The Great Gatsby
Director:
Baz Luhrmann
Writer(s):
Baz Luhrmann, based on the novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Starring:
Leonardo DiCaprio,
Joel Edgerton,
Tobey Maguire,
and Carey Mulligan
Release Date: May 10, 2013
Rated PG-13 for some violent images, sexual content, smoking, partying and brief language
My Rating 3.5 out of 5
Synopsis from IMDB:
An adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's Long Island-set novel, where Midwesterner Nick Carraway is lured into the lavish world of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Soon enough, however, Carraway will see through the cracks of Gatsby's nouveau riche existence, where obsession, madness, and tragedy await.
******************************************************************************
MY THOUGHTS:
I remember being amazed by Baz Luhrmann's adaptation of
Romeo + Juliet. I was obsessed with
My So-Called Life during its way-too-brief run (seriously, Jordan Catalano and the way he leans) and so obviously loved Claire Danes and was already absolutely enamored with Leonardo di Caprio based on his early career on the show
Growing Pains and movies like
What's Eating Gilbert Grape and
The Basketball Diaries. What Baz did with the adaptation of one of Shakespeare's most famous works certainly wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea, but I absolutely adored the way he made the story modern, while keeping the antiquated language. The bright colors, the elaborate sets, the beautiful costumes. I loved it all.
So I was thrilled when I heard that Leo and Baz were teaming up again for one of my favorite classics:
The Great Gatsby. I'm sure most of you know the basic premise of the story line, but for those who don't
The Great Gatsby follows Nick Carraway, a young Yale graduate who fought in WWI and has recently moved to New York to learn about the bond business. He is renting a small cottage nestled in between the newly built mansions in West Egg, Long Island. His new digs are next to the uber-mansion of a mysterious man named Jay Gatsby. Nick is enthralled by the lavish parties that are constantly raging next door and is eventually personally invited to one by the host. He soon finds out that nobody at the party seems to know who Gatsby is. In fact, they weren't even invited and never are. Everybody just shows up at Gatsby's house knowing that they will be welcomed and entertained.
Across the bay/harbor/some strip of water is what is known as East Egg. East Egg also has elaborate mansions lining its shores, but the residents are mostly "old money" who scoff at those with "new money" (like Gatsby)...This isn't really touched on in the movie, but the distinction of new and old money is important in the novel. Over on East Egg lives Nick's cousin, Daisy Buchanan and her husband, the formidable Tom Buchanan. It is because of Nick's connection with Daisy that he was invited to Gatsby's house. You see Gatsby has been in love with Daisy for years (the two were together before Gatsby was shipped off to war) and Gatsby wants Nick to arrange a meeting between the two.
Her husband, Tom, is portrayed as mean and careless. He has a mistress, Myrtle, who lives in the desolate part of Long Island in between the Eggs and the city known as Valley of Ashes. Myrtle's husband owns a gas station in the Valley. Because Tom is such a vile character, the audience feels justified in rooting for Gatsby to be reunited with his long-lost love.
I really enjoyed this adaptation of The Great Gatsby. I didn't see it in 3D as I didn't find that necessary. The cinematography is amazing. The colors, the costumes, the houses! Seriously, both Gatsby's house and the Buchanan's house are absolutely stunning. Stunning. While I've heard complaints from others, I wasn't bothered by the anachronistic soundtrack. After seeing both
Romeo + Juliet and
Moulin Rouge it was what I was expecting from the director.
As far as the cast is concerned, I found it to be a bit of a mixed bag. Leo was the perfect Gatsby and absolutely nailed it. Joel Edgerton was wonderful as Tom and while Isla Fisher was a surprising choice for Myrtle, I think she did a great job. While I like Tobey Maguire and think he did a good job, frankly I feel like he was just plain too old for the role. Nick is 30 in Fitzgerald's novel and is awed by the city and by Gatsby. Maguire has to be in his late 30s, early 40s by now which makes his wide-eyed wonder unconvincing. A younger actor would have been a better choice. As far as Carey Mulligan, I'm sorry to say I think she is just too plain for this role. Daisy is a tough character because she is so vapid and silly (she's the fool she hopes her daughter grows up to be). In both the book and the movie it is hard to understand why Gatsby is so infatuated with her. For this reason, the actor portraying her has to have a beauty and charisma that Mulligan just doesn't have, in my opinion.
Overall, I would definitely recommend seeing
The Great Gatsby and because of the cinematography and spectacle, I would recommend seeing it in theaters if you get the chance. Baz really stayed very faithful to the novel with only a few small changes that were necessary in converting the novel to the screen.
The Great Gatsby has long been one of my favorite classics. It isn't the easiest book to read, as many a high school student will attest, but I still love it and am happy to see it has finally received the big screen treatment it deserves.
