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Learn Who’s Adapting The Stephen King/Peter Straub Novel THE TALISMAN For TNT!! Updated with a Quint rant!!

itll be better than it! by jonboy83	Dec 5th, 2006 04:10:59 PM
yes
SECOND!!!! by BatPsycho	Dec 5th, 2006 04:20:23 PM
should be good!
Will it float? by gboybama	Dec 5th, 2006 04:25:17 PM
Cuz we all float down here.
It's gotta suck, right? by ATARI	Dec 5th, 2006 04:31:18 PM
Just look at the track record...
I am the only person alive who loved IT! by Alonzo Mosely	Dec 5th, 2006 04:49:41 PM
I now have this mental image of Quint finishing the script, turning beetroot red, ripping up the script into tiny pieces, throwing it on the floor and jumping up and down on them...
ummm... by Somerichs	Dec 5th, 2006 04:57:43 PM
I loved PARTS of IT. The effects were horrible and the ending translated horribly to film (i.e. while it was pretty riveting in the book, it came off as really stupid on film, what with all of them grabbing at the spider-thing. I think what it got the most right was the relationships between the kids in the 50s, that was pretty solid. Anyway, meybe that Kruger dude read Quint's original rant and went back to his (supposed) first faithful and loving adaptation. if he does, i'll keep an open mind and hope this thing kicks all of our asses...
Look, Quint and I don't always like the same stuff ... by Hercules	Dec 5th, 2006 05:01:34 PM
Quint loves Dane Cook. I think Dane Cook is one of the least funny people on the planet. (Not one of the least funniest comics; one of the least funniest people.) Quint adores "Family Guy." I think accusing manatees of writing "Family Guy" is a real slur against manatees. Quint has said he can't get into the "Buffy" TV series (despite the fact that Quint himslef actually wrote a film about a modern vampire slayer). I think the adventures of Buffy, Giles, Willow, Xander, Spike, Anya, Oz, et al are some of most entertaining and moving adventures in all of adventure. To each his own, I say! But while I haven't read the Kruger draft of "Talisman" that Quint has, I have seen "The Ring" and I've seen "Arlington Road" and I think they were both pretty great. So maybe somebody photocopied some script pages out of order? Because I actually kinda think Kruger would be great at something like "The Talisman," and "The Talisman" is one of my favorite novels ever. (Also that Spielberg guy has done some good stuff too. He made a killer-truck movie with Dennis Weaver I can never pull away from when it comes on.) Hopefully the salty seaman's concerns have been ... addressed in subsequent drafts. But there's no way I see myself missing this two summers from now.
I'm all in... by Somerichs	Dec 5th, 2006 05:08:43 PM
Wolf!
"It" was neat by somelikeittoasty	Dec 5th, 2006 05:14:37 PM
Ending was hot sticky suck, the rest was megatriplewicked
I loved "The Langoliers" by BannedOnTheRun	Dec 5th, 2006 05:21:08 PM
No wait, I was thinking of the Pac-Man cartoon.
Herc by Quint	Dec 5th, 2006 05:23:25 PM
One, I liked the first Dane Cook album I was exposed to. He was just looney enough to make me laugh. Then I watched an episode of Tourgasm where he spent the whole episode telling us how he's the best ever and literally read his fanmail for 10 minutes. I don't hate Dane Cook. But I certainly don't love him. I didn't go out to see his movie and I still haven't watched that much hyped HBO special. As for Buffy, that's your thing. Go for it. Just never caught on with me. I tried watching a full season, convinced I just needed a little time to get what everybody loves in it, but I never found it. And, in regards to the flick... Van Helsing was a vampire hunter, too, (Peter Cushing, not Wolverine... ::shivers::). Doesn't mean I have to watch Buffy if I find that idea interesting. Ehren Kruger. I, too, like both THE RING and ARLINGTON ROAD. You seem to have forgotten Scream 3, Skeleton Key, Reindeer Games, Ring 2 and Brothers Grimm. I like elements of all those movies, actually, but none of them I can attribute to Kruger's involvement. It's more what the directors brought to it... and they're all still at the end of the day at least disappointing, if not flat out shitty. And I've actually read this guy's attempt at butching King and Straub's great novel. I even read him defending the review, saying that it was impossible to stay true to a novel when adapting. The script he wrote is shit. Uwe Boll level shit. I'd give him the benefit of the doubt if he didn't ALREADY fuck this story up. This has me really pissed off. I hope it falls through like the films did. At least until they shake the dirt off and present it to someone that would have an interesting take on it. If Spielberg were directing... even with Kruger writing, I'd be all for it. But Spielberg produces a lot of stuff. His name on the producer list doesn't mean we'll get Spielberg-quality material.
IT by Quint	Dec 5th, 2006 05:29:18 PM
And I actually like IT, too. I think it's one of the creepiest made for TV movies ever. But the success of IT was in the casting. They cast the kids right, they cast Pennywise as perfect as he'll ever be cast. All the stuff with the kids, I loved. Most of the adult stuff fell flat to me, but that's because Tim Curry wasn't as prevalent in the second half. Having said that, I miss some great moments from the book. The standpipe in particular. I think a horrific HBO mini-series could be done with that story and be amazing. But no... they're doing that retarded 3 hour version from Beverly Marsh's point of view... from the guys who brought you the horrible Salem's Lot TNT mini-series.
I've said it before, and here we go again... by Nodwick	Dec 5th, 2006 05:34:48 PM
The adaptations of King's work generally suck because the people adapting them leave out King's character portraits in favor of "the monster." If you care about Person X, you will feel suspense if s/he is about to be devoured by a demonic-powered Big Mouth Billy Bass. Also, previous attempts were on network TV; "It" really ran afoul of that "no kid endangerment" stuff that neuters the story for the most part. I saw it recently on sci-fi and it didn't seem to hold up well, IMHO. Now, "Storm of the Century" is a guilty pleasure of mine, not so much for the "horror" of it, but for the suspense over whose kid will get taken (the weirding stones scene) and the mythology created for our "wizard." His walking through the town hall rattling off everyone's secret sins is a fun watch, and a staple of King (the all-knowing monster).
Herc I was with you up until the Family Guy comment. by Optimus Primal	Dec 5th, 2006 05:35:51 PM
I think Dane Cook makes Carrot top look like Richard Pryor. Hack doesn't even begin to describe this ass clown. But come on, Family guy is funny. Its not the second coming that many fans make it out to be, I don't think its anywhere near as good as the Simpsons was back in its heyday before it started sucking, but its a good show. As for the for the original topic. What original mini series programming has TNT done that HASN'T sucked?! Granted I haven't seen into the West but, everything TNT produces always seems to disappoint in the end.
