This has never happened before

I believe I may like a movie, and it's novella, equally.

Apt Pupil the novella by Stephen King and Apt Pupil the film.

The important thing, I think, to remember...is that if you look it as being 2 seperate stories, that each stand up on their own merit. For instance, the movie ends WAY different than the story. I actually liked the ending of the movie...equally as well as the story. But the story is more involved, and begins when the boy is much younger. The characters in the movie and the film (other than a few minor characters like the guidance counselor and the man in the hospital bed, they edited the hell out of those characters) were recognizable as being the same characters.

Todd's character (the boy)...just cast perfectly in the movie, only as he would've been if he were older. I think the characters in the story, and in the film, were equally dark. The story character Todd was maybe a little more disturbing, considering how young he was when it started. The old man...Dussander, was another perfectly cast role.

I think the storyline in the movie is slightly weaker than the book, simply because Stephen King writes very involved characters and it's hard to translate that to film sometimes. But the ending of the movie sealed it. It's really hard to explain. You'd just have to read the novella, in the book "Different Seasons" by Stephen King. And watch the movie. Then you'd know what I mean.

There are significant differences in the plot and a lot of creative liberties taken. The ending for the story was perfect for the story and the ending for the film was perfect for the film. And I like them both.