The Dark Tower Movie

[IrishLion]

New trailer is out for the adaptation of Stephen King's greatest series:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GjwfqXTebIY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

50% pumped, 50% "why are you messing with such a good thing?"

Looks like it's mostly comprised of the "The Gunslinger," with a little bit of "Drawing of the Three" and a hint of "Wolves of the Calla" and a splash of "The Dark Tower" thrown in.

Not sure how much interest there actually is from board members, but I know a few are fans of the series, so I'll avoid spoilers from the books for now, and just say that I'm interested that they put a hint of the "beams" in the trailer, and curious how they're going to frame other movies/tv show around what will be in this film.

Also not pumped about the take on The Man in Black (or at least that he seems to be a dueling wizard), but I guess that was a Hollywood requirement.

 

[woolybug25]

There was a long conversation in one of the threads about this film and it would be great if those comments could be added, so I don't have to rehash all of the bullcrap in this movie.

Cliff notes: The casting of this film is stupid af.

 

[IrishLion]

There was a long conversation in one of the threads about this film and it would be great if those comments could be added, so I don't have to rehash all of the bullcrap in this movie.

Cliff notes: The casting of this film is stupid af.

I'll find them this afternoon if I can.

 

[ACamp1900]

I tried to read these books... I'm just not a big King fan typically speaking... I've only been able to finish a handful of his works, tried many, and even among those only a couple I've come out thinking, "That was really good".

 

[BobbyMac]

I read The Gunslinger in my Mystery Lit class during Junior year of HS. Never read anything else from the series. I'm one of the few people who just doesn't connect with Steven King outside of The Green Mile.

 

[Domina Nostra]

I started the series, got really into in, then just lost interest. Seemed contrived after a little while.

 

[greyhammer90]

Read The Gunslinger, but that's all. It was a good mood piece, but after about 1/2 the book was nothing but vague mysticism I got worried the rest of the books would be similar and moved on to something else.

I understand that this series takes place in the King chronology and treats his works as though they were all part of the same universe (multiverse?). How crucial is knowledge of King's other works in order to enjoy the series?

 

[woolybug25]

I tried to read these books... I'm just not a big King fan typically speaking... I've only been able to finish a handful of his works, tried many, and even among those only a couple I've come out thinking, "That was really good".

That is pretty interesting, as he is probably the most read author of our generation if you think about it. Even outside of his famous horror stories, he has so many writings that have turned into massive movies like Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile and Stand By Me. He has written in a variety of styles and genres, so you would have thought there would have been something up your alley.

But what do I know... I absolute loath Grapes of Wrath (although generally like Steinbeck) and anything written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. But acknowledge that they are generally seen as masterpieces by others.

 

[ACamp1900]

That is pretty interesting, as he is probably the most read author of our generation if you think about it. Even outside of his famous horror stories, he has so many writings that have turned into massive movies like Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile and Stand By Me. He has written in a variety of styles and genres, so you would have thought there would have been something up your alley.

But what do I know... I absolute loath Grapes of Wrath (although generally like Steinbeck) and anything written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. But acknowledge that they are generally seen as masterpieces by others.

Yep.

For the record the books I finished and thought, "I'd read that again" or "That was well worth the time" were:

It (even though the ritual of chud was super lame and stupid)
Different Seasons
Hearts in Atlantis

but even with Hearts... the tie in to the DT series was frustrating imo... Brautigan's story line and all that.

Gerald's Game, Night Shift, Gun Slinger and others I couldn't even finish... also thought The Shinning was one of only two movie/book dynamics I've read/watched where the movie was better than the book.. the other being Interview with a Vampire.

This is just my tastes tho, I'm not shitting on it, it's exactly like you w Grapes... remember we had this same conversation with Mockingbird a while back...

 

[IrishLion]

Read The Gunslinger, but that's all. It was a good mood piece, but after about 1/2 the book was nothing but vague mysticism I got worried the rest of the books would be similar and moved on to something else.

The Gunslinger is actually different from the other entries, IMO. The later books become much more straight-forward in that they act more closely to a series of sci-fi/fantasy novels. The overall stories share a common theme and destination in terms of the finale, but they are episodic with independent climaxes/resolutions, as well.

The final book shifts back to being more similar to "The Gunslinger," but it's a worthwhile conclusion, IMO.

I understand that this series takes place in the King chronology and treats his works as though they were all part of the same universe (multiverse?). How crucial is knowledge of King's other works in order to enjoy the series?

It's not crucial at all. It just provides some "aha!" moments where a character's usefulness/purpose in the Dark Tower series is tied to their character developments and aspects from other works, but using context clues fills you in just fine if you haven't read those works.

Without spoiling anything, and at risk of providing a too-vague explanation, the Dark Tower is a literal Tower that sits at the center of all existence. It supports "beams" that cross the various worlds/dimensions that exist.

The Tower is failing, and so some powerful beings (aka the bad guys, and eventually the good guys) are able to traverse world-to-world, dimension-to-dimension. It's a type of "bleeding" effect from the failing Tower that makes other worlds/dimensions/realities more accessible than they otherwise would have been.

This bleeding and overlapping explains the presence of some characters in the Dark Tower series that had their own books/stories, and it also provides a back drop for some of the bad guys, who are present in various works as well. Walter/The Man in Black goes by several different names, and is the bad guy in several King works.