TNT did a fair stint on some shows... by Nodwick	Dec 5th, 2006 05:51:31 PM
"Babylon-5" springs to mind, although not confirming a 5th season to JMS led him to cram the finale to "War of the Shadows" into the 4th season and using the 5th to build to a show that TNT then screwed up. And "Witchblade" was pretty good as well. I read the comic afterwards and was amazed that they were able to pull a decent show out of a typically vapid "bad girl" comic. The second season wasn't as good as the first, but I wanted to see where it was going, and if I recall correctly, it got a two-point-something share of TV viewers, which is phenomenal for cable.
Quint,Thy must not speak ill of Buffy by Optimus Primal	Dec 5th, 2006 05:54:25 PM
Its considered sacrilege around these parts to question the genius of the best show ever in the history of everything. For the record I could never get into it either. SMG always struck me as annoying and every time I watched the show I was like "THATS it?! Thats what everyones crowing about?! Ugh, nothing more than a soap opera for 14 year old Fanboys"
Funniest thing I've read today by GoonF	Dec 5th, 2006 06:37:02 PM
I loved "The Langoliers" No wait, I was thinking of the Pac-Man cartoon.
God Pound It by buffywrestling	Dec 5th, 2006 06:40:09 PM
It makes me nervous to hear that the script writer thought Wolf was retarded or slow when it is obvious he was close to Jack's age, or maybe slightly older. Sixteen, say. It's innocence that makes Wolf behave the way he does. Wolf is one of my favorite characters ever written and I would hate to see him besmirched (yes, I said besmirched.)
How do you rate "The Stand" mini-series? by Somerichs	Dec 5th, 2006 06:45:52 PM
i see it as fairly similar to "IT" in that they got some things right, but a lot of other things wrong. Jamie whats-his-name as Flagg was horrendous (especially that do), and Laura San Giacomo was almost as bad as Nadine. On the other hand, i thought Rob Lowe as Nick Andros was pretty inspired, and Gary Sinise as Stu Redman was pretty spot-on, likewise for the coach alumnus as Tom Cullen (Laws yes! M-O-O-N, that spells Tom Cullen). I also think that i watched both of those series thru rose-colored glasses, being such a HUGE fan of both books. In the end, most Stephen King Mini-series (IMHO) have suffered from the stench of the B-list: B-list actors, B-list directors, B-list writers. Unless HBO (and their considerable clout) or, to a lesser extent, Showtime, picks up one of his properties, they'll never (?) get the budget or talent that's needed to really bring a kick-ass adaptation to the small screen. I'm still holding out for an HBO adaptation of The Gunslinger Series, or even a re-do of The Stand or It, but i'm not gonna bet the ranch on either. In the meantime, i'll hold my breath and hope for the best on The Talisman at TNT. I mean, they have to pull one off sooner or later, don't they? If the Bruins can kick the unholy shit outta USC, then, hey, why not? :)
If this sucks as much as Quint says it does by Poacher	Dec 5th, 2006 07:15:34 PM
I'm really pissed off too. Then again, Quint, do you know if those changes were Ehren Kruger's changes and not those of Vadim Perelman, who was attatched to direct the feature version at the time? I'm not doubting you, as I have seen all of Krugers movies and Arlington Road and The Ring are the only watchable ones in the bunch, but is it possible to find which draft this was? I'm hoping against all hope that Kruger's original take won't be as fucked up as what you read.
pleasenotmickgarris pleasenotmickgarris by Christopher3	Dec 5th, 2006 07:16:40 PM
Will this have room after Harry Potter, Narnia and His Dark Materials?
The book is brilliant by Lovecraftfan	Dec 5th, 2006 07:27:58 PM
Please don't mess it up. And excuse but Wolf as retarded. WTF. Did somebody drop him on his head after he read the Wolf sections. Yes he's innocent, naive, and good-hearted but retarded give me a fucking break.
About IT... by performingmonkey	Dec 5th, 2006 07:42:02 PM
People think IT is just about a clown, which is mainly due to Tim Curry's show-stealing performance as Pennywise in the insane mini-series (I say insane because...well, just go watch it all the way through and tell me it's anything OTHER than insane). Even though this IT remake they have planned is from Beverley's pov and a measley 3 hours, it should still be OK as long as they focus on the characters and less on Pennywise. HOWEVER, a 6 hour HBO mini is the only way IT will ever be adapted in the way it was MEANT to be, with all the real horror intact (for those who have read the book, imagine how creepy the scene at the beginning with that guy being dragged into the canal could be, where two guys are beating up this 'fag' and the clown is just standing in the darkness with the balloons then drags one of them to their doom). I don't have much hope for this Talisman mini though. The same suckage as 'Salem's Lot, I imagine.
The Dark Tower by Corterville	Dec 5th, 2006 07:56:42 PM
I would love to see a miniseries based off of King's "The Dark Tower". It would have to be done by HBO or Cinemax, though. I'd probably turn off the tv if TNT got ahold of it.
Clancy Brown as Sunlight Gardener! by Zeke25:17	Dec 5th, 2006 08:01:57 PM
HIs character in Carnivale, Brother Justin, was basically Sunlight/Osmond in a black preacher's robe; he'd be dynamite in Talisman! I'd also cast Olivia Hussey as Lily, Bill Cobbs as Speedy, and Cameron Bright as Richard Sloat. I have NO idea who'd make a good Jack; but the guy's gonna have to have some charisma; he's gotta carry the damn movie after all...any ideas?
WELL/SPIELBERG by THE KNIGHT	Dec 5th, 2006 08:05:37 PM
RULES!
The Stand by Roy Neary	Dec 5th, 2006 08:21:07 PM
is one of best, if not the best King books of them all. The mini series just didn't get it right. It had it's moments but it just wasn't as epic as the material suggests. The walk through the tunnel was one of the scariest things I've ever read. On TV, meh. I remember reading a long time ago that George Romero was attached to an adaptation that was abandoned because of length/budget. This story really deserves a better second shot. Theatrical or HBO.
Screw The Talisman! Where's.. by glodene	Dec 5th, 2006 08:26:05 PM
Peter Straubs' Shadowland!?! That's begging for some HBO or Showtime Love. Tom Flanagan Rules!
Two words that will save this project... by Kasch	Dec 5th, 2006 08:26:12 PM
Brian Henson. Seriously, who better to do a dark adult-oriented children's fantasy than a Henson? And one who gave us the same network's Battleground - one of the finest King adaptations under the sun. If Ehren Kruger has any sense, he'll stick to the novel as closely as possible - and if TNT has any sense, they'll give this project to a director with serious chops.
