You have to look at the movie and book as different stories. I enjoyed them both. I preferred the book but it doesn't prevent me from enjoying a cheesy Arnold action movie with a great soundtrack.

Agreed - we all love Arnie but the book is WAY better, and prime material to base a remake on, since it was never technically actually filmed!

You guys are retarded. The book is so much better. Yes, it does have the typical nihilistic ending that most Steven King stories have, but so much more fleshed out with the government and the pollution angles. Also there was a whole underlying class issue that the movie never really brushes on. Ben himself is a much more Heroic character in the book, never unyielding in his morality. That being said, I like the movie for what it is. Arnold with one liners and great performance and perfect casting for Richard Dawson.

That's ridiculous. This movie movie is a turd. I guess it does have a certain cheesy charm, so maybe I'm being a bit harsh, but the story in the book is much better. They didn't use much more than the name of the book, which is why this movie was so lacking for me. I actually used to like this, having seen it when it first came out way back when. Once I discovered the book, and embraced better filmmaking, I came to realize this movie was a wasted opportunity. I will say though, that the original story probably wouldn't have gone over well in the late 80's.
I don't hate you..
hate your parents for having you.

Agreed, the book wasn't a bad story, just really horribly depressing. All the Bachman books were depressing. I'm glad they made the movie an actioner with Arnold, total 80's cheese, yum.

I'm not even going to bother with the book.
How would you know?
You didnt read it, so your opinion is rather uneducated.
The book makes way more sense than the movie. Not that the movie is bad, it is cheap trash fun. The book on the other hand is gritty and entertaining. It would make for a really good movie today.
but they hung him anyway.
Hanged, Ami. Your father was not a tapestry.

I'm not even going to bother with the book.
I think the premise was a good idea, but clearly the book itself was horrible, so it was improved when it was made into a film.