Ruminations on the Works of Stephen King - Page 5

Really, I think with King, the storytelling — the sheer "I want to see what happens next"-ness of it — is a huge part, but maybe not enough credit is given to his voice. The simple folksiness of it. The common-sense vibe of it. This may be why I keep bouncing off the Dark Tower series, only the first two of which I've read; maybe it changes in later volumes, but when I've gone back to re-read the first one, the style blocks me out, not to mention I've gotten a whole lot less tolerant of fiction that needs a glossary as I've gotten older. I'll keep trying, though.

Oddly, Carrie has maybe the least amount of what we think of as King style, being salted with newspaper articles and feeling, to me, far more exterior than the later peak stuff. Maybe I need to re-read that again. But all I can think of is stuff like The Shining and Salem's Lot where King slips us so easily and seemingly effortlessly into someone's emotional and thought processes. With Carrie he's kind of sheepishly standing on the outside and imagining, and I'm not at all saying it's a bad book or anything, but obviously he can feel his way into writing an alcoholic writer more readily than he can with a teenage girl getting her first period and not knowing what it is. It's a testament to King's talent that he stuck that landing as skillfully as he did, considering all he had going against him. I'm also not saying King sucks at writing people who aren't like him. I'm just saying, it was a ballsy book to debut with (even though he'd written lots of other stuff first). Carrie is also short and painful and feels like he bled the fucking thing out of him. It doesn't have the garrulous generosity of his later books, where he maybe felt free to stretch his legs a bit more. It's intense and every time I've read it I've come away feeling like I have the flu or something.

Seek out Frank Darabont's The Woman in the Room. In a lot of ways it's his best King adaptation. (Avoid The Boogeyman, which is usually bundled with it.)

Apt Pupil is fine if necessarily softened. Needful Things and Dolores Claiborne are two of the better-acted unsung King films. Avoid anything directed by Tom Holland, which means the awful Thinner and The Langoliers (although Bronson Pinchot is his usual great self in it). I remember Golden Years being kind of interesting; probably your only chance to see Keith Szarabajka in a lead role.

Quote:

Originally Posted by User_32 

As I'm preparing to read King's work for the first time, i was wondering what film adaptations are also worth checking out once I've read the book. I've seen what are considered the best of the best classics like Carrie, The Shining, The Dead Zone, Stand By Me, Misery, The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile and The Mist. Any others that are worth checking out or should be avoided at all costs. I've heard with King adaptations it's either one or the other.

CUJO and CHRISTINE are both very watchable, and the 1979 TV SALEM'S LOT, while very 70's-television, has some very effective sequences.  Avoid the Rob Lowe remake like fucking SARS.

And Creepshow, of course.

Shrink your expectations down real tiny-like, get a good buzz on, and pop in Maximum Overdrive and you might take it on the same level that King pitches it: a shitty beer-and-pizza flick. It's severely compromised by MPAA-mandated cuts to the gore, and King is no Kubrick, but I'd watch it again over Sleepwalkers or Hearts in Atlantis or Silver Bullet. Pat Hingle's in it.

The Dark Half is not bad; it's probably better than the novel. Pet Sematary, despite what you may hear from those who were young and impressionable when they saw it, is shit. People's nightmares are haunted by Zelda. And that's fine, but the rest of the movie is just such a dog fart compared to the book.

CAT'S EYE is pretty fun.

Let's just hope Tom Holland's next King adaptation has more in common with his early work (Child's Play, Fright Night) than his previous King work.

IT is worth watching for Tim Curry's powerhouse performance alone.

A bit OTT, but Alex Aja's adaptation of Horns is gearing up to shoot this fall.

Quote:

Originally Posted by User_32 

Just found a list of King's top ten favorite adaptations of his own work.
1408
 

Really, Steve?  Really?

Judging from King's reaction to Kubrick's The Shining and his own mediocre "this is how it should have been done" miniseries adaptation, he's not the best judge of adaptations of his work.

He's also not the best judge of film, period. I facepalmed when he actually said the Last House on the Left remake was better than the original.

I know that he doesn't but still find it incredibly bizarre that he doesn't love The Shining, The Dead Zone or Carrie.  I'd put Christine and Hearts in Atlantis in there as well too -- both of which were very faithful adaptations.  Also weird that The Night Flyer isn't on his list.  He's doing another movie with that director. 

It's interesting that that short story from Full Dark, No Stars is being made with Joan Allen.  It doesn't seem to have enough meat on its bones for a full movie.
 