The Draft by Quint	Dec 5th, 2006 08:30:35 PM
The draft I read was for a feature film. The draft was Kruger's draft for Ed Zwick, post Vadim. This will certainly be a different film, now that he has 6 hours to fill instead of 2. Like I said, there is hope, but I just don't trust this guy with the material. At all.
I thought I'd read this with a non-reaction to who... by DanielKurland	Dec 5th, 2006 08:39:27 PM
the writer was, but Ehren Kruger is probably my most hated writer working today. He simple isn't good at all, and it pains me that he had THREE movies in theaters last year. He ruined the Scream franchise (why the fuck were Jay and Silent Bob in it?!?!), Ring 2 was terrible, and I don't need to get into things like Skeleton Key. If there's one writer I hate, it's this guy, and I'm disappointed to see he's the one writing this.
Also, I'll admit that The Ring is good... by DanielKurland	Dec 5th, 2006 08:43:12 PM
very good, in my opinion, but in that case, most of the work was done for him, he just had to translate it to English and adapt it. Sure, this is an adaptation too, but movie to movie, and book to movie and two complete different things.
Sunlight Gardener by buffywrestling	Dec 5th, 2006 08:48:06 PM
I like Clancy but he seems too..er.."beefy" for the role, IMO. Sunlight as I pictured him, was a slender psycho and a bit of a priss. Nic Cage popped into my head but he's probably too expensive.
Awesome. It's about time!!! by Vespalad	Dec 5th, 2006 08:57:23 PM
I cant wait to see one of my favorite books finally adapted to the screen. I would have prefered to see it in theaters, but, if adapted faithfully and given the budget it deserves, a 6 hour tv series could work out nicely. On the other hand, hearing that Kruger would consider reducing the Territories to 10 pages of script is scary. Give the book the respect it deserves. I think a Dark Tower adaptation could be done, ala A Scanner Darkly.
performingmonkey... by BGDAWES	Dec 5th, 2006 08:59:34 PM
I agree. The book was amazing and massive but that single scene you're describing really struck me. It's kind of a small chapter/moment in the book but it really resonated for some reason. "And that guy under the bridge...I still don't know who he was." "What guy was that?" "The guy in the clown suit...the guy with the balloons."
BGDAWES- I completely agree by Lovecraftfan	Dec 5th, 2006 09:10:41 PM
That scene creeped me out. I also have the distinct memory of the surviving one trying to explain to the police that there was something wrong/haunted about the time. I can't remeber what he said I just remember it creeped me out. Do you remember it? There are so many violent creepy scenes in that book that will never get on screen unless HBO decides to tackle it.
edit: by Lovecraftfan	Dec 5th, 2006 09:12:31 PM
something wrong/haunted about the town
This is continuing off topic but whatever by Lovecraftfan	Dec 5th, 2006 09:15:46 PM
For people who think IT was just about a killer clown remeber the original title of the book was Derry. It's just as much as about a very messed up town as the reason behind it.
Hercules... by moogu2	Dec 5th, 2006 09:28:03 PM
Even though I agreed with your first two points, you listen to Howard Stern so your opinion on comedy is null and void.
As it is with every mention of a SK adaptation... by cutest_of_borg	Dec 5th, 2006 09:36:53 PM
I will state again - HUGH JACKMAN IS ROLAND!!! C'mon, Uncle Stevie. Get the DT and HBO together and do this thing right. 20 hours spread over two seasons should cover it.
Lovecraftfan by BGDAWES	Dec 5th, 2006 09:37:27 PM
["And what's Derry really like, Don?" Reeves asked. "It's a bad place," Hagarty said..."You mean you two guys don't know that? You two guys have lived here all of your lives and you don't 'know' that?" Neither of them answered.] Lovecraftfan, that's awesome you thought of that; I remembered that too. I've read a lot of King, about 70% of his books including all the big ones (The Stand, Gunslinger) but IT is like the ultimate horror novel. I'm not sure if anything else comes close since it's so epic.
One of Kings best by DarthJedi	Dec 5th, 2006 09:40:37 PM
along with The Stand. Here's hoping they do a better job with this one than the latter one. (as someone already pointed out)I really don't know how they're going to do the Sunlight Gardner home rampage on TNT without completely changing it. Can't wait to see though.
Who wrote the screenplay to Dreamcatcher? by jimmy_009	Dec 5th, 2006 09:42:12 PM
That was total shit.
About Salems Lot... by Ridge	Dec 5th, 2006 10:16:33 PM
I don't quite think it's the abomination that Quint claims it as. I actually think the 70s movie did a better job of butchering the story. At least in this one we saw the town slowly taken over, saw Barlow as a proper vampire rather than a rat eating nosferatu and hell, Rob Lowes always good in King adaptations. The ending to me, was far superior with having him die, it felt more fitting.
Dammit! by Somerichs	Dec 5th, 2006 10:17:07 PM
Thank you, all. There goes all my free time for the next few months. Thanks to this stroll down memory lane, i'm now going to HAVE to go back and re-read everyone of these books...again! It, The Stand, The Talisman - What's that, about 3,200 pages all told? :) Been quite some time since I read any of those "big 3."
TNT sucks the life out of King novels! by S-Mart shopper	Dec 5th, 2006 10:32:20 PM
They should stick with Tom Selleck and westerns. WitchBlade was cool, Wanted was cool, but seeing how they are no longer on air, I consider them flukes on TNT's part. The Closer started off fine IMO, but Bacons wife got annoying real quick. TNT, LEAVE KING ALONE!
jimmy_009 by BGDAWES	Dec 5th, 2006 10:33:56 PM
Agreed - horrible horrible awful. Words that could be made out from the shit pasted on used toilet paper would have been better.
Straub Books by buffywrestling	Dec 6th, 2006 12:39:02 AM
I liked Shadowland but I always thought it would be hard to transcribe to the screen, what with the "Stych-N-Tyme" cartooniness of certain parts. I would love to see Mystery and The Throat brought to the big/small screen though.
Zwick...ugh by Poacher	Dec 6th, 2006 01:03:43 AM
I must've blocked that out of my memory. How shitty would that've been? That dude needs to stick to unintentionally racist violent movies. Spielberg should be shot for not making this movie when he had the chance. "Oh I'll make Schindler's List instead." PFFT.
Arlington Road was brilliant. by Seph_J	Dec 6th, 2006 02:55:03 AM
....
Brilliant? by TheRealMoriarty	Dec 6th, 2006 03:09:40 AM
Really? Ever seen a movie called THE PARALLAX VIEW? Because it just called for Ehren Kruger and it wants its ending back.
