Cool News
Ron Howard, Akiva Goldsman with Universal Studios and NBC will create a FILM trilogy & TV Series out of King's DARK TOWER series
Hey folks, Harry here with news that is difficult to really process - given what Ron and crew are planning has never been done before. A movie trilogy that will also involve a television series that ties into the film and making use of the film's resources. All coming from the beloved Stephen King epic, DARK TOWER series. Not only that, but RON HOWARD is going to be in charge of something he hasn't been entirely successful with as a filmmaker to date. His fantasy experience is WILLOW and SPLASH. And his Westerns have been FAR & AWAY and THE MISSING. Now SPLASH is beloved, but the other 3 films - give hesitation when thinking about his DARK TOWER possibilities. Quint will be on later tonight to post a more indepth opinion piece, as he's the resident expert on all things DARK TOWER - and has been bringing you DARK TOWER news for the past 14 years.
For Mike Fleming's full exclusive Click Here
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(crosses fingers).
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I just hope it gets made while the horror master is still alive.
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Duping zombi american audiences and Academy Voters.
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Hope this goes through with honors!
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Just tell him to watch out for vans
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right out of the gate Universal will cancel everything, they are bad about that.
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There is no way this could be made, by anyone, without it having some...flaw. No movie/TV version will ever be exact enough for everyone's imagination. No pun intended...
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the rest sucked
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I'm not buying it will work, seems a bit too ambitious.
Films will work as a trilogy, but a couple of series with it? Can only cause confusion for audiences not watching on TV -
Everything about it was boring or irritating.....especially the old bag that played Hanks' mom.
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That's the way to go. I assume Howard is attached because he can make snoozefests that make plenty of international dough?
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First off, I'll say this: I'll believe this when I actually see it up on the screen. Not doubting those involved, but the mere notion of this is an EXTREME undertaking for the studio. Secondly, I think the platform itself COULD be a brilliant solution to the dense material of the novels. In particular, using a season of TV episodes to tell the "Wizard and Glass"-era tales of young Roland is really kind of brilliant. But my main question is: are they asserting that the first film will be solely based on "The Gunslinger," with the first season of the TV series being based on "Drawing" and stuff thereafter? If so, I think thats a HUGE mistake. Gunslinger is a dry, kind of vapid start to the series, and it really doesn't pick up until you introduce Eddie, Susannah and re-introduce Jake... if they try to do all of that through the TV show, they're missing a huge opportunity and are likely to alienate a lot of their viewers. To me, "Drawing" and "Wastelands" are the easiest to adapt into a big, awesome motion picture. Cramming them onto network TV would suck. And finally, I'm not thrilled with the creative team, but I'm positive it could be a lot worse. I was hoping that perhaps AMC would like what they saw with "The Walking Dead" and just hand a 12-episode block to Frank Darabont and allow him to adapt the Dark Tower. But Ron Howard has his moments of greatness(as well as some of really questionable ability), and Goldsman is obviously hated amongst fan boys... but given the resources and the passion, they COULD pull it off. Damn, my head is swirling from all of this. Can't wait to read Quint's thoughts.
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I'm beginning to think I have funny taste in movies.
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we all know ron howard makes boring ass movies, but the action and scenes that take place in the dark tower are really breathtaking. Now just the fucking ending and the sixth book and i'll be extremely excited.
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The subsequent novels never really lived up to the promise (or premise) of the first one. But the first one, before King pulled a Lucas and rewrote bits of it, was damn good fantasy.
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If it ends up on regular TV (i.e. NBC) it's going to be terrible.I honestly think the only way The Dark Tower could possibly turn out well is if it was turned into an HBO or Showtime series.
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The first three books are quite good, Wizards and Glass (the 4th book) is great, but after King got hit by the van I think he began to fear his mortality and he rushed to finish the series – Wolves of the Calla was terrible, and while the last two were minor improvements, the series took a deep dive after the fourth book. As a whole, it’s not even close to the best thing King ever did (those honors would go to some of his earlier stuff like The Dead Zone, IT, the Bachman Books and some of his shorter novellas like The Mist).
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I have never loved a Ron Howard film. I've liked a few (Backdraft, Apollo 13), but there's something lacking from his films.
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like mrclean said.. I remember saying an HBO adaptation would be perfect for the DT series, now, who is gonna voice the insane monorail voice, which is by far the greatest sub-character ever?
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Not kidding. I went "AAAAAAH!" Not in a good way or a bad way, I mean. I have mixed feelings about this. Akiva is, perhaps, the worst screenwriter in human history. BUT! He turned Angels and Demons into a halfway decent movie, so imagine what we could get out of a good book. Could be great, could be an unmitigated disaster.
