Great book, one of the few I actually read and didn't use SparkNotes for in High School, but it just never works as a film IMO. I did like the 70's version of the film though.
Reading that so many people loved the movie. So where did all the critic negativity come from?
Most critics simply don't really like Baz Luhrmann and his style. His movies are not critically panned, just pretty polarizing...usually split down the middle. His movies are all very glossy, over the top, and about the spectacle which a lot of critics don't like.
I don't listen to critics anymore. I just judge a movie on my own. And I loved Gatsby!