The Great Gatsby

Since Hollywood can't get enough of him, F. Scott Fitzgerald's angsty millionaire Jay Gatsby is back. Rendered in 3D by director Baz Luhrmann, The Great Gatsby is unarguably the most colorful rendition of the story yet.

In his "younger and more vulnerable years," Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) pursued the American dream as a stockbroker. His cousin, Daisy (Carey Mulligan) found the American dream by marrying the brutish Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton). Next door to Nick is Jay Gatsby, the millionaire host of New York's biggest parties. No one has seen him, but they all love his parties.

One night, Nick becomes the only man invited to Gatsby's latest free-for-all. And it's here where the man (Leonardo DiCaprio) reveals himself.

Gatsby, it turns out, used to be in love with Daisy. In fact, he still is: all his parties are in the hope of getting her attention. Through Nick, Gatsby hopes to get Daisy by his side again. But once they meet again, things don't turn out the way he'd like.

Adding to the extravagance is Luhrmann's wife, Production and Costume designer Catherine Martin. The New York of 1922 is one of the biggest, loudest, most colorful renditions of the old city ever. It should easily remind viewers of Moulin Rouge, for which she won two Oscars. Her work here should put her up for consideration for two more.

Still, at times, it could've helped if Luhrmann showed some restraint. Its excessiveness outshines its characters by a wide margin. Even Daisy, Nick and Gatsby, the nicest characters in the book, were good but not compelling. Unlike Anna Karenina, I at least wasn't bored all the way through.

This Gatsby is good, but not Great. It's still worth at least a watch. Maybe someday, someone will make The Greatest Gatsby. Someday.