This one was a choice between To Kill a Mockingbird and The Great Gatsby. Film adaptations from books can often be a huge anticlimax, and it can be an even greater disappointment in reverse. If I have not managed to read the book before a film is released, then I come to the book with preconceived images in my mind. I find that it completely ruins the story. Part of the joy of reading is the creating of a world in your mind as you delve into the pages.
The Great Gatsby, for me, was anything but a let down. I don’t really need to say anything about the book, but the film was an extravaganza to fill the senses. Some may say that the cinematography detracted from the story, but I disagree. It is one of the most striking films I’ve seen for a while. In typical Luhrmann style, the film is a modernised version of the original story. I liked the addition of music which would not have existed in the 20s. His originality of style is partly what makes the adaptation work.
As of 2014, it is Baz Luhrmann‘s highest grossing film to date, earning over $350 million. At the 86th Academy Awards, it won both Best Production Design and Best Costume Design.
I’m very much looking forward to the film adaptation of Before I Go to Sleep, due to be released in 2014!
F.C. MALBY 