Did you like this movie?

[mylife4usk]

I've heard lots of people say that they hated this movie. I'm trying to figure out why. The book is fantastic but I thought the movie was pretty decent an adaption. Especially when you compare it to all the clunkers(The Mangler, The Night Flier, The Langoliers, The Lawnmower Man, The Running Man, ok there's a theme going on here! You can't put THE Green Mile in that category though! ;)

So what was it that you hated about Needful Things? :down:

[JohnDalglish]

Hi,

The complete absence of Ace Merrill ruined an otherwise very good adaptation for me.

Long days and pleasant nights

[Perse Jr.]

I liked the movie, though I didn't like it enough to see it more than once (or twice). It had a "darkness" and a "dampness" to it that I completely had imagined when I was reading it. It's hard to explain...just that sad and lonely-type feel of dread in the pit of your stomach.

[SWNH1980]

The uncut 3 or 4 hour version is excellent compared to the version you can get on DVD, but I like both versions, I don't hold my breath with adaptations, I just take them for what they are, and try not to think about what they changed from the book. I'd love to know why that longer version isn't available to buy, I taped it off TNT years ago, but I no longer have a VCR to watch it, and it would be nice to see without all the commercials.

[blunthead]

What I liked most about the movie Needful Things was Ed Harris's performance, which is one of my favorites.

[marew1]

The uncut 3 or 4 hour version is excellent compared to the version you can get on DVD, but I like both versions, I don't hold my breath with adaptations, I just take them for what they are, and try not to think about what they changed from the book. I'd love to know why that longer version isn't available to buy, I taped it off TNT years ago, but I no longer have a VCR to watch it, and it would be nice to see without all the commercials.

Why don't you get the tape copied to DVD? Your local video store or a friend might be able to help you with this.

[mylife4usk]

Hi,

The complete absence of Ace Merrill ruined an otherwise very good adaptation for me.

Long days and pleasant nights

Oh yea he wasn't in it, was he? That would have made it ten times better, good call, John!

[robdraggoo]

The uncut 3 or 4 hour version is excellent compared to the version you can get on DVD, but I like both versions, I don't hold my breath with adaptations, I just take them for what they are, and try not to think about what they changed from the book. I'd love to know why that longer version isn't available to buy, I taped it off TNT years ago, but I no longer have a VCR to watch it, and it would be nice to see without all the commercials.

I wasnt even aware such a version existed. whats different and new about it?

[Matthew.Degnan]

It was simply an average adaptation, i thought Ed Harris worked well in it.

[kingfanalaska09]

I wasnt even aware such a version existed. whats different and new about it?

There's an hour of extended footage with major character development Ms. Mod you know why this longer version hasn't been released?

[Moderator]

I'd suggested to Steve one time that they should release it as a Director's Cut DVD after I'd seen it on TNT(?) and he thought it was a great idea so called his film agent to suggest it but apparently the DVD distributors didn't agree.

[Bev Vincent]

I keep waiting for this to air on TNT again, because I've never see the full-length version, but when it does show up, I seem always to miss it.

[Lina]

I re-watched this movie yesterday. And I can say I like it very much. Unfortunately, I haven't read the book so I don't know if the movie better or worse. But anyway, I liked it.
I like Ed Harris's performance and in general I like the idea of this story. I began to think what price people are ready to pay for only one thing they need. That's really awful that sometimes we destroy our lives ourselves!

[hipmamajen]

I liked Max von Sydow in this. I think he did a good job of being evil, without the over the top theatrics you sometimes see.

[Wilkes]

Max von Sydow(Sweden :D ) did a great job in this movie. It's not the best King-movie but okay. I would give it 6/10.

[Girl87]

The movie was great. Max von Sydow was good in his role.

[karend3]

Thank you I agree, Ace Merrill is missing out of a couple of movies.

[karend3]

I didn't like the movie when I first watched it after reading the book. They kept some of the best stories out of the movie like the two women fighting over Elvis Presley, that would have been classic.

[TheHelgo]

does anyone know where to get a copy of the extended version? has anyone taped it and would be kind enough to supply a copy?

[Checkman]

The extended version needs to be released. I've seen it and it's a more complete movie. Wish I had thought to tape it when TNT aired it.

[thymeoperator]

i think a lot of these movies are better if you see them before reading the book - and often the stories were changed so much it doesn't ruin anything reading the book afterward anyway! well, 'needful things' was like that for me. i saw the movie first, then years later read the book, and yes the book was much better, but i did like the movie, thought it was an excellent dark comedy. the book was much more serious and meaningful, obviously. oh and i love that in the movie one of the priests is played by a former 'days of our lives' villain, playing almost the same role in 'needful things'!! i keep seeing that guy turn up in things and wondering how on earth he got a career.

