(it was a best seller before it was a movie)
Also hoping for a Masters of Atlantis movie some time in the world. The Coens would do a fucking awesome Masters of Atlantis.
I'm definitely don't fall into the forty-five and older category, but here's my thoughts on this because I really liked the original.
One of the aspects of the original that I enjoyed was the dialogue, especially Mattie's. They've cast Mattie Ross' character a fair bit younger this time it seems and they look to be going for a bit darker and more serious tone for the movie so I expect much of the dialogue and wit that I enjoyed in the original to be gone from this version. That said, I think this has the potential to be good in it own right and I look forward to seeing it in theaters.
I would think the fact that the Coen brothers are directing this would assuage some of your fears pertaining to the dialogue. It will probably be a lot darker than the original, but I really can't see this being bad and/or shitting all over the original. I'm looking forward to this film a lot more than I am anything else coming out any time soon.
Thanks for the link sonichronique, I never knew there was a novel that was a basis for the movie. After reading the adaptations section of that article I take back my previous reservations about this and am now excited about seeing this.