I know this isn't Toledo related, but given charltan's post this forum is pretty much a free for all (no offense char). I'm an avid Stephen King reader, have been since I was in Jr. High, in fact his work is what made me into a reader. Granted I've graduated since then from Beowulf and earlier literature, but as an American I still rank him up there with Washington Irving as one of the best American authors.
Anyway, a new movie based on his short story has come out recently and curious what you all think, for those have seen it.
From me, and to be honest I didn't read the short story till afterwards, I really liked the movie. Granted the ending which has become a pop buzz hatred term since it come out, was perfect. What I like about the author and about the director who has made several King movies, is not that it melts into the common "fairy tell ending" but is real to human nature. Excuse my french but crap in life happens.
So despite my many friends and family who loved the movie but hated the ending, I went ought and bought it at the first chance I had, watching it now (on hold) as I write this.
What do you all think?
The ending completely sucked wad and I fully regret having seen the entire film as a result. The rest of the movie was so-so.
Really, if you have about 90 minutes that you can afford to waste in your life, DO ANYTHING ELSE than see this movie.
I am so crapping this post ala Andy Defresne. Offense taken if by not taken.
Richard Bachman is underrated.
What happened in the end? I have read the short story but am not sure i want to rent it.
I agree 100 times with GZ!! I am so damned sick of depressing downer endings I could SCREAM!! They've been shoved down our throats since the 1970s. I get depression in the real world-a movie is supposed to be some form of catharsis or escape.
I think I'll watch DEATH WISH again.
The 'hero' kills his son to keep him from getting eaten by the monsters, as soon as he shoots him the army shows up to rescue them. Just the type of family fare you'd want to see at Thanksgiving , which is when this POS opened.
And king is an overrated hack. Dean Koontz is a better writer in my book, although to be fair to King, in this instance, the director changed the ending. It debuted at number 8 or 9 , was gone the next week, and is struggling on home video to make its cost back. There is a God.
The only movie last year that was even more mean-spirited was ALIEN vs. PREDATOR 2 (young children and pregnant women in hospital wards with alien offspring bursting out of their chests)
And that one opened on Christmas Day.
I really liked it, but I'm a big fan of King anyway. It was an interesting (If not slightly untrue to life.) example of what becomes of people when our modern luxuries are suddenly stripped away and replaced with uncertainty, fear and mortal danger (We become barbaric again).
The ending was terrible, but good at the same time. I found it to be believable since they had basically lost all hope and the alternative was being viciously ripped apart, so that gun must have begun to look mighty good. But on the other hand it really messed me up for a while, pretty bad in fact.
CLOVERFIELD is another one that sucks BIG-TIME.
I read the book (Mist) and saw the film. I thought they did an excellent job with the film, and I can appreciate the ending of the film as well as the book.
I also saw Cloverfield, which I enjoyed. The first twenty minutes or so are painful, but as the film progresses it gets much better. I enjoyed the ending of Cloverfield.
Running Man might be his masterpiece:
Damon Killian: Hi, cutie pie. You know one of us is in deep trouble. You know who I am?
Ben Richards: I've seen you before. You're the asshole on TV.
Damon Killian: That's funny. I was going to say the same thing about you.
"Running Man" is a good one. But one of my all-time favorite movies is "The Shawshank Redemption," which was adapted from King's novella titled "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption."
All you J.J. Abrams cultists will be happy to know there's a sequel to this garbage in the works. Have a ball. I'll never watch anything this POS makes again as long as I live.
Have not read or seen "The Mist". I can say that by experience I usually find the book much more interesting than the movie. Who has not read "The Outsiders" Misery or Waiting To Exhale" Pick any book that was turned into a movie and the book to me was always better. When you read a book your picture in your mind what the ppl look like. Although a book is descriptive of what the people may look like you/I invison what celeb would play the part if it is made into a movie. A book is more detailed where as a movie has to down size a book. To conclude I find a book more intersting than when it gets turned into a movie. The movie forgets and does not have enough time to include everything that is relevent to complete the story.
True enough. The first time I experienced that was ALIEN. Enjoyed the movie, but then read the novel afterward and felt ripped off. Very occasionally a movie will be changed for the better, or at least it makes little difference (example:CHRISTINE, one of the few King stories I like).
I rented The Mist last night and watched it. The end does ruin the whole movie.
Stephen King's novels usually don't make good movies because of the stuff that gets subtracted. The Mist got ruined by a plot twist that was added. The movie is very faithful to the short story until the very end.
I agree with most people here that the end was rough. As in nauseating and horrific, but then again it's a Stephen King movie. Apparently Mr. King even gave his blessings to the new ending.
I look at it less like a movie and more as a piece of art. How often does a movie (for better or worse) effect people so deeply. Agree with another poster Shawshank Rendemption was his best movie, same director I might add.
Another note: ever seen the movie Stand By Me? Was shocked to find out that was a King story as well.
I look at it less like a movie and more like a piece of shit,myself, but to each their own.
If everybody wants to see an alright old-fashioned movie, rent DERAILED. End is slightly stretching it, but enjoyable. Has Clive Owen and Jennifer Aniston. Rated R.
I love me some Jen, but Derailed was pretty weak. Try Friends with Money or The Break-Up for great Jen stuff.
And go rent Lars and the Real Girl already. Truly a small masterpiece of filmaking.
Darkseid thanks for the recommendation, another friend recommended Derailed will have to grab it this weekend.
Ending is a slight stretch, but it's a great catharsis movie like Death Wish was, only a more convoluted story. hope you like it. Jennifer never looked hotter.
