The Great Gatsby

Rating:
Summary: Great Movie!
Review: I agree with most of the reviews. This was a great movie, with Robert Redford doing his best. Mia Farrow, well, they could have picked a better actress for that role. Bruce Dern was great and so was Sam Waterson. I sure wish they kept the original Nelson Riddle Soundtrack in the newer VHS/DVD recording. I liked the original that was in the '74 movie, and not the boring one included in the newer video. Why in the world would they do that, can anyone explain that to me? Nelson Riddle got an award for the music too, and yet they nixed it. I would love to hear "Charlston" or "What'll I Do", etc., again in this film. PLEASE, PLEASE put back the original soundtrack when making a video tape/DVD of this 1974 movie!!!

Rating:
Summary: Great Gatsby: Candy for the eye but not for the mind
Review: Jack Clayton's version of the Great Gatsby does not compare to F. Scott's Fitzgerald's original book. Clayton was very meticulous to details. The costumes each character (whether a principal or an extra) wore were magnificent and very true to the post World War I era. Clayton's wardrobe obviously researched and created replicas of 1922 outfits. The location Clayton chose as West Egg and East Egg looked like they were created right from Fitzgerald's words. Gatsby's enormous mansion and Tom Buchanan's house were perfect picks. Clayton's eye for detail in wardrobe and location did not make up for his poor choices for casting. Though Sam Waterson was a perfect choice as the mellow Nick Carraway, Clayton did not make a good decision when casting Bruce Tern as the, "great big hulking physical specimen," Tom Buchanan. Bruce Dern is an average sized man with average attractiveness. Therefore he does not give off the intimidation Fitzgerald displays in the character. For example, in the pivotal, climatic scene in the Plaza hotel, Dern's decision to play Tom as a passive aggressive man does not give the scene nearly the amount of tension and awkwardness it had in the novel. Fitzgerald depicts Tom's emotions as running very high during the heated scene in the hotel. Dern never raises his voice and remains calm while his wife admits her infidelity. This scene is the climax of the novel, and Clayton does not give it as much thought as the beaded headress Daisy wears to Gatsby's party. Clayton's interpretation of this classic novel, is certainly beautiful to watch and wholeheartedly deserved the Academy Award for Costume design but does not capture Fitzgerald's complex characters.

Rating:
Summary: Sentimentality should never be out of fashion....
Review: I have never logged into this system before but I wanted to share some thoughts about the book and the film. As an English instructor at the secondary and post-secondary level, I believe that Fitzgerald's novel is one of the finest in American Literature. I have read and studied the work for 11 years and every word in the novel is important. It would be impossible to effectively convey the entire work in another medium. The 1974 film version is better than the 2001 version. The original musical score in the 1974 version perfectly complements the narration and scenes. The music, in this case, truly makes the movie. I suggest one find the original version with the original score to truly appreciate the film. SENTIMENTALITY is the most significant aspect of the book and film. After reading the book on no less than forty occassions and viewing the film with the original score no less than fifty times, I believe I am well qualified to present my opinion.

The major literary devices are present in the movie. Redford, portraying Gatsby, reaches for the grren light on the other side. It flashes, hauntingly, reminding him that he did, indeed, at one time have an opportunity to win Daisy, had it not been for the war. Gatsby, Nick, and Daisy are all portrayed well. Tom Buchannan is slick in the film and there is an inference that he is plotting to eliminate Gatsby. A slight deviation from the novel. The dialogue is commendable and incorporates the major themes from the novel into the film. If you enjoy romance and sentimentality, I suggest you view this film. Choose the correct version with the original score. Look deep into the symbolism present throughout. Feel the pain of Gatsby's despair. Recognize the hope he once held is momentarily realized, only to once again fade. Daisy;s love is fleeding; Gatsby's love is enduring. That is the pain of Fitzgerald and Gatsby. Those wishing to hear a wonderful rendition of the original score may consider hearing Linda Ronstadt and the Nelson Riddle Orchestra's CD, "What's New". It makes me cry each time I listen. If anyone knows where I can purchase the 1974 version with the original soundtrack, please let me know. I am also looking for the DVD version of the 1974 film. My VCR copy of the film has faded away. Thanks for your help.

Rating:
Summary: A Decent Adaptation of the Book
Review: Okay, so even though I think the movie version of The Great Gatsby is by no means up to the standards of the book - it is still a decent movie. Robert Redford plays Gatsby in a quiet, mysterious manner and although Mia Farrow goes a bit far in accentuating Daisy's ditzy behavior at times, she is still adequate in the part. The musical score was dreamy and marvelous and actually won an academy award, but then when the movie was brought out on video they CHANGED this wonderful music. I couldn't believe that the song "What'll I do" which is perfect for the scenes where Daisy and Gatsby are rekindling their love affair in a slow, delicous dance, was replaced by some nondescript, elevator music !! What's the deal with that?

The book is a classic and definitely has a 3-hanky ending. I think the ending scene in the movie version sticks close enough to that eerie feeling to be worth watching. However I would remind viewers that the current version has a disappointing musical score and is not the haunting, original academy award-winner.

Rating:
Summary: A disappointing adaptation
Review: After reading The Great Gatsby for my American Literature class, I decided to watch the movie, just to see how well it stuck to the plot and theme. I was highly disappointed. Sam Waterston as Nick somewhat impressed me, and Robert Redford was wonderfully mediocre as Gatsby, but the rest of the film appalled me. Mia Farrow's voice is most certainly not "full of money", and I firmly believe that Fitzgerald intended Daisy to be much more intelligent than Farrow portrayed her. The green glow at the end of Daisy's dock lost so much when it became a small, flashing light that could barely be seen across the bay in the film. The ending of the book was somber and moving; the ending of the movie, with a myriad of flappers dancing to "Ain't We Got Fun" was, for lack of a better word, cheesy. Fitzgerald's Myrtle Wilson was, to me, dignified and even somewhat timid. She was not a "wild child", as the film paints her. Overall, I am extremely glad that I read the novel before watching the movie, because this version of the film destroyed a great American novel.

