Horrible Adaptation

Rating: Null/10 (6 January 2003)

I was at one point a great fan of Stephen King. I still list a couple of his works among my favorites, this one among them. The book, though marketed by a gimmicky (but fun) serialization, wove together a complicated story in two timelines. The prison story of John Coffey was a book within a book, and was carefully intertwined with the 1990s present of Paul Edgecomb(Tom Hanks).
The most grievous failing of this adaptation was the neglect of the way the timelines merged for Paul Edgecomb. Instead of this carefully intertwined story, viewers get a sappy version of the 1930s storyline, with a brief nod at the 1990s tale. While interesting in and of itself, the focus of the screenplay on the 1930s timeline left me annoyed at the piece of the puzzle that seemed left out to me.
In addition, I feel that Tom Hanks was probably not the best choice for Paul Edgecomb. Even in this serious roll, he gives off his own aura, constantly reminding me that he is Tom Hanks, not Paul Edgecomb.
Finally, the ending of the movie adaptation is lacking. The book's ending left me feeling the deep despair of the aged Paul Edgecomb. The movie just left me feeling annoyed.