The book and movie of Dreamcatcher

[constantreader1313]

I have to say, even though I had a hard time finishing the book, the movie did not compare. I was watching closely and noticed it ran pretty close to the book until the whole betrayal of Kurtz by Underhill. After that it seemed to speed up considerably and alot of the details were completely left out that I thought were important. I did think it was cool that the setting of 'The Hole in the Wall' was exactly how I saw it in my mind. Also, the office that Jonesy was stuck in in his mind was pretty much how I pictured it as well.
All in all, like people have posted before, the book is always better because our imaginations are better than someone else's interpretation.
But that's just me....

[kelectra1]

All in all, not a bad adaptation. Green Mile was far better, but I was completely baffles how they would do the mind thing. I mean I get that we all have ways of thinking, but the library like mind with the massive amounts of info, that was phenominal. I would have liked it more if you had some better graphics, but Hollywood can never do a perfect King apadptation. That's one reason I love to read King so much. He truly allows the reader to imagine. Overall DC is OK, but always, always, always read the book first and last.

[djbeilstein]

I hated the movie & have not read the book – And hear the funny thing is – I know I'm going to love the book because I know my own imagination will bring this story to life in a way I won't be able to complain about how things look – which was my main issue with DREAMCATCHER.

[pathoftheturtle]

I never thought that Dreamcatcher was a very good novel. It had some decent points, but mostly hackneyed retreading. Really was not anything like King's finest hour.

One problem with it that I had was that it tries to go in too many different directions at once. It's a hunting/psychic/army/supernatural/horror/alien/buddy story. I actually think that the film works better.

While you do almost always lose characterization and dramatic detail onscreen, what didn't translate from this novel was trivial, and/or redundant to SK's better novels.

[StokerX]

Yeah... I didn't care for the movie. I read the book because I am a huge SK fan and love a great alien tale. When Mr. King wrote about aliens I had to buy the book. What upset me the most about the movie... since when was Duddits an alien? That ruined it for me... that and the humor of Mr. Grey was left out entirely. Bacon!!!

[Doc Wilson]

I just finished a re-read of DC a few weeks ago, caught the movie tonight. The book is very enjoyable, though not in the holiest of holy top tier of King books. The movie got a few things right but by and large it was like a B movie parody.

I wonder what King thought of the ending?

[Mr Breezee]

I agree that the book was much better. But everything I have ever read, by King or anyone I feel is better then the movie. I first noticed this in The Shining. I think it's probably because of the time and effort it would take, if even possible, to do so.
After all, Stephen can devote an intire chapter to what some one is thinking, where as that is hard to do on film. At the risk of being foolish, I will say Dreamcatcher is one of my favorite books by King. But then again, most of them are.

[Trueivy]

This is one of my favorite books of King's. And I felt somewhat betrayed. I mean the truth is a movie is a reduction of any great book, but Mr. Goldman butchered the book. I will say that I was not disappointed with the cast. Just the storytelling.

[blunthead]

I liked the book; and so, the first time I watched the movie, it wasn't good enough for me, despite years as a major William Goldman (author, screenwriter [the director, Lawrence Kasdan, co-wrote the screenplay. Credits like this sometimes mean the original screenwriter left the project]) fan. But recently, I watched the movie again, and was glad to enjoy it much more.

I think this one is, among whatever other things, a good example of how difficult it can be to translate a good novel into a movie as good.

Like I said, I was glad to enjoy it the second time.

[Trueivy]

I recently watched it on dvd and it had a special feature with Stephen King talking about the book and the movie. He liked the film alot. I mean the viewers are important, I mean I am one. But SK wasn't disappointed.