Sunlight Gardener by Bald Evil	Dec 6th, 2006 04:50:13 AM
If they cast Gary Oldman as Sunlight, I'd be happy. I dunno if we can hope for that much, though. The Talisman remains one of my all-time favourite books, I'd love to see it done right.
RE:Brilliant? by Floyd_Dylan	Dec 6th, 2006 04:51:04 AM
You've got some nerve, considering you ripped off half the horror films when you wrote that awful Cig Burns. I think those horror films should call you asking for their plot lines back.
dark tower should never be on tv by roccotheripper	Dec 6th, 2006 06:23:21 AM
if they made dark tower a movie it would have to be a trilogy like lord of the rings. it's that epic!
Stephen King + TV adaptation = Suck by Trazadone	Dec 6th, 2006 06:23:33 AM
Seriously, is anyone really excited about this news. There have been maybe 5 good adaptations of King's material ever, and they've all been theatrical. I love King but I refuse to ever watch TV adaptations of his work. I watched about 10 minutes of Nightmares and Dreamscapes and wanted to vomit.
Damn you Michael Bay by MCMLXXVI	Dec 6th, 2006 06:38:25 AM
Damn you Michael Bay
Are you really that surprised? by Halloween68	Dec 6th, 2006 06:47:06 AM
King has never been part of a good TV movie/series. Though I haven't seen N&D yet. I guess the closest to being okay was LANGOLIERS. And even that was pretty wretched now that I think about it. And, hey, when looking at the dude's record with adapting stories to film, the only time it really works is when there's an accomplished director envolved (one who knows what he's doing) who can veto anything King wants in a film. See Kubrick for example. Granted Kubrick's SHINING was very different than the book. Kubrick knew what worked on film and what didn't. He had the balls to make the very best movie he knew he could make with the material. Sometimes an author doesn't have the right eye for filmmaking. After all these years, Stephen King still doesn't.
Mr.Kruger by BenBraddock	Dec 6th, 2006 07:29:47 AM
Yes he wrote "The Ring".. but didn't he write "The Ring 2", too? And THAT was shit. And I haven't seen any Stephen King TV adaptions that weren't shit either. Ergo, I suspect that this will be shit.
Trazadone by ATARI	Dec 6th, 2006 07:30:00 AM
Yes, that's the equation I was thinking of.
MCMLXXVI by ATARI	Dec 6th, 2006 07:30:38 AM
They haven't banned you yet?
Mick Garris Rules! by Abin Sur	Dec 6th, 2006 07:52:15 AM
PSYCHE! The sad thing is that I was watching an interview with King last year (don't remember what on) and he was talking about what a great job Garris does with adapting his work. I wanted to cry.
Will never get my dream cast now... by Randall Flagg	Dec 6th, 2006 07:57:23 AM
TNT took at least one set of hopes away from me - a decent cast. No doubt we'll get Rob Lowe as Osmond now ;P Nothing wrong with Rob Lowe, but he's no Osmond. Here's the cast as I see it: Sunlight/Osmond - George Clooney (I like the idea of Clancey Brown too, but Sunlight especially needs to be super charismatic, something that Clooney has in spades) Morgan - Kevin Spacey or James Gandolfini Wolf - Kevin Weisman OR Bradley Cooper Jack - Too tough to cast right now. I know people like to throw Haley Joel Osment around for any early to late teens male role, but circa Secondhand Lions he would have been perfect. Right now I'm thinking Rory Culkin or Cameron Bright. Lily - Laura Dern Richard - Frankie Muniz Speedy (the only no-brainer) - Morgan Freeman
Hey Flagg... by Abin Sur	Dec 6th, 2006 07:59:32 AM
I don't think Bradley Cooper's gonna be available for Wolf, since he's busy riding Clive Barker's meat train.
When has a Stephen King movie not sucked? by leesheri	Dec 6th, 2006 08:05:58 AM
The ideas in his book are awesome, but when they make it to movies they suck. "It" was OK, I agree the kids were great, Pennywise awesome and the adults blah. "Secret Window" was a very good adaption, the twist at the end was exactly what I felt should have happened. Looking at all of the movies that have been adapted from Kings work and only having 2 decent ones is shit. Excuse my language. The great story is always there, but Hollywood always ruins it. I do not have high hopes for this movie, and it is one of my top ten favorite books.
Langoliers = giant flying won tons by 2for2true	Dec 6th, 2006 08:16:08 AM
My wife and I still laugh at that godawful swill. I actually thought Nightmares and Dreamscapes was ok, esp. William Macy's episode. Look folks, let's face it: these adaptions of Stephen King, Clive Barker and Peter Straub are always going to be lacking. Yeah, everyone gets excited when one is announced, but then....a giant collective "meh" (at best). Does anyone really think The Dark Tower, Floating Dragon or Weaveworld will ever be done to our satisfaction? Seriously? I always go into these adapted movies and tv shows expecting to be dissapointed... that way, I'm oddly satisfied when my expectations are met.
It will be great if they put some effort into it. by Knobules	Dec 6th, 2006 08:19:24 AM
Unlike IT or The Stand. What a letdown reading both those great books and then getting slapped together crap on the TV versions. First thing they should do is cross Max Headroom of the cast list.
Oh, and while I'm thinking about it by Randall Flagg	Dec 6th, 2006 08:25:04 AM
It's kinda creepy how close Cameron Bright is facially to how I have always imagined Jake Chambers. HBO needs to start production on Dark Tower now before he gets any older. :)
Roland - NOT Hugh Jackman by Abin Sur	Dec 6th, 2006 08:43:07 AM
Jim Caviezel - MUCH better choice.
The Gunslinger series by Black And Gold	Dec 6th, 2006 08:48:59 AM
There's enough material in both the series and "side projects" (short story, comic series, what's still in King's head to expand it as necessary) and the characters are interesting and complex enough that there could easily be 2 or 3 seasons worth of shows. And with the love of serials on tv lately (24, Lost, Heroes) this seems like a no-brainer. Plus this one's got a built-in audience to start. Wonder if it will ever happen. I don't know who would be good to cast but Jackman seems just a little young for Roland to me. Maybe age him 10 years. But, yeah, it needs to be on cable to be treated properly. And I hope they treat The Talisman well. I think a 6-hour series could be the perfect length. Please don't make Wolf retarded. Have some respect.
Roland by Randall Flagg	Dec 6th, 2006 08:49:20 AM
Robert John Burke, Thinner's Billy Halleck. Seek out Dust Devil and you'll see what I mean
Maybe... by Abin Sur	Dec 6th, 2006 08:55:03 AM
But by the time Dark Tower gets off the ground, he'll be in his fifties...I pictured Roland younger, even after the ten year jump he took from The Gunslinger to the Drawing of the Three. But there is always CGI...
