The book by Pat Barker (which I read as part of my present AS Level English literature course) is a very good one, very poignant at times,but there are some chapters that get a bit wordy and it gets quite complicated. In my opinion, I think the film Regeneration is outstanding, with wonderful performances, and fairly true to the book. True, Burns' encounter with the animals was done at the beginning, in alternative to halfway through the first part of the book, but either way, it would have had a big effect on me, and I thought personally that scene was a lot more disturbing in the film. The music is sensitive and very beautiful, and the direction is nothing short of solid. The cinematography is absolutely fabulous, and very realistic. Regeneration offers a different perspective of war, instead of the horrific realities conveyed in poems from Owen and Sassoon (referenced in the film), and in books like Birdsong, Regeneration concentrates on the mental and psychological effects on the soldiers sent to Craiglockhart. The result is a sometimes moving but always thought provoking account of the first world war. The performances were brilliant, especially Jonathan Pryce as the methodical but fairly sensitive Rivers. Also impressive was Johnny Lee Miller as Prior, and James Wilby as Sassoon, creating very harsh but somewhat likable characters. The exploration of other themes like role of women and politics were well developed but never interfered with the true focus of the film. All in all, a moving, intelligent and thoughtful account of the first world war, not only inferring the harsh realities but also conveying the physical, mental and spiritual consequences of the soldiers. 10/10 Bethany Cox.