There seems to be nothing but negative feedback regarding this movie. The main problem is the argument that the film couldn't adapt enough of the story. Well, what did you expect from a Hollywood movie. There is only so much you can do in a movie length feature. I thought the film did well to capture the essence of The Dark Tower in a movie format. The main focus of the series is Roland and Walter O'Dim, and especially in that first book. Added to that is Roland's relationship with Jake. I don't think anyone could argue against how good Idris Elba and Mathew McConaughey where at the part. I also thought they managed to capture the action sequences of Roland pretty well, especially that final shoot out when Roland's trying to get through the Portal, just after Walter takes Jake. Not to mention the scene at the small town, where Roland shoot a guy from miles away. Does anyone agree? Stephen even said that he found the movie enjoyable and did a good job at getting the basic ideas of The Dark Tower down in a single feature length film. I dont know how the people who call this terrible can say that the new IT is a masterpiece. Makes no sense. The new IT relied on nothing but jump scares and turned the basic premise into nothing more than a Conjuring - Hollywood Era - cash grab. True, I was a bit sceptical of the Director, who I had never heard of, and the fact that it was written by Akiva Goldsman, for those of you who don't know Goldsman is the guy who wrote Batman & Robin, that gives you an idea of the calibre of screenwriter. Although, the director brought in his own screenwriter and heavily re-wrote Goldsman's script. I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on this, agree or disagree.
Am I the only one on this thread who actually enjoyed this movie? Anyone else?
- Thread starter Edward John
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Neesy
#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
Welcome Edward John - I enjoyed the movie when I saw it at the theatre but I am not a die-hard Dark Tower 'junkie' (maybe that is a poor choice of words).
I enjoyed it and so did my husband who later saw it on TV, but he has never read any of the books. (I've read five books of the series). I did not read "The Gunslinger" until later, after reading The Wind Through the Keyhole.
Pretty sure I stalled out at The Wolves of the Calla.
By the way - I have to disagree about the movie IT - that one was quite good (but Andy my hubby did not enjoy it as much as The Dark Tower).
What surprises me is the fact that it didnt make all that much money, I mean, it is the best selling fantasy series of all time. (yep, that includes game of thrones) I really enjoy Wolves of Calla, true its pretty slow at times, but so is a lot of Stephen's Work, but I find that makes the pay off even better. The main problem I had with IT was that it felt like just every other horror movie, a bit too much like the conjuring. Too many jump scares.
Thanks for the reply, hope you have a good day.
Thanks for the reply, hope you have a good day.
If you look back through this Dark Tower movie area, you will see lots of supporters, and lots of haters.
Neesy
#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
It will be interesting to see what they do with the new one coming out in September - I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
Maybe I should pick up The Wolves of the Calla and give it another try.
I wasnt just meaning this thread to be honest, every critic seems to hate it, then again, I doubt they read the books. The first ten posts where all negative but your right, there are some positive ones, thanks for the help.
I'm not really interested in the Amazon series, TV doesnt really have the budget, inless its HBO, to really make the world come to life. Although, I'm with you, it could have the potential to be great.
Neesy
#1 fan (Annie Wilkes cousin) 1st cousin Mom's side
Welcome to the board, Amazon have plenty of cash so you never know.
Personally, I was very disappointed in the DT movie. Fan or not I didn't think they did the story justice. Why bother making it if you're not going to go all out, small budget, hardly any media/promotion etc. It needs to be a TV series so fingers crossed.
I enjoyed IT, didn't like some of the changes but I'm looking forward to seeing the second one.
I get what your saying, but its not a low budget movie, it has Idris Elba in it so that tells you something. Plus there was lots of promotion over in the UK, TV ads and the sort. I dont know what the situation was like in the US though. Didn't they play it at the super bowl? Anyway, my point was that while it didnt adapt everything there is in the book, you have to remember that even a TV show would inevitably have to lead some things out. Tv is a much different medium than a book, you can develop on a much slower level on a book because your average book reader has more patience, with a TV audience that isnt the case. My main problem with IT is the fact that it seemed to be very similar to a modern horror movie, like The Conjuring. Too many jumpscares. I would personally love them to make a miniseries where they adapt that first novel.
