book v movie

I saw the mini series on TV when it was released. Many years later, I picked up the book and it was difficult to put down. Recently, I purchased the DVD set and watched it again and then reread the book.

The series was well acted but, I don't understand why the screenwriter felt compelled to make so many changes from the original story. Though I don't want to give away the story (either in book form or the series) does any feel the screenwriter was wrong to change so much of the book? The series on TV (and DVD) was a lot more soap opera-ish than the book is. Many scenes were changed completely, including the ending. The entire Joe Brand character was changed completely and so was his story in the TV production as were other characters in the book.

Perhaps the TV production wanted a wider audience and changes were made to draw in more potential viewers. I liked the series more before I read and reread the book. Now I find the series a disappointment. The acting was good, no complaints about that though.

Winds of War and War and Remembrance, both in written and TV versions, were far superior.