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Plissken - how can you deny The Stand? Sure it suffers from King Ending Syndrome, but most everything does...
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And if anybody doesn’t think King changed after the accident, just read “Dreamcatcher,” that is one seriously terrible book….
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and howard really should bring in darabont
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That was a great flick! As for this...I dunno. I really hope they can pull it off, but I'm wondering how the TV show is going to tie into the movies.
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That would actually be King’s magnum opus in my opinion, I guess looked right past it since I sort of accepted that as being his agreed upon best work.
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very well. He is great with drama. Akiva Goldsman is mixed bag of goodies. I am Legend, Cinderella man, a beautiful mind are good. Angels and demons, the da vinci code, i robot, batman forever, batman and robin, lost in space, practical magic are terrible. This news doesn't bode well for fans of the DT novels.
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I agree with you although The Cell and the duma key were decent efforts. King's greatest book will always be the stand for me, and for a guilty pleasure I just love Desperation so much. But that's me. Very underrated book imo.
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A good voice for him is a must! I liked Kevin Spacey as the voice of "Gerty" in Moon. Another actor I'd like to hear as Blaine would be Malcolm McDowell (although he'd be great as the Mayor of Mejis too).
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and all the "other" books that have some tie to the dark tower worl such as insomnia. This is seriously a MASSIVE undertaking and if it could be pulled off would be crazy good. The merchandising alone with dvd and collectible stuff is mind boggeling. I do agree with one of the above statements that if the first movie isn't huge or the tv shows ratings tank universal will pull the plug. It also depends on the effects crew and photgraphy crew he gets. Really the only thing I'm scared of is Goldsman, if he screws up the adaption its all over. I thought willow was pretty good, but I was a naive kid when I saw it.
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Is Howard's best work.
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I think doing it this could work, and give the story it's breadth but I really don't know if these are the guys to pull it off. I always wonder if there going th break down the fourth wall in movie/tv format with this incarnation of the story. Like Roland now meeting "Ron Howard" on set as well as King or somethingAnd have a little nod to Roland carrying the Horn near the start or something. Now that the story's being told on film it's his finally time around the wheel or something. Roland will see Susan in the clearing at the end of the path.
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I like your Spacey suggestion, he made gerty into pretty much the main character (if it wasn't for sam rockwell's great performance of course) But I have a suggestion, kinda out there, but, Robin Williams, he played a mad man very convincinly in two films, Insomnia and One Hour Photo.
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Does anyone really think that The Great Unwashed has the attention span to follow 3 movies and a companion TV show at the same time? Most of today's generation doesn't have the patience to sit through a whole YouTube video.
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and get someone else to direct. He's not right for it. It may be King's Lord of the Rings, but it's no Willow. It's pretty brutal and dark and needs to stay that way. You need someone who loves the story to death. I can't imagine RH reading about Roland getting attacked by those lobster things on the beach and thinking I'VE GOT TO MAKE THIS FILM.
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I've only ride parts of the series, and liked it rather than loved it, but as compelling as the stories may be, it's just pleasantly suprising to see, in a time where we are so used to being cynical about what to expect from Hollywood, a new venture.
I'm all with the curious to see >ifhow
This news be kind of cool. -
It's an incredibly long, bizarre series, and I'm not convinced it has enough of a hook to bring in non-fans for that kind of commitment. Frankly, I expect this will turn out about as well as Dune... Some diehards and a few others will love it, everyone else will shrug and walk away.
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I can't even begin to imagine roles for the others. Start by jumping right into book 2 as a movie and have The Gunslinger along with Song for Susannah part of the show.
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It's been a secret wish of mine to see the Dt series adapted. I experienced all of Rolands adventures in my dreams and in print but to see it visually, well, would be great, especially if it can be done right. (which im hoping for)
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A really bad book, and an even worse movie. D
M-O-O-N, that spells Duddits. -
DDL for Roland
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for Roland.
So it is written, so shall it be done. -
Common now.. he was born to play the role.
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Ron Howard is nobody's favorite filmmaker. People might say, "I like Ron Howard's movies." But nobody has ever claimed him as their favorite filmmaker. It will never happen. Ron Howard. Nobody's favorite filmmaker.
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can supply special effects via ILM
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zzzZZZZzzzzzz,,,,,
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Although I think he may be too old, as it would be in flashbacks to Rolands youth...
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Mick Garris
Frank Darabont. -
HE was born for it. But I fear he is too old for that character, although an Unforgiven Eastwood would be heaven.
