Movie follows book extremely well

Rating: Null/10 (18 January 2000)

I was very excited to see this movie for more than one reason. First of all, when I heard that it was directed by the same person who directed Shawshank Redemption (which I LOVED), I immediately knew that it would be amazing. Also, anything written by Stephen King (as Shawshank Redemption also was) is bound to be good. I had also bought the book when it first came out in serial form. So the first thing I did when I went home for winter break was to read the entire book. I was desperate to see the movie, but I was determined to read the book first.
The novel was extremely moving; I cried through probably half of the last book, and the movie followed very closely to the novel. Never before have I cared so much about a mouse. King creates a compassion in his audience for Delacroix and Coffey that would not be expected. They are both convicted murderers on death row, yet I found myself feeling sorry for them and not wanting them to die.
Percy was easily unlikable, as was Wharton. At times I wanted to jump into the screen and punch Percy myself. On the other hand, I really liked the character of Brutal. Although he seems to be tough, he's a very sweet guy. Each character transferred extremely well from novel to screen, which sometimes can be difficult to accomplish. The written word allows for character description and explanation much more easily than film.
As always, Tom Hanks gives an outstanding performance, and Michael Clarke Duncan is amazing as John Coffey. He portrays the depth of his character extremely well and proves that he can handle any type of role. From the wild and crazy Bear in Armageddon to the powerful and subdued Coffey in The Green Mile, Duncan has secured his place in Hollywood alongside other notable actors for years to come.