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The Great Gatsby: My Review

When I was in high school, I read The Great Gatsby for the first time. I remember liking it, but not loving it. I decided to visit my past and read the book again, and this time, I loved it. Loved. I didn't want it to come to an end, and now I'm in the I-just-finished-the-best-book-ever mode, where I refuse to pick up another book because I'm scared I'll look at the words and not feel as connected and not love it as much.

This is of course nothing new for me, as I easily become obsessed fall in love with things: movies, songs, books... and I sort of expect everyone to feel what I'm feeling, too. To hear that some people didn't love The Great Gatsby, the book, or the movie? I don't get it. I get annoyed.

"What do you mean you don't want to see it again RIGHTTHISSECOND?"

"How could you NOT love it?"

"You haven't even read the book yet? What are you waiting for?"

I saw the movie. And it was beautiful. And chilling. And sad. All the really important parts were done so, so well. I was holding my breath for the last 30 minutes of the movie. Really, it was that good. I loved Leo as Jay. He played a great Gatsby. And Tobey was perfectly cast as Nick. Carey was a fabulous Daisy, right down to her voice.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, one of the best American novels of all time, is a must-read for everyone. Only then can you begin to appreciate (or, dislike) the tale come to life on the big screen. I don't understand what there was to not like about the movie, though, because I thought it was done incredibly well.


I think being that he was such a modern man, Fitzgerald would have loved this take on Gatsby--after all, Jay Z is on the soundtrack--and what an amazing soundtrack it is, by the way.


Do I give the movie two thumbs up? Absolutely, old sport... absolutely. Although you can't create the past exactly as it was before, you can try, and this movie does a great job of that. The costumes, the lavish settings, the acting--I thought it was perfection.



I just want to talk about how much I dislike Daisy with everyone I see. And how I keep trying to change the ending in my head, just so it's not so damn sad.

Now excuse me while I stock up on flapper dresses and get lost in the soundtrack, while I search for my grade 11 essay on The Great Gatsby. I'd love to see what my thoughts on the story were, back then.


“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

Comments

Avitable said…
I haven't read it in 20 years, but maybe I'll try reading it before going to the movie. Most likely I'll neither read it or see the movie, though.
Unknown said…
I loved it from the first time I read it in HS. And we watched the original movie and that made me like it even more. I cannot WAIT to see this movie!!
JavaChick said…
I remember not liking the book...mostly because of the ending, I think, but it's been so long that I don't remember much else.
Unknown said…
I also read the book forever ago and remember liking but not loving it. And I saw the movie last night. It was riveting. Amazing. And I cannot wait to read the book again. I feel like it made so many connections for me with the book. The importance of the green light, the eyes in the billboard. SEEING it made all the connections ever so meaningful!
This makes me want to read the book again...because I totally don't remember it.

And the movie reminds me of when Leo re-did Romeo and Juliet back in the day.
Kim said…
What did you think of the original compared to this one?
alimartell said…
I'm re-reading the book right now. I haven't read it in so many years.
Loukia said…
I haven't seen the other movies. Only this one and it was everything I wanted it to be!
Loukia said…
You'll love it, Elaine!
Candace said…
I have neither read the book or seen the movie, original or remake. Maybe time to find a copy somewhere :)