Skip to the last paragraph if you want my unbiased take.

I LOVED this movie too. I had read the book (actually listened to it - the unabridged audiobook is a GREAT production too) a few years ago and was thrilled to see it as a film.

I thought the adaptation to film was great (a rather heavy hand, but justified I think - read the book to get a very different feel).

If you rent it on DVD, I HUGELY recommend watching the deleted scenes. They're absolutely INSANE, and, while it's clear to see why they were deleted (they would really lessen the movie's relatively serious tone and artfully tongue-in-cheek humor), the deleted scenes are well-produced, and true (almost verbatim) to some of my favorite dialogue and scenes from the book.

So, turning off my obvious love for the movie, I'd have this to say about it. If you have patience for movies that tend toward short, careful dialogue and long, meaningful (some would say tedious, some would say visually rich and worth two thousand words) silent visual passages, this will be a very rewarding movie.

If you've read and liked the book, be prepared for a departure from the book's (some would say tedious) details, but a well though-out departure that gives the movie a well-defined feel and mood.