I saw an interview a few years back where he mentions that the adaptations of his stories often end up like apples and oranges, and both taste good.

/DRTFA

I've always liked King, he has a lot of common sense. His lack of concern is based mostly on the fact that he is prolific. Who cares if an adapation doesn't turn out well? He's got 27 more in the pipeline, and 64 more banked for a rainy day.

I'm not reading all that....I just want to know when the Dark Tower mini series comes out

Due to technical issues the site is temporary down.

With less than 50 clicks, Fark has blown the site out of the water. Impressive!

Why doesn't he care? Man's going blind and wont be able to write, let alone read bad reviews soon.

/CRTFA

How much do authors get paid for those little "this writer is great!" blurbs on other authors book covers? I saw a Steven King quote on the cover of a SF book. Seemed odd.

A friend of mine convinced me to read The Stand last week. I hadn't read anything by Stephen King since I was about 12, so I thought what the hell.

That was the worst farking piece of shiat I have read in years, and that's supposed to be one of his "better books"... what the hell?! Why is this guy so famous?

It's farked already.

I didn't care for The Stand much but I liked Christine, The Shining and some of his short stories.

For movies based on his books, my favorite was probably Misery.

Also, I apparently cannot close my tags.

I think the alpha and omega of this debate should be The Shining. King hated the Stanley Kubrick film and made his own TV miniseries that he claimed was more faithful. One was one of the scariest movie ever made. One was a farking joke. And it actually had nothing to do with the fact that one starred Nicholson and the other starred the guy from Wings.

Salems Lot was King's best work.

He truly captured the horror & evil of small town America.

if no one gets attacked by a lamp monster, im not interested.

You all forgot about Shawshank Redemtion.

And Poland.

With very few exceptions (It, Shawshank Redeption, The Green Mile, Stand By Me), movie adaptations of Stephen King's stories universally suck. You just can't translate his writing into 2-3 hours of screen time.

I put The Shining in a special category by itself, because Kubrick TOTALLY butchered the story, but it ended up being a really good movie in and of itself thanks to Mr. Nicholson. As a King fanboy, I have a love/hate relationship with that movie.

If they EVER dare to try and make a movie adaptation of the Dark Tower series, I think I am going to have to start letter-bombing Hollywood. Unless they decide to make seven 3-hour movies, and include all the details of every one of the books, it's guaranteed to suck. And I have a nagging feeling they're going to try it soon, seeing as the comics are coming out. Does not bode well.

Due to technical issues the site is temporary down.

Behold the power of Farked.

I've read most of his books, and of course my favorites all belong to the Dark Tower series. Saying that, I really enjoyed the Storm Of The Century mini-series. i thought it would have made an excellent book and not just a screenplay.

FlyingPig: With very few exceptions (It, Shawshank Redeption, The Green Mile, Stand By Me), movie adaptations of Stephen King's stories universally suck. You just can't translate his writing into 2-3 hours of screen time.

I put The Shining in a special category by itself, because Kubrick TOTALLY butchered the story, but it ended up being a really good movie in and of itself thanks to Mr. Nicholson. As a King fanboy, I have a love/hate relationship with that movie.

If they EVER dare to try and make a movie adaptation of the Dark Tower series, I think I am going to have to start letter-bombing Hollywood. Unless they decide to make seven 3-hour movies, and include all the details of every one of the books, it's guaranteed to suck. And I have a nagging feeling they're going to try it soon, seeing as the comics are coming out. Does not bode well.

Thanks, saves me typing what I was gonna say, which was basically the same with worse grammar and spelling.

Did anyone actually get to read the thing before it was farked? Which books are being adapted? Is Rose Madder one of them?

Well, if you notice, Shawshank, Green Mile, and Stand by Me aren't about, you know, mystical driverless cars with rabid dogs in them from Indian burial grounds being surfed by Gypsy-cursed laywers and stupid shiat like that.

Did anyone actually get to read the thing before it was farked? Which books are being adapted?

I read it, and he talked specifically about The Talisman and The Mist, both getting underway, and 4108 which is coming out soon.

I can't remember if he talked about any others.

robsul82: Well, if you notice, Shawshank, Green Mile, and Stand by Me aren't about, you know, mystical driverless cars with rabid dogs in them from Indian burial grounds being surfed by Gypsy-cursed laywers and stupid shiat like that.

That "stupid shiat", in written form, CAN be interesting if it's written well, and the characters are developed enough so that there is some connection to reality that the readers can relate to. On screen, though, yeah, it's pretty hard for it not to be cheesy.

The Green Mile, though, is about a big retarded black man who has mystical healing powers. Is that "stupid shiat"? Some would say it is. It's certainly not realistic.

Confabulat: I read it, and he talked specifically about The Talisman and The Mist, both getting underway, and 4108 which is coming out soon.

Hmmm...I liked The Mist as a story.

But, am I the only one who ever noticed that The Mist and The Langoliers are basically the same story?

Yeah, they are pretty similar, but that's okay. For whatever reason I liked The Mist more, so I'm glad they're making a movie (so I can tell all my friends that the story is better)

The Talisman as a movie? That was one of the strangest books I've ever read.. the special effects in it are going to be crazy. Can't wait.

bouts of brilliance: if no one gets attacked by a lamp monster, im not interested.

Dance with me, Lampy!

Um... Misery?

The Talisman is going to be a mini-series produced by Steven Spielberg, and Frank Darabount is doing The Mist, so they could both be pretty good.

Pet Semetary was the first novel I ever read when I was around 13 or so. It's actually what got me reading in the first place. I loved Firestarter, Christine, IT and all of his anthologies. I think Eyes of the Dragon is my personal favorite.



But you don't have to take my word for it.

Cell should be good.

There is potential for The Mist to be VERY good. What Darabont should understand is the less we see of the creepy crawlies, the better we are. Seeing the townsfolk come undone will the teh shizness however.

The Dark Tower would turn out to be teh gay because people pretty much can't smoke in movies anymore.

Actually, I'll make one minor concession. Dark Tower would be good if they got Hugh Laurie (House) to play Roland. For some reason, I think he would kick arse in that role.

Here's the only way to adapt the Dark Tower... you do it as an adult animated series on HBO - half hour episodes:
1st season, book 1... 2