Fitzgerald’s
novel, the Great Gatsby, and Baz Luhrmann’s version of the movie were similar
yet, different in a lot of ways. Though the movie stayed to the main plot, a
few changes were done concerning Nick and Jordan, Gatsby’s murder by George and
Gatsby’s death and funeral.
In Fitzgerald’s novel, the romance between Nick and Jordan
almost seemed to be obvious. The way they looked at each other, or even when
they kissed under the moonlight. In the novel they become a couple and break up
near the end of the summer. However, in the movie it is not as distinct that
they liked each other. Rather, close friends. During one of Gatsby’s parties, Jordan was
whisked away from Nike by another man, who danced with her and left with her.
Near the end of the book, Gatsby is murdered by George Wilson,
the mechanic husband of Tom’s mistress. In the novel, Tom just says it was
Gatsby’s yellow car that ran over Myrtle. In the movie, it made to have Tom
look like a major villain convincing Wilson that it was all Gatsby. He was the
one who slept with Myrtle and he must be stopped. In the novel and film, Gatsby
is waiting for a phone call from Daisy by the pool, so they could make plans
together and run away. However, in the movie, the phone rings. The viewer can
see the hope in Gatsby’s eyes right before George shoots him. People watching
then know it wasn’t Daisy; it was Nick calling to see if Gatsby was alright. None of this happens in the book, besides
George killing Gatsby.
In both versions, Gatsby is lonely in death. In the novel the
only person besides Nick that shows up is Gatsby’s real father who saw that
Gatsby had died in a newspaper. He was mourning saying he never saw Gatsby
since he ran away from home, but he knew he would of made a change in the
world. However, the film depicted his funeral and death in a curler way. No one shows up, no one cared. Not even Daisy.
All in all, the movie was a good reflection on the book.
Though some changes were made to enhance the drama filled romance of this time,
overall it was a good movie that kept the viewer wanting to watch more—to see
what happens next.