[lessanguish9]

As for me, I liked the movie. I think Van Sydow was a great choice for Leland Gaunt, and the rest of the cast fit pretty well. But what was missing was that steely atmosphere that Stephen had set so well in the first chapter.

[sai slone]

Teh only two SK related movies that get a resounding death toll from me are The Mangler and Kubrik's The Shining(no harm intended Kubrik fans).

[littleone328]

I've heard lots of people say that they hated this movie. I'm trying to figure out why. The book is fantastic but I thought the movie was pretty decent an adaption. Especially when you compare it to all the clunkers(The Mangler, The Night Flier, The Langoliers, The Lawnmower Man, The Running Man, ok there's a theme going on here! You can't put THE Green Mile in that category though! ;)

So what was it that you hated about Needful Things? :down:

I loved this movie but as always the book is always better. Back stabbing was never done so well.

[dejolane]

One of my favorites.

[Space Hitler]

Ed Harris.....how CAN it be bad? I loved the book more, but I also proudly own this on DVD.

[Jake Featherston]

Excellent book, one of his better novels, in my opinion. Crappy movie that doesn't do any justice to the book, alas.

[bryantburnette]

I like the movie; it's got good performances by a great cast, is generally well-made on a technical level, and has a fine score by Patrick Doyle. Sure, a lot gets cut out from the novel (and that's true even in the extended cut, which is, as others have pointed out, well worth seeing and long overdue on DVD) ... but what remains is very entertaining, in my opinion.

[dejolane]

Are you kidding ? I love this movie.One of SK best.

[johnny39]

There have only been a few movies I have turned off before it ended.

Thinner was one. This was another.

I got through about 15 minutes before I stopped it. The musical score alone just felt all wrong, and as soon as I saw that silly fake lightning I couldn't take any more.

It felt like a jaunty version of what was an ominous novel.

[TexasChick76543]

This was by far IMO one of Mr. King's better adaptation's. It had gore, blood, most of the elements of the book. I was not disappointed.

[gunslingerdude]

I liked the movie, though I didn't like it enough to see it more than once (or twice). It had a "darkness" and a "dampness" to it that I completely had imagined when I was reading it. It's hard to explain...just that sad and lonely-type feel of dread in the pit of your stomach.

I sort of felt the same way, especially the darkness.
But I Enjoyed the film, have seen it like 3 times so far.

[MrBildango]

I just finally picked this up recently and I really enjoyed it. Max Von Sydow and Ed Harris are brilliant. This, like some of King's other theatrical releases, could really benefit from a good quality miniseries remake though. There are so many little things in the book that they definitely had to leave out because of the time limitation. I'd have loved to see more with Brian's teacher, the state police, Ace Merrill, church stink bombs and so on.

[lilydust76]

I thought the movie was pretty good, too. Max Von Sydow was deliciously devilish...

[dejolane]

Love this movie.

[bhill]

The Running Man was alright except for Auuuuunuld!!!

[mouse213]

I'm a horror flick and book junkie and have been since childhood. I teethed on movies like "Creature From the Black Lagoon" etc... but of course they were re-runs lol. I don't want to tell my age here.

I enjoyed the movie very much, because it defined that need equals greed most of the time. And sometimes what we think we need is confused with what we want. I loved the theme in "Needful Things" that the price of the item was the cost of one's soul and a little dirty deed to boot. lol

[annetacey]

Loved it a lot, read the book before i saw the film. Ed Harris was excellent casting me thinks. So much in it that he stopped you from getting bored or restless (as sometimes happens with books to films). Watched it a few weeks ago for the 6th time (ish) and it never gets dull!

[ashiepoo84]

I loved it, i watched it for the first time about a year ago and thought it was a very good adaptation. I've watched it several times since. Even my husband, who always lets me know what he doesnt like about movies, enjoyed it.

[Ebony]

I have to admit that I neither liked the movie, nor the book...;P
The book was so...don´t know the word..."verbose"?
THe movie was just boring...hm...I hope nobody will hate me for this... ;P

[Shadow of the Tower]

I think this was a great movie. Though not the best adaptation ever done of one of his books, still well played, especially by Van Sydow

[gopher26]

I just watched Needful Things last night. It took me awhile to understand what was going on. I thought it was good.

[no bounce no play]

I thought the fight scene between Nettie and Wilma made the movie well worth the watch lol