Can Atonement work as a film, asks writer

With the myriad of novel adaptations recently and soon to be hitting cinema screens, a journalist has cast his doubt on this week's release of Atonement - the celluloid version of a successful Ian McEwan book.

Featuring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy, Atonement follows the lost love story of two young adults as a terrible mistake changes their lives forever.

But for the Guardian's John Patterson, it's just another "problem" adaptation which forces him to read the book "in a big unconsidered rush" so the film does not spoil it.

However, Mr Patterson is quick not to tar all adaptations with the same brush.

"War And Peace? The Brothers Karamazov? Rubbishy movies. The Godfather? Gone With The Wind? That's more like it," he exclaimed.

Those who do want to see Atonement - which has been awarded the top five-star rating by this month's Empire magazine - can do so in cinemas from this coming Friday, while other Ian McEwan adaptations such as Enduring Love and The Comfort Of Strangers are also available on DVD.

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