Yes, I am one of those people who just reread F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 classic “The Great Gatsby” so that I could see and compare it with the new Baz Luhrmann movie of it. I dusted off my memory from high school and absorbed the slim volume carefully. Ahh yes the prose, and the green light, and those lavish parties thrown by Jay Gatsby at his mansion on Long Island, N.Y., during the Jazz Age of the 1920s. How could I forget the love triangle between Gatsby and the beautiful Daisy Buchanan, who is swept up in marriage to Tom, after Gatsby, her pre-war beau, doesn’t return right away at the end of the war. Gatsby’s plan is to make his fortune first before returning to reclaim the wealthy Daisy. But by then, she’s married, which throws a wrench into his overall plans to marry her and live in his mansion happily ever after.
But Daisy’s husband Tom is not exactly faithful to her, which leaves the door open, along with Gatsby’s undying love, whether Daisy will leave Tom for Gatsby. She still apparently loves Gatsby dearly, too, but nothing’s ever easy, especially for such star-crossed lovers. Daisy’s from old money, but Gatby’s grown up poor and made his fortune more recently in dubious, under-the-table ways. When Tom angrily confronts Gatsby about this in front of Daisy, all begins to crumble.
Even from my high school days, the book holds up — the tragic love story, the narration by Nick Carraway (Gatsby’s next-door neighbor), and what it says about the human experience and the American dream. I’m still a fan of Fitzgerald’s. I’ve read his first novel “This Side of Paradise” as well and would like to read “Tender Is the Night” someday. Of course, there’s quite a few memorable passages in “The Great Gatsby,” such as this one I like:
They were careless people, Tom and Daisy—they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made. …
Anyways, the day I finished the novel, I hurried out to see the new “Great Gatsby” movie, dragging the husb along the way. But I was quite nervous because I’d read quite a few bad reviews of it in the papers. Many had critiqued it for being loud and noisy and chaotic like an amusement park. So I had rather low expectations of this 3D extravaganza (after all who did this director think he was doing this to “The Great Gatsby” — blasphemy!), but then as I watched it I was pleasantly surprised to find myself quite enjoying it. Whew. The book wasn’t trashed after all. In fact, the movie is considerably faithful to the novel. The lines are there, and the actors do a good job with it, especially Leo DiCaprio as the love-obsessed Gatsby, hooray! Who would have thought it. Even Tobey Maguire as Nick didn’t annoy me. And Carey Mulligan as Daisy held her own despite such a tough assignment.
There’s a few scenes I would have changed to make it more authentic (such as no floating in the air etc.), but I still enjoyed the ride and was able to feel the drama. I didn’t mind the contemporary feel with the mix it had using today’s music. My husb’s response to the film was more lukewarm than mine. But I think the new “Gatsby” movie is quite an improvement from the 1974 “Great Gatsby” film with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow, which I watched recently and found quite laborious and the acting stilted. I usually like Redford in everything but even found him to be pretty bad.
How about you, what did you think of the new film? Or do you plan to see it?
I still haven’t read it but I do have it. When I went to the bookstore Saturday night they had books and stuff for it everywhere in anticipation of the upcoming movie. Not really wanting to see the movie until I’ve read the book.
Yeah I enjoyed reading it first; you can follow a lot of the lines in the movie.
I must read The Great Gatsby before seeing the movie, too….I don’t recall ever reading it. But I did see the 1970s movie.
Love the excerpt….
Here’s MY SUNDAY SALON POST
Yes check out the movie Laurel! You will enjoy.
I would like to see the movie, but I’m not sure I will be able to convince the boyfriend to see it with me (or that it will come to our very small town movie theatre). It’s been interesting — professional reviews seem to have been mixed, but other people have enjoyed many parts of it. So I’m still curious and interested to see it for myself.
Yes I think you will enjoy most parts of it. Not sure you can convince the boy though. It took me awhile to convince as well.
I need to see the movie. It’s one of those books I read several times, but I haven’t read it recently. I think I still have a pretty strong recall of it. I think it would be fun to see this cast take it on.
Yeah I think you might enjoy. Let me know what you think. It’s a bit different for sure. A bit more contemporary.
I enjoyed the movie too, old sport. Just had to throw that in there for fun! I haven’t re-read the book but the movie was pretty true to what I remembered. I’m glad to see my old memory’s not all that bad.
Ha Ha Kathy. Like that Old Sport business. Your memory is just fine. Glad you liked it too.
I also recently reread the book and I know that I will soon see the movie. Thanks for your review. Good to know.
Check it out Deb. It’s a bit interesting for sure
I am so glad you liked the movie. I reread the book for the Christmas movie release and then they postponed the release! ARGH!!!
My student assistant said the music is like rap music??? She said she didn’t care for the contemporary feel the music gave the film. I’m not sure how I’d feel about it. Guess I better see it myself.
Yeah I remember when they delayed it. I thought something major would be wrong. Anyways you should see it Ti. I’d be interested to hear what you think.
So far, I haven’t found anyone who is willing to see the movie with me. I may just have to go solo. Loved the book but This Side of Paradise was my first Fitzgerald and I suppose it will always hold the favorite slot in my heart.
Yes. I liked This Side of Paradise as well. I’ll be interested to hear what you think of the Gatsby movie. See it on the big screen! Go solo! ha.