Good movie, but does not do Heller's novel justice

Rating: 5/10 (6 February 2005)

Now, I had read a lot of mixed reviews about Catch-22, and to be honest, I wasn't really expecting much from a 2 hour movie based on Joseph Heller's greatly complicated, deeply involved 500 page masterpiece. And, based on that, I didn't get much. However, if you've never read the book Catch-22, or if you totally disregard this movie as being based on anything whatsoever, it's really not that bad of a film. In fact, it's quite an amazing film. It's got an amazing cast, some wonderful cinematography, and of course a great story. I would give this movie a higher rating, but I did read the book, and it does not do Heller's book justice. I would be surprised if any movie could be as amazing as the book - without being about 6 hours long. I know that it is impossible to include EVERYTHING, but to cut out such great characters as Lt. Scheisskopf and Major _____ de Coverly is just disappointing, as well as the great story of moving the bomb line before the Bologna attack to make it seem like they already attacked it. I am very pleased with the repeated Snowden scenes, just as the book deals with them. All in all, this a great movie - but not enough for such a great novel.