It certainly was a different kind of movie, wasn't it? It wasn't exactly what I had expected, either, but I also knew it was going to be a little bit different. I had never read the book either, but I had read that the book was kind of controversial for a childrens book. When I saw the movie I knew why. It dealt with some real problems and concerns by going into a fantasy world. The characters, the monsters, have personalities that are like those of real people and they have problems with each other just like real people do...not your normal fare for a childrens story. But I think it is brilliant anyway. I did like the ending when Max was sailing away back to his own world. There was a real sense of love between him and the monsters whom he had befriended. When I saw the movie in the theater, I saw it with my Pastor and his wife, and they just sat there after the credits with their mouths hanging slightly open. They really didn't know what to say about it. It's a very different movie but I think it is a worthwhile movie.