There are several quality exceptions. Three of these wonderful exceptions are all written for the screen as well as directed by Frank Darabont. Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and The Mist.
But what I'm completely baffled and honestly angered by is what is supposed to be The Dark Tower. So completely unlike the life's work King began in 1970 on those famous odd bargain green near cardboard thick reams of paper he wrote his first words of what became The Gunslinger. I'm not angry with the actors or anyone who worked on this except those who were in charge of the screenplay and the decisions that defamed such a truly wonderful and by King's own words...Magnum Opus he aspired to. And after being bought and sold several times before this 'movie' was presented. Silly it might be to do, but I'm boycotting it. I read the first article describing what it was going to be and who was starring in it. Then is saw the teaser trailer and after that I knew I'd simply be angry watching some horrible mutation of one of my all time favorites novel series by any author, but especially by Stephen King.
What makes me even more angry and sad in equal measure is knowing that this could not have happened without the permission of Mr. King! He's ruined many of his own great stories by writing horrible screenplays. But to ruin such an important work that consumed King's life for nearly 45 years. And after he nearly died from the van hitting him walking, he chose to even write himself into the story since (again in his words), this story was 'killing him'. I'll guess that with his near death experience. He decide to simply finish it quick...perhaps to feel more safe in his life? But taking the typical 5-7 years between books each much longer than the previous up to Wizard & Glass. Out came books 5,6,7 all in less than a year. I liked books 5 & 6, but personally feel the final book was a huge let down just to finish the story instead of how it felt it would have gone had he not had his brush with death. However...there is no excuse for the permission to make a movie so unlike the story.
Why not make a deal with one of the cable networks and get Frank Darabont to do his magic in creating it for the small screen that would have the budget of Game of Thrones, Outlander, The Walking Dead (Darabont DID bring this comic book series to the small screen. Originally as a mini-series, but so many watchers loved it. They wrote in asking it to continue, and explains why season 1 is only six episodes and all subsequent seasons from 10-12 episodes and now heading into season 7. The Dark Tower could easily cover five seasons or more if the final books story was written better than the original book. I find it hard to believe that George R.R. Martin is a better known and more persuasive force in Hollywood than Stephen King. So why such garbage under the King brand name? I know nothing about him personally. I don't wish to seem authoritative, but as a lifelong successful musician/songwriter. I've turned down sales of my music to those who would turn it into some Hip Hop thing I'd hate to hear. Why then has Mr. King done or permitted so many terrible renditions of his stories after the well done first attempts such as Carrie and Salem's Lot? Dolores Claiborne, Storm of the Century, 1408, Misery, and now we have an excellent adaptation of Mr. Mercedes. Even The Stand was done pretty well even as a made for TV mini series that took up an entire week M-F with 2 hour installments each and the original TV version of It was done well except the conclusion. Oh, almost forgot...I stopped watching 11-22-63 after the first ten minutes since it showed it was already way off from the book which I truly enjoyed even if I don't agree with King's premise that what the government told us is true about the assassination of JFK.
Add to these those done by Darabont, and there plenty of proof that the wonderful works of Stephen King CAN be done as close to the original stories. And now with the very common use of CGI, ANYTHING King has thought up COULD BE done with integrity and as close to his written work as possible. So WHY was this horrible version of a seven books Magnum Opus covering most of all King's stories with many references in so many of all his novels written during the time he was working on each successive Dark Tower book installment?!
Is there any possibility he does these things because he needs or wants the money?? I've no idea, but I live my life filled with logical reasons for everything. So I'm stumped why any of his stories that were mutilated by his own screenplays or just giving permission for a price to allow Hollywood to do as they wish with his work. He seems he is proud of all or nearly all of what he has produced. So why allow such bastardized versions of his work? PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT RUIN DUMA KEY, THE TALISMAN, BLACK HOUSE, or INSOMNIA! If not going to be done well and the same as the novels. Just leave them to our imagination.
