Scunnered in Scotland

[Angela M - Scotland]

Hi Folks,

I finally decided to join the SK community as I feel rather disgruntled & felt I had to say something.

I'm almost 50 & live in Bonnie Scotland.

I've been a 'Constant Reader' of Stevo's books since I was 15 years old & read Carrie for the first time.

In the intervening 34 years, I have read & collected every book Steve has written, always waiting for the newest release, ready to fall into whatever world I find between the covers of the book. I also have most of the movies on DVD.

It's difficult to say what would be my favourite, but like many others, I find myself drawn again & again to The Dark Tower.

This is where my First issue starts.

I have always pictured Roland as Clint Eastwood, as even Stevo himself says.
I assumed that maybe they would've picked Clint Eastwood's son, Scott Eastwood, to play the role, & possibly even Clint in certain parts when Roland was older.

To find that they have cast Idris Elba as The Gunslinger..... to be perfectly honest I am totally dismayed by this decision.

Has anyone any idea how us constant readers feel about this wildcard being thrown in right from the start?

Well, I will tell you, I am APPALLED! Disgusted even! What a JOKE!!

Nothing against Idris, excellent actor, but as Roland of Deschain???? Come on now, are you kidding? is this just a publicity thing or what?

My second issue is this .... can anyone tell me Where is Odetta/ Detta/ Susannah????Who the heck is Tirana ???? a small bit part in volume 7 & now as the LEAD Female Roll???? You cannot be serious???

Who is to play Eddie?? Stephen Hawking???

I have waited years for this movie, the books took Stevo most of his life to write & complete the story. Now its all change, casting people who don't resemble the characters in the book in any way, slipping in new ones & doing away with one of the strongest characters.

I know it's artistic licence, but REALLY?

This is just a step too far for me.

Between 'Revival' being a 'Revival' of all odd bits of other stories just sort of flung together into a book, which OBVIOUSLY SELLS, & now this with the Dark Tower ...... Kinda feels like Ole' Stevo is selling himself & all of us constant readers down the Swanny.

Surely Stevo, you have made plenty of money throughout the years, You are the Worlds Number 1 Selling Author after all.

Do you REALLY need to do this to your longest, most intense, most followed epic? Your Masterpiece?

You don't need the cash, so WHY?. Why let someone DESTROY this story for MILLIONS of your constant readers? just to make a quick BUCK?!?

I really am Scunnered (Gutted for those of you who aint Scottish).

So much so, I am debating whether to even keep buying & collecting the books & DVD's anymore.

Please, Someone, Anyone, THINK about this awful mistake before spending millions to make a movie that will have alienated most of your devotee's already & a single camera hasn't even rolled yet!

Thanks for listening, hope others comment on this so I know how other's feel about it too.

Angela - Scotland

 

[Moderator]

Welcome to the Board!

Idris Elba is already signed for the part. Stephen agreed to it because he felt race was not as important as the actor being able to carry the part and he thinks Elba will be able to do that. Your concern is shared by many but we will just have to see what comes of it once the film is done. No matter what, though, the original story will always be there in the books.

 

[blunthead]

Welcome to the SKMB! Keep posting!

 

[Cowboy]

Howdy and welcome. If you are scunnered too much, we would be happy to take some books off your hands.

 

[Spideyman]

Exactly what Ms Mod said. The deal is done. You do not need to see the movie. If you chose to do so, think of it as another level of the Tower. There are other worlds ..... other paths to the Tower.
But remember this-- the words in the books will always be there. Your minds eye will visualize those characters as you see them - always. That will not change.
I, too, am a constant reader. I feel like many, no movie can do justice to the books. However, I am accepting what Stephen King has approved. His book, his decision.
In my opinion, you would be doing yourself a disservice by not reading/ buying his future works. Those are his words to his constant readers.

Welcome to the SKMB

 

[GNTLGNT]

....I'm scunnered by "Stevo".....

 

[Robert Gray]

Hi Folks, I finally decided to join the SK community as I feel rather disgruntled & felt I had to say something.

Welcome aboard and while this topic has already been going on for some time, there is always room for more. It suffices to say that you are not alone. Most of us have reached a resigned acceptance of "what is to come" from Hollywood. Let me put a positive spin on it:

1. We will always have the books. I say thank ye Sai.
2. Eventually there will be a faithful adaptation and we still have at least a good 50+ in us.
3. There is an outside chance the film will be good, not faithful but at least entertaining.
4. If it is awful, those of us who hated the idea do a Mystery Science Theater session on it.

*I'm sure some of you at least know what I mean by Mystery Science Theater, but for those who don't, we can make fun of it for many years to come. It sounds petty but that is the proper fate of any bad film, let alone bad adaptations which deserve (in my opinion) as special place in hell. So all in all, it is win-win-win for us. We still have our beloved books, it might be good, and even if it isn't we can get some good yucks in as Richie Tozier might say.

 

[not_nadine]

Beep-Beep. It's a done deal.

There are other threads here that you can read thoughts on this, Angela.

Welcome to the boards.

(I would hate if we had to go all MST on it, Robert Gray) Maybe a SKMB screening?)

 

[nanadab]

I too am new and have been an fan for over 40 years now. I have an open mind when it comes to Roland even tho I thought Daniel Craig would make a good Roland. I look forward to the movie and will be one of the first in line. I pray the director will love the tale as much as we do and will keep it pure....

 

[mal]

I would hope that whoever did the movie would have enough deference and respect for the author to make it as close to the book as possible. Much like Jackson did for Tolkien. That being said, if Mr. King does not care then neither do I.