On a side note, it is rumored that Baz and Leo are tackling
Hamlet next!!!
Have you seen this movie? What did you think? Have you read the book?
Friday, May 31, 2013
The Great Gatsby (Movie Review)
Director: Baz Luhrmann
Writer(s): Baz Luhrmann, based on the novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joel Edgerton, Tobey Maguire, and Carey Mulligan
Release Date: May 10, 2013
Rated PG-13 for some violent images, sexual content, smoking, partying and brief language
My Rating 3.5 out of 5
Synopsis from IMDB:
An adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's Long Island-set novel, where Midwesterner Nick Carraway is lured into the lavish world of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. Soon enough, however, Carraway will see through the cracks of Gatsby's nouveau riche existence, where obsession, madness, and tragedy await.
So I was thrilled when I heard that Leo and Baz were teaming up again for one of my favorite classics: The Great Gatsby. I'm sure most of you know the basic premise of the story line, but for those who don't The Great Gatsby follows Nick Carraway, a young Yale graduate who fought in WWI and has recently moved to New York to learn about the bond business. He is renting a small cottage nestled in between the newly built mansions in West Egg, Long Island. His new digs are next to the uber-mansion of a mysterious man named Jay Gatsby. Nick is enthralled by the lavish parties that are constantly raging next door and is eventually personally invited to one by the host. He soon finds out that nobody at the party seems to know who Gatsby is. In fact, they weren't even invited and never are. Everybody just shows up at Gatsby's house knowing that they will be welcomed and entertained.
Across the bay/harbor/some strip of water is what is known as East Egg. East Egg also has elaborate mansions lining its shores, but the residents are mostly "old money" who scoff at those with "new money" (like Gatsby)...This isn't really touched on in the movie, but the distinction of new and old money is important in the novel. Over on East Egg lives Nick's cousin, Daisy Buchanan and her husband, the formidable Tom Buchanan. It is because of Nick's connection with Daisy that he was invited to Gatsby's house. You see Gatsby has been in love with Daisy for years (the two were together before Gatsby was shipped off to war) and Gatsby wants Nick to arrange a meeting between the two.
Her husband, Tom, is portrayed as mean and careless. He has a mistress, Myrtle, who lives in the desolate part of Long Island in between the Eggs and the city known as Valley of Ashes. Myrtle's husband owns a gas station in the Valley. Because Tom is such a vile character, the audience feels justified in rooting for Gatsby to be reunited with his long-lost love.
I really enjoyed this adaptation of The Great Gatsby. I didn't see it in 3D as I didn't find that necessary. The cinematography is amazing. The colors, the costumes, the houses! Seriously, both Gatsby's house and the Buchanan's house are absolutely stunning. Stunning. While I've heard complaints from others, I wasn't bothered by the anachronistic soundtrack. After seeing both Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge it was what I was expecting from the director.
As far as the cast is concerned, I found it to be a bit of a mixed bag. Leo was the perfect Gatsby and absolutely nailed it. Joel Edgerton was wonderful as Tom and while Isla Fisher was a surprising choice for Myrtle, I think she did a great job. While I like Tobey Maguire and think he did a good job, frankly I feel like he was just plain too old for the role. Nick is 30 in Fitzgerald's novel and is awed by the city and by Gatsby. Maguire has to be in his late 30s, early 40s by now which makes his wide-eyed wonder unconvincing. A younger actor would have been a better choice. As far as Carey Mulligan, I'm sorry to say I think she is just too plain for this role. Daisy is a tough character because she is so vapid and silly (she's the fool she hopes her daughter grows up to be). In both the book and the movie it is hard to understand why Gatsby is so infatuated with her. For this reason, the actor portraying her has to have a beauty and charisma that Mulligan just doesn't have, in my opinion.
Overall, I would definitely recommend seeing The Great Gatsby and because of the cinematography and spectacle, I would recommend seeing it in theaters if you get the chance. Baz really stayed very faithful to the novel with only a few small changes that were necessary in converting the novel to the screen. The Great Gatsby has long been one of my favorite classics. It isn't the easiest book to read, as many a high school student will attest, but I still love it and am happy to see it has finally received the big screen treatment it deserves.
On a side note, it is rumored that Baz and Leo are tackling Hamlet next!!!
Have you seen this movie? What did you think? Have you read the book?
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Parallel (Book Review)
Author: Lauren Miller
Publisher: HarperTeen
Number of Pages: 419
Release Date: May 14, 2013
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Abby Barnes had a plan. The Plan. She'd go to Northwestern, major in journalism, and land a job at a national newspaper, all before she turned twenty-two. But one tiny choice—taking a drama class her senior year of high school—changed all that. Now, on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Abby is stuck on a Hollywood movie set, miles from where she wants to be, wishing she could rewind her life. The next morning, she's in a dorm room at Yale, with no memory of how she got there. Overnight, it's as if her past has been rewritten.
