Please don't screw this movie up.
Just would thought Clint Eastwood's kid would been the right fit for Roland.
The Dark Tower hype
- Thread starter Free_Salato_Blue
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Please don't screw this movie up.
Just would thought Clint Eastwood's kid would been the right fit for Roland.
How many of King's books really were done all that well for TV / Movies?
Fewer successes than disappointments I think - right?
I used to be a huge fan but then stopped reading him for almost 20 years
I DID get back to read the sequel to the Shining though ("Dr Sleep") -- couldn't pass that up
ref: Gunslinger -- I read up to Wizard and Glass --- liked it a lot, thought it was his most unique work (the series) but then never finished the series and lost interest in King
Fewer successes than disappointments I think - right?
I used to be a huge fan but then stopped reading him for almost 20 years
I DID get back to read the sequel to the Shining though ("Dr Sleep") -- couldn't pass that up
ref: Gunslinger -- I read up to Wizard and Glass --- liked it a lot, thought it was his most unique work (the series) but then never finished the series and lost interest in King
I think IT was the best one, tbh
Misery was supposed to be good - read it, but didn't see it
The Shining was a good movie (haven't seen it, though) but it was pretty off from the book
They did "ok" for The Stand
Cujo was decent - but ending was changed, so not as impactful. That one was the most potentially scary because it wasn't really supernatural.
Needful Things wasn't good - casting was, but the movie itself was blech
Stand By Me (The Body) was excellent, as was Shawshank Redemption - both had some changes, but the stories themselves were pretty close to the original.
Carrie was near perfect.
Wizard and Glass was the best of the Gunslinger series, I think; most interesting. Once it got to the last two books it got - oh I don't know - forced? No flow to the story. But, to be fair, that was when King was hit by that van, he wasn't totally with it then, and was under contract to finish the series.
Casting is horrible - maybe Jake is okay, but Roland and The Dark Man were definitely miscast.
IMO, King is making a mistake with this... Title is too close to some superhero Batman ******** flick and will turn a lot of movie goers (those with some level of standards) off before ever truly knowing what it is. Part of that is the fact that the public is programmed to receive an average of 5 superhero flicks/year with open arms and closed minds.
Besides, the trailer did it exactly zero favors. Would not rent.
Besides, the trailer did it exactly zero favors. Would not rent.
I'm going to attempt to watch it, when it comes out on Netflix anyway - but won't pay extra to go see it.
The Title is correct, as it's the name of the first book; these were written well before most of the big superhero movies came out (1982). The first big budget Batman movie, with Michael Keaton, didn't come out until 1989.
I really think his audience will be the fans of the series - and I'm afraid we'll be disappointed.
I agree, kinda touching on Wyvern's point of do ALL of King's books need an accompanying movie, especially since they have a track record of being halfassed. My point was more along the lines of while he had the story, name and title first, the recent glut of poorly made and oversold superhero movies created an environment where a similary titled movie, albeit from a completely different genre, has a stigma attached to it, due directly to its title, right out of the box. You and other discerning fans will recognize what it is, but the casual watcher, who was done with the superhero pandemic 10 years ago, will glance over this title and not think twice about why they aren't going to see this movie.
I was eager to see this movie ever since I heard it was in production. I will go the first weekend it opens and hope that I'm not disappointed.
The Green Mile is up there with Shawshank and a few others. I never pictured Roland as black while I was reading the series...
I will agree and say I'm worried about the casting and kind of how the trailer looks but I have read that they are billing this as a "sequel" to the novels. You know what happens at the end, trying not to spoil it, well this is supposed to be a resumption of the story. This is how they are having a black man play Roland and I've heard Susannah Dean will be a white lady. I say all this to say again I too am worried. Did not like they way the man in black looked in the trailer. Too neat.
I was also worried when I heard they were making Game of Thrones a HBO series. In my mind, it was too big, too many characters, plot had too many twists to do it justice. I quit worrying after episode two. They nailed it. Sure they have changed some things and left out some stuff I wish was included, like Lady Stoneheart, but they have done it justice. Plus Arya killing old man Frey was pretty badass
He's probably my favorite author. My favorite book is his, The Talisman. I know that is an odd one to claim as his best with all his big titles out there but for me it is the best.
Can I ask why you lost interest in him? Did you find other authors you just enjoyed more? Like whom if that's the case? Always up for hearing about authors I might enjoy as well. Thanks in advance
Loved The Talisman and it's sequel, Black House
I can see why it's your favorite
The Stand is mine
While I've always liked King's work (especially as a kid), I can tell you why I've never loved it and why it has no longevity for me. He's too wordy. Mind-numbingly wordy. And this is coming from a very loquacious person. But, most folks don't need 6 pages describing the color gray. Descriptive writing runs and cowers from Stephen King's liberal abuse of the term. Even as a kid I had the sentiment that the guy needed to just GTF over himself already.
Edit: And this is probably why his stories rarely translate well to film.
THE TAILSMAN -- that was with Peter Straub was't it?
THAT one was good -- and I always forget about it
I think there were overlapping characters w/the Dark Tower, Eye of the Dragon (did I get that name right? -- and even w/the Stand)
I read that one during a very cold winter in Omaha, NE
(also watched us bring home the title against Syracuse that year)
Sorry I missed the second part -
I think I felt like I had read more than enough of his stuff and my tastes were changing
I spent about 20 years off/on reading classic literature and history just to see what was interesting
I cannot argue that at all. I've actually said that about other authors to friends and they reply back, " But you love Stephen King."
Have you ever read Shantaram? Tremendous book written by Gregory David Roberts. I actually read it because Phil Jackson gave it to Kobe and MJ to read during playoff runs. I figured it was good enough for those guys it was good enough for me. I was blown away. Instantly went into my top five. Well the follow up to Shantaram came out in 2015, The Mountain Shadow. It is the most wordy book I have ever read. Its chapter's worth of describing the wind. I don't know if the guy caught lightning in a bottle with Shantaram and was just trying his best to have the same success but it was not very good because of how wordy it is.
Will check that out. Also, if anyone loves the Stand (maybe my favorite book ever), check out Swan Song by Robert McCammon.
Love how he does that. You see references to the Dark Man/Randall Flagg in other books as well,
Is this the series that the end literally made people psychotic? It was so mind-blowing or something that I guess some had to be admitted.
A lot of the story is psychological. It's hard to translate those thought sequences into a movie.
that's a very good point
still though, should've started with better casting. I love Idris Elba in a lot of movies, he's a great actor - this one though...
I had a few friends telling me about the ending buzz and what not. I guess it really messed with people's brains. Maybe that was another one of his books.
Idris Elba is pretty damn fantastic. I think he's one of best "new" actors out there (comparatively speaking to guys like Di Nero and Hanks). If this movie tanks, I don't think it will be on his shoulders. He's been excellent in everything I've seen him in. He was one of the only brightspots in Prometheus and his character Stringer Bell on The Wire is one of the best in recent television.
yes he is, and he's one of my favorites. Heck, he even made Pacific Rim watchable
And you're probably right - it wouldn't be on him.
Because of John Carpenter.
This movie looks like dog ****. There is no way they'll do the source material justice.
Looks like they are taking bits from several the books, like the vampires in the NY club.
But, no cast credits for the rest of his ka-tet of Eddie, Susan and Oy. I'd be disappointed cutting them from the story.
But, no cast credits for the rest of his ka-tet of Eddie, Susan and Oy. I'd be disappointed cutting them from the story.