Last night we watched the movie based on the book and based on the book loosely it was!
Such a great disappointment... The story line was altered beyond recognition and characters felt like paradoies of themselves. Clarisse's role (who happened to play the wife as well - why? I have no idea.) was extended so much that I am wondering if the scenario writer or the director had a crush on her and could not bear letting her go.
Considering that the movie was made more than 40 years ago, the sci-fi elements seemed almost funny but that was the only saving grace about the movie, I felt.
It is worth watching still... Just to see how an alternative storyline to the book would have developed.
The discussion thread for the movie: http://www.online-literature.com/for...cussionid=1446