The Dark Tower trailer
Discussion
I recognise bits but I seem to remember that is about all there'll be; it's a mash up of the originals/a sequel rather than the original stories.
The problem I had with the originals was that there were good interesting bits but also lots of crap and it just never felt like it hung together. And having seen the reaction the later books got I never actually finished the series.
The problem I had with the originals was that there were good interesting bits but also lots of crap and it just never felt like it hung together. And having seen the reaction the later books got I never actually finished the series.
Looks like it might be a decent fantasy/ action film but not really a good translation of the book(s).
They've taken the characters and general premise but that's about all. I know it's meant to be a 'sequel' to the book series - one of a future iteration of the story - but it just seems too different and a race change for Roland makes no sense, no matter how good Idris Elba might be.
They've taken the characters and general premise but that's about all. I know it's meant to be a 'sequel' to the book series - one of a future iteration of the story - but it just seems too different and a race change for Roland makes no sense, no matter how good Idris Elba might be.
It has been said plenty times but it needs the HBO/Showtime (Even Starz based on how much I enjoyed Spartacus) TV treatment rather than the big screen.
Don't remember huge chunks but there probably was a lot of dirge that could be filtered out.
Dunno how reaction to the ending would go.
Don't remember huge chunks but there probably was a lot of dirge that could be filtered out.
Dunno how reaction to the ending would go.
gregd said:
Are the books worth reading? I've read loads of Stephen King but never got round to the Dark Tower series.
The books are awesome although the last one felt a different tone to me. The early ones are typical coked up King, all high speed nihilism.Lucas Ayde said:
Looks like it might be a decent fantasy/ action film but not really a good translation of the book(s).
They've taken the characters and general premise but that's about all. I know it's meant to be a 'sequel' to the book series - one of a future iteration of the story - but it just seems too different and a race change for Roland makes no sense, no matter how good Idris Elba might be.
It felt to me that they had McConaughey attached and wanted him to play Roland as he would be a perfect physical fit now that Eastwood is too old (although he could probably still pull it off) but McConaughey wanted to play the Man in Black as he thought it was a better character and McConaughey won that battle.They've taken the characters and general premise but that's about all. I know it's meant to be a 'sequel' to the book series - one of a future iteration of the story - but it just seems too different and a race change for Roland makes no sense, no matter how good Idris Elba might be.
I'm looking forward to the film, I just hope it doesn't use too many Matrix tropes with the Gunslinger. I'm treating it as another go on the wheel for Roland so not expecting it to hit any of the same story points. That way I don't care if they butcher the story, as long as the characters are reasonably faithful and the overall film is good I'm happy.
It goes on release in the US on Friday.
First reviews are in and they aren't positive.... :/
I suspect it was always going to end up as a disappointment for me, as a huge fan of the books - the question was only ever going to be just how much of a disappointment. Still, I'll doubtless go and see it anyway.
I fear it means that the TV series and franchise as a whole will die a quiet death.
First reviews are in and they aren't positive.... :/
I suspect it was always going to end up as a disappointment for me, as a huge fan of the books - the question was only ever going to be just how much of a disappointment. Still, I'll doubtless go and see it anyway.
I fear it means that the TV series and franchise as a whole will die a quiet death.
tankplanker said:
Lucas Ayde said:
Looks like it might be a decent fantasy/ action film but not really a good translation of the book(s).
They've taken the characters and general premise but that's about all. I know it's meant to be a 'sequel' to the book series - one of a future iteration of the story - but it just seems too different and a race change for Roland makes no sense, no matter how good Idris Elba might be.
It felt to me that they had McConaughey attached and wanted him to play Roland as he would be a perfect physical fit now that Eastwood is too old (although he could probably still pull it off) but McConaughey wanted to play the Man in Black as he thought it was a better character and McConaughey won that battle.They've taken the characters and general premise but that's about all. I know it's meant to be a 'sequel' to the book series - one of a future iteration of the story - but it just seems too different and a race change for Roland makes no sense, no matter how good Idris Elba might be.
I think it looks utter bilge btw, and will be yet another atrocious adaptation of King's work. The only way to go with the Dark Tower series for me was to go to TV - modern TV drama with movie quality production is perfect for this work.
Swervin_Mervin said:
I don't remember any inference in the books as to Roland's skin colour
Respectfully, you weren't paying attention then. You didn't pick up on the whole race thing between Roland and Detta Walker, with her repeatedly deriding him as a "honky mahfah"? Given how much else has been changed, I can't say I have a particular issue with Roland being played Idris Elba. By all accounts, that's the least of the film's problems....
Lurking Lawyer said:
Swervin_Mervin said:
I don't remember any inference in the books as to Roland's skin colour
Respectfully, you weren't paying attention then. You didn't pick up on the whole race thing between Roland and Detta Walker, with her repeatedly deriding him as a "honky mahfah"? Given how much else has been changed, I can't say I have a particular issue with Roland being played Idris Elba. By all accounts, that's the least of the film's problems....

Think I'll wait for this one to come out on a £2 streaming deal, down the line.
What a waste of a totally great book series. I know that it was practically unfilmable as a direct translation of the books, but they could have made a much, much better stab of adapting it for the screen than this especially given the star names on board.
What a waste of a totally great book series. I know that it was practically unfilmable as a direct translation of the books, but they could have made a much, much better stab of adapting it for the screen than this especially given the star names on board.
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