Adaptations need to evoke the essence of the story by Mister Man	Dec 6th, 2006 09:07:53 AM
"Paint-by-numbers"/"best of" translations never work. (TNT's production of "Nightmares" was interesting, but it failed for an altogether different reason.) It is better to interpret the storyline for a feature, as the written word can never translate literally to the screen. TV movie versions will always be subpar, as they are limited in budget, and scope. King adaptations require excellent direction, top-rate cinematography and a emotional musical score. And foremost, the screenplay writer must have the ability (and freedom) to create an appropriate translation for a different medium. I agree with H68 - Kubrick knew what worked. Man-eating, attack topiary HAD to be replaced with a "garden maze". If only "It" had jettisoned the giant spider, or "The Stand" had rewritten the final act. I really think "The Mist" will succeed where others had failed.
Two words many of you have forgotten... by Soapboxcomma	Dec 6th, 2006 09:11:15 AM
FRANK DARABONT. All other adaptators have generally paled by comparison--many seem to lack the ability to connect to King in the way the "masses" do...choosing, instead to try and "interpret" the version the masses want to see. This one's already going in the Netflix cue, I'm afraid...
Right Idea Wrong Book(s) by Unlabled	Dec 6th, 2006 09:20:21 AM
Stephen King Tv Miniseries?!!? Awesome!! The Talisman? meh... Don't get me wrong it will be interesting to see how this comes out (gonna be better than Salem's Lot) but I am still waiting for HBO to greenlight The Dark Tower miniseries. I crave more Dark Tower on a daily basis. When the hell are the Marvel comics coming out?
Floyd_Dylan by Movietool	Dec 6th, 2006 09:29:39 AM
Moriarty has wisely avoided your trolling, but I've got nothing better to do. Which Horror films were ripped off by cig burns? I don't have Showtime so I never saw it, but you can't just drop a bomb like that and not back it up just a little. Come on, let's hear it. Oh, and the Horror films you list that got "ripped off" better be the first Horror films to feature their respective endings.
ZombieSolutions by Randall Flagg	Dec 6th, 2006 09:47:16 AM
ZombieSolutions, The Gunslinger is like The Hobbit of the series : the mildly interesting expositional story that you kinda have to get through before going on to the really good stuff. Hmm.. maybe it's more like the Chamber of Secrets of the series. Anyways, give Drawing of the Three a shot, that's where the story really begins
The Gunslinger series would be a disaster by Lovecraftfan	Dec 6th, 2006 10:04:39 AM
Remember the last three books and the series ending which I think am the only one who thinks its brilliant. That would be there so the minute you get you Gunlinger adaptation is the minute the Gunlinger bitching starts up.
Who remembers the fantastic Tommyknockers? by biggles2_22	Dec 6th, 2006 10:40:58 AM
Exactly. Point being: Stephen King has had some great works with a lot of shit-filler in between. I've read most of his works and have found that over the past 15 years, he's kind of sputtering out. (yes even the ending of Gunslinger) His books traditionally do not translate well to film, as much is dependant upon pulling the reader into the thoughts and motivations of the character. The most successful films are based on the King novels that had more of character drama feel and less of a horror feel. Sidenote: IT was an okay horror novel until the very end. The ending of the book (spider space alien defeated by group hug?!) was one of the biggest let-downs I've ever experienced in reading a King novel. So it's no surprise reading the TB's description of the adaptation (I agree Tim Curry rocked the house). ALSO: Enough with Rob Lowe. Nothing smacks of B-List more than this guy. In the end, however, television is STILL unable to make a descent adaptation. Just not enough grit, sorry. SECOND SIDENOTE: Most disappointing adaptation ever...Christine. What happened to the corpses of the previous owners driving the car? Best adaptation? Stand By Me.
SoapBoxC, you are correct... by Mister Man	Dec 6th, 2006 11:18:04 AM
Darabont does such a fine job, his King adaptations seem in a universe all their own.
It is one of the great modern horror novels by Lovecraftfan	Dec 6th, 2006 11:32:13 AM
I would rank it along with Ghost Story by Peter Straub, I Am Legend, and Summer of Night by Dan Simmons. Also I say again all of you hate the last three books of the DT. Why would any you possibly want an adaptation. It's like you want misery poured upon you.
There have been some truly fantastic adaptations... by Childe Roland	Dec 6th, 2006 11:32:45 AM
...of King's work for the screen. The Shining, The Dead Zone, Carrie, Misery, Stand By Me, The Shawshank Fucking Redemption. And some not too shabby ones, as well (thinking Firestarter, Cujo, Christine, Needful Things, Delores Claiborne). Even Pet Semetary and Children of the Corn were enjoyable for what they were. But the vast majority of his small screen stuff has been crap. It! had some genuinely terrifying moments spattered like hershey squirts up under the rim of a very bland white bowl full of adult actors phoning in lines in scenes that weren't very compelling in the original book (and they neutered the story by getting rid of the standpipe deflowering). The original Salem's Lot adapatation might be campy fun these days, but was pretty horribly misrepresentative of the source material and was populated by terrible actors passing or past their primes. I don't even acknowledge the TNT remake, as it made the original seem like a classic. There were two episodes of Nightmatres and Dreamscapes worth a warm shit (Battleground and End of the Whole Mess) and just about every other movie, large or small screen, adapted from a King story is nigh unwatchable. When I look at what made those first six I mentioned work, I can't help but be struck by the common element: They are all but a hair's breadth removed from total plausibility. Carrie really requires the most suspension of disbelief and, if you ask some folks, telekinesis is a proven reality, so it's just a matter of asking "what if it became more than spoon bending?" In Kubrick's adaptation of The Shining, most of the supernatiral elements of the story can be assumed to be taking place in Jack's head. There's a bit of ESP to be bought, but that's not such a stretch. Same with The Dead Zone on that count. And the other three are completely grounded in reality. King's strength has always been his characters. They can make the mundane seem extraordinary if we adopt their perspectives (like in The Stand or Shawshank) and can make the unexplainable or horrific seem relatable. That's what Dreamcatchers pretty much completely forgot (concentrating instead on trying to gross us out with CGI). That's why The Stand mini didn't grab anyone and hold onto them for the whole ride. That's why Salem's Lot misfired both times. That's why most people don't care for any part of It! that Curry's not in. You need actors and a director who understand what makes the material work. And, if they ever do try to adapt the Tower series, they need someone with the courage to deviate from the later elements King clearly phoned in from his "I just want to get this fucking thing finished" place and let those characters...the one's we came to care about just as King was obviously growing bored with them and killing them off to streamline his story...carry the narrative in a direction that works and makes sense within the parameters the earlier installments in the series (and supporting texts) had established. Hell, they don't even need to contradict the books since the ending of the last one rebooted the whole quest, anyway. So it's wouldn't have to be an adaptation so much as a continuation and the writers could take it in any damn direction they pleased.