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you have to look at it context. some of it has not aged well at ALL, but neither have a lot of 80's fantasy. they were really reaching with some of the blend of stop-motion, early CGI, etc. and some of it looks terrible in hindsight.but the direction of Willow was pretty damn good. the practical sets and locations were phenomenal, and the movie's heart was undeniable.I wouldn't have and trepidation about Howard because of Willow, for me, it's the HORRENDOUS 1-2 punch of The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons. to be fair, they're terrible books to begin with, and you can't make a terrible book into a good movie. but the fact that he even took them on, just for the guaranteed box office and cash, is pretty sad to me.oh, and I liked Far and Away alright...I hate Tom Cruise, but the movie was a fun period piece, I thought.
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...with a slightly more surefire property, especially one where it doesn't need to be all one story over so many films/episodes. But using a movie as a chance to add production values to a planned television show would be a great way to go for Star Trek, Star Wars, or many superhero films even
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Or one of the most disappointing failures in the history of ever. Also, the major problem with this is one thing. Yes, the first movie can be a massive, massive success. But that doesn't mean all those people are going to tune in to the television show. It would be amazing if they did, but they won't. And television shows require ratings, not box office. And if the tv show gets shitty ratings....what happens then? I don't know. I depserately hope they pull this off. I've actually said before that they only way to do this series in a visual medium is partially on film and then more on television, but I always said it was impossible, because things like don't happen. Way to go Ron Howard. Way to go.
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the first half felt like typical King horror fluff with the gang of friends and their history and some sorta weird even or creature fucking shit up but then it suddenly completely changes gears and turns into a sci-fi military vs. aliens movie. i've never seen a movie where it literally feels like two different movies glued together.
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seems like a perfect choice to me.
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the rest, hmmn I cant recall, but they were great films from my youth.I still don't know if he can do this though. Gilliam would give it a good shot I think.
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This is never going to work as a film or anything else.
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I haven't read the books yet, but I plan to. Still, Howard's involvement here guarantees I won't give a shit about the adaptation.
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Fair enough... I hope they manage to pull it off and make a bunch of fans (old and new) happy.
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and remembering being bored as a mofo, This would be no different. I think this series is one of things that's better left not being filmed.
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... I wonder if they would cut that out.
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TheNewDirector - I like your Robin Williams suggestions especially since Blaine does get quite crazy near the end.Actors for Roland... I like CharyouTree's suggestion of Daniel Day Lewis although I never would've picked him before he did 'There Will Be Blood'. Personally, I think Bruce Campbell would be great as Roland.
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...Getting into these books. I think I made it through half of the first one and just couldn't get into them. Heard "Under The Dome" was a good book.
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jesus christ. if any bland actor from lost gets cast in any role, no matter how minor, I will burn Utica to the ground.
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I could see her playing the love interest to whatshisface, while also having the ability to look very scary when she needs to for her evil alter ego.
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Just don't think he would sell tickets.
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I'd have been skeptical in the past, but Goldsman wrote some of the better second season Fringe episodes. Airing it on NBC probably isn't the best idea though...
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Please.
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The first book is quite bland (until the 3rd and end part) but it picks up amazingly, especially when you start the drawing of the three, now, i'm not gonna talk about the end....
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and found it boring. Too episodic, it wasn't a story but a bunch of incidents. I REALLY don't like books/movies like that.
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Was sort of a mixture of film and television. The pilot episode is pretty much one of Lynch's best films. Leads into what was effectively a mini-series building to a cliff hanger. Then a full season. Then a spin off prequel movie.
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I think Daniel Day Lewis would be great but I seriously doubt he would commit to all this. Gilliam to direct at least one part, Fuck it Joseph Gordon Levitt for Eddie Dean. Sam Elliot for Eldred Jonas
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especially considering the season two premiere and finale were both aired as two-hour "movie events."
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What TheNewDirector said.
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.. when I pictured it, I thought it made perfect sense. Good call.
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He's not too good for TV, he makes women wet which will sell tickets, he would just need to let go of Wolverine.
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with my name I gotta at least try and be right in this TB
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Don't know too much about talent, but he is spot on as a young Clint Eastwood, which is good.
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It most likely will be someone like him though.Also have a host of great British bad guy actors playing Randall Flagg in his many forms like Irons, Rickman and McShane
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Yeah this TB is pretty YOUR tb where your name is concerned, kinda like how asimovlives flocks to the JJ abrams tb's, haha.
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I think it would be hard to cast Flagg, the greatest evil ever in print, (well.... we all know what happened..) but someone so menancing and manipulative.. I don't know, it's gonna be interesting to see who they do cast for Flagg.
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cheers for the comparison dude ;) I actually do have a new handle, had to log into a really old email address to root out the log in for this one. But I thought it'd be worth it.
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Purely because of the logistics of using the same actor to play Jake for the length of time required including flashbacks.
