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

The Great Gatsby has become a classic in American literature, a novel respected by academics, analysed by students at all levels, and enjoyed by the reading public. It also makes a smashing film, as Fitzgeralds writing is, in itself, almost cinematic. Unfortunately, this most recent adaptation does not do as well as the earlier adaptation with Robert Redford, which now is itself a classic in its own right. This film is, still, lovely to watch, as the Montreal scenery does well in setting up the East and West Egg environs. But what seems missing in this version is the spirit of the thing. Mira Sorvinos Daisy is perhaps the weakest aspect of the film, her character being without any appeal and her voice certainly not full of money. Toby Stephenss Gatsby is annoying, trite and vacuous, and by the end of the film, one has sympathy only for Nick (who is played here excellently by the by), and perhaps Tom, but none for Daisy or Gatsby. Without this small necessary amount of sympathy for these two central characters, the pathos and beauty of the story falls flat, and one would rather sit and look at the green light glowing at the end of the pier than at the film. Viewers who didnt enjoy this film should either read the novel or have a look at the Robert Redford version for a better idea of how Fitzgeralds world looked.

While many of you may turn your nose at a movie version of perhaps the greatest American novel starring Mira Sorvino and Paul Rudd, I assure you the casting was wonderfully done. Sorvino fulfills the character of Daisy, somewhat ditzy, materialistic, and self-centered. And Paul Rudd has always been a wonderful actor (lets just pretend Clueless never happened). The rest of the cast is wonderful as well. As I mentioned in my review of the OTHER movie version of the Great Gatsby, I was disappointed that (among other things) there was no narrator. Nick DOES narrate this one. It is brilliantly accomplished as well, because he is only narrator at crucial moments where dialogue would otherwise be lost. This movie also includes the famous last words of the novel: So we beat on, boats against the current, born ceaselessly into the past which I feel is a crucial part to include in the movie. Scenes were also accomplished with more tact and finesse than the other. The important ones had more time to sink into your memory. Its shorter than the other one, yet you gain more from this version than the older. A&E does not dissappoint!

If you teach The Great Gatsby you should show this DVD to your kids. I like it better than the older version.

I returned this movie.

I was very pleased that A&E made an accurate adaptation of this book. Although I would not suggest movie versions over the book ,at any rate, if you have to choose one, choose this one. Ive watched the others, and they are appauling, especially the 1970s remake with Mia Farrow.

I still prefer the Robert Redford version of this film. Hes the only one who played Gatsby as I thought he should be played. Mira Sorvino, who I like, was not a great Daisy.

yes

In the movie The Great Gatsby which Im doing a review for my teacher Mr. M I thought there were some parts that were true to the book and some parts that were different. For instance the story line stayed pretty much true to the book. The story being, about a man named Nick Carraway played by Paul Rudd who moves from the Midwest to New York. There he is introduced to his second cousin Daisy (Mira Sorvino) and her husband Tome (Martin Donovan) where he has dinner with them and meets his soon t be girl friend Jordan Baker (Francie Swift). Then he meets his next door neighbor Jay Gatsby (Toby Stephens) at one of the wild parties of Gatsbys that Nick is invited to. Nick discovers that Gatsby is in love with Daisy and intends to win her heart by impressing her with his money and success, even though she and Tom are well off by old money they both had before. Throughout the movie Gatsby gets Daisy to like him but is rudely interrupted by Tom who catches on and unmasks Gatsby as a man getting his money from fake bonds which makes Daisy go back to Tom. Nick is dragged along in helping Gatsby get to Daisy. Also in the end after Daisy has rejected Gatsby, Daisy driving home ran over a woman (Myrtle) who happened to be Tomes mistress. Gatsby was in the car with Daisy when it happened. When Tom finds out he is horrified and lets Myrtles crazed husband know where Gatsby lived because it is assumed that Gatsby killed her. In doing so, Myrtles husband kills Gatsby and then himself. The ending of the movie and book is when Nick having witnessed the dead body of Myrtle goes back home to the mid-west. The only big differences between movie and book were two scenes. One was missing, and that was when Nick called Jordan to say goodbye and that in a way he always would love her. Which was a pretty important part of the book because he finds out that shes engaged to another man. The second big difference I thought, was Myrtles apartment party with Tom, Nick, Myrtles sister, and her sisters husband. This scene which was in a small apartment in the book with those people at the party was different then in the movie. The movie make it look like it was a huge apartment with lots more people in it. I also thought Nick played by Paul Rudd was true to character. Also, I thought Daisy did well with her part, her voice could have been more exciting though. Finally, I think the scenes and sets were close to what I envisioned then to be. So that is what I thought about the movie The Great Gatsby.

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

This somewhat modest TV adaptation is the best of the modern Gatsby films. For one thing, the casting is perfect--Toby Stephens embodies to the nth the mixture of thug and sweetheart that is Gatsby, Paul Rudd delivers the most nuanced of all Nicks (though he is unflatteringly costumed in a ridiculous hat over a three-piece suit, which might be true to the period but just looks clunky), and Martin Donovan is wonderfully hateful as Tom. Francie Swift is a great Jordan, too, but the role is easy to play, I must admit. As for Daisy, Mira Sorvino is fine without suggesting the mystically magical being that so captures Gatsbys soul--but then this role is hard to play. Very, very hard. All the location work is fine, right down to the all-important Valley of Ashes with the sign of the optometrists glasses. The Gatsby parties are not as vast as in the recent Di Caprio version, but they really were way over the top. This version seems more faithful to the book, to the times...a real achievement.