Upcoming King... by Abin Sur	Dec 6th, 2006 11:48:26 AM
We've got Eli Roth doing "Cell," and the aforementioned Frank Darabont FINALLY doing "The Mist." I'm having really good feelings about these two - I HOPE that we don't see a crummy small-screen King adaptation come out around the same time. What a buzz kill.
Dont forgot 1408 by Lovecraftfan	Dec 6th, 2006 11:58:34 AM
Dont know how it will turn it out but the story is one of the creepiest things he's ever writtten.
Forgot 1408... by Abin Sur	Dec 6th, 2006 12:07:00 PM
THAT was a freaked out story...forgot all about the movie. I think John Cusack and Sam the Man are in that, right?
Yes. Cusak is lead and Jakcson is Olin by Lovecraftfan	Dec 6th, 2006 01:29:48 PM
Question is what they're doing to expand it. Also will they reconize what makes the story insanely creepy specifically mental over physical.
Lynch should direct 1408 by Abin Sur	Dec 6th, 2006 01:34:10 PM
That's the guy that could make this the cerebral scare that the novella is...too bad it'll never happen. Who IS directing, anyway?
Childe Roland by biggles2_22	Dec 6th, 2006 01:46:31 PM
You got me. I had forgotten about Misery and Shawshank, both excellent CHARACTER pieces. To my original point, the more supernatural the adaptations get, the worse they are. King-TV has sucked up to this point because they've taken his best selling work and shat it upon the screen. I wonder if the results would be different if they took some good character stories and brought them to the small screen. Shawshank, in fact, was just the right format (serial) for that type of adaptation. Can't agree with you on Firestarter, Cujo, Christine, Needful Things, or Delores Claiborne. But Pet Semetary or Children of the Corn are pretty decent popcorn horror flicks, just needed my memory jogged.
Childe Roland correction by biggles2_22	Dec 6th, 2006 01:48:22 PM
sorry dude, Green Mile was serial format, not Shawshank.
Maybe I'm the only one by mr jones	Dec 6th, 2006 02:03:49 PM
but following on from Childe Roland's comment, the one King book I really really want to see filmed, (and it would be so easy), is "The Long Walk". Easily my third favourite after 'IT' and 'the Stand', and entirely character-driven with no bizarro creatures. Oh, and also wasn't "Apt Pupil" quite good as well?
I can't believe I forgot the 2 best movies by leesheri	Dec 6th, 2006 02:05:38 PM
The Shawshank Redemption and the Green Mile, but the rest weren't great for me. I guess as a reader I always find Hollywood's version lacking when compared to the version in my own head. Carrie wasn't supposed to be beautiful, she was supposed to be overweight and have pimples... the original Shining was awesome the new one crap. I stand corrected, and I apologize. They don't all suck, but I do find the majority to be lacking.
OMG! Running Man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! by biggles2_22	Dec 6th, 2006 02:41:47 PM
If they could only make THAT f%*&ing movie, LIKE THE SHORT STORY! One of the best endings in recorded Stephen King history.
Hey, admins... by ejcarter9	Dec 6th, 2006 02:45:55 PM
... feel free to drop me a line explaining why my post was deleted.
Dark Tower by MrJJonz	Dec 6th, 2006 03:10:24 PM
Only way to do that justice is to animate it. HBO did a good job of the Spawn animated series (granted didn't really know the source material but enjoyed the series).
The Ring sucked by Neo Zeed	Dec 6th, 2006 03:12:27 PM
Fuck popular opinion. that movie blew
The Dark Tower ending was PERFECT by Movietool	Dec 6th, 2006 03:13:39 PM
Best ending to a book I've ever read. Had me smiling from ear to ear.
oh and by MrJJonz	Dec 6th, 2006 03:15:02 PM
this adaptation will suck. they all do the end
Oh and someone by MrJJonz	Dec 6th, 2006 03:25:42 PM
please make The Long Walk. It's greeeaat as a famous tiger once said
Movietool by biggles2_22	Dec 6th, 2006 03:27:58 PM
dude, even King wasn't crazy about how Dark Tower ended.
Dark Tower + Genndy Tartakovsky = by biggles2_22	Dec 6th, 2006 03:30:42 PM
perfection
Dark Tower + Katsuhiro Otomo = by Fawst	Dec 6th, 2006 04:37:57 PM
more gooder.
biggles2_22- So? by Lovecraftfan	Dec 6th, 2006 04:41:02 PM
What does it matter what King thought of the ending. Whatever it just works for a small select group of people.
The Running Man by Roy Neary	Dec 6th, 2006 04:49:24 PM
I totally forgot about that story. The retarded Arnie version came out right about the time I had read it and I was so disappointed. A faithful adaptation of that would rock. It seems even more relevant now in this age of cell phone cameras, youtube and whatnot. Think of the possibilities. Read the story and tell me the movie didn't suck. Anyhow, this talkback has gotten me thinking about all of his stories. Look at the big brain on Stephen!
Ohh, good ending for Running Man. by Billyeveryteen	Dec 6th, 2006 05:36:37 PM
I'll second that. Long Walk is great too. Am I the only one that wants The Jaunt?
I'd forgotten Apt Pupil... by Childe Roland	Dec 6th, 2006 06:09:31 PM
...and I think it was a decent film (not in SHawshank's or The SHining's league, but decent). Green Mile just did nothing for me as a movie. Maybe if they'd done it as a TV show (as pointed out, the novellas were serialized) I'd have dug on it more. But how can you have no love for Firestarter (George C. Scott as Rainbird? "I love youuuuuu!") and Cujo (I know, the book ending was bleaker and better, but that movie is pretty darned tense). A true-to-source Running Man or Long Walk would kick my ass five ways to Sunday and back. And kudos to King if he's actually come out and admitted dissatisfaction witht he conclusion (not just the ending, but the whole declining arc) of The Dark Tower. Maybe after being away from it a bit and recharging his creative batteries, he'll be willing to consult with someone on a better ending for a cable or film adaptation (and, again, for those in love with the way the original went, the reboot ending means a new ending this time doesn't negate what came before...just makes it easy for those of us who hated it to ignore it).