With the help of Caitlin, her science-savvy BFF, Abby discovers that this new reality is the result of a cosmic collision of parallel universes that has Abby living an alternate version of her life. And not only that: Abby's life changes every time her parallel self makes a new choice. Meanwhile, her parallel is living out Abby's senior year of high school and falling for someone Abby's never even met.
As she struggles to navigate her ever-shifting existence, forced to live out the consequences of a path she didn't choose, Abby must let go of the Plan and learn to focus on the present, without losing sight of who she is, the boy who might just be her soul mate, and the destiny that's finally within reach.
MY THOUGHTS:
I really enjoyed this book. This take on parallel worlds was original and well done. While I'm not especially science-minded I enjoyed reading the philosphy behind how this could have happened and thought the idea seemed well researched and thought out. I loved her friendship with the science-savy Caitlin and her sometimes on/sometimes off relationship with their mutual friend Tyler (Parallel Abby's actions keep changing their relationship, too).
Overall, I found Parallel to be fresh and fun. I would definitely recommend this if you are looking for a quick summer read.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Waiting on Wednesday (8) The Infinite Moment of Us
Publisher: Amulet Books
Release Date: August 20, 2013
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Charlie Parker, on the other hand, is painfully aware of his heart’s desire. A gentle boy with a troubled past, Charlie has loved Wren since the day he first saw her. But a girl like Wren would never fall for a guy like Charlie—at least not the sort of guy Charlie believes himself to be.
And yet certain things are written in the stars. And in the summer after high school, Wren and Charlie’s souls will collide. But souls are complicated, as are the bodies that house them . . .
Sexy, romantic, and oh-so-true to life, this is an unforgettable look at first love from one of young adult fiction’s greatest writers.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Top Ten Tuesday (8) Freebie Week: Best Upcoming Covers
Top Ten Tuesday is a is is a weekly meme/original feature hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Click the link to go to their site to see the original list for today plus links to a whole slew of other blogs. After you read mine, of course.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Stacking the Shelves (7)
Stacking the Shelves is a weekly feature hosted by Tyngas Reviews. This meme allows us to share the books we've recently added to our shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! *Clicking the link of a book's title will take you to Goodreads.
*Followers and comments are welcome and much appreciated. If you leave a comment, please also leave your link so I can come visit you. I'll always try to follow those who are following me, but if I somehow forget you, please just let me know. Happy reading!
Thursday, May 23, 2013
The Moon and More (Early Book Review)
The Moon and More
Author: Sarah Dessen
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Number of Pages: 384
Release Date: June 4, 2013
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.
Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo's sophisticated, exciting, and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.
Emaline's mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he's convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby?
Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going?
Sarah Dessen's devoted fans will welcome this story of romance, yearning, and, finally, empowerment. It could only happen in the summer.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Waiting on Wednesday (7) Earthbound
Author: Aprilynne Pike
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: July 30, 2013
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Love, fate, and power collide in this new series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Aprilynne Pike!
Tavia Michaels is the sole survivor of the plane crash that killed her parents. When she starts to see strange visions of a boy she’s never spoken with in real life, she begins to suspect that there’s much about her past that she isn’t being told. Tavia will soon discover that she’s an Earthbound—someone with the ability to create matter out of nothing—and that she alone holds the key to stopping the Reduciata, an evil society that manipulates global events for its own shadowy purposes. Tavia will ultimately have to make a choice: to come into her powers and save the world from the evil Reduciata or to choose free will and a love of her own.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Top Ten Tuesdays (7) Favorite covers
That Time I Joined the Circus byJ. J. Howard
Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten
Just pretty. And the book was actually both better and different from what I was expecting.
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
Mind Games by Kiersten White
This book has been pretty polarizing on Goodreads and in the blogsphere, but I loved this twisty YA about sister assassins.
Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst
I love a cover with a sense of humor.
Another cover I obsessed over only to be disappointed by what was inside.
The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood
This is easily one of my favorite books of all times. It is pure genius. And that cover is cool and creepy. I love everything about this novel.
Man, there are so many cool, pretty, crazy covers out there. As I was surfing my books on Goodreads, I found all kinds of pretty covers of books I've eyed up for forever, but have never picked up. So I'm going to cheat and add one more line of pretty covers. These are just a few of my favorite covers of books I still need to read.
I could do this all day, but I'm going to stop now. So much cover love. I can't wait to see what you all have chosen this week.
So what are your favorite covers? Link me up!
*Followers and comments are welcome and much appreciated. If you leave a comment, please also leave your link so I can come visit you. I'll always try to follow those who are following me, but if I somehow forget you, please just let me know. Happy reading!
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