I just finished reading the book with my daughter and as we were reading, I could easily see how an interpretation could take quite a political stance. The children fight "the Black Thing," which symbolizes some cosmic force of evil. Any director who decided that an existing person, group of people, or set of beliefs is inherently evil or bad, could use the book to push his or her political agenda by demonizing those people or beliefs, comparing them or their traits or beliefs to "the Black Thing." I was thinking that before I was even aware of who the director or actors were.
I haven't seen the movie and I was looking forward to it, but I am put off by the reviews. I think that, when it comes to filmmaking, when there is an agenda other than to please audiences or to tell a great story, there is a big risk that the ultimate product will be unimpressive.
I will probably rent the movie from Redbox because I want to make a fair judgment of the film, but it doesn't seem like it is worth spending the big bucks at the theater.