So Unless they filmed all of his scenes at the start then it'll fail. -
Because (spoiler alert, people who haven't read the books) since the books end almost exactly like they begin, you'd be able to tell the same story but change whatever you needed to without trouble because it's not actually a real adaptation. Get it?
Feel free to use that idea for free Howard and Goldsmith. -
Jake if only for the age change he'll have over the filming
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You don't really know how old Jake is by the end, the aging actor would be a non issue.
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SPOILER
It does end like that, but of course now he has the horn but I think that many of us wanted this magical, probably impossible ending that he hinted at at the end of The Gunslinger, you know the nexus of time and all that, but of course even King doesn't know how to write that. -
in this telling of the story.It's finally made it to screen Roland can now rest, there is no other medium.
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Let me guess..still pissed off about that Piranha sequel story.
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he won't be that hard either
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..left to tell the story I mean. Unless they re-release in 3D
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PLEASE BE GOOD. PLEASE BE GOOD.
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as Dandelo at least
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I've been waiting to hear wtf was going on with this since some info was first teased to us in April. Though I'm not completely sold on Ron Howard directing, I am excited at the possibility of Darabont actually getting his hands on some piece of this. (and dear god, PLEASE keep Mick Garris as far away as possible) Figuring out what goes into the movies and what goes into the tv show could get tricky. Wizard and Glass is the only book that really makes sense to me put on tv. Song of Susannah I guess could work on tv as it doesnt do a whole lot to move the plot forward, it just basically sets everything up for Dark Tower. I really hope they eliminate the entire Stephen King subplot. I'm wondering if the movies will be watchable as a trilogy without seeing the tv series, it almost seems like they will have to set it up that way.
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That is all
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And won't cost as much. I guarantee that audiences will be able to watch the 2nd film without needing the TV show.
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No way would he do this project, at least 3 movies and 2 TV series' in between?? They'll be lucky to get anyone decent for the role due to this crazy setup of switching from movie to TV and back again. With Howard directing we should be able to narrow the Roland candidates...Hanks, Brian Dennehy (hey, Howard directed Cocoon, remember, and we can't exactly get Hume Cronyn back can we...), Steve Guttenberg, Val Kilmer, William Baldwin, Cruise(!), Keaton, Sinise (I think he'd fit in very well in the Dark Tower universe), Bill Paxton, Mel..., Carrey, Crowe, Michael Sheen (another big yes to his involvement somewhere, maybe even as an incarnation of the Man in Black??), Frank Langella. All the main guys he's worked with, pretty much.
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I think they may take that route cause The Gunslinger is mainly bland, but it does have important plot points, (jake, way station, what the dark tower holds... supposedly) maybe have a few tv episodes setting up The Drawing of the Three and the whole Dark Tower vibe in general? I dunno, what do you guys think?
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No brainer.
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Otherwise why don't they just get Dominic Monaghan to do it. Damon Lindelof was obviously influenced in some way by the character of Eddie when writing Charlie. Also, Lindelof had other Dark Tower shit going on throughout Lost. Locke sometimes felt like Roland and story with Jacob/the Man in Black could have gone down a similar route.
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Hes getting that weathered look and really can act
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to start wouldn't be wise. But as you say it does have a few important points, which I suppose could be somehow worked into somewhere somehow if not a series. And I agree Sinise and Micheal Sheen should be in there somewhere too
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I can't believe I'm not the first! Nice one, JackSlater4.
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Don't hold out too much hope for this project to get done correctly.
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for something like this to happen? Why wasn't there a young Bruce Wayne series leading up to the Batman relaunch?
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Will they??????
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Roland worls in the movies (mostly) and our world in the series.
You start with Jake waking up in this worls and him trying to find his way back to the path of the Tower. It seems to me that you need a 3rd season for this. Unless season 2 is split up between wizard and glass and some current stroyline. That would mean they need to do the last 3 books in the final movie -
Actor Glenn Shadix dies at 58
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Jehova's_Witness, tremendous call on Taraji Henson. she is my one and only choice for Odetta/Detta/Susannah. she can be beautiful, vulnerable, and terrifying. to me, thats the most challenging role of the bunch, and she'd nail it. if they absolutely HAD to go somewhere else, I might settle for Kerry Washington. second, Charyoutree great choice with Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Eddie. he's my primary choice, as well. I could also see someone like Adam Brody in the role, but I'd much rather have JGL. I'm not too concerned with Roland... he's more of a symbol than anything, so someone who has the look and physical presence will suffice with me. Daniel Day Lewis would rock, but he would never, ever, ever do it. for Flagg, my personal choice would be Bill Nighy, but I know some feel that he is too old. I love the Mark Hammill choice as Blaine, too.