I'll Tell You Why The Script Sucks by PervOmatic	Dec 6th, 2006 06:12:55 PM
It's because the original source material sucks. King is a hack. A rich, successful hack, but a hack nonetheless.
Hack: Way overused by Lovecraftfan	Dec 6th, 2006 06:38:14 PM
That seems to be the only description people can give who object to King's works. Way Way overused to the point where its tired and silly.
Just this very night finished up DT.. by savage_henry	Dec 6th, 2006 07:06:33 PM
...and I don't know whether to be let down or impressed. Once you're five deep in the series, you can't not finish, but it was almost a chore to do it. As for the Talisman, it is one of my favorite books of all time. The whole "wolf in the box" sequence is amazing, and I hope they don't fuck it up in the series.
Sunlight Gardener... by Yossarian	Dec 6th, 2006 07:06:52 PM
Paul Bettany. Never happen, but hey. How about Rutger Hauer, little long in the tooth, but he's got chops and he's cheap. Or, wild card, Chris Sarandon.
Talisman, Dark Tower, et al by Dijonase24	Dec 6th, 2006 08:28:17 PM
I'll agree with the general sentiment that most adaptations of King's work have been less than stellar. I loved the It miniseries when I was 10, but upon rewatching it I realized how horrible it actually was. I hope at this point that the draft of The Talisman that Quint read is cleaned up one whole hell of a lot, because it sounds like Kruger really dropped the ball. As for the Dark Tower, I thought the series was pretty much perfection from start to finish. I can understand why some people didn't care for it, but I couldn't disagree more. Why exactly does killing characters and furthering the whole meta angle make it phoned in, rushed crap? I still don't understand that logic. If you don't agree then I'm not going to tell you that your opinion is wrong, but just because you didn't like it doesn't automatically make it crap. I can't imagine it ending any other way, and the series as a whole is my all time favorite story.
Paul Bettany as Sunlight? by buffywrestling	Dec 6th, 2006 09:34:26 PM
Oh yeah. That's the ticket! Also has anyone read the new SK? Lisel's Story [sp?] Haven't read it yet, so please try to be spoliler friendly - for others, not myself. I'm a spoiler-whore.
I think you might've misunderstood me, Dijonaise. by Childe Roland	Dec 7th, 2006 08:04:48 AM
I wasn't saying that killing off characters because he coluldn't be bothered to figure out how to use them anymore made the story crap in and of itself. It was a contributing factor, to be certain. But that was really just a symptom of his overall lazines/lack of enthusiasm for the world and characters he'd creatied. That lack of enthusiasm and laziness were evident as early as Wolves of the Calla, where he couldn't be bothered to even describe things anymore. Instead of giving a decent description of the Wolves, he essentially says "You know Doctor Doom from Marvel Comics? Yeah....they looked like him." and "You ever see Harry Potter? The Sneetches? That's what these were like." Never mind that none of his characters would've ever seen a Harry Potter movie. And when he wanted to establish some sort of connection between characters, instead of writing out the natural interactions and signs of those connections as they would occur between real people, he just typed something like "And they all knew it was Ka and it was good." His shorthand wasn't profound and it lent no creedence (or sympathy) to anyone introduced after Wizard and Glass (go back and read that one...everyone you met in that book mattered, even thr throwaway pieces of shit you knew were destined to die, because he took the time to make them real and made their deaths make sense). By the end of Calla, you got the sense that the characters were very obviously being introduced, manipulated and motivated solely for the author's convenience and to facilitate a near-term end to the story. I'm sorry, but when you're too aware of the author's end plan...to the point where characters you've been with for five books suddenly become inconvenient to that plan and an obvious burden for the writer to maintain so he gets rid of them, you're dealing with lazy, sloppy writing. That's why metafiction is tough to pull off (Nabokov 's Pale Fire manages without being anywhere near this transparent and half-assed). You introduce the author (not just an author, but clearly THE author) into a story, and you run the risk of trivializing everything. That's pretty much what King did.
I hear your point, Childe by Dijonase24	Dec 7th, 2006 08:54:49 AM
But I still completely disagree. As for the killing of characters, I thought that simply fit with the natural progression of the story. It makes complete sense to me that Roland was meant to be the only one to reach the Tower, and each of the deaths made sense to the story and had real emotional heft. I cried when Eddie, Jake, and Oy died. As for characters introduced in the last few books, I disagree. Just before the big assault on the Breaker's compound in the final book King takes a section to introduce a couple of the guards that work there. I thought that was a great section that introduced a couple of characters who weren't typical evil monsters, but were instead a couple of guys working a 9 to 5 as prison guards. I completely respect your opinion, but I just can't agree. I'd defend Song of Susannah as maybe the strongest book in the series. I will concede that Wolves of the Calla was probably the weakest, but I still think it's very good. Nice to discuss something on Aint it Cool without it devolving into a juvenile shouting match, though.
Philip K Dick... by cocolopez	Dec 7th, 2006 09:21:30 AM
...wrote himself into some of his own stories just fine
Dijonase24- Nice to see I'm not alone by Lovecraftfan	Dec 7th, 2006 09:53:14 AM
I was always surprised that other people were surprised that King killed off all his character except for Roland. Of course he would reach the Tower alone. Makes perfect sense. The death that really got me though was Jake. I cried and cried after Jake died.
OK, who cried by leesheri	Dec 7th, 2006 10:21:31 AM
while reading this book? I am a woman and have no problem admitting I cried over and over again throughout. Even cry when I reread it. I hope they review the movie here, won't watch it until ya'll give your reviews. The original screenplay sounds too horrific. May not watch it at all.
That's cool, Dijonaise. by Childe Roland	Dec 7th, 2006 11:06:22 AM
Difference and discourse are really what make the world go 'round. I know that I'm being very hard on King for those last three books (not, imho, unjustly, but hard nonetheless). It's because I truly believe him to be one of if not the most talented American writer of the last 75 or so years. His short stories are generally phenomenal. Many of his earlier novels are extremely well crafted and sustain an energy throughout that is truly uncommon in non-screenplay fiction. I think It! is one of the most amazing books ever written. And the first four books of his Dark Tower saga are each, in their own ways, outstanding examples of his skill and range as both a storyteller and a writer. So I hold the guy to pretty high standards...standards which those last three books just didn't live up to for me.
Mick Garris might be a nice guy... by gernblanston67	Dec 7th, 2006 01:24:15 PM
but don't let him touch this!!! The Stand sucked so bad!!!