Thanks for anyone's time who read my post.
But what I'm completely baffled and honestly angered by is what is supposed to be The Dark Tower. So completely unlike the life's work King began in 1970 on those famous odd bargain green near cardboard thick reams of paper he wrote his first words of what became The Gunslinger. I'm not angry with the actors or anyone who worked on this except those who were in charge of the screenplay and the decisions that defamed such a truly wonderful and by King's own words...Magnum Opus he aspired to. And after being bought and sold several times before this 'movie' was presented. Silly it might be to do, but I'm boycotting it. I read the first article describing what it was going to be and who was starring in it. Then is saw the teaser trailer and after that I knew I'd simply be angry watching some horrible mutation of one of my all time favorites novel series by any author, but especially by Stephen King.
What makes me even more angry and sad in equal measure is knowing that this could not have happened without the permission of Mr. King! He's ruined many of his own great stories by writing horrible screenplays. But to ruin such an important work that consumed King's life for nearly 45 years. And after he nearly died from the van hitting him walking, he chose to even write himself into the story since (again in his words), this story was 'killing him'. I'll guess that with his near death experience. He decide to simply finish it quick...perhaps to feel more safe in his life? But taking the typical 5-7 years between books each much longer than the previous up to Wizard & Glass. Out came books 5,6,7 all in less than a year. I liked books 5 & 6, but personally feel the final book was a huge let down just to finish the story instead of how it felt it would have gone had he not had his brush with death. However...there is no excuse for the permission to make a movie so unlike the story.
Why not make a deal with one of the cable networks and get Frank Darabont to do his magic in creating it for the small screen that would have the budget of Game of Thrones, Outlander, The Walking Dead (Darabont DID bring this comic book series to the small screen. Originally as a mini-series, but so many watchers loved it. They wrote in asking it to continue, and explains why season 1 is only six episodes and all subsequent seasons from 10-12 episodes and now heading into season 7. The Dark Tower could easily cover five seasons or more if the final books story was written better than the original book. I find it hard to believe that George R.R. Martin is a better known and more persuasive force in Hollywood than Stephen King. So why such garbage under the King brand name? I know nothing about him personally. I don't wish to seem authoritative, but as a lifelong successful musician/songwriter. I've turned down sales of my music to those who would turn it into some Hip Hop thing I'd hate to hear. Why then has Mr. King done or permitted so many terrible renditions of his stories after the well done first attempts such as Carrie and Salem's Lot? Dolores Claiborne, Storm of the Century, 1408, Misery, and now we have an excellent adaptation of Mr. Mercedes. Even The Stand was done pretty well even as a made for TV mini series that took up an entire week M-F with 2 hour installments each and the original TV version of It was done well except the conclusion. Oh, almost forgot...I stopped watching 11-22-63 after the first ten minutes since it showed it was already way off from the book which I truly enjoyed even if I don't agree with King's premise that what the government told us is true about the assassination of JFK.
Add to these those done by Darabont, and there plenty of proof that the wonderful works of Stephen King CAN be done as close to the original stories. And now with the very common use of CGI, ANYTHING King has thought up COULD BE done with integrity and as close to his written work as possible. So WHY was this horrible version of a seven books Magnum Opus covering most of all King's stories with many references in so many of all his novels written during the time he was working on each successive Dark Tower book installment?!
Is there any possibility he does these things because he needs or wants the money?? I've no idea, but I live my life filled with logical reasons for everything. So I'm stumped why any of his stories that were mutilated by his own screenplays or just giving permission for a price to allow Hollywood to do as they wish with his work. He seems he is proud of all or nearly all of what he has produced. So why allow such bastardized versions of his work? PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT RUIN DUMA KEY, THE TALISMAN, BLACK HOUSE, or INSOMNIA! If not going to be done well and the same as the novels. Just leave them to our imagination.
Thanks for anyone's time who read my post.