Clip from the movie CELL

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Mar 12, 2010
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Rrty

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Jun 4, 2007
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Has anyone here seen the film yet? I am probably going to rent it this evening or within the next couple days. I love this in-the-home-before-theaters release thing...more movies should do this. I am curious what people think of it.

Perhaps Bev Vincent has seen it? I would love to hear his thoughts on the project. Also, Bev, if you can, it would be great if you get any financial results for the movie...what is the VOD rental gross, the iTunes sales, anything like that. Does any outlet report VOD grosses? I think only a couple companies do it for marketing purposes; not sure if the company behind this film does so.

By the way, I loved The Happening, so actually, that makes me really want to see Cell. If you didn't like that film, then I definitely see how that connection can hurt. Guess I am fortunate in this regard.
 

Rrty

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Jun 4, 2007
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Well, I saw the film. I myself enjoyed a lot of it, but as it approached the conclusion, I'd be less than honest if I said there weren't some issues. I'm not sure how many theaters this will eventually hit, but truthfully, it's difficult for me to see a mainstream audience liking this.

It's a Fangoria-subscriber's type of movie from the 80s with some modern touches. It lacks symmetrical payoff scenes, if you get what I mean, but the first half of the film quite honestly is awesome and entertaining. I hope King makes a lot of money from this project; if it fails, I hope it won't stop him from writing more screenplays, whether they be original ones or adaptations. I would love to know what parts of his draft were incorporated in the final version (I'm assuming that, most likely, he wrote a draft and then that was handed off to the co-writer, but I honestly do not know if that is the case; maybe Bev would have some info on that; or, how about someone with a Twitter handle ask King, as I don't do the social media thing, see if he replies).
 

Steffen

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Aug 9, 2015
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Has anyone here seen the film yet? I am probably going to rent it this evening or within the next couple days. I love this in-the-home-before-theaters release thing...more movies should do this. I am curious what people think of it.

Perhaps Bev Vincent has seen it? I would love to hear his thoughts on the project. Also, Bev, if you can, it would be great if you get any financial results for the movie...what is the VOD rental gross, the iTunes sales, anything like that. Does any outlet report VOD grosses? I think only a couple companies do it for marketing purposes; not sure if the company behind this film does so.

By the way, I loved The Happening, so actually, that makes me really want to see Cell. If you didn't like that film, then I definitely see how that connection can hurt. Guess I am fortunate in this regard.


Just saw it. I didn't really enjoy the novel when it came out because of zombie-overkill in pop culture. However, the film is entertaining, and there were quite a few notable scenes from the book that were well executed on film. King did say in a past interview that he is changing the ending based on complaints he received about the novel (can't put my hands on a link to the source, so perhaps someone else can help there). Obviously I won't discuss the details here. All in all, for the King (and film fans in general) enthusiasts, I think it is worth a look.
 

Rrty

Well-Known Member
Jun 4, 2007
1,394
4,588
Just saw it. I didn't really enjoy the novel when it came out because of zombie-overkill in pop culture. However, the film is entertaining, and there were quite a few notable scenes from the book that were well executed on film. King did say in a past interview that he is changing the ending based on complaints he received about the novel (can't put my hands on a link to the source, so perhaps someone else can help there). Obviously I won't discuss the details here. All in all, for the King (and film fans in general) enthusiasts, I think it is worth a look.

I also read the novel, although I can't remember every detail. Some of the changes I enjoyed; the movie ending, I'll be honest, I didn't like. I thought some of the characters in the novel were a little too smart (especially Alice), but I liked how that aspect was eliminated for the celluloid version. One thing that is always jarring when you've read the novel is that the movie seems to move quick and the characters seem to acquire knowledge without working for it, know what I mean? In a sense, someone who has not read the book would probably judge the movie differently.

I seem to recall that King comment as well, now that you've brought it up. Too bad the film didn't have more of a budget; could you imagine chaos on the order of World War Z on display in the frames? That would have been cool.
 

Steffen

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Aug 9, 2015
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I know what you mean about the pace, as I also felt things moved a bit quickly after the first act. The film also doesn't do too good a job of "explaining"the Raggedy Man's role. I will give this movie a second look though. Won't discuss the ending until more people here have seen it.
 

danlnad

Member
Oct 21, 2011
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I watched it, and to not give anything away or ruin it for others I just didn't like it at all. I loved the book, as i do all of King's works, but the movie had maybe 10 to 20% of the book. I won't be giving this a second look until i get the taste out of my mouth. Watch it, you might love it. I will watch any horror movie at least once, no matter how bad. This is what you get without much of a budget, sad to say. Great actors Jackson and Cusack, but they must have had higher expectations. I just had such high hopes that it would be worth watching, that they would do it justice. The plot was forced throughout the movie. There was no flow. The main points were there, but changed to fit a movie an hour and a half long. I didn't care about the characters. The ending was not in the book and if you are a nihilist, then the ending suites you. What was King thinking? Did he have any control at all over the making of this refuse? If he did, i have a bone to pick with him.
 

AchtungBaby

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Dec 5, 2011
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Serious question to all who have seen it- Cell is probably my least favorite King book, so I don't care if it sticks closely to the source material. Taken on its own merits, is it worth seeing?
 

mjs9153

Peripherally known member..
Nov 21, 2014
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I just noticed, was looking through the on demand services on my cable and it is for rent for $ 9.99.. I didn't know if they had decided not to do a theatrical release or what was going on. It's a little late tonight but I'll probably rent it sometime this week..
 
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Steffen

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Aug 9, 2015
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Serious question to all who have seen it- Cell is probably my least favorite King book, so I don't care if it sticks closely to the source material. Taken on its own merits, is it worth seeing?

It is also one of my lesser favourite SK books, as I'm tired of the whole zombie-overkill thing. But it is not a bad film (it's certainly better than the crap SyFy produces); I just had some issues with the third act and as someone else rightly mentioned, a bigger budget would have made it a better watch. Give it a shot and make up your own mind.
 

Machine's Way

“Go then, there are other worlds than these.”
Jul 13, 2009
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Serious question to all who have seen it- Cell is probably my least favorite King book, so I don't care if it sticks closely to the source material. Taken on its own merits, is it worth seeing?

You have probably seen this by now, but after watching this last night, I can answer your question. NO.
 
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