I think the sledgehammer was much better than the axe. Visually it was just as terrifying and it made more sense since Annie seemed to be a bit of a clean freak. I thought the book was way funnier than the movie, but both were excellent.
I'm glad you guys brought that up -- I'd never seen it and now I'm watching some of it on youtube. Gary Sinise, Ed Harris, and Kareem in a robe screaming "bring out your dead!" LOL.
Rep I kinda hate to see the Stand be compressed into a single movie. If you've read the book, a movie is bound to be a let-down. More power to them all the same.
Sounds like you would have to just take one big exciting slice, presumably well after the contagion. But yeah, it just won't be like the book.