Not at all, FlipHole. I read pretty slowly, in fact. by Childe Roland	Dec 7th, 2006 01:56:02 PM
I type fast, but that's a different animal. I think you're mixing up your memory of the book (Wolves) considerably. He gives a cursory visual sketch of each of the items I ticked off and then draws a pop culture connection for the imaginatively impaired (if I recall correctly, the Sneetches got their borrowed name within a page of introduction). And, aside from the monologue of Pare Callahan, we really get very little character-driven interaction in Wolves or either of the subsequent books. It's mostly highly telegraphed, paint by numbers leaps from action beat to action beat...as if King were hastily slapping filler pages into an outline in an effort to finish a term paper on time. There are some standout moments (the aforementioned Callahan piece, for instance, scenes from the Dandelo encounter and some of what transpires in the modern day) that hint at the continued existence of King's brilliance, but they're largely obscured and overwhelmed by the lifeless, loveless pages surrounding them.
Kruger was good in the 1st Ring by Novaman5000	Dec 7th, 2006 02:50:59 PM
Because Gore Verbinski was reigning him in. The 2nd one sucked because the japanese director let him just do whatever he wanted.
Childe Roland by biggles2_22	Dec 7th, 2006 02:55:39 PM
Eloquent critique of DT books, but one could argue that the Wizard and the Glass and Wolves of Callah would be the easiest to adapt to a screenplay. In fact, Wizard would be a great introductory movie to the Dark Tower series.
I think Wizard and Glass is the best... by Childe Roland	Dec 7th, 2006 04:23:17 PM
...of the bunch, Biggles. Drawing is a close second (or possibly even on par, being pretty much an entirely different kind of story). I still think King must've written the Gunslinger and much of Wizard and Glass before he knew what this series would end up being. Then someone convinced him a straight-up post-apocalyptic Western wouldn't sell, so he took the whole interdimensional travel element introduced with Jake and made it a far more commonplace phenomenon so he could pull in a bunch of characters someone thought readers would be able to relate to better (Eddie and Susannah). Don't get me wrong, I'm glad he went the interdimensional route. I just think he opened one door too many and things went off the tracks when he went all Neverending Story on us.
Name that story... by Somerichs	Dec 7th, 2006 04:54:24 PM
"Longer than you think, Dad! Longer than you think!!" I said it before and i'll say it again, all this talk just makes me want to go back and revisit all my favs...talisman, the stand, It, Skeleton Crew, Shawshank and Apt Pupil (I guess all of Different Seasons as long as i'm there), Misery, Shining, to say nothing of all Peter Straub's books. His stories generally take a while gettin outta the gate, but when they do, DAMN! Long as we're talking books and all, I highly recommend Faerie Tale by Raymond E. Feist to any Stephen King fan...
Is it The Jaunt Somerichs? by Childe Roland	Dec 7th, 2006 05:30:27 PM
I truly dug that one.
Childe Roland... by Somerichs	Dec 7th, 2006 06:04:55 PM
Damn, first one out of the chute...
The Jaunt by Lovecraftfan	Dec 7th, 2006 07:27:03 PM
I remember getting really creeped out by that story particuraly the ending but I can never remember what exactly the ending was.
Lovecraftfan... by Somerichs	Dec 7th, 2006 07:41:32 PM
the guy's son holds his breath and doesn't take the gas that's supposed to knock you out before you go on the jaunt so as to keep you from going batshit crazy. He's the adventurous type, and after hearing the history of how the jaunt came to be, he has to find out for himself just how long the jaunt takes...i forget the exact metaphysical details and all, but in addition to being batshit crazy when they come out on the other end, he's also, if memory serves, got gray hair and maybe even long nails...Man, to a 13 year old kid in the back seat of a car driving from South Carolina to Connecticut, Skeleton Crew was about THE greatest thing of my young life...
Um... by Billyeveryteen	Dec 7th, 2006 09:49:44 PM
He clawed his eyes out..
remark on Talisman book (spoiler) by cyberskunk	Dec 7th, 2006 10:42:36 PM
I was bothered a little by how a bad guy's eyes exploded, followed by a larger explosion that took out his girlfriend and the surrounding area. It made it seem like the 'good' force behind the Talisman could be vindictive. Feel free to ignore this; I read the book ages ago but I don't think I bothered mentioning this until now, where there's a proper context for my bringing it up.
I read an interview with the DEAD ZONE screenwriter. by Ringwearer9	Dec 7th, 2006 11:22:05 PM
And apparently, there was an original DEAD ZONE screenplay written by Stephen King himself! According to the screenwriter (I forget his name) Cronenberg hated King's script, because it basically turned the story into a "Friday the 13th type thriller with teenagers in peril". That script got thrown out and they wrote a new one that was more faithful to King's actual novel. So King is basically his own worst enemy regarding adaptions of his own work. His literary training was in college, but his film training, as he tells us in "Danse Macabre", was shlock B horror movies, and whenever he tries to adapt, he turns his own stories into shlock B movies, cos that's apparently what he values most in a film, the the quality he looks for in a director for his books.
Flip63Hole by biggles2_22	Dec 8th, 2006 08:24:25 AM
I understand your feelings on W&G, but from a business view of getting a massive series off of the ground, a successful stand-alone movie would be what it would take to make the others happen. My feelings are that Lord of Rings would have happened earlier (remember it almost didn't happen at all) if they would have started with The Hobbit, shown a profit, then gone back to the studios for the big score. (The end product, however, shows that all the stars were in alignment). Of course, if it was an animated television series (hello Genndy Tartakovsky?!!) then I think the book chronology would be best. But, what do I know? I'm in the business end of the television business. The movie business frightens and confuses me.
Get Leif Jonker to direct - as long as not Mick Garris! by Experiment 626	Dec 9th, 2006 09:12:03 AM
Mick Garris is about a hack if there ever was one. Sure, he's a self proclaimed "horror guy", and that's real sweet, but it doesn't make him any damn good! They need a real horror person, a visionary, for this one. Imagine what Talisman could be like with someone like del Toro behind the camera!!
Very few of the minis are good by Jack Burton	Dec 9th, 2006 10:28:04 AM
Storm of the Century is good because it has nothing to live up to. The Shining mini series was closer to the novel then Kubrick's take (which I still love), and The Langoliers wasn't terrible. IT, The Stand, Rose Red, and the rest are mostly unwatchable. I liked Tim Curry as Pennywise, but that's it. The problem is the miniseries tend to be brutally miscast replacing A-list actors with B-C level tv stars. So the drama suffers for it. And King stories are more about the journey and the characters then the outcome so it is extremely difficult to get the movies right on a TV budget. So my hope for "The Talisman" mini series actually being good rest at about the same level as "Ghost Rider" being watchable. In other words, not bloody likely.

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