How Movie is Better in Portraying The Story of "The Great Gatsby"

The Ongoing Debate: Books vs. Movies

The battle over whether books are superior to movies or vice versa has been ongoing since the inception of cinema. We live in an era where everything is available instantly, right at our fingertips. Consequently, everything feels rushed, and people don't have the luxury of time to waste. Books require a significant time investment and are not always seen as essential or entertaining as they once were. It is much easier to watch a movie for an hour and a half than to spend days engrossed in a single book. Movies offer a more convenient form of entertainment than books, as they are less time-consuming and offer visual stimulation. The film adaptation of The Great Gatsby by Baz Luhrmann serves as a prime example of how a movie can excel in storytelling.

Visual Storytelling in Movies

One of the main advantages of movies is their visual nature, which eliminates the need for viewers to imagine how characters might look. Films can utilize special effects to intensify scenes, such as the opening of The Great Gatsby, where Nick stands before a frosted window, and the image blurs with snow, signaling a flashback. Unlike books, which can take days or even weeks to finish depending on reading speed, movies offer an immediate understanding of the plot. Techniques like zooming in on a character's facial expression effectively convey emotions to the audience, allowing them to see precisely what the character is feeling.

The Role of Sound and Music in Films

In addition to their visual appeal, movies engage audiences through sound, using music to evoke specific emotions. Baz Luhrmann strategically used the song "Young and Beautiful" by Lana Del Rey during moments between Gatsby and Daisy, enhancing the emotional depth of their interactions. This musical choice underscores Gatsby's feelings for Daisy, especially when he remarks, "She makes it look so splendid," during a scene in his ballroom with Nick and Daisy. Hearing someone cry or scream can have a more profound impact on the audience's emotions than merely reading about a character's distress, as the visual and auditory elements make the pain or anger palpable.

The Power of Language in Literature

While films have the advantage of visuals and sound, books wield the power of language to evoke emotions through descriptive and emotive words. F. Scott Fitzgerald's portrayal of Tom and Daisy in The Great Gatsby as "careless people" who "smashed up things and then retreated back into their money" is a potent critique, though it may not match the intensity of a scene where Nick loses his temper. In the film, Nick's outburst at reporters, accompanied by a close-up of his face and the crescendo of his shouting followed by silence, creates a more dramatic and intense atmosphere than merely reading about Tom and Daisy's carelessness.

Conclusion: A Case for Movies

As demonstrated throughout this essay, several arguments support the notion that movies are better suited to convey a story than novels. These include the visual elements that capture a character's emotions through facial expressions. However, the most compelling evidence lies in the ability of films to use music to evoke emotions. Therefore, movies can portray a story more effectively than books by engaging the audience both visually and auditorily.

References

Fitzgerald, F. S. (1925). The Great Gatsby. Charles Scribner's Sons.

Luhrmann, B. (Director). (2013). The Great Gatsby [Film]. Warner Bros. Pictures.

Del Rey, L. (2013). Young and Beautiful [Song]. On The Great Gatsby: Music from Baz Luhrmann's Film. Interscope Records.