Thread: Stephen King adaptations

Originally Posted by LeedsLeedsLeeds

We watched Stephen King's Sleepwalkers the other night and it's been a few years since I last saw it but it is still a very good film - not a bad effort considering how bad films based on Mr. King's book normally are.

I thought that was one of the worse adaptations. Madchen Amick is wicked hot though.

The thing is, while there have been a few stinkers based on his work, I'd say the strength of the better films far outweighs them.

* 1976 - Carrie - Great movie.
* 1979 - Salem's Lot - Lots of people rave about it. I think it's weak. Loved the book.
* 1980 - The Shining - Oner of the greatest horror movies ever made.
* 1982 - Creepshow - Good fun.
* 1983 - Cujo - Shit.
* 1983 - The Dead Zone - Not bad.
* 1983 - Christine - Watched it again recently. Still a good horror movie.
* 1984 - Children of the Corn - Again, many people rate it, I thought it a bit pooh.
* 1984 - Firestarter - Decent
* 1985 - Cat's Eye - Nice film. Especially liked the third part with the little troll thing that lived in the little girl's bedroom and would try and steal her breath.
* 1985 - Silver Bullet - Never seen it. Probably shit.
* 1985 - Stephen King's Nightshift Collection - Rubbish.
* 1986 - Maximum Overdrive - Terrible film mut laughably watchable.
* 1986 - Stand By Me - Everyone loves this film.
* 1987 - Creepshow 2 - More fun.
* 1989 - Pet Sematary - Not terrible. Nearly.
* 1990 - Graveyard Shift - Terrible.
* 1990 - It (TV mini-series) - Decent and often frightening. Tim Curry was very scary as Pennywise.
* 1990 - Misery - Very good film.
* 1991 - Sometimes They Come Back - Very bad film.
* 1992 - Sleepwalkers - I thought it was crap. I do fancy the arse off Madchen Amick though.
* 1993 - The Dark Half - Shit book, film followed suit.
* 1993 - Needful Things - Half decent book. The film not so good.
* 1993 - The Tommyknockers (miniseries) - I can't remember.
* 1994 - The Shawshank Redemption - It's The Shawshank Redemption
* 1994 - The Stand (miniseries) - Wicked book. It wasn't a terrible adaptation.
* 1995 - The Langoliers (miniseries) - I think this was the one on the plane with these shit nuggets that were eating time. One of the worst wastes of my time ever.
* 1995 - The Mangler - I don't know what this is.
* 1995 - Dolores Claiborne - Good film.
* 1996 - Thinner - Dunno, looks a bit shit.
* 1998 - Apt Pupil - Underrated film. Solid work.
* 1999 - The Green Mile - Nice film.
* 1999 - Storm of the Century (TV miniseries) - I think I watched this. That probably tells its own story.
* 2001 - Hearts in Atlantis - Not bad.
* 2002 - The Dead Zone (TV Series) - Watchable TV guff.
* 2003 - Dreamcatcher - One of the worst films I've ever seen.
* 2004 - Secret Window - Decent,
* 2004 - Kingdom Hospital (TV series) - I liked it well enough.
* 2004 - Riding the Bullet - Never heard of it.
* 2006 - Desperation (TV miniseries) - Never heard of this either.
* 2007 - 1408 - It's an OK fucking film.
* 2007 - The Mist - Mint. That means 'very good' in British.

So, overall I think that's a good body of work with a few highlights and a few lowlights.

What do you think?

Misery was good - Kathy Bates in fine form. Maybe the casting of James Caan was a bit odd, but I thought it worked.

And wasn't 'The Shining' a King work?

That's a stonking movie.

'Apt Pupil' was watchable - stand out performance from Ian McKellan

I've never been a fan of king's but his book 'On Writing' is very good. Full of no nonsense advice on the craft.

Maybe the fact that I'm not a king fan means my standards are lower. Perhaps king fans hate those movies, but they worked for me..

I'll just pick out the ones that I like:

Originally Posted by Robin Friday

1976 - Carrie
1980 - The Shining
1989 - Pet Sematary
1990 - Misery
1994 - The Shawshank Redemption
1999 - The Green Mile
2004 - Secret Window

I also enjoyed 1987 - The Running Man ('Richard Bachman'), although the script is very different to the original short story, and 1992 - The Lawnmower Man neither of which appear on the list.

I've not seen all of those films but there are some in there that I really enjoyed reading but having seen previews of the films I was put off like The Langoliers and others that I just had to watch but didn't enjoy like It.

Which Stephen King books would make good films though? I'd like to see someone have a go at Gerald's Game, that would take a director with some talent to keep the audience interested in watching one woman lying handcuffed to a bed for most of the film. Her nakedness would not be enough. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon would be another good film with the right director.

Originally Posted by LeedsLeedsLeeds

I'd like to see someone have a go at Gerald's Game, that would take a director with some talent to keep the audience interested in watching one woman lying handcuffed to a bed for most of the film.Her nakedness would not be enough.

Just cast Angelina Jolie and you could put re_fuse in charge.

You missed out Rose Red. What an awesome film.