The movie hits a lot of points to please all the musical and novel fans — some feel underserved, but nothing feels unresolved. The first part has the best songs, but it is in the second one that all the emotional stakes come into play.
I’ve never seen the musical before, nor have I read the book, but it feels like the musical softens the edges. While the movie, from what I understand, incorporates elements from the book (how else are you going to fill nearly 5 hours of screentime?), it seems to follow the musical much more closely. Somewhere beneath the glimmer of CGI animals and camera trickery out the wazoo is a story of rebellion. But its allegorical intentions seem lost to the narrative of friendship and martyrdom.
Still, the movie makes an impact. And, watching it with a fan of the musical, I can say that the movie knows its core audience, and they will lovingly embrace it. While I am not that audience, I found parts of the film moving, even if the final product wasn’t something I’m eager to revisit.