Trailer Roundup: The Great Gatsby and Les Misérables

The last few days we were given a treat: Teasers for two movies I’m very excited to see! There was The Great Gatsby and Les Misérables with a first glimpse into two very remarkable movies with very remarkable and devoted fans of the source material.  Let's take a look! 

The Great Gatsby

   

I like it. A lot. But of course I do because I’m a fan of Baz Luhrmann and his Spectacular Spectacular-ness! I’ve seen rumblings on the internet about why 3-D. Why not? Why can’t we have something in 3-D that’s not blowing up in our face? I want to be enveloped in the Roaring Twenties in all its extravagant and emotional glory. My only issue is Tobey Maguire’s narration. He wasn’t very good at it in Spiderman and it’s just not working for me here in this trailer. Plus I watched about ten minutes of Ride with the Devil. It wasn’t a very good ten minutes. I may be more kinder than some when it comes to this trailer but then, the last time I read this book was in high school so I only remember the basic plot of the story so all that deep stuff we discussed has been long forgotten and I’m all about the pretty right now with this trailer.

Les Misérables

   

I only know of this from listening to the 10th Anniversary Concert (having recorded in off of PBS and waiting through their ridiculously long breaks) and listening to my Les Mis CD about a hundred times. I’ve never seen it on stage or read the book, so I’m really excited about seeing a fully realized setting to the songs I know and love. Seeing Hugh Jackman and Russell Crow as Jean Valjean and Javert is just incredible! I know Russell Crow can rock the period costume after watching him in Master and Commander. I've never heard him sing before so that will be interesting. I’ve heard Hugh Jackman sing when he hosted the Academy Awards and his brilliant routine with Neil Patrick Harris. He makes me smile the way Gene Kelly does. He’s so natural and he looks good in this movie. Anne Hathaway, who is singing in this trailer brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. Her voice is a little wobbly, a bit weak (but then I’ve been listening to Ruthie Henshall the whole time as Fantine) but I feel something, I feel Fantine’s pain and desperation. That’s a good thing! And then I did read they are singing live on set so...

What do you think?

The Remake I Don’t Really Have An Issue With (Yeah, right! I always take issue with something!)

I liked The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. But the last time (the only time, actually) I read The Great Gatsby was in high school. I also saw the Robert Redford version of the movie once. It was long ago and I guess I liked it but who cares because there’s the new one to look forward to! And in 3D!

Confession: I’ve only seen one movie in 3D and that was Toy Story 3. All I have to say was THANK GOODNESS for those glasses because I was (damn you Pixar) crying! But that also exposes my limited experience with 3D.

I have faith in this 3D version of The Great Gatsby though. 1) It’s actually being filmed in 3D, so from what I’ve read of films converted to 3D post production, those don’t always work out so well. 2) I LOVE Baz Luhrmann. I ONLY sing the Moulin Rouge version of Your Song. Sorry Elton. 3) Well, obviously based on the previous statement I love me some Moulin Rouge. Musicals make me happy and it's so visually interesting so I’m curious to see Baz’s vision of The Great Gatsby.

Another reason I have faith in this remake... Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby. Have you seen The Departed or Shutter Island? So good. We’ll just ignore the fact he was in Romeo + Juliet because we all know he didn’t get good until he grew out of that teenage heartthrob phase. But The Departed? I really liked that movie. Of course it’s not the best from Martin Scorsese (that’s because nothing can top Taxi Driver, Raging Bull or Goodfellas) but of everyone in The Departed, I thought DiCaprio was the best. But I was disappointed by the ending because SPOILER ALERT he is killed and the only person left was Marky Mark! Seriously?! I was not a happy movie watcher. Oh, and he was good in Inception too. So, Leonardo DiCaprio fan? Yes I am.

My only issue is that The Great Gatsby is a very American novel, being adapted (again!) and filmed in Australia. Oh well, I believe it's in good hands so I am looking forward to seeing it.