King doesn't like The Dead Zone either?  Jesus, how can such a talented, creative guy with such a vivid imagination have such shitty taste?  His yearly 'Best Of' lists in his EW column were painful to read.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin Macken 

King doesn't like The Dead Zone either?  Jesus, how can such a talented, creative guy with such a vivid imagination have such shitty taste?  His yearly 'Best Of' lists in his EW column were painful to read.

He didn't list it in his top 10, but I've never heard him disparage it all, for what that's worth.  

No, he digs Dead Zone. In a 1983 Fangoria interview he had good things to say about it.

Interesting peek into King-the-cokehead-at-the-time: his first choice for Johnny Smith ("and I pitched him very hard") was Bill Murray.*

Another interesting peek courtesy of Cronenberg, who said in an interview years later that King's own script was terrible. It focused on Frank Dodd and the killings, and Cronenberg said it was the kind of script King's own fans would have crucified Cronenberg for filming and betraying the novel. Jeffrey Boam did a superb job winnowing the story down to its essence.

*And please remember we're not talking about the post-'90s Murray who has gravitas and has been great in drama; we're talking early-'80s Murray.

Ahh ok, spoke too soon I guess.  I still find it odd he would rank it lower than Cujo or Storm of the Century, however.  

At least there was no Mick Garris on the list.  But the mere fact that he would not include a Garris adaptation makes me wonder why in the fuck he continues working with him.

Yeah, I've never seen King spout off anything but positive remarks in reference to Carrie, The Dead Zone, and Christine.

Which is why it's so weird that he left them off his top 10 list.  I mean, Cujo?  I can watch most Stephen King movies over and over, including The Tommyknockers by the way, but Cujo just puts me to sleep.  Yet there it is.  OVER Christine.  And Apt Pupil is good but nowhere near the perfection of The Dead Zone.  My list would be this:

The Shining

The Dead Zone

Stand by Me

Carrie

Misery

Christine

Dolores Claiborne

Shawshank

The Night Flyer

Hearts in Atlantis

Honorable mentions: Needful Things, Creepshow & Creepshow 2, The Stand miniseries, Apt Pupil, 1408, 1st half of IT miniseries.  I'm probably leaving some out.

I'll stick up for CUJO.  It effectively portrays the central brutal conceit and jettisons all the extraneous bullshit from the novel (the Sharp Cereal plot, the crazy ex-boyfriend, etc.)   Plus, Dee Wallace and that kid sold the shit out of their scenes.  

Yeah, I dig CUJO, too. I don't mind that the kid lives. After the Hell the movie puts the family through, the survival comes as a relief; it's an ending that feels earned (dues are paid), not compromised.

I'm more puzzled by the inclusion of Storm of the Century.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't that an original screenplay.  And if so, isn't that cheating?

The funny thing about Cujo is I remember reading somewhere that Stephen King was so drugged out at the time he doesn't even remember writing it.

Anyway, I still think it's a bad choice for a top 10.  If you're going to go there, why not include Lawnmower Man or Graveyard Shift, which at least had one actor faking a downeast drawl and a rap song at the end. 
 

My problems with Hearts in Atlantis is that it adapts only the 1st part of that story, and even then skirts the bigger picture in it. I would have much rather seen the second story, the college story, over the Anthony Hopkins one. Even the final story has a great end and wrap up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by yt 

The funny thing about Cujo is I remember reading somewhere that Stephen King was so drugged out at the time he doesn't even remember writing it.
 

100% true.  The man has no memory of writing a BESTSELLER.  Kinda pisses you off a little, doesn't it?

Might be nitpicking, but he said he barely remembers writing it. That had more to do with the vast quantities of beer he was putting away at the time, according to him. Anyway, "barely" is a little different from "Hey! Cujo! I wrote this?" It's still bad that he has so little memory of writing it, mind you, and he's said as much.

He's also written over 50 books. I would imagine some of those get fuzzy. 

The Dead Zone as per the Rereading Stephen King series.

I just have to say, though, I love Stephen King and hope he lives forever.  Thanks for posting that, Martin Blank.  I just re-read The Dead Zone a couple of months ago.  I agree with the writer, actually.  I think The Dead Zone is one of his best-written books.
 

Happy birthday to the Master of Horror.  It was my late dog Elvis's birthday too. 

