The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

I love to read, and have loved it all my life. I don't have a specific genre that I will only read or that is even my favorite. Basically, if it's something that sparks my interest I AM LOST in my book. The only books I really don't enjoy reading is non-fiction, unless it is something that I am researching, or is of interest to me. My reason for the dislike of reading non-fiction is that when I read, I want to be entertained or immersed in something that I wouldn't come across in MY 'real life.' Does that make sense? I do enjoy reading autobiographies or biographies, but again it has to be on someone who interests me.
When I was a kid, I overheard about a book, a work of fiction by Oscar Wilde. It was about a man who wanted to stay young, and whose picture aged instead. This fascinated me. Imagine never growing old! I HAD to read this book. But alas, our wonderful library *note deep sarcasam* did not have this so-called book of which I spoke of, nor would they order such a book for me. You would think I was asking for a book on how to raise the dead with the way the reacted. Years went by, and I had forgotten all about 'The Picture of Dorian Gray'.

Then a few years back upon talking with someone, the Oscar Wilde story came up in conversation and my quest to read or own this book was refreshed. Once again I went to my library, which over the years had grown in size, but obviousley not their narrow-mindedness. They still did not have the book, nor would they order it for me. I finally found it in Borders, and purchased it, adding it to my stack of books to read. Some months back, I guess almost a year ago I started reading it, and couldn't get through chapter one! You could only imagine my horror and disappointment. The verbage was very wordy, dry, and well. DULL! There was no supernatural element to it at all (at least not in the section I had read.) I found the two characters who kick off the book (Basil and Henry) arrogant, and pretentious, which I guess Oscar Wilde was aiming for. Much to my chagrin, I put the book away, unable to read it, and have yet to pick it up again.

Then I had saw that on TCM they would be airing the original film version of the book:

and I was so psyched. Now I'd get the opportunity to see what it was I was trying to read. Perhaps THEN I would get what it was Oscar Wilde was trying to get across. Last night Ida and I hunkered down to watch the 2-hour movie and were all but bored to tears. I found the character of Henry just repulsive and obnoxious, and found nothing redemptive of Dorian. For a movie which was made in 1945, it was done rather well. However, it was not a movie I was going to keep on my dvr box for eternity.

Does anyone else have comments to add on this Oscar Wilde story? Are all his works the same?