Phenomenal movie! Absolutely brilliant!

Rating: 10/10 (19 May 2013)

I've read the book and loved it. This a story with a lot of depth and I believe the symbolism is essential to one's overall comprehension of the story. This movie truly depicts these symbols accurately as well as the setting, case in point, the Valley of Ashes, West Egg, the green light etc. I think it can really aid a person in gasping the true concept of the story. Needless to say, it's visually stunning.
The music was a major concern for most people but I have to say, although I'm no Jay Z/Beyonce fan, it works extremely well. The lyrics reflect what is happening and is in sync with the pace and circumstances. The pacing of the film is great and the music adds to the excitement of the roaring 20s so it never feels boring. Luhrmann and the cast/crew made this movie feel contemporary while simultaneously staying faithful to the historical and classical context.
Furthermore, while it highly stylized, the actors put a lot of thought and emotion into their performances. I can tell that a lot of research was done because the cast seemed to really understand the people they were portraying from the inside out. Leonardo DiCaprio was spectacular as was Carey Mulligan (who was a concern for so many people). Mulligan gave insight into Daisy's motivations rather than just portraying her as a flat, weak, shallow woman. She really let us in on what was going on in Daisy's mind and Nick's narration assisted in those revelations. The rest of the cast did brilliantly with their material as well. I have no complaints.
I had goosebumps for the very start to the end of this movie. It was simply that amazing. It has the best of both worlds in terms of style and substance and contemporary and classic. A must see movie. I will say that it is important to keep an open mind and really take some time to think about the issues addressed in this film. I also would not take any negative reviews too seriously. See it or yourself and then be your own judge. It baffles me that some people dislike this masterpiece but to each his own. I think a lot of it had to do with expectations as some people were throw off by Luhrmann's past work. Multiple viewings may help as it contains so much detail. This is a pure and faithful adaptation to timeless novel and I believe that Fitgerald, who was a modern man, would have been proud to see his work of art come to life in a way that's never been done before.