>I watched this with my gf who had read the book. She said
>that visually, most everything looked like how it was
>described in the book, however they glossed over some of the
>grittier real-life parts that gave it it's depth.

Did she specify what those were?

>For me, coming from a blank slate, I basically felt the same
>way. The movie was visually impressive, and the acting was
>solid all the way around. However, the tone was all-over the
>place. I'm glad they didn't get graphic with the rape/murder
>but her "escape" completely ruined that scene for me. It would
>have been better if the scene had just cut to black and left
>the viewer to assume what happened next.

While it didn't completely ruin that scene for me I do agree that it would've better to not show Suzy until a few scenes later on while the fam is still havin dinner w/o her.

>Also, the icicle knocking Tucci's character down the ravine?
>That was just corny. From what I understand, that was also in
>the book, but I thought it was a far too coincidental/fluke of
>a death for the villain of the story.

Once I saw it start to wiggle I thought it was going to come down & pierce his skull. Which would've been corny as well but the slip & fall wasn't much better. He does get a similar resting place as Suzy for whatever that's worth.