El Gran Gatsby [Blu-ray] [Spain Import]

Although this film looks beautiful and has some great moments (and Paul Rudd is very good as Nick Carroway), the Robert Redford/Mia Farrow version, despite a few cringe-worthy moments, is superior to this one and a better choice for students who want an insight into F. Scott Fitzgeralds amazing novel. I dont think the wonderful British actor Toby Stephens was miscast as Gatsby, as many other reviewers here have stated, so much as mis-directed. Stephens gruff American accent and informal diction (although thats the writers fault) directly contradicts Fitzgeralds insistence that Gatsby spoke with a gentlemanly formality just short of absurd. Given Fitzgeralds instructions, and the fact that the events took place in 1922, Stephens accent should have been pitched much more mid-Atlantic. He plays Gatsby as a more shallow, thuggish man than Fitzgerald presents him, almost completely without the American-dream romantic longing that makes him fascinating and sympathetic. Stephens is more than capable of acting several contradictory aspects of this character at once, but the director chose to focus on the shallow bootlegger at the expense of the pining lover. Redfords performance gives a more tragic insight into Gatsbys Alger-esque illusions and the pain they cause him -- although he could have used some of Toby Stephens menace. BTW, Francis Ford Coppola, who wrote the Redford/Farrow version, had good cause to sue the producers of this one, who lifted a great deal of his script and staging almost word-for-word.

True to the story in the book, but the acting leaves a lot to be desired.

each time a new version arrives i think back to alan ladd who was perfect as the great gatsby what on earth has happened to that film

I thought this adaptation of the unfogetatble novel was fantastic. The movie had its own uniqueness which made it even more interesting. The acting was superb and I would recommend this movie to anybody who enjoyed the novel!

The movie The Great Gatsby was about a character named Nick who is a friend of the rich Jay Gatsby that is trying to get back his teenage love Daisy to love him again. He strives to get her attention, for her to love him, and for her to leave her Husband Tom for him. Although those are the goals, it doesnt come out that easy. Gatsby runs into many obstacles. These obstacles include Tom becoming suspicious and jealous and Daisys being afraid to commit to Gatsby and leave her husband. Gatsby is obsessed with getting Daisy and impressing her with his money he bootlegged. This movie is about Gatsbys journey to get his love Daisy back and dealing with the obstacles that arise. I believe Nick played by Paul Rudd was perfect! He was beautifully chosen before he represented the ideal Nick. Paul Rudd showed Nicks patience and social awkwardness very well. Like Mr. M, I think Daisys outward appearance was correct but Mila Sorvino wasnt the best person to play her. I pictured Daisy much more passionate towards Gatsby and more rude to her husband, Tom. Tom wasnt mean enough and I dont think he shouldve looked like how he did or dressed like he did. I thought this movie as a pretty accurate to the book! The theme of love was apparent in the movie, just as the book was. The characters for the most part were similar; plot, and setting were right on. The production was done beautifully, I thought the costumes and sets were so unbelievably close to what I imagined while reading the book. The music was very appropriate and represented that time period very well. This movie was very alike to the book and I consider it a good movie for The Great Gatsby.

Its an alright movie, and if you feel like giving it a try I would certainly say go ahead. However the book is much better.

