Take Andy, for instance. There are three differences in his powers in the movie. First, when Andy pushes there are no numb spots or vivid descriptions of his headaches; his nose only bleeds. Though the viewers still know that Andy suffers, they do not get the full impact of an anguished man pushing himself for his beloved child. There is also no ricochet effect - neither Andy's doctor at the Shop nor Cap suffer from nervous breakdowns - and this eliminates a consequence of Andy's power. Throughout the novel King showed both positives and negatives of the power, and the lack of numb spots and ricochet detracts from the negative aspect of the gift. Finally, the most upsetting difference is the loss of Andy's dream while at the Shop. Because of this, the viewer learns nothing of Andy helping others and himself by using the push. This change draws a vital depth out of his character.
Rainbird is also shallower, since his character is not as developed. Only once does he talk about watching dead to see something in their eyes. He never uses the analogy between a person and a safe. Not perceptive enough in the movie to suspect Cap, Charlie tells Rainbird about her prospective escape. Even the description of his shoe obsession is gone. All of these omissions, made to save time, diminish the depth and complexity of Rainbird.
The most upsetting changes, and the most futile, are the changes which relate to Charlie. From the smaller things, like being the lookout in the phone booth incident at the airport, to the larger, like being her mother's killer, many changes are unnecessary and significantly alter the viewers' concepts of the girl. Charlie seems weaker and more like a lost little girl. Rainbird wins her over more easily, and there is nothing in the movie about her enjoying making the destructive fires. The end, though very similar to the novel, struck me as being the worst for changing Charlie's character. Charlie relies on Irv more by not going to New York and the library on her own. She follows in her father's footsteps and goes to the New York Times instead of the Rolling Stone Magazine. There is no indication by people's reaction to her lovely smile and calm beauty that she is strong enough to withstand the future and make it work out. All in all, Charlie seems more naive, less independent, and less mature in the movie.
The movie remains extremely close to the novel; however, subtle differences occur which produce significant changes. In the condensation of a four-hundred page novel into a two hour movie, there are going to be some changes and losses will inevitably result. The book was also largely mental, with numerous flashbacks and periods of intense thought, which makes the conversion into film much more difficult. Nevertheless, the screenwriters could have done a better job in converting the novel.