality entertainment value, and it was interesting to see the story played out on screen. Overall, I would give it two stars as a film, and in relation to the book.
-Kelsey M. 4th period
Rating: 
Summary: Gatsby Movie Review
Review: Movie Review: The Great Gatsby
For Mr. M
The Great Gatsby, the movie, is about a man's troubles in life, a man obsessing over one goal. Nick Carraway is the narrator and friend of Jay Gatsby, a man who obsesses over Mrs. Daisy. Gatsby and Daisy used to be together but split up, partly because Gatsby wasn't wealthy enough. Five years later Gatsby is very wealthy and wants Daisy back. But, Daisy is married to Tom Buchanan, a selfish and outspoken man. Tom is having a not to secret affair and does not mind Gatsby at first. Although, when Tom gets news of his mistress moving he is desperate to get Daisy back from Gatsby. These men then argue about who she loves and admits to loving both of them, but she only ends up with one of them. Nick leaves after an incident while there and realizes that he hated everyone there, except Gatsby. He told Gatsby that he was worth the all of them, and he meant it.
The actors playing the roles of the characters were superb. Especially Paul Rudd and Mira Sorvino, who play Nick Carraway and Mrs. Daisy. They both play their parts to perfection. Paul expresses Nick's feelings perfectly, especially at the end when he loathes the people who he called his friends. And Mira Sorvino got the point across that Daisy was a shallow, materialistic that thought only of her self. She acts beautifully and reacts perfectly when she sees Gatsby again, or when she is confused when Tom and Gatsby are arguing.
The movie is extremely accurate to the book, and is produced very well. The movie uses many of the same language as the book, and gives off the same tone. The director did an outstanding job at converting The Great Gatsby from a book to a movie. That is very important, to be able to do an author justice when doing cinema. The quality of scenes, costumes, pacing and soundtrack all fit in, I felt, perfectly. It gives off an overall effect of a enjoyable movie whether you read the book or not.
Rating:
Summary: The Reasonably Good Gatsby
Review: Surprisingly, the 2001 A&E production of "The Great Gatsby" is passable as made-for-TV movies go. However, several conspicuous failings on this production greatly reduce this film's potential. It appears as though the script-writer has a private vendetta against Fitzgerald, as several extremely specific details are carelessly moved around the plot. For example, a distinctive scene in which Gatsby, embarrassed by Daisy's presence, knocks over a clock, occurs at Nick's house in the book. The movie moves the clock to the New York hotel scene for purposes unknown. The main flaw with the movie, however, is the casting of Jay Gatsby.Toby Stephens (villain of "Die Another Day") is an unusual casting choice for Gatsby. In addition to his distinctive snarl of a smile, the phrase "old sport", so essential to Gatsby's personality in the book, sounds forced. While it is obviously difficult to portray Gatsby with a human character, Stephens fails to achieve the sort of distance associated with Gatsby's ways. On the other hand, the score was excellent and the settings, props, and costumes were perfectly done. Overall, a fine adaptation of the book, but this fails to capture the essence of "The Great Gatsby." ***This review appears c/o Mr. M***
Rating: 
Summary: Movie Review for the 2001 Version of The Great Gatsby
Review: The movie The Great Gatsby, the 2001 version modeled after the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald follows the life of mid-westerner Nick for one summer in which he moves to New York to pursue a job in the bond business. Once there he becomes involuntarily entangled in the strange love lives of Gatsby, Tom and his wife Daisy. Gatsby has come from rags to riches in an attempt to win back the Daisy he knew five years ago. After confrontations occur, jealously and resentment for the competition for Daisy rises leading to a disastrous end. Two performances really stand out in this movie, and they were those of Paul Rudd who portrayed Nick and Toby Stephens as Gatsby. I really felt that Stephens was the perfect man for the role because not only did he have the smirk down pact, but he looked like the kind of person who would be involved in questionable affairs. However, Rudd dominated the screen as Nick. He really did an amazing job at portraying Nick not wanting to be involved in all these situations between Gatsby, Daisy, Tom and the others. During parts of the movie I felt that I could really pick up the book and read along, because the movie followed the book so closely. Either there were parts that the movie added or that I didn¡¯t pick up on while I was reading the book, but two really effective were the cuff links and Owl Eyes being described as looking like the man with the glasses on the billboard. These additions helped the viewer to see the symbolism that F. Scott Fitzgerald used in his writing that is harder to see on a screen by over emphasizing what each object stood for. For example, I believe that the director wanted to use the cuff links to show how Gatsby kept hanging on to Daisy, and then when he died Nick threw the cuff links into the water because Gatsby was now free from his constant want for Daisy and all she stood for, money. Owl Eyes could have been interpreted as God, and seeing all of the corruption that was going on because he always seems to be at all the parties, and looking over and watching Nick. One fault I found was that at the beginning the movie showed exactly what was going to happen at the end. Even though the book hints what may come it doesn¡¯t tell it strait out like the movie did. Robert Markowitz did a great job directing the production, but I believe that at some parts the scene changes were over dramatized making the movie seem almost TV movie-ish. However, the sets, especially Gatsby¡¯s mansion, and costumes, such as Gatsby¡¯s silver and gold suit, were very laudable.
I hope that you see this Mr. M!
Rating:
Summary: Mr. Molz my review
Review: The movie played out just much like the book. I enjoyed that. Really the only difference was how they began with showing Gatsby getting killed, which I thought was good. It really gave a dramatic feel to the film. It assumed we had read the book before and gave a more dramatic mood. Nicks character was played perfectly, it could not have been done much better. His role was played perfectly, he always seemed a little bit confused yet, at the same time had a sence of what is going on and could see through all the phonies the movie presents. Gatsby also was done well I think overall in this movie. It would be hard to find someone that could pull off all of Gatsbys grins and comments. This was done well though. The movie was very acurate to the book I believed. The production was well done and the costumes were very accurate. It definetly gave the feel of the time period. I especially like the performance by daisy. Still who ever cast the daughter must have had some sort of eye problems or something. I'm sorry but, that is probaly the only thing wrong with this movie. Overall this film is very good and I give it my full review.
Rating:
Summary: mr. m
Review: The movie played out just like the book. Really the only difference was how they began with showing Gatsby getting killed, which I thought was good. Nicks character was played perfectly, it could not have been done beteter. His role was played perfectly, healways seemed a little bit confused. Gatsby wasnt all that well played, but it was good enough. It would be hard to find someone that could pull off all of Gatsbys subeltys. The movie was very acurate to the book. The production was great, costumes were very accurate to both book and time period.
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