I read the book only because I knew the movie was coming out and it was being directed by Mr. Spielberg no less. Even though his recent projects (except perhaps, Bridge of Spies) have been mostly underwhelming in my opinion, I had great hopes for this. This movie was a great chance for Spielberg to come back to the sci-fi genre that he helped transform into the blockbuster genre that it is today.

I felt like the book itself needed little change if any at all to fit into the big screen. It seems like the director and the author of the book (who actually also was a screenwriter involved in the film) thought differently. The plot is needlessly changed, there is basically no character development, plot holes everywhere, characters' roles totally changed or straight up creating new ones with no significant purpose (F'Nale Zandor i'm looking at you).

Spoilers Ahead:

I just don't get why they had to diverge SO MUCH from the book. The three clues and gates and the ways in which the keys are acquired are completely altered from the book version. I cannot find, in my opinion, a logical reason except from a visual persepctive. The third act involving Parzival getting intentionally caught by the sixers to achieve his master plan of deactivating the shield from Anorak's castle completely GONE and replaced by some nonesense plot.

The list goes on and on. I feel I could write a whole essay about what I didn't like from the movie.

Bottom Line: If you have read the book, I wouldn't bother in watching the film. I am positive when I say you will be let down, unless you go in with the mindset of this being a totally different thing from the book apart of sharing its name and very loosely its overarching storyline.

I gave it a 3 star rating and not lower because if you have not read the book and have nothing else to watch in the cinema, this could actually be a bearable film (plus the visuals are pretty good). Otherwise stay far and save your money on something that might not disappoint you as much.