 

[Angela M - Scotland]

Hello everyone,

Thanks for all the replies to my previous post long ago.

Well, I still haven't seen the movie, because I don't want to.

I'm not paying to watch it, spent enough on Mr King.

From all the reviews I've read, I'm still of the opinion that it's just trash.

Regardless what actors play which role.

It sounds like Maximum Overdrive or The Langoliers movies, but, Even Worse!

Even Stevo wasn't impressed from what I've read from interviews he has given since the movie was released.

But hey, hope he enjoys spending all those dollars he makes in royalties from it.

I'm just chuffed that I haven't contributed to his bank balance.

Oh, and I haven't bought any more books either.

Although I have given away a few to charity.

Angela

 

[Moderator]

And you felt it necessary to come here to tell us that after all this time why?

 

[Spideyman]

Hello everyone,

Thanks for all the replies to my previous post long ago.

Well, I still haven't seen the movie, because I don't want to.

I'm not paying to watch it, spent enough on Mr King.

From all the reviews I've read, I'm still of the opinion that it's just trash.

Regardless what actors play which role.

It sounds like Maximum Overdrive or The Langoliers movies, but, Even Worse!

Even Stevo wasn't impressed from what I've read from interviews he has given since the movie was released.

But hey, hope he enjoys spending all those dollars he makes in royalties from it.

I'm just chuffed that I haven't contributed to his bank balance.

Oh, and I haven't bought any more books either.

Although I have given away a few to charity.

Angela

 

[Neesy]

Hello everyone,

Thanks for all the replies to my previous post long ago.

Well, I still haven't seen the movie, because I don't want to.

I'm not paying to watch it, spent enough on Mr King.

From all the reviews I've read, I'm still of the opinion that it's just trash.

Regardless what actors play which role.

It sounds like Maximum Overdrive or The Langoliers movies, but, Even Worse!

Even Stevo wasn't impressed from what I've read from interviews he has given since the movie was released.

But hey, hope he enjoys spending all those dollars he makes in royalties from it.

I'm just chuffed that I haven't contributed to his bank balance.

Oh, and I haven't bought any more books either.

Although I have given away a few to charity.

Angela

Wow


Oh well - if you go to the birthday recognition thread you'll see I did say happy birthday to you today. Sorry you feel so bad - but, just because one movie turned out to be not to everyone's liking doesn't mean you should give up on all of Mr. King's works. I think it is your loss, unfortunately.

 

[GNTLGNT]

And you felt it necessary to come here to tell us that after all this time why?

...seemed like as good a time as any?....

 

[Neesy]

...seemed like as good a time as any?....

If she is like Andy she was just having a "Scottish moment" - hehe - don't tell him I said that!

 

[Edward John]

Hi Folks,

I finally decided to join the SK community as I feel rather disgruntled & felt I had to say something.

I'm almost 50 & live in Bonnie Scotland.

I've been a 'Constant Reader' of Stevo's books since I was 15 years old & read Carrie for the first time.

In the intervening 34 years, I have read & collected every book Steve has written, always waiting for the newest release, ready to fall into whatever world I find between the covers of the book. I also have most of the movies on DVD.

It's difficult to say what would be my favourite, but like many others, I find myself drawn again & again to The Dark Tower.

This is where my First issue starts.

I have always pictured Roland as Clint Eastwood, as even Stevo himself says.
I assumed that maybe they would've picked Clint Eastwood's son, Scott Eastwood, to play the role, & possibly even Clint in certain parts when Roland was older.

To find that they have cast Idris Elba as The Gunslinger..... to be perfectly honest I am totally dismayed by this decision.

Has anyone any idea how us constant readers feel about this wildcard being thrown in right from the start?

Well, I will tell you, I am APPALLED! Disgusted even! What a JOKE!!

Nothing against Idris, excellent actor, but as Roland of Deschain???? Come on now, are you kidding? is this just a publicity thing or what?

My second issue is this .... can anyone tell me Where is Odetta/ Detta/ Susannah????Who the heck is Tirana ???? a small bit part in volume 7 & now as the LEAD Female Roll???? You cannot be serious???

Who is to play Eddie?? Stephen Hawking???

I have waited years for this movie, the books took Stevo most of his life to write & complete the story. Now its all change, casting people who don't resemble the characters in the book in any way, slipping in new ones & doing away with one of the strongest characters.

I know it's artistic licence, but REALLY?

This is just a step too far for me.

Between 'Revival' being a 'Revival' of all odd bits of other stories just sort of flung together into a book, which OBVIOUSLY SELLS, & now this with the Dark Tower ...... Kinda feels like Ole' Stevo is selling himself & all of us constant readers down the Swanny.

Surely Stevo, you have made plenty of money throughout the years, You are the Worlds Number 1 Selling Author after all.

Do you REALLY need to do this to your longest, most intense, most followed epic? Your Masterpiece?

You don't need the cash, so WHY?. Why let someone DESTROY this story for MILLIONS of your constant readers? just to make a quick BUCK?!?

I really am Scunnered (Gutted for those of you who aint Scottish).

So much so, I am debating whether to even keep buying & collecting the books & DVD's anymore.

Please, Someone, Anyone, THINK about this awful mistake before spending millions to make a movie that will have alienated most of your devotee's already & a single camera hasn't even rolled yet!

Thanks for listening, hope others comment on this so I know how other's feel about it too.

Angela - Scotland

I'm also Scottish and I loved Idris, the best actor in the buisiness, a great Roland, maybe he didnt fit your idea of Roland?