Stephen King's Dark Tower: Trailer!

[williamjm]

Anyone watched this film?

I watched it today. I've never read the books so can't really compare it to them. It was OK, but felt a bit perfunctory, there's not a huge amount of depth or complexity to it. Idris Elba was good, the kid was fine, McConaughey felt a bit wasted with a one-note villain who seemed a bit bored for most of the film and most of the rest of the characters seemed to be expendable.

 

[Cathbad]

Okay, I have finally watched the trailer.

Speaking as someone who has never read the books, the trailer didn't excite me much. I'll eventually watch it - but I'm not exactly anxious.

 

[Boneman]

Going to see the movie this afternoon. Hopes high... but... will report back.

 

[Boneman]

Oh. My. God.

That is all. Oh. My. God.

If you have read the Dark Tower books, do not, under any circumstances go and see this film. Seriously. I wish I hadn't gone, it's a complete travesty, and I have no understanding of how something so abysmal could be made out of King's great opus. Great acting, is all I can say, but the scriptwriters have invented more in the film than ever existed in the books. For what reason??? I went with the wife, who hasn't read the books and she said "violent film". Then asked about all manner of things which weren't explained...

If you haven't read the books, go see it! Then you're in for an amazing treat when you do read the books.

My last hope is for the TV series, which (apparently) will follow the books closely. But after this monstrosity, I have little hope.

 

[Overread]

To be fair getting one book into a film is a bit feat; getting 7 or so (I forget how many there are) is nearly always going to fail. Sounds like they cherry picked the title, theme and scenes and went with their own inspired story.

 

[Judderman]

I don't think it is meant to be 7 books into 1 movie as there is a sequel that may include aspects of the 2nd book. Apparently the 1st film has parts from the 1st and 3rd books?

The TV series is according to Wikipedia meant to be Roland's back story such as in Part 4 : Wolves of the Calla. But I wouldn't raise hopes if you didn't like the film as it involves some of the same people working on it.

 

[HoopyFrood]

What about if you approach it like it's been suggested -- that it's not the Dark Tower books as we know them, but another version of Roland's many trips through the Tower? Does the film work then?

Part 4 : Wolves of the Calla.

Did you mean part four: Wizard and Glass? Because that's the big, fat backstory bit. Also my least favourite part of the whole series so I'd rather have TV episodes of all the other bits!

 

[Judderman]

Oh yes that part 4
At least the backstory part could be more Western style.

 

[HareBrain]

I liked Wizard and Glass. That was the part of the story that was adapted (and expanded?) as a graphic novel series, which worked well. It's possible (I won't go further than that) a film/TV version would be good too.

 

[Boneman]

What about if you approach it like it's been suggested -- that it's not the Dark Tower books as we know them, but another version of Roland's many trips through the Tower? Does the film work then?

Not really... unless they called it by another title. The whole premise of the film is that Roland wants revenge over Walter. He's not interested in the Tower, he just wants revenge. If this was one of Roland's cycles, he's not interested in the Tower, and he'd never go there to begin a new one... Besides (spoiler alert) it was way too easy to destroy the beam-breakers. And, God help me, the reason the villagers help the gunslinger? "He's a gunslinger, it's the law" Not one jot of reverence to his kind, nothing...

 

[AlexH]

I saw the film this morning and really enjoyed it. I thought McConaughey was great. It felt like it had more potential though, and in book 1

Spoiler: spoiler

it was only ever (strongly) implied that Jake was from another world

?

I've only read book 1 of the Dark Tower series, and the first 2 chapters of book 2 (previewed at the end of book 1). I wasn't a great fan of 1, but book 2 had a great start. I never ended up reading it though, as it was never available from either of my local libraries, despite their systems saying it was available to loan - so I always ended up reading something else.

 

[nixie]

Finally got round to this.
I went in with the mind set its a film with elements of DT.
Glad I did, if I had tried to compare it to the books I would have been sorely disappointed. This way I got too enjoy it,Roland, Jake and even Walter where different people.

There other worlds than this.