The Oakland Cathedral

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Posts posted by The Oakland Cathedral

  5. Posted · Report post

    I just saw it today, and I have a few gripes.

    I have no problem with the way the story is told, though it could have been executed way better. That aspect felt very forced. It is obviously told from Nick's perspective, but I believe he is telling the story after the Wall Street Crash, many years after the story takes place. I am assuming that the script has him becoming an alcoholic after the significant event at the end that I can not spoil. The reason they had him sign it as Nick Carraway is because Nick the character is a writer. Also, some believe that Fitzgerald based Carraway on himself.

    One thing I have an issue with is the excess of CGI. The first half hour of the movie is CGI heavy, and it is not visually appealing. The first bit of the movie was also pretty incoherent. It just jumped around and did not quite follow the book. Once Gatsby comes into the picture though, it follows the book pretty well. Another problem I have is the fact that they changed several of Fitzgerald's essential quotes. As a huge Fitzgerald fan, I was pissed with the way they killed so many of his key lines.

    Many of the complaints I see with the movie regard the rap music and the "excessive" partying. The rap music worked for me, but sometimes it was far too loud and it detracted from the movie. As for the complaints of the excessive partying, that's a load of crap. Those people who say that either didn't read the book or they are just looking for something to complain about.

    I agree on that last part, excess was a central idea in the book and I'm glad they made it obvious in the movie. I also heard about some of the alterations to quotes which people were not fond of. I know about the Carraway-Fitzgerald connection, in fact many of the characters can be compared to his various real life relationships. Nonetheless I still don't like it being unrealistic and having no basis in the actual book with that scene. I also heard that he almost always had a drink in his hand throughout the movie which again seems odd with the information in the book.
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  6. Posted · Report post

    I'm starting to think that most of these film critics haven't actually read Gatsby. Half the reviews say it follows the book religiously and the other half say it doesn't. I also think it's kind of ironic how some of the reviews say things like, "All Sparkle, No Soul" and that it "emphasizes visual splendor at the expense of its source material's vibrant heart." The "All Sparkle, No Soul" concept is a theme explored in the book. Daisy Buchanan is just that: All sparkle and no soul.

    I'm anxious to hear the soundtrack. I am starting to warm up to the idea, and I actually respect their though process in making it. They wanted to draw a parallel between the 20s and today. Fast music, fast dancing, big parties, etc... Some people tell me it works, and some people tell me it ruined the movie.

    Anyone here (that read the book) have thoughts on the movie?

    I haven't seen it yet but many of my friends all said it had numerous inconsistencies with the book that kind of killed it. For instance in the movie Nick is essentially an alcoholic but in the book he has only been drunk twice in his life, doesn't make a lot of sense there. Also at the end it shows Nick writing the book supposedly and signing it as the author which doesn't make sense since it should say "By: F.Scott Fitzgerald". Yet another problem reported by my compadres was that the characters accents didn't really fit. Just a few problems they had with it.
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  7. Posted · Report post

    The one with Daniel Day-Lewis and Winona Ryder? Not bad, considering what it is.

    Yes that one, it's actually a solid movie which surprised me on my first viewing and it actually does a fairly decent job capturing the book except for when Proctor like runs into the river or creek or whatever.
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  8. Posted · Report post

    Also if you want a great Movie based on a classic piece of literature I highly recommend "The Crucible" and if you don't want to watch the whole movie tomorrow I will post a link to the best scene in the entire movie which is a must see scene!

    "Because it is my name!!! Because I cannot have another in my life!" oh the memories of English. I also recommend the 1985 movie Smooth Talk based on Joyce Carol Oates "Where are you going, where have you been?", it's a movie that just oozes an awkwardness that is only understandable after watching it and the odd thing is that it is incredibly awkward at all the wrong parts and less awkward when it should be based on the short story but JCO liked the movie so WTH.

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  9. Posted · Report post

    Reception has certainly not been positive thus far. It being overly artsy is basically a given with that director.

    One of the more interesting critiques of the movie is that the portrayal of Daisy is whitewashed and the movie lost the opportunity to explore the glorification of one you love but can't have, or something along those lines.

    Interesting, haven't read that critique yet, where'd you see that one?
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  11. Posted · Report post

    My husband and I are two of several people in this theater right now for The Great Gatsby, but we aren't at the 3D version. It might be more packed for that one, but it's not bad right now. The man at the ticket counter said there was a great turn-out for the first viewing last night, and it's been steady throughout the day at the various times. We're at Hunt Valley. Wonderful theater, and I'm excited for the movie to begin! :)

    I can't wait to see Gatsby! I've heard it was pretty Boom or Bust opinion wise.
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  22. Posted · Report post

    I actually did. It made me feel old because I used to think only old people followed the shows on NBC, CBS and/or ABC lol

    But yeah I did and I liked it. He's no Anthony Hopkins but I can dig it. I like the weird bizarreness of the character of "Hannibal". Hopkins played it perfect.

    I liked but I also think there is a lot of room for improvement in it. Hopefully it gets better over the course of the next few shows. Anthony Hopkins is an amazing actor though, probably better than just about any of the other potential candidates for the role so it would be hard to out perform him.
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