In fairness in the novel, the world of East Egg and characters(the Buchanans especially) are quite shallow and overblown as well.
The characters are indeed shallow, F. Scott Fitzgerald made them intentionally so to drive home a point. But the novel itself is multilayer and has a lot of symbolism and depth in its story. (Had to read it in H.S. and we went over all that) I don’t they’ll even try to convey any of it in this adaptation. Baz Luhrmann, $200 million, 3D!!!! .... I’m imagining a “Of Mice and Men” adaptation directed by Brett Ratner. The focus will be on visuals and sound, not story.
That Fitzgerald was talented and meticulous writer is undeniable (I’ve read that he agonized over the placement of every word of this story, re-writing it many times over), but I’ve always thought Gatsby was a tad overrated.
It’s a wonderful period piece, and really captures the spirit of the 20’s (or at least makes me believe that it does). Strangely, that’s what makes it timeless. It is vivid and colorful. I suppose that is why it endures.
But the plot and the story is only so-so. It’s dated in that sense.
I remember reading it in one night (it was a page turner), and then feeling let down at the end, like “that’s it?”.