HORRIBLE!

So what did you want? Somebody sitting at a desk and reading you the book out-loud, words-to-words, on the screen?

I can't stand when people complain about movies ruining the book. I mean, why did you see it then? Why not just read the book and not watch the movie if you can't expect the fact that film is a complete different medium. If you expect to see everything, every single detail that you read in the book, then you should never watch movies that are "based" on the books that you have read.

If not, open yourself up to the horizon and try to learn to appreciate both medium. You can't have movies lasting for three hours just because someone like you wanted all the details put from the book put into the movie. It is NEVER possible.


Go educate yourself before you complain here.

Never read the book; movie touching and poignant.

I agree, the book is much better than the movie. Unfortunately, in order to fit in everything that's in the book, a series of TV programmes would need to be made.

Because a movie was made, some things had to be changed so that the story could fit into a 1 1/2 - 2 hour slot (it was a made-for-TV movie), and what they kept in was done reasonably well. Unfortunately, too much had to be cut out. I do feel that they could have somehow included a bit more of Zach, who is my favourite character, though.

That's just my opinion.

R~O
TEAM EDWARD!!!
"You were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off" - St. Trinian's (2007)

As others have said, the difference between an eight or nine hour solid read to a two hour film means a lot has to be cut.

It may well be that the ending has changed, as others have said, but as a step-dad who has had the "I can do it, Dad" moment I like the end the film has.

The best thing to do is think of the book and the film as two separate things, that way you won't be disappointed. I have yet to read a book that the film covers properly, including Lord of the Rings and the Harry Potter series.

I totally agree. The acting was just repulsive. Will's, to be exact. He was like he was totally reading off a script. No emotion. And I think that was a very important character to have the right actor. And he was hardly even an actor. His nightmares were so fake and poorly-acted that it was even laughable. Will was cheeky and quite unlikable, he made no character progress, stayed the same (which was basically the whole point and storyline of the book and movie-he flourishes with the help of Mister Tom). I'd like to warn anyone- IF YOU READ THE BOOK, DON'T SEE THE MOVIE- SPOILS IT ALL! This movie is, like, seriously underrated. It's slow-moving and boring. I couldn't care less of what happens next. It does, as you said, miss out on a lot of very important parts such as:
-The character developement.
-The love Will shows for Tom.
-Will, Tom and Zach's holiday in the sun
-Spooky Cott and whatshisname that lives there
-His mum was much much nicer, Tom was meaner and Will was bolder
-Zach, Ginnie, Carrie, George and Will: all the times they hung out
I bet I forgot a lot, but basically the movie is extremely overrated and pure crap.

Johnny I agree with you - I loved the book,and as I'm sure you'll agree, It's one of those rare works which, when you put It down, makes you feel like the story Is carrying on without you until you pick It up again and putting It down Is difficult (just one more page....!)And yes, the TV Movie doesn't do It Justice. But let's be fair Johnny - some films claim to be "based on" a book or an event and yet, all too often, It turns out to be such a tenuous connection to the original story that It's totally unrecognisable, with perhaps little more than peoples names being the "connecting factor". Indeed, "based on" Is a very much abused phrase - Hollywood being amongst the worst culprits!
That said, I think your love of the fine book has tainted your view of the film. While I, too, was disappointed when I first saw this film, I think we should try and view It on It's own merits. After all, If neither of us had any knowledge of the story prior to seeing this then I'm pretty sure the both of us would have been very pleased with It - our prior knowledge tainted our view, If you understand my meaning (which I've no doubt you do).
There's no criticism here my friend, clearly you're a person of Intelligence with good Moral taste and values, and as a person of similar taste I think we should look at this as a separate entity. It certainly has the "feelgood factor"! All the best my friend.