film better than book

Rating: 8/10 (20 May 2006)

Ron Howard has delivered a film that surpasses the original novel in ease of comprehension, although the premise that Tom Hanks' character needs to explain the concepts to Tatou's character at each juncture (obviously to clue in the audience) is too much talk yet too little illumination. The story line is interesting, obviously believable (hence all the outcry opposed) and has generated more religious or theological discussion within my circle of family and friends than we have experienced in generations. Any film that can do that is worth seeing. The film and book are fiction but expose many truths, fears and fantasies that have gripped civilized man from the beginning of Christianity. It strives to note the past human foibles and judgments which have left some of our basic truths open to various questioning or repositioning. No one should be offended, shocked or upset by this film, which only tries to tell a "what if" chapter of Christianity, NOT TO DENY the one the world has accepted for 2000 years. It takes nothing away from Christ or His followers.
I enjoyed the film much more than the novel's wooden style. (Nonetheless, I feel a stronger lead than Hanks was warranted. It was as though he was marching while everyone else was dancing.)