The Great Gatsby is about a man named Jay Gatsby who chases his past love Daisy. Gatsby lives in West Egg on Long Island and Daisy lives in West Egg across the bay from East Egg. Nick Carroway also lives in West Egg and he is the one telling the story. Nick gets Daisy and Gatsby to meet at his house and they renew the love that they once had five years ago. Tom, who is having an affair with a working class women and wife of George Wilson, Myrtle, finds out about Gatsby and Daisy. One day they all take a trip to New York and Gatsby and Tom get into an argument about Daisy. They all leave but Gatsby and Daisy go ahead. Tom comes back to find that Myrtle was hit by Gatsbys car and she was killed. Daisy ends up staying with Tom whereas George shoots Gatsby and kills himself. Daisys performance was intriguing and delicious. Why Tom would cheat on her, I dont know. Because she had convinced me she was such a good person and lover, I mean. Nick had a good performance too. He was a narrator and made it sound like he had in the book, or at least to me. He portrayed a good Nick in my mind. The movie was quite accurate to the book, of course it left some things out, but I accepted it. One thing I found weird was that Myrtle was not as attractive in the movie as I had been led to believe in the book. Also, Pammy, what the hell? I hope that girl who was playing wasnt getting paid? How the...? What the..? No! It was unrealistic that Daisy had a daughter of Pammys proportion. I must dwell on this point. What is this little girl doing with an afro on her head? That puzzles me for hours. I have sat down for an extended length of time trying to figure out the genetics behind Daisy and her offspring. I am no genetic scientist, but it doesnt make any sense. The movie had no big problems until Pammy walked on screen. My English class with Mr. M responded with a disgusted Ah! It was rather shocking. Other than this and other small differences between the book and movie, it was all good. The production was grand. One thing that bothered me was the inflatable cushion that Gatsby was sitting on in the pool. I thought it was too futuristic for the time. The soundtrack was rather lame considering the used the same song ten times. The camera angles were good though, not what I had pictured, but good. The costumes were excellent and depicted the 1920s very well. It was well produced for the most part.

Judging this movie was difficult, and having read the book in Mr.CMs class made it even more hard. To come clean, I have to say the characters were portrayed in a very *unpleasing* manner. Toby Stephen played a ridiculous Gatsby that made me almost want to quit watching. His old sport routine did only get older and repetive, amd his smirky smile made him seem so fake. He expressed emotions towards Daisey, but not in a very convincing way. To me, as others, I could feel no sympathy for him because he couldnt convince me that he really loved Daisey. Speaking of Daisey, she dissapointed me as well. She didnt come off to me as a snobby and self-centered person as I would like to imagine. As for Nick, Paul Rudd did a great job acting as the narrator and the main character, so I could easily feel sympathy for him. As for the rest of the movie, it seemed to have had a low budget and couldnt express the true *wealth* of the movie as much as I would have liked it to. All in all, this movie would be worth watching nothing more as a time waster, and it would only make you confused with all the plot holes. Reading the book is a much better idea and would help all understand what The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald is really trying to get at.

The latest Hollywood installment of Fitzgeralds masterpiece The Great Gatsby deserves split praise as far as the book/movie relationship goes. While stellar performances were given by Sorvino as the troubled Daisy and Rudd as the inquisitive Nick, I dont feel the third member of the films driving trifecta, (Stephens as the title role) did the part of Gatsby justice. Visually, Stephens fit the part with the smirk and everything, but his full portrayal came off as if he were an over-confident rich kid at some highschool. Not to say that what he went for didnt work, he just never found the ability to summon up Gatsby, and put Gatsby on screen. I dont think that Rudd played Gatsby with enough refinement. Now, having read the book, this kind of distracts me throughout the film, so Im sure that those of you that havent read the Great Gatsby would probably like the film more than I did. In the end I thought the rest of the charachters were well-cast and I give the movie bonus points for costumes and setting.

Considering the first attempt at the movie The Great Gatsby was a flop I had some skeptical feelings going into the movie. But I really liked it in the end. In the movie Gatsby, Toby Stephens, is an entrepreneur who is also chasing the girl that he lost so many years ago, Daisy, Mira Sorvino. All of a sudden an old friend of Daisy moves in Nick, Paul Rudd. Who just so happens to live right next to Gatsby. Coincidence? I think not. Thus the story begins with all the right chemistry to have someone die. And someone does in the end. Gatsby of course because how else could this story end someone had to loose. The performances were good although Mira Sorvino just didnt do it for me as the ditsy Daisy. Paul Rudd on the other hand did an excellent job as Nick. Music was great the story had a good flow and was easy and enjoyable to watch. I would watch it again. Hope this does it for you or at least Mr.M