I went in hoping that the movie was exciting and moving. IT WAS! I only knew about the books from my children and co-workers that have read them. They got me excited to see the film. I was not disappointed! And, my children loved it. They said for once a movie made after a book was as close as it could be to the printed version of the story. My husband and I are very conservative in our movie viewing. We thought that for the thematic violence that this movie was tastefully done. Not a movie for little ones. But for the rest of the family.... GO SEE IT!