Adaptations of literature to film often change the original narrative due to differences in medium and creative interpretation.

The Great Gatsby (2013) Directed by Baz Luhrmann

Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby adapts F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel by updating the Jazz Age setting with contemporary music and lavish visual effects. The modern soundtrack and CGI amplify the opulence and excess of the era but can overshadow the novel’s subtle social critique. While the visual spectacle enhances the themes of wealth and decadence, it sometimes shifts focus from Fitzgerald’s nuanced prose to the film’s sensory experience. The characters’ portrayals, influenced by the modern aesthetic, reflect the era’s extravagance more vividly, impacting the original narrative’s tone and depth.

Macbeth (2015) Directed by Justin Kurzel

Justin Kurzel’s Macbeth adapts Shakespeare’s tragedy with a gritty, visceral visual style and a dark, brooding atmosphere. Set in a bleak, medieval Scotland, the film emphasizes the brutal and violent aspects of the story. The dialogue is retained, but the visual and auditory elements, such as intense battle scenes and haunting landscapes, enhance the themes of ambition, power, and madness. These changes create a more immersive and intense experience, but the focus on visual spectacle can sometimes overshadow the play’s psychological complexity. The characters’ portrayals, particularly Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, are deeply influenced by the film’s somber tone, affecting the original narrative’s balance between action and introspection.