 

[IrishinTN]

Loved the whole gunslinger series, myself. But this movie does not excite me in the least. Are you telling me we're squeezing eight long books into a 2.5 hour movie?

 

[IrishLax]

So are the books worth reading or nah? Just heard they are 1.3 MILLION words in total.

 

[Irish#1]

Given that trailer refers to "behind or after", never understood why they call them trailers when they come out before the movie.

 

[ACamp1900]

I did just pick up 11/22/63 recently on discount... anyone read?

 

[IrishLion]

Loved the whole gunslinger series, myself. But this movie does not excite me in the least. Are you telling me we're squeezing eight long books into a 2.5 hour movie?

God I hope not. It looks like the movie may be mostly "Gunslinger," with bits-and-pieces of four or five of the other books.

I think they have plans for another film, and possibly a TV show.

I honestly just don't want them to ruin "Wizard and Glass," however they handle it, whether it's a movie or show. That was my favorite of the series, I think.

So are the books worth reading or nah? Just heard they are 1.3 MILLION words in total.

Yes. It's a lot of words, but they are extremely fast reads. Also, the independent stories within each novel are great.

"Wizard and Glass" and "The Wastelands" are two of my favorite books, ever. Reading the series is worth getting the full context of those two books, at least.

 

[ACamp1900]

'It' should never be made into a film either... the miniseries didn't have near enough room for all that.

 

[ND4LIFE]

Here is what I found on Wikipedia in regards to the movie and an apparent follow on TV series.

In September 2016, Entertainment Weekly reported that following the release of the film, a TV series set within the same continuity is scheduled to be released in 2018. Both Elba and Taylor are set to reprise their roles as Roland and Jake respectively. Reportedly the series will potentially fill in the backstory to the film, being based on King's The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass, and star a younger actor playing a young Roland.

Please sweet baby Jesus do not screw this one up. Sadly, I feel that if one is a fan of the books they may be left wanting!

 

[IrishLion]

a TV series set within the same continuity is scheduled to be released in 2018. Both Elba and Taylor are set to reprise their roles as Roland and Jake respectively. Reportedly the series will potentially fill in the backstory to the film, being based on King's The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass, and star a younger actor playing a young Roland.

Please sweet baby Jesus do not screw this one up. Sadly, I feel that if one is a fan of the books they may be left wanting!

I think a TV series is the way to go for Wizard and Glass, for maximum narrative impact. A movie wouldn't develop the story of Roland's youth well enough, IMO.

But now, I'm also worried, because the series will be at the behest of good casting, and also leaves more room for expanding/changing the plot. Wizard and Glass is fine, as-is.

 

[ND4LIFE]

I think a TV series is the way to go for Wizard and Glass, for maximum narrative impact. A movie wouldn't develop the story of Roland's youth well enough, IMO.

But now, I'm also worried, because the series will be at the behest of good casting, and also leaves more room for expanding/changing the plot. Wizard and Glass is fine, as-is.

I am with you 100% brother! Here's to hoping!

 

[irishog77]

So are the books worth reading or nah? Just heard they are 1.3 MILLION words in total.

So, about the length of a post by bogs. I'm out on reading the books then.

 

[ACamp1900]

So, about the length of a post by bogs. I'm out on reading the books then.

except King is mostly coherent...

 

[ND NYC]

wish they never tried that ABC miniseries of The Stand.
would have been a GREAT Netflix or HBO multi-episode series if done right.

got scared off the whole dark tower series as a kid after seeing all the reading it required. just didn't have it in me to read and commit to all that.
IIRC I had read the Tolkien LOTR series and also The Stand...and needed a break!

now here I sit some 30 years later waiting on GRRM to finish ASOIAF!!

one thing about King, the man can and did churn out novels in his sleep.

 

[IrishLion]

wish they never tried that ABC miniseries of The Stand.
would have been a GREAT Netflix or HBO multi-episode series if done right.

got scared off the whole dark tower series as a kid after seeing all the reading it required. just didn't have it in me to read and commit to all that.
IIRC I had read the Tolkien LOTR series and also The Stand...and needed a break!

now here I sit some 30 years later waiting on GRRM to finish ASOIAF!!

one thing about King, the man can and did churn out novels in his sleep.

I swear, every time I search for books on GoodReads or Amazon, he's got a new novel out. It's uncanny.

 

[phork]

It'll be interesting to see what names Susannah/Odetta call the Gunslinger. Since, you know, he is white in the books.

 

[IrishLion]

It'll be interesting to see what names Susannah/Odetta call the Gunslinger. Since, you know, he is white in the books.

If they have the balls, she'll still be nasty and racist.

 

[ShawneeIrish]

I did just pick up 11/22/63 recently on discount... anyone read?

Yes, it was excellent. One of my favorite King books.

 

[woolybug25]

It'll be interesting to see what names Susannah/Odetta call the Gunslinger. Since, you know, he is white in the books.

The casting in this movie is horrid. I like Elba as an actor, but why?

 

[IrishLion]

So, evidence is mounting that this may not be an adaptation, but rather a "continuation" of the series...

I had that suspicion at one point, and now fan theories and evidence from the trailer/set seem to support the idea. That's pretty cool, if they handle it right.

But it could also just be a cheap way to take advantage of the series and a convenient excuse for how they Hollywood-ized the plot.