Love the book (have read it twice). Keeping my comments brief - but overall, it was an OK watch. Nothing great - not bad.
I was one of the people that couldn't wait to see this as a movie. But as the release date got closer I kept thinking about the book. And unfortunately, what I "feared" became reality.
The truth is (at least for me) is that the material just works so much better AS a book. The way it's structured (although difficult to initially get into) with both viewpoints, the AHA moments and twists and turns works so well because in the book, there is great detail and you can "savor" each moment.
The movie - feels SLOW. And at the same time, it never lands on anything really long enough to savor the moment. I freely admit that both times I read the book, I was so into it that at times I was out of breath, and yes - did cry in a few spots. The movie - not so much.
Again - the movie wasn't bad. And perhaps it would be impossible to capture the book any other way in film.
The story is a beautiful story - and while there is definitely tension in the book - it's not MOVIE/ACTION tension.
*** SPOILERS *** I thought the ending was sweet - but the book's ending was far more powerful and it showed the ENDURANCE of love beyond a few years.
As I said - keeping it brief...
"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men" - Willy Wonka
