doubleofive said:
Is the book better than the movie?

I think so. Like most novels, it's more thorough than the film. Much more of the workings of Akator are explained and the characters are fleshed-out more. Also, it starts with the conquistadors. Filmed as the novel version, it would have been a deeper film. That said, it would have been crowding three hours long. That would be fine with me, but not everyone digs a three-hour movie. Besides, the films have never been deep, drawn-out affairs. They're pulpy homages to old movie serials.

While we're drifting off-topic, I should point out that I really liked the film. My dislike of Lucas' lying about Star Wars and how terrible the one prequel I saw was have zero affect on how I view his other work. My feelings regarding Lucas & all things Star Wars are completely separate from all things Indiana Jones. That's why you don't see me jumping on the "Lucas has destroyed everything he touches" hate wagon. I have no interest in punishing him or slamming him constantly - the way some people do around here. I have no problem separating the prequels & SEs from Indiana Jones - because they are separate.

Left unchecked, I think Lucas is a bad film maker. As part of a creative team, I think he's a great idea man. He is one third of the team that has created all four Indiana Jones films, not the destroyer of worlds that the prequel haters want to make him out to be.