Cold Mountain unfaithful to the book

Rating: Null/10 (5 October 2009)

I had read the book before seeing the movie, and also listened to the unabridged audio book read by the author. I found it's story astounding. But the movie....it became a discombobulated contortion right before my eyes.
Ada was a brunette, and a snotty little uppity-chick from Charleston whose sole intent at times seemed to be shoving people away, or saying something outrageous just to shock those within earshot. Inman and Ada knew of each other, but their encounters were few. Inman told Sally Swanger that he'd "clear an acre of new ground for an introduction..." to Ada. After the intro, there was little said, with Inman finding himself lost for words and staring down into his hat. Ada asked if that collection of "dullards" had put him up to it, and ask how he thought it was going. Inman said "...like picking up a chestnut burr, thus far." The book is far more satisfying, and far more of a look into the characters of Ada and Ruby, and Inman, and Sally and Esco, and all the other rich characters.
The movie is a swill-trough of poorly matched character-representations, all due to a poorly written script and simple-minded attempt to capitalize on a truly extraordinary novel.
Rene Z. should have been allowed to purchase the rights also, so she could make a semi-faithful MINI-SERIES that would actually allow the audience to see how Ada's coming into her own (from a socialite to a "person" of substance) shaped her into a much better person, with Ruby's guidance and "foot in the back".
I'm still bummed out about how this wonderful story was so recklessly mangled....