Apt Pupil- Stephen King’s most wasted potential

[Alexandra19]

Hi !

Apt Pupil totally took my breathe away (and for once the movie is brilliant).
I don't think it would have been such a good idea to write more about it, because we might have lost some of its intensity.
I never had the feeling there was a need to dig deeper into the characters' psyche, there's a risk it would have weakened the message.
Plus what GNTLGNT says, which is pretty right.

[doowopgirl]

Welcome.

I disagree, with all due respect. I enjoyed Apt Pupil very much.

IMHO Stephen King has never 'wasted' anything. And, I do not believe that King didn't realise anything.

They are, after all, SK's works. He knows who, when, where and how to write a 'story' .

Please, keep posting and share your thoughts, opinions, and ideas.

Peace,

I have to agree compltely.The story is as he sees it. Myself I thought Breathing Method in the same collection was just unnecessary and didn't work for me. I always though Christine was way too long and would have been more effective as a novella. But thats just me

[aKINGreader4ever]

Hey All,
I'm probably one of the few who hated this movie, It just didn't work for me. I thought it was boring and really didn't get into it. Is it me or did any1 else feel this way?
-Kris-

[Tyrotoxic]

I enjoyed Apt Pupil very much, and the only thing I found disappointing was the movie missed some things which I felt were pretty important. Especially that ending! I find that I very much enjoy the way my stories end and am constantly shocked and apalled when they are made into movies and so "changed". I liked the shortness of Apt Pupil though, I find it very fun and entertaining to read when on a long bus ride, or just by myself for the night. I don't consider it "wasted potential" at all!

[prufrock21]

Some stories are too hot. Some stories are too cold. Like Goldilocks, I think "Apt Pupil" was just right.

[dsurrett]

I think Apt Pupil is just the length it's supposed to be. King sees stories as relics to be dug up (see the analogy in On Writing), not things he makes up or pulls out of his mind. He dug up Apt Pupil and gave us what he found. Maybe I'm naive, but so be it.
I read Apt Pupil and the other novellas from Different Seasons in a very rough stretch about 4 years ago and will always be grateful since the stories helped me to put my own problems in the background for a while. And when you come down to it, isn't that what stories are supposed to do?

Long days and pleasant nights.

[Homer403]

Apt Pupil also a great story about blackmail and falling into the abyss.A tremendous story.A waist of potential,not in my opinion.

[Boo Radley]

I greatly enjoyed this story, but haven't, as yet, seen the movie. I'm hesitant in seeing it because I enjoyed the story so much and as far as I'm concerned, the track record for King movies isn't that spectacular. I'd hate to see it and end up hating it. But, I'll probably bite the bullet and rent it one of these weekends.