The film turned the novel's nuanced exposition of the human condition into a sentimental bowl of mush

Rating: 3/10 (12 November 2012)

The film is a valiant attempt to wrestle the complex web of stories in the novel into a film that holds the viewers attention, builds suspense, preserves the story lines and drives home the philosophical themes from the excellent novel. It was largely successful from my vantage point, having read the novel beforehand. My strongest objection to the film is that it sentimentalizes many of the characters and stories from the novel, and in doing so, interjects the idea that "love is all you need" (I half-expected Jim Sturgess ("Across the Universe") to break out in the Beatles song at some point). So if you like philosophical musings, and don't mind a sprinkling of sugar on them, and you're good at following multiple story lines (6) as they zip in and out and back again several times, then you might enjoy this film. The spoilers follow as I list the film's transgressions against the novel for those who are interested:
The film turned Robert Frobisher from the brilliant misfit and scoundrel in the novel into a devoted, fawning apprentice, whose suicide was prompted not by the inevitable tragic and overwhelming humiliation he brought upon himself, but by his accidental shooting of his mentor.
Timothy Cavendish ends his part in the film in the arms of his first love, whereas the novel doesn't even hint at such an ending.
The most blatant and grievous corruption of the novel takes place in the story of Somni-451. In the novel, the government cynically uses her in an elaborate scheme to set her up as an example of what happens to anyone who challenges the system, and though it turns out that she was wise to their deception the whole time, she plays along so that she can express her outrage and her principles in the hope that it will make a difference after she is dead. It's a thrilling story of deception within deception within deception, but the film turns it into a mushy love story with grandiose tragic heroes. Yuck.
The novel's post-apocalyptic story of Zachary ends with a bunch of primitive people staring at a hologram of Somni-451 telling her story in a language that they can't understand - the world ends in a whimper. But the film turns this ending into mush, as the hero Zachary is rewarded with a passel of grandkids from his union with the hot Prescient woman.
All in all, this added layer of sentimentality in the film left me very unsatisfied and with a slightly acrid, saccharin taste in my mouth.