Finally.

As mentioned, I saw the film version a few weeks ago, which made me curious about the book. I enjoyed the book, though probably not as much as I enjoyed the film, and the two are wildly different.

Theo is the central character in both versions. There is a group called the Five Fishes in both versions, although in the film, the organization is much larger and much more influential. The setting is primarily the same (the book is set in 2021, the film in 2027), and some of the essential elements of the story are the same–humankind is infertile (although in the book, it is made clear that MEN are infertile. still no explanation as to why) and Theo has to help a woman who is miraculously pregnant safely give birth.

The film is much more violent than the book. Most of the shooting, bombing, and bloodshed doesn’t happen in the book at all. The government is much scarier in the film, although the book offers more of a meditation on power and corruption.

The book focuses a lot of attention on Theo’s relationship with his cousin Xan, the Warden of England. It’s hardly a blip in the movie.

And sadly, one of the major questions I hoped would be answered by the book–what exactly does the Human Project do? and does it actually exist?–was an element that was completely new for the film version.

Okay, now I’m going to get to what I liked about the film. I can’t possibly talk about this movie without mentioning those incredible tracking shots. Yes, they really were that amazing, and I still can’t believe it didn’t win the Oscar for cinematography. (This level of film geekery usually escapes me. I think I’ve been hanging w/Rand for too long!)

One of the most powerfully moving scenes in the film involved Michael Caine as Theo’s friend Jasper and a cover version of the Stones’ Ruby Tuesday, by Italian Franco Battiato. I don’t want to say any more about it, other than that it made me crycrycry.

Another moment that moved me came toward the end of the film, watching people living in the midst of of shooting and bombing and horror all around them. I thought to myself, “I can’t imagine living in a world like this,” then immediately thought “There are people who live in a world like this. Right now.” It made my heart ache.

I thought the ending of the movie, while sad, was much more hopeful than the ending of the book. I thought it was brilliantly done, and I highly recommend it. (Be warned, though, that it is heavy on social commentary. If that’s not your thing, you might want to stay away.)