Share your thoughts after viewing the movie **DEFINITE SPOILERS**

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Religiously_Unkind

Well-Known Member
Aug 19, 2017
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I have spent months rereading the DT books, I was reading book 7 when this movie came out and it was so lackluster, so underwhelming, that it left a bad taste in my mouth and I had to put book 7 aside. I just couldn't go on because I kept thinking of this movie. I seriously think they put all of the nods to Stephen King's other books and movies in this because they knew it was a stinker and they needed something for us fans to actually like about the movie. It didn't work, the only thing I liked was the nod to Pennywise.
 

Religiously_Unkind

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Aug 19, 2017
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I want to emphasize again that for anyone who is expecting or disappointed that this is a straight adaptation, this isn't it. As has been reported, it is another journey on the wheel, one that takes place after the 7th book. Unless you can watch with an open mind and be receptive to that, you're probably not going to enjoy this.

Those who have read the books will recognize elements that have been included from several books in this journey and there were a few times when I would have an aha moment as I recognized a location or character. Not to mention all of the easter eggs of other books, and it would take me another time or two watching to catch them all.

I'll confess I was one of those who at first was disappointed with the casting as I'd been caught up in that iconic description of the blue eyes but I thought Idris Elba did a good job of capturing the steeliness of Roland. It didn't take long before I was able to embrace him as a different version of Roland on another level of the Tower. I didn't even notice until someone else mentioned afterwards that he never wore a hat as Roland did. He did well portraying Roland's unintended humor when commenting about keystone world so there are several scenes that will make you laugh just like you probably did when reading the books.

Tom Taylor did a terrific job as Jake and I hope they'll continue with him even though he's going through his teenage growth spurt in real life.

I think Matthew McConaughey got Walter's ruthlessness as that comes across front and center. Not having seen a lot of his other films that might have influenced me about his performance, I may not have caught his just being Matthew McConaughey that others have been concerned about.

Some have mentioned being concerned about the length of the film, but I really didn't even notice it as I was caught up in the story. There weren't any parts that seemed to drag for me. Overall, I think the film captures the essence of the story and works as a new journey for Roland.

I understand that this was a continuation and I went in with an open mind, but this is just not good. At no point did I feel like it was a continuation.
 

Religiously_Unkind

Well-Known Member
Aug 19, 2017
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Different strokes for different folks, I guess. I really enjoyed it and am not just saying that because I work for Steve.

I'm glad you liked it, I wish I had liked it, I hate it when I don't like a movie I've been anticipating. I've never liked anything Akiva Goldsman has been involved with, well, I do kind of like Batman Forever even though it's really dumb.
 

Baby Blue

Resident Wise Ass
Aug 16, 2017
874
6,937
Seattle, WA
I enjoyed it. I definitely thought it could have been improved in many ways and there were some holes where the rest of the ka-tet belonged but I recognized it as its own story and judged it as such. Nobody ever does the books justice so I appreciated this independent approach. I saw it twice (early screening and release day) and had a good time both times. I sort of wish I hadn't been told about all of the Easter eggs in advance though. I would have been 1,000 times more excited to have spotted them on my own.
 

kellerjack

Member
Dec 28, 2015
7
29
38
I'm not really into movies, but this one finally got me out to the theater last week. I'm the superfan and my boyfriend has no idea what the DT is..

What a crapfest! Which I kind of thought it would be.. I went in open minded, fine, ka is a wheel, blah blah. I can deal with that; I already knew it wouldn't be like the books. But .. what the hell did I just watch, you know?

I told my bf I was going to flick him every time I was disappointed with something. He was bruised by the end :biggrin-new: Seriously though, it was all wrong. The actors were fine and they did a good job. I have no idea in HELL why this movie was named The Dark Tower.

What Roland actually is supposed to care about: Reaching the Dark Tower at all costs.
What Roland actually cared about in the film: Killing Walter and trying a hotdog.

Seriously! He didn't seem to care at all! If this is the next turn of the wheel, I fear for the precious DT don't you?

I always found the books more psychological thriller and character development than ACTION!! GUNFIGHT WOOOHOOO!! SLOW BULLETS! Etc. They really dumbed down the story, perhaps to bring in non-SK fans. My boyfriend had no idea what was going on so I literally had to fill in the gaps and give him the backstory.

So in short, Roland did get his hotdog at the end. Hooray! :encouragement: (Btw, don't take me too seriously, I happen to have a sense of humor :) )
 

Religiously_Unkind

Well-Known Member
Aug 19, 2017
444
2,264
32
I'm not really into movies, but this one finally got me out to the theater last week. I'm the superfan and my boyfriend has no idea what the DT is..

What a crapfest! Which I kind of thought it would be.. I went in open minded, fine, ka is a wheel, blah blah. I can deal with that; I already knew it wouldn't be like the books. But .. what the hell did I just watch, you know?

