I read and enjoyed the book, and although the movie doesn't follow the book exactly, it is faithful to the plot. It also adds interesting subplots, stories within the main story, that complement the central plot and the theme. The acting was superb; Ben Kingsley in particular showed us why he is such a great actor. The 3D effects did not dominate the overall visual magic. The movie authentically recreates Paris between the World Wars. I loved it.