I took interest in this movie because I had purchased the book before I had even known there was a movie made of it. Movies are always different than the books, so I decided to stick with the book and read it to the end before I should rent the movie version. It took me a little while to get used to Robert Cormier's style of writing but once I got into the book, I couldn't put it down. After I got used to the style of writing, it was all I knew, wanted to know, and wanted to expect. I also couldn't put the book down because of the plot development and the story as a whole. But on a different note, let's forget the story line for a moment - I'd like to say that this book is wonderfully written. It just is. Cormier didn't just come up with a story and pull you through the book just to get to the point of it. The journey itself through each page is awesome. Barney is the most developed character because, even though it is third person, we go through his life along side him, we discover his thoughts and feelings - which I think Cormier did the most excellent job of writing in the book. Barney isn't some cheesy character. He has thoughts , feelings, and insecurities like real human beings have and just the way it is written really connected me to it and prompted introspection. At first I was really dissatisfied with the ending, thinking it was abrupt, but the more I thought about it, the way it ended (where it was at) was a good ending. It led us to assume the future without having Cormier tell us, which makes the book very good - because it makes US think about it days afterwards instead of having Cormier tell us "and that was that...the end."
Now the movie itself was OK. My opinion is most likely different from someone else's who has just seen the movie with no prior reading. The story in the movie is similar, but I don't like the way they went about converting the story into a movie. I knew first off that the movie could never be as good as the book (as most movies are) because it is unable to be as detailed and can't successfully develop Barney's character and definitely could not show us his thoughts. But what bothered me most about the movie was not only was it missing things, but it changed ideas around - almost as if the screenplay writer had confused ideas brought up in the book. There are too many for me to explain, though. Also, they could have cast more appropriate actors. I'll just show a few examples. Barney in the book was brown-eyed, bowlegged and insecure. Cassie was in her twenties, blond and blue eyed and was "out of Barney's league" considering the age difference and the situation of it all. Also, a major point made in the book was the difference between Mazzo and Barney. Mazzo was blond and beautiful. Even though his disease was apparant on his body, it never took away his handsomeness. Barney contemplated that Mazzo's beauty was going to waste, while, he, a not handsome, bowlegged boy was not ill and was going to live. A big change which I didn't like was with "the Handyman". He was a man in the book who is much less open and caring towards Barney which contributed to the atmosphere of the Complex and what Barney is going through. The movie softened it up for viewers having it be a caring women who keeps Barney's well-being in mind. I also think the director could have done better. For example, Billy the Kidney could barely walk when he was out of his wheel chair and everytime Barney talked to him, Billy had this look of pain in his eyes, which he never complained about the disease despite the fact he whined about everything else. In the movie he is different - once again, softened up. Also Allie Roon was very spastic constantly moving and stuttering. Allie in the movie was toned down version.
I can't say who would prefer the book or the movie. I prefer the book because it is much more complete, isn't afraid to tell you every detail or hide the darkness of the Complex. The movie has less of that and gives us a happier ending. Barney is very depleted in his life, but even the book can show you (in a much more complete way) he still strives for hopes and accomplishes dreams, which makes him all the more of a character to root for. But this is just the tip of the iceberg of what I am trying to say.
Read the book and see for yourself.