I told my bf I was going to flick him every time I was disappointed with something. He was bruised by the end :biggrin-new: Seriously though, it was all wrong. The actors were fine and they did a good job. I have no idea in HELL why this movie was named The Dark Tower.

What Roland actually is supposed to care about: Reaching the Dark Tower at all costs.
What Roland actually cared about in the film: Killing Walter and trying a hotdog.

Seriously! He didn't seem to care at all! If this is the next turn of the wheel, I fear for the precious DT don't you?

I always found the books more psychological thriller and character development than ACTION!! GUNFIGHT WOOOHOOO!! SLOW BULLETS! Etc. They really dumbed down the story, perhaps to bring in non-SK fans. My boyfriend had no idea what was going on so I literally had to fill in the gaps and give him the backstory.

So in short, Roland did get his hotdog at the end. Hooray! :encouragement: (Btw, don't take me too seriously, I happen to have a sense of humor :) )

Thank you! I must have annoyed the people sitting near me because every time something stupid would happen I would say "Mmhm, right." I ended up saying that a lot, especially the scene with Jake using a ****ing time machine to get to Roland's world.

The whole movie was typical Hollywood bullshit. Oh, and since when did The Man In Black need Jake to bring down the tower?
 

Demeter

Well-Known Member
Apr 23, 2008
538
1,424
I absolutely loved the movie. I watched it twice last weekend and the second time was just as good because I picked up more references to King's other books. Every time I'd get one I felt like I won a prize. It made me incredibly happy. To be honest it made my whole weekend.
I read a few reviews online about how the movie is not faithful to the books and how that pissed off a lot of people. I'm glad I was warned because I didn't want to go in with a lot of expectations and come out disappointed. That being said, I just wanted to see how the movie came out. Could it have been better? Yes. Was I disappointed? No way. I think Idris Elba was perfect as the gunslinger. Tom Taylor was great. McConaughey wasn't bad either.
I read the book years ago and don't remember so many of the details but overall the movie worked for me. The shooting scenes were incredible and every time the gunslinger's creed was said I got goosebumps. I sure hope there's a sequel. Or a TV series. I'd watch them in a heartbeat.
Of course it's not faithful to the books. How can a 7 book series be condensed into an hour and a half? It's not really possible. But the essence is there. I wish I could have seen Oy, but the reference in the movie made me smile.
I am one happy fan.
 

Neesy

#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
May 24, 2012
61,289
239,271
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
I absolutely loved the movie. I watched it twice last weekend and the second time was just as good because I picked up more references to King's other books. Every time I'd get one I felt like I won a prize. It made me incredibly happy. To be honest it made my whole weekend.
I read a few reviews online about how the movie is not faithful to the books and how that pissed off a lot of people. I'm glad I was warned because I didn't want to go in with a lot of expectations and come out disappointed. That being said, I just wanted to see how the movie came out. Could it have been better? Yes. Was I disappointed? No way. I think Idris Elba was perfect as the gunslinger. Tom Taylor was great. McConaughey wasn't bad either.
I read the book years ago and don't remember so many of the details but overall the movie worked for me. The shooting scenes were incredible and every time the gunslinger's creed was said I got goosebumps. I sure hope there's a sequel. Or a TV series. I'd watch them in a heartbeat.
Of course it's not faithful to the books. How can a 7 book series be condensed into an hour and a half? It's not really possible. But the essence is there. I wish I could have seen Oy, but the reference in the movie made me smile.
I am one happy fan.

Great review!

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Hill lover35

Well-Known Member
Jan 8, 2017
3,717
20,019
42
Alberta canada
The li
I absolutely loved the movie. I watched it twice last weekend and the second time was just as good because I picked up more references to King's other books. Every time I'd get one I felt like I won a prize. It made me incredibly happy. To be honest it made my whole weekend.
I read a few reviews online about how the movie is not faithful to the books and how that pissed off a lot of people. I'm glad I was warned because I didn't want to go in with a lot of expectations and come out disappointed. That being said, I just wanted to see how the movie came out. Could it have been better? Yes. Was I disappointed? No way. I think Idris Elba was perfect as the gunslinger. Tom Taylor was great. McConaughey wasn't bad either.
I read the book years ago and don't remember so many of the details but overall the movie worked for me. The shooting scenes were incredible and every time the gunslinger's creed was said I got goosebumps. I sure hope there's a sequel. Or a TV series. I'd watch them in a heartbeat.
Of course it's not faithful to the books. How can a 7 book series be condensed into an hour and a half? It's not really possible. But the essence is there. I wish I could have seen Oy, but the reference in the movie made me smile.
I am one happy fan.

I loved how the man in black was cooking chicken and said that from where he is from their is no chicken,