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. . . that plays Jesse isn't already playing a drug addict. I think he could pull off Eddie. I've always pictured Sam Rockwell but now, sadly, he's too old. I still picture Angela Bassett as Detta/Susanna.
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I like the Adiran Brody and Bill Nighy suggestions too. And I fear DD Lewis is wishfull thinking
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she has the muscled arms, too old now though.
I'll settle for anyone but the twat from True Blood. -
. . . I figure it can be done in a 6 season TV series. Disperse all flashbacks and a chopped up Wizard & Glass evenly throughout. And you could cut out a TON of Wolves of the Calla.
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for 4 or 5 parts as far as I'm concerned. Fake noses and wigs and shit.
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I first remember reading about her in a previous DT TB. Great choice
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Then the 2nd and 3rd book make the first movie. Then the fourth book, in Mejis, is literally perfect for television. Theres been anything more perfect for television, I don't think. And then the fifth book...I don't know, you can't do a whole movie in the calla. I'm about to start the 6th book now, so I can't say after that yet.
As far as casting goes, my two cents would be, I think Viggo is probably the only person who could do all the different layers and facets of Roland. The anger and the beauty. I don't think hugh jackman could even come close, personally. I also like the suggestion of Michael Emerson for Blaine. Mark Hamill would also be an inspired and awesome choice. Robin Williams is a little easy for me, and a litle too distinctive, but it would work.
I think the most difficult section of this to make though will be everything that happens before Blaine, in Lud. How the fuck do film the stuff with Gasher and the ticktock man beating the shit out of jake. That shit was hopeless. I had a difficult time reading it. I mean, I know if it went into the movie it would end being a total of 5 minutes probably of gasher running through the trash beating jake and yelling at him, btu still. its harsh stuff. it would have to be toned down. -
Willow was awesome! I'm just glad you didn't TRASH it, only said it was meh. Sorry sir but Willow might possibly have provided Val Kilmer with his best role...ever! Ignore the bird, FOLLOW THE RIVER!
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but futile. The movies might do great, but the TV show would be at the mercy of the networks, and we ALL know how fickle they are. God forbid it gets optioned by Fox.
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And NBC's Southland was pretty much R-rated material, with swears bleeped but uncut on DVD
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now that's a hard one......I got nothing
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was one of the worst experience i have ever had at the movies. it could have been a radio show. there was no action. just people talking about stuff that was of no interest.
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Dark Tower should be OK for 2
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Uhhh . . . Tombstone?
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don't get me wrong, Adrien Brody is a great actor who can class up a lot of genre material. but behind JGL, Adam Brody would be my choice for Eddie. he does a very good job of playing the all-too-quick-witted, pain-in-the-ass-sarcastic that Eddie is so well known for.
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the next Marlon Brando and shed the lbs, he could play Roland.
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They might go all Sons of Anarchy or Breaking Bad on this and do it on USA but with a darker F/X like vibe. We can hope.
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.. would be a dream come true, but it would be the most expensive and vast television show ever made, but also the most monumental t.v. show ever made as well.
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will end up being the television series. They'll probablly just keep it going with the new comic book content that has come out in recent years.
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Can't think of an actor in Eddie's age range that would have it with Taraji.
Joseph Gordon Levitt could probably, but he will be way to busy to make the required commitment -
I had that guy pictured in my head anyways... Adrian is a bit too old wasn't Eddie around 24?
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He was Trey on The O.C.
He's in that movie Devil, probably an up and comer.
Watched Brooklyn's Finest last night and he can do the accent.
I also believe he would get down with a black girl and get addicted to smack -
If not with Taraji....then perhaps Sanaa Lathan.
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you are most likely correct sirAnd Crow3711 apologies if I posted any spoilers.
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and Lucas cuts Howard a deal on SFX maybe the budget could be manageable
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they could shoot it 3D which would help and R rated tentpole make PG-13 money
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but I suppose he's going to be busy with Max for a couple of years
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The Gunslinger novel is only what, 200 pages? You can easily breeze through that material in the first 20 minutes of the movie. Introduce Roland in the desert, show him with the hooker/demon/whatever, introduce jake, kill jake, showdown with MiB, and then go straight into Drawing of the Three.
Hell, I'd rather make the Wastelands into a tv season, make Wizard and Glass the full length movie (since it basically stands on it's own), and then make book 5 as a tv season with 6+7 as a movie.
As for casting
Eddie Dean = Josh Holloway
Susannah = Chick from Star Trek
The problem with Jake is that you can't take too long filming or you'll have a Walt scenario with the actor outgrowing the character. -
Sep 08, 2010 8:47:03 PM CDT
But if this is made for TV......it's gonna be B list has-beens
by jehovahs_witness
And maybe one stand-out semi A-lister as the big draw. They say casting is 90% of directing, and it will definitely be true in the case of this mini-series, so it should be interesting who they go with.