Rating:
Summary: Get the A&E version...
Review: I was incredibly disappointed with this version of The Great Gatsby. My main qualm was that in the book, Nick Carraway was the narrator. However they did not see reason to use a narrator with this version. Unfortunately, we have then lost insight into Nick's character and some of the best parts of the book. Instead of giving it a brilliant ending where Nick is supposed to say "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne ceaselessly into the past," we have a scene of flappers and "Ain't We Got Fun" as background music. Exactly what were they trying to convey through that? I feel they put too much emphasis and time into the parties where nothing of interest save for some dancing and pretty dresses happened. There were also scenes which focused solely on Gatsby's possessions. While it is important to know that he owns a lot of stuff and owns it all for Daisy, for God's sake put some TASTE into it! Watching Mia Farrow throw a dozen multi-coloured shirts into the air and a set of brushes next to a half-eaten sandwhich with flies all over it is not my idea of good cinematography. The acting was terrible in this, as well. The one saving grace being perhaps Nick. Mia Farrow simply portrayed Daisy as a dumb blonde but there's SO MUCH more to her we never learn. Robert Redford's Gatsby, well nothing could really be said about it. It wasn't Gatsby, it was Robert Redford PLAYING Gatsby. Jordan Baker was absolutely detestable, and Tom Buchanan just irritated me to no end. Stick with the A&E version, far less offensive.

Rating:
Summary: Well, it had it's high points.....
Review: My english lit class this year as we read the book, and I have to say I was pretty disappointed overall. But like I said, it did have some high points:

Sam Waterson was perfect for Nick. It was like he was born for the role. His narroration of Fitzgerald's work makes the words even more beautiful. The actor playing Tom is also perfect, capturing Tom's greed and malice.

So what went wrong? Here goes: Mia Farrow gets Daisy's flaky personality, but then goes way overboard. You're ready to punch her lights out in the first 20 minutes. You wonder time and again why in the world Gatsby would ever devote his life to her. Then there's Robert Redford. Is it just me, or does he seem dead in this movie? He never expresses any emotion. But I guess Gatsby is a tough character to play.

Overall, I think this book is really difficult to make into a movie. I definitely give them credit for trying. I recommend seeing this version for Tom and Nick's portrayal as characters.

Rating:
Summary: Not so great.
Review: Great novels shouldn't be filmed. Period. They're not great because of their plots, but because of their style, and writing style is, needless to say, not the same as cinematic style, and can't be duplicated on film. You can't duplicate, for instance, Fitzgerald's description of Nick's first look at Daisy, so why try? It's taken me years to get Mia Farrow's awful Daisy out of my head, and I don't want to dwell on it too much here, but it's not entirely her fault. Daisy only lives and breathes on the page. Mira Sorvino tried hard in the recent A&E version, but it's still an inevitable misfire. (A&E's version is so faithful, though, that it seems like a film of the Cliff Notes instead.) I'll say this, though; the Redford version truncated the narration at the very end, and yet, for a movie, it seemed to end right where it should. If only the filmmakers hadn't shattered the mood with "Ain't We Got Fun" and prancing flappers behind the closing credits . . .

Rating:
Summary: The Great Gatsby is just that ... and much more
Review: I had never read the book or seen the movie until today. After reading some of the other reviews I desperately needed to respond with my own. The Great Gatsby truly moved me. I was so captivated by the book and the movie. I saw the movie first and then read the book. I will have to disagree with any criticism about any of the cast performances in the movie. The only negative thing I can comment on is the monotonous charleston song playing what seemed to be over & over again. This is undoubtedly intentional. Fitzgerald and/or Clayton make a statement that through all of the chaos, deceipt and disillusion there is music, glorious music. No matter what evil and horror happens in the world it is easy to masquerade it. Humans are oblivious and it is so easy to just hide from pain. Pop a pill, take a drink, listen to outrageous music. It is such a romantic movie. Not an ooey gooey icky romantic, a real life romantic. Gatsby is such a sorry, lovely character. Sorry because he was so full of life but so stupid. Lovely because he brings hope of true love. If only he had fallen in love with a more worthy woman. Then I guess it wouldn't be such a great book/film. For those of you who "don't get" this story, you haven't grown up yet. I am not old but I've lived. The Great Gatsby gave me more life to look forward to.

Rating:
Summary: A masterpiece brought to life!
Review: I have no idea why exactly half of the reviewers (including teachers and students) disliked this movie so much. BUY THE MOVIE, and the book for that matter. I am in a grade 9 class where we read this book. I thought the book was AMAZING. It was a little hard, (so many symbols and literary devices, so little time!), however, my teacher was really good at telling us how to anylise these things and how to understand them. I loved the book! moving on...the movie was just as good! Well almost, the only reason I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 is because of Karen Black, boooo, no way, didn't like her as Myrtle Wilson. She was way 2 Skinny for this role, myrltle was supposed to "carry her suplus flesh ravishingly"...not to be a stick figure! Despite what others may say, I personally, liked ALL the casting, yes, even the casting of Bruce Dern as Tom. Of course Mia Farrow made Daisy a ditz, but really Daisy was. There isn't much more on that. The sets were really great too, @ the valley of ashes where the Wilson's live, that sign for "Dr. T.J. Ekelberg" was done really really well. You'll see what I mean! When you read the book and then watch the movie. But read the book first it will really help you understand more, the symbolism etc. Firzgerald was really great w/ this one!!