The budget for the movie was around 70 million (low in this day and age!), Elba and Mcconaughey must have got a few million each for being in the movie, they probably spent 10 million (or more) on promotion and marketing so in the end the movie itself was probably made on 50 million.
I'm in Ireland and I saw a couple of Ad's and posters but not all that I was hoping for as a fan. I know budget doesn't always reflect a good movie but it can help!
Either way I agree with your point that not everything in the book can be incorporated but I feel the movie adapted very little and as someone who has been waiting years to see an adaptation of one of my favorite series of all time I was disappointed.
Sure we'll agree to disagree! I'm glad you enjoyed it. On a side note, I have high hopes for the upcoming Stand adaptation, 10 episodes with some good casting. Fingers crossed.
I get what your saying and you make some valid points. Do you not agree that it does adapt some of the lore and story from the novels, take the first book in the series for instance, a lot of elements from the first book are put into the film, even the Song of Susannah, a lot of the lore and history of Mid-World is taken word for word from that book. I agree with you about the stand though, as a hugh Marilyn Manson fan i'm glad he is going to be in it. He's also covering a doors song if I can remember. I never really considered the Dark Tower movie to be an adaption of the original book series. If you remember, in the final book , the self-titled, at the end Roland is given the horn of Eld, something his father used. In the film he has the horn of Eld, along with the fact that Walter makes reference to the old crew, namely the Ka-tet, he talks about how the old crew didnt survive. I would consider it, and Stpehen himself has actually said, that it is a sequel to the book series rather than a direct adaption. Consider the Idris Roland to be from a different World, I know in the lore it states that across all the worlds there is only one Rolans, but hey, Stephen ret conned plety before, but I do agree with you. The Dark Tower is the greatest fantasy series of all time, much better than GOT or LOTR in my opinion. Thanks for the response.
I watched it twice, but I don't think I'll watch it ever again. I felt even when you don't compare it to the books it's mediocre at best. In a good movie you get some connection to the characters, but this is one of those movies that just doesn't seem to take the time for that. It's a movie that goes from A to B and tells a clear story, but there is no feeling or emotion involved. It's in a constant hurry. It tries to put a lot in the short running time, but it all remains very shallow. They should have worked more on giving the characters some depth, and it would have been better.
I was entertained while at the same time thinking they did a disservice to the story. From the several folks I asked, it seems that if you didn't read the books beforehand, you liked the movie better.
I had no idea who Idris was until I saw the Dark Tower and after seeing it, I have no interest in anything else he's done. I found his acting to be a bit hollow and I wasn't crazy about the kid in the film either. Matthew on the other hand did pretty well. As for IT, I felt it relied almost entirely on the kids and their friendship and that Pennywise wasn't scary enough. I still enjoy the first chapter far more than the original mini series but I'm hoping the second chapter is scarier. I usually only enjoy films based on books I like to be good if they stay super loyal to the book, like Firestarter. But with IT, I didn't mind the creative freedoms they took, and they took a lot.
I'm surprised you havent heard of Idris, he's probably one of the best in the buisiness. Especially in the US. I thought he was brilliant, but part of his brilliance, I fel - was different from the character in the book.
What about that action sequence at the end though? The action was amazing. I think it did pretty well in establishing the Jake/Roland relationship, which is really the heart of the film, which isnt nesecarrily the case with the book series although it does play a role.
Totally disappointed. I was hoping for something along the lines of Once Upon a Time in the West. The movie was even close. And when Idris says,
“I do not aim with my hand; he who aims with his hand has forgotten the face of his father," it soundedd totally hollow and fake.
When will they give director Peter Jackson a crack at The Dark Tower?
“I do not aim with my hand; he who aims with his hand has forgotten the face of his father," it soundedd totally hollow and fake.
When will they give director Peter Jackson a crack at The Dark Tower?