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and as someone else mentioned, give Roland the horn of eld in the beginning so the creative team can make a new ending for the series
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SPOILER, While I was reading the series I honestly thought it would be something to do with Susan, i'm kinda happy it isn't because that would of been quite the obvious route, but I was expecting more, I honestly thought a magical doorway in my life would be revealed before me in reality when Roland got to the top of the tower. (well not really but you get the gist.)
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I think Richard Jenkins might make a pretty damned good Roland. Whoever gets cast needs to be substantively older than Eddie and Suzannah, needs to look like he's put on some hard miles, and needs to be an actor who can command the screen. Jenkins fits those bills nicely. He's done movies, and he's done tv, so he knows how both work, and he's not super high profile, which means that a potentially loooong term gig like this wouldn't be seen as a hindrance to him. Of course, he'd need to keep his hat on most of the time, since Roland isn't quite as bald as Jenkins, but - that's a mere trifle. Agreements? Disagreements? Have I been smoking too much crack? Whaddya think?
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Sep 08, 2010 8:57:13 PM CDT
Weren't the Dark Tower novels hit and miss?? They ain't
by bettercallsaul
Lord of the Rings people. Ron will do fine.
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Roland is Clint Eastwood from the 80s
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no way man.{Spoiler?} And yea with the Horn King can have a go at a new ending, even though I still like this one.
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Always felt Kurt Russell was Roland. Always felt Dean would be best served by that Milo guy from Heroes. MAKE IT HAPPEN HOWARD cuz god knows this is my favorite series of all time. I will go ape shit if this is done poorly. APESHIT. I have NO confidence in Ron Howard.. I fear what he might do...this is his 1 and only chance to redeem himself but its a big damn meatball to swallow.
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Not sure if he would want to though, he may need more money than the gig would pay.
Also, Robert John Burke would do a good job, but would need a hairpiece no question. -
PLEASE, PLEASE, PUHHH-LEEEASE DON'T FUCK THIS UP... THESE ARE MY FAVORITE BOOKS EVER IN THE WHOLE WORLD AND ALL PARALLEL UNIVERSES
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Not fucking Roland.
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That's my role for Curry.
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Sep 08, 2010 9:16:36 PM CDT
There is only one Eldred Jonas...Billy Drago
by nomoredirtyjokespleaseweareyanks
B movie veteran who has the gravel voice needed, and enough bitterness to spare...
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But only because he gets suggested for every lead role in every genre-flick that gets announced on this site.
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I have a feeling they'll try to squish a lot of books 1-3 in the first film - saving some stuff for flashbacks in film #2, 3 and the second TV season. Film #1 will probably end with the meeting of Blaine. Film #2 should be books 5-6, TV series #2: flashbacks and some stuff from book 6. Final film mostly book 7. Who knows, just my guess... I like Hugh Laurie as Roland. He's a good actor, people would just have to forget his House character...
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Parts 1 and 2 can be shoved into flashback episodes. One for Jake, one for Eddie, one for Susannah.
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Sep 08, 2010 9:17:50 PM CDT
I fucking love this series but realistically
by nomoredirtyjokespleaseweareyanks
this is going to be impossible to adapt.
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...is a sexy sexy choice, and as unlikely as JGL and Daniel Day Lewis.I would like theatre people who are just great, great actors. I don't want stars. It should be clear to everyone they are not going 'stars' with this, given the time commitment alone. They'll want people who will stick with it and won't cost too much. I just hope they are good. Like, really really good. Because it's going to be tough going.I love the series, I love the mean ending, I love that it's sloppy and dirty and long. It's also great, the most ambitious work of arguably the most prolific 'pop' writer of all time. It's not always great, but it's all kind of brilliant, and I hope whoever is willing to take it on knows this, respects it, and can find how to fit it together.If I hope anything about this project, I hope it's not a waste of time. Because it very well could be.
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There was a Canadian actor from the '90s by the name of Shaun Johnston. He starred in a remake of an old Canadian tv show called Jake & The Kid (he's been in other crap before and since). And every time I watched it I swear I saw Roland Deschain.
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I pick John Hamm!
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The platform jumping is a decent idea, but that is immediately ruined by the fact that the TV portions will air on NBC, thereby neutering them.
Howard doesn't have the stomach for this. This series gets darker than Opie can handle. But my biggest concern is Goldsman, he who wrote Batman & Robin. Or, more in line with this project, I Am Legend, which was a mediocre adaptation of a 160 page book. Now he's going to try to adapt 4000 pages?
