Possession

Although the storyline of the novel was fairly interesting, I found it difficult to make it through all the poetry, or even the letters written by the "poets." This is the main reason I found the film so much more gripping. Roland didn't have to worry about his girlfriend at home, whose name escapes me. This helps the chemistry between he and Maud. Gwyneth Paltrow does a great job playing Maud. She is both icy and warm. It is more obvious in the film that she is interested in Roland.

The period of time where LaMotte stays with her cousin is glossed over, but this helps to make the movie a reasonable length. The romance between Roland and Maud is more well-developed than the Ash-LaMotte romance, but both are covered reasonably well. Early in the movie there is a reference to Ash's completely non-physical marriage. In the book we have to wait to nearly the end to learn this point (for certain).

The seance was mentioned almost in passing, but made for a powerful scene. Blanche's suicide was also done well.

The last scene of the movie parallels the Epilogue in the book, and makes us feel so much better about Ash's life after Christabel.