The movie isn't too bad, up until...
The main problem is with the ending, so it's a pretty major spoiler...
For the time it was made, it's a beautiful movie, and does get a lot of it right.
However...
In the book, Sam succeeds and lives his dream, whereas in the movie, he gives up and goes back to the city, completely destroying the "you can do what you put your mind to" theme of the book.
This movie is a desecration, and instead of remaking classics that don't need redone, the Hollywood types who haven't any better ideas should do this one, right this time.
The main problem is with the ending, so it's a pretty major spoiler...
For the time it was made, it's a beautiful movie, and does get a lot of it right.
However...
In the book, Sam succeeds and lives his dream, whereas in the movie, he gives up and goes back to the city, completely destroying the "you can do what you put your mind to" theme of the book.
This movie is a desecration, and instead of remaking classics that don't need redone, the Hollywood types who haven't any better ideas should do this one, right this time.