Deal-breakers that I can see happening:
The films are PG-13.
The films are 3D.
They cast their golden boy Russell Crowe.
The aforementioned broadcast on NBC.
But the biggest problem is a main character who has to look roughly 10 years old for the entire thing, and recasting sucks.
Well, not everything can be a dream adaptation like The Walking Dead. -
that they would actually treat the series with respect. Start off with a decent actor for Roland--some of the suggestions here are pretty good. Viggo Mortenson. Daniel Day Lewis. Kurt Russell. Honestly, I wish that they could somehow do a de-aging process and make Clint Eastwood look like 20-30 years younger, because then he'd be perfect for the role. But otherwise, I'd hold out for Viggo. . .every movie I've seen him in, he's been at the top of his game.
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and probably too good for TV, although great in westerns.
Jake is 11 to start and who knows how old by the end of book 7.
People should stop worrying about Jakes age, it is not an issue. -
right off the bat, the name - it's a chick's name
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I love the idea that he starts out with the horn. It would be a great way to make a Dark Tower movie/TV series satisfying to fans while making changes from the original story that will make it a better adaptation. Sort of the same thing JJ did with Star Trek. It IS the Dark Tower, but it isn't the exact same...
Anyway the ending will surely be one of those things changed, right?. I don't see them going to get some kid from that Insomnia book who can magically paint to kill the Crimson King by erasing him. It was shitty in the book and will be hated on screen. Plus they better have Flagg go out better than he did in the book. My favorite book series, but I have a lot of problems with the last few like many of you. -
Absolutely Terrible.
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I haven't read through the talkback cause I'm just way too fucking lazy to skim through everything, so I dunno if this has been brought up, but.... How are they going to do this when the series isn't even finished yet? King is planning to write another book (set between the 4th and 5th books) and has said himself that the Dark Tower series isn't really done yet.
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...will never happen, nbecause it'd be MASSIVELY expensive in the long run. They managed it with Brad Pitt in Benjamin Button, but his Thelma & Louise look only lasted for about five minutes of screentime. Plus, even if they magically made Clint's face look young again, he's still an eighty-year-old man, and this is a series that'd feature action sequences that'd be taxing even for an able-bodied man a third Eastwood's age.
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The original series tied directly in to the trilogy and aired between films. I suppose it didn't use the films' resources exactly...
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And without the wild Machete hair. Roland should have a face like that.
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Ryan Gosling. Have you not seen Half Nelson. He is the best young actor working today.
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ron howard sucks
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This won't translate well.
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Just wait and see.
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Ron Howard is a truly lacking and unengaging director. In fact, he is perhaps...the most lacking and unengaging director of all time? His films are simplistic, and lazy. They lack a soul, a heart, a mind, a perspective, or a reason to be. They are all emotionless, A-Sexual--and empty films, collectively. In short, Ron Howard's body of work is vapid, antiseptic, and vacuous, and that is being kind.
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Media Messiah fucking nailed it. Ron Howard in a nutshell... I don't think i've ever been as indifferent to a director's films as i am with Mr. Howard's. His films literally do NOTHING for me... I don't HATE a single movie he's ever done, but conversely, i don't LOVE anything he's done either. Fuck, i'm gonna go ahead and say it... Willow is my favorite Ron Howard film. And that's probably mainly childhood nostalgia speaking... but i stick by it!
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Not a fan of King... AT ALL. Shit, Koontz is better than King. Koontz is King without the douchey, overwrought, pretentiousness... I'm just glad Lindelof didn't get his grubby little mits on this property. Seriously Damon, just fuck off.
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Sep 09, 2010 3:58:36 AM CDT
Although i really do like the idea of The Dark Tower...
by dead_flag_blues
A grand, epic, dark, sci-fi/western/fantasy amalgam... Sounds like my kind of thing!
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The Long Walk and Survivor Type.
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Dog, Guinness, retired cop, single woman...recognize the pattern?
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He needs the work...he really pissed away his career. His career took off after starring in a couple of Ron Howard pics, then he was on top of the world after Beetlejuice and Batman....and then...nothing. Just one bad choice after another. Choosing good scripts is everything....that's half of why Johnny Depp is a brilliant actor.
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[The opening notes of “Piano Man” begin—played on a musical buzzsaw]
It's 2 AM on a Saturday
The regular crowd all log in
There's an old troll spouting off at me
Showing off to his make-believe friends.
I type, "Chop, can you slay me this wee douchebag?
I'm not really sure who he is--
But a geek and a nerd--just some guy they call “Turd”
And his posturing just really blows!"
Cha Cha-Cha di-di Cha-Cha Cha-Cha di-di Cha, da DUMB!
