The middle of the movie

I know there are a lot of people who prefer the short version of this movie, but I actually liked the longer version. So I thought it might be fun to talk about the middle, which was the added material. Good and bad. Keep in mind that I've never read the short story, so all of my thoughts are based on the long and short versions of the movie. Spoilers ahead.

First of all, I liked being able to spend more time with Spencer. I was very suspicious of him in the beginning, particularly because of the whole camping and fire thing, but over time I started thinking that he might actually be innocent. The reality is that I only thought that because I liked him (and I like the actor Gary Sinise) so I just really wanted him to be human. In the short version, we don't get to watch his struggle for very long so I didn't care about his character as much.

Also, some people don't like the ending because it just makes it feel like the whole chase was pointless. With the addition of the subplot in the middle, it allowed there to be some good that came out of this after all. Now the hospital outside the city has much needed medicine. (Hopefully the veteran's hospital can restock quickly though.)

Another thing I really liked was the cat and mouse game with Hathaway when Spencer hid the sensor on him and they kept running back and forth. I thought that was a clever diversion.

In general, I did like the running and chasing in the middle of the movie, but that is something I enjoy in most movies.

Of course, I don't think the movie is perfect. I think the direction could have been better and the camera movement annoyed me a little. Overall, though I had fun watching this movie.

"Give me an occupation... or I shall run mad." ~ Colonel Brandon, Sense & Sensibility