The Stand. :-)

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GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
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I've read the book about three different times. i've watched my DVD mini series many more. There are many things I enjoy about the story.

But i really don't get the ending.

Why have the characters take a Stand at all if God ends Flagg?

Mr. King says he wanted yo write an epic like Lord Of The Rings, but in lord Of The Rings it was the characters that put an end to Sauron and the One Ring, not an all powerful deity.

That really is my only contention about the book and mini series.

Edit:

But Matt Frewer, formerly Max Headroom (also a pun btw) did a heck of a job on portraying the Trashcan Man, and I also liked Gary Sinise in it and many other performances. Mr. Frewer was the biggest surprise for me though.

Gary Sinise was also in the film adaption of The Green Mile.

I once thought the actress Andy McDowell was in it, playing the lady who shot at Nick and Tom, but apparently I am wrong on that.Miss Shawnee Smith did a good scary too.
....God wanted a sacrifice from his followers to take old ambulatory guy out....
 

Tery

Say hello to my fishy buddy
Moderator
Apr 12, 2006
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But he was, Tery - I had forgotten myself. He played a psychiatric doctor who was witness for the prosecutor.

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Now I see the pictures.... I wonder why he wasn't listed in the cast?
 

Doc Creed

Well-Known Member
Nov 18, 2015
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...yes they were and it still pisses me off to this day that they died in vain as far as full vanquishment goes...

Gotta suffer. Lambs of God. Gotta love catholic school and how I know this.

Pissed me off too. Specially the Judge.
I wonder how this ended up weighing on Stu. He literally fell along the way and never "made his stand" as Mother Abigail says. Did he feel even worse because their journey west was for nought, and he survived? Did he wonder if it was "God's will"? So many questions left open ended, but that's the genius of it. It's just heart breaking...and yeah, it makes you wonder why they had to go in the first place? Couldn't God just say, "Hey, I got this."? Ha.
 
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Checkman

Getting older and balder
May 9, 2007
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God Moves in a Mysterious Way by William Cowpers.

I think that Mr. King was writing with this classic hymn in mind.
 
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skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
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I wonder how this ended up weighing on Stu. He literally fell along the way and never "made his stand" as Mother Abigail says. Did he feel even worse because their journey west was for nought, and he survived? Did he wonder if it was "God's will"? So many questions left open ended, but that's the genius of it. It's just heart breaking...and yeah, it makes you wonder why they had to go in the first place? Couldn't God just say, "Hey, I got this."? Ha.
Nope. Classic Christianity holds that man has to choose the right. If no one was willing to stand for goodness, god would let it man feel the result of that choice. There is some Christ imagery, as well, but I think that's soft-peddaled. Free will and results seem to me to be the real story.
 
Jun 26, 2016
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Why have the characters take a Stand at all if God ends Flagg?


First, I have to say that I commented on the books, not the movie. But I liked the movie well enough as well, so...

When good and evil are at war (Good vs. Evil), the fight is to conquer the other, not any other outcome.

Flagg wasn't Evil; he did evil and was the product of evil, the user of evil, the personification of an evil.

Just like Mother Abigail wasn't Good; she was good and did good. Etc.

Mother Abigail's death doesn't end good any more than Randall Flagg's death ends evil.

In short: the fight was over the principle of good vs. evil.

(I do hope that made sense.)

Mr. King says he wanted yo write an epic like Lord Of The Rings, but in lord Of The Rings it was the characters that put an end to Sauron and the One Ring, not an all powerful deity.

Tolkien and Stephen King are VERY different writers, with VERY different methods and inspirations, so I don't think The Stand and Lord of the Rings can really be compared like this.

Tolkien was a heavy duty Christian. So heavy duty that he frequently criticized C.S. Lewis for not being devout enough. His writings are inspired by his religion. They are Christian-themed.

SK's are not. They come from another place entirely -- and one I don't even want to guess at.

But comparing the two is like comparing Mother Teresa with the best and by far more prolific writer. Oh wait. that comparison doesn't really work... :)
 

CYRUS

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Mar 30, 2017
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It was the first Stephen King novel I read . I picked it up out curiosity and couldn't put it down. It's a great novel , one of the best I've ever read. :cool:
 
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