“Chop us a troll--you're the Choppah man!
Chop us a troll tonight!
Well, we're all in the mood to eviscerate--
And the Choppah is just dynamite!”
Now AsimovLives is a friend of mine
He gives movie advice for free
He says Polanski jokes always makes his ears smoke
But there's nowhere that he’d rather be
He types "Fishus, thse talkbacks are killing me,
Cause I have to type at sch a pace,
And I'm sure Jar Jar Abrams has bought tish site, and he is now runnig the place!"
Now Corpse is a make believe Satanist
Who never had much of a life
And he's rantin’ at Titty who's sanity’s iffy
And wishes Scar-Tit was his wife.
And Coughlins is screaming ‘bout politics
As the Pedalback crew all get stoned
Yes they're all on a site they call Aint It Cool--
And’d be better off being alone.
These are pretty good hits for a Saturday
And I know that this makes Harry smile
'Cause he knows we won’t stop
Logging in for a Chop
To watch Choppah in action awhile
And the Chopping sounds like a buzzsaw
As Chop teaches all the trolls fear!
And we sit and we yack on a thing called Talkback
And think, "Man, what am I DOING here?"
Cha Cha-Cha di-di Cha-Cha Cha-Cha di-di Cha, da DUMB!
“Chop us a troll--you're the Choppah man!
Chop us a troll tonight!
Well, we're all in the mood to eviscerate--
And the Choppah will make it alright!”
-
Or Trejo, he'd be good too.
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Wizard and Glass
http://tinyurl.com/2vtbb5l -
He would be perfect. In Gunslinger Roland's about 40 before being somewhat screwed by the man in black and aging 10 years. And Holloway isn't a bland actor.. common now.
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thanks for the advice. i'll probably start re-reading the first book this weekend. i only wish the powers that be would make the stand into a trilogy. it's still my favorite king book.
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Who else has THAT MUCH time on their hands?
Comon, O'Man, do some work on the economy. -
they need Murder by Death and Ennio Morricone to lay down the score and soundtrack to this.
-
Sep 09, 2010 10:41:15 AM CDT
rxse7en.. You forgot the firearms...
by nomoredirtyjokespleaseweareyanks
Koontz loves him some guns.
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I'd posted this in Quint's article, too, but what if the movie completely tanks at the box office? do they scrap the rest of it? Or, maybe the movie does well enough, or it's a big hit, but then they start in on the TV series and everyone stays away in droves. Can they cancel that shit or are they locked in for at least a full TV season regardless of the ratings? Imagine if NBC canceled the series 6 episodes in (certainly not a stretch for NBC to do something so boneheaded); how pissed would the die-hard DT fans be then? In short, I wonder what assurances they have that they'll be given the room and time to actually make a go at the entire series?
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Watched that again recently. The first hour is still really good. But
I had forgotten how much it descends into a big-budget A-Team episode
by the end...rather dull extended shootouts with clunky editing. I
guess that marked the moment where Val Kilmer's destiny lay in
movies that were more about action than comedy, for much of the next
decade.
I was so hopeful when Kiss Kiss Bang Bang came out that it heralded the
return of both Kilmer and Downy Jr as genuinely comedic guys. But it was
a false dawn for both. -
Sep 09, 2010 11:29:50 AM CDT
Either this isn't going to happen... or it will, and Suck!
by tomonicker
Dark Tower should be an extended TV mini-series on HBO or some equal. It's too long and complex; structure wise a nightmare for film adaption.
So, "Hit by Van" is Stephen King's "Jumped the Shark"?
I love these, I read the first one- the rest were terrible comments. Psychic reading? The last ones did get kind of bad but I at least read the damn things.
Koontz. Maybe I never gave him a chance. I read one or two of his books. Only remember vaguely one about some dude stalking someone in his van(hey!). All I remember is thinking, feeling, " This dude is a hack. "
I got tired of the comic quickly... It has a very distinctive illustrative style that in small doses is very striking but over a long haul is very monotonous, irritating to me. Plus, it started up after I finished Dark Tower finale, so I had that bad taste already in my mind. I wasn't aware Stephen King was doing more Dark Tower material, but I wouldn't be surprised as it is probably his favorite created universe. -
by spending a fat bankroll on Game of Thrones
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I am ... RON HOWARD!!! And I'm going to CHOP The Dark Tower down to size! It was I who was driving that fateful van that CHOPPED Stephen King down to size!!CHOPPED
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Ill enjoy watching Tom McCarthy and HBO get it right while I destroy King and his precious nerd porn series once and for all!!!! OPIE CHOPS!
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Game of Thrones is about as exciting as an afternoon at the local fucking renaissance fair.
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Screw you.
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