[karnage]

Well, I didn't read the book. My mistake. Didn't know the girl drowned. My seven year old son couldn't sleep, my four year old daughter - the one who had demanded to see it - insisted the girl wasn't dead. My wife got depressed, blames me.

The movie is a downer.

[Essie]

I have never read the book, but my college age kids both had to read it in middle school. I clearly remember when my son had to read it. He mentioned it many times because he thought it was a complete downer. He also felt that it was boring and pretentious. He didn't just dislike the book; he hated it. When they made a movie of it he was surprised. When the promos gave it a Narnia feel, he felt it was dishonest. My daughter just thought that it was a downer, boring, and pretentious.