A blogger has also taken up a similar task as The Guardian by going through all of Stephen King media in chronological order. That includes the TV and film adaptations. He's reached The Talisman so far.

http://tannerwillbanks.wordpress.com/2012/03/26/the-grand-stephen-king-experiment-an-introduction/

Quote:

Originally Posted by User_32 

A blogger has also taken up a similar task as The Guardian by going through all of Stephen King media in chronological order. That includes the TV and film adaptations. He's reached The Talisman so far.

 

http://tannerwillbanks.wordpress.com/2012/03/26/the-grand-stephen-king-experiment-an-introduction/

An enormous task indeed, and a decent effort, but the entries I've read so far make me wish for a sharper writer: "I readily admit that this book is not going to be one that everybody enjoys. There are a good many people that it won’t scare on bit."

I truly feel for the writer when the time comes to delve into the shittier end of the adaptation pool.  Delirium will surely set in at some point.

Quote:

Originally Posted by S.D. Bob Plissken 

I truly feel for the writer when the time comes to delve into the shittier end of the adaptation pool.  Delirium will surely set in at some point.

Possible tipping point:  DREAMCATCHER.  

Oh, it'd have to come way before that with shit like Pet Sematary 2, Mangler & Children of the Corn sequels, and most of Mick Garris' work.  In fact, watching all of those might not make Dreamcatcher seem so bad.....which is a terrifying though.

Finished my first Stephen King novel. Or more accurately my first four Stephen King novellas; Different Seasons. I had wanted to read his work chronologically but now have been reading what I can get my hands on first. What was interesting for me about this collection is that two of the four stories have been ingrained in my mind having seen The Shawshank Redemption and Stand By Me countless times. I couldn't help but hear Morgan Freeman and Richard Dreyfuss's voices as I read them, respectively. Here are some very quick thoughts and I'll try to keep it as spoiler free for those that haven't read them yet.

Shawshank Redemption the movie turned out to be fairly close to the novella. Most of Red's narration was kept word for word. There were some differences with the changing wardens and of course the fate of Tommy. But it's such a great story that I almost forgot what was going to happen next and it was nice to delve even further into that world with answers the movie never gave (ie. the reason Red got put away in the first place). 

Apt Pupil I had never seen the movie beforehand so I came in completely fresh. It was pretty riveting and disturbing. The cat scene especially had me cringing. I have since watched the film which was a lot tamer than the novella. Surprisingly so actually. I do feel the film captured the tone of the novella but not so much the evil that is Todd Bowden. Only hints here and there. The ending was also completely changed to what could be seen as softer but in its own way maybe even darker than the novella. 

The Body surprised me in the little differences from the film Stand By Me. Both are great in their own ways and again the tone of the novella was captured perfectly in the film. Again, it's such a great story that I almost forgot what was going to happen next. The end with who's holding the gun (during a rainstorm!) and the fates of Vern and Teddy are different but the film still managed to complement the novella quite nicely. Again, it was nice to just delve deeper into the world. 

Lastly, the only novella in the collection not to be turned into a movie The Breathing Method. I suppose this was more horror than the other three (although Apt Pupil has many horror elements). It's also the shortest of the three. It had a slower start but once it got going was it ever a page turner. I liked the atmosphere of the scary stories being told around a campfire vibe. And what an ending to that story within the story being told. I could almost have seen this turned into a Tales from the Crypt episode.

I'm kind of hooked now. Next up is The Shining for me. Again, I have seen the Stanley Kubrick film version countless times so it will be interesting to compare the two. I've already heard how different they are which makes me even more excited to read the novel.

Been thinking about the IT remake, and if the natural choice Michael Keaton doesn't play Pennywise, here's the next best thing.

Rereading Stephen King series: Firestarter is up.

I guess I can imagine Bill Murray as a child-murdering clown, but I can't see him as an avatar for interplanetary evil. It would require him to play big, to the rafters, and would undercut his greatest asset, irony. If we're going older guy, I'd take Brian Cox. But I'd probably take someone like John Hawkes or Michael Chiklis first.

He's played big before to varying success, I guess.

Looks like the final novella in Different Seasons is finally being adapted into a film.

http://www.deadline.com/2012/10/sinisters-blumhouse-and-scott-derrickson-re-team-on-stephen-king-novella-breathing-method/#more-354140

It's fun that they're going for the clean sweep, but man, I can't possibly imagine that as a movie.

That's the one where the

right?

Yeah, good luck with that.

Yeah, BREATHING METHOD is actually the least interesting story of DIFFERENT SEASONS by a long shot.  It kind of is only about the punchline.  

By faaar.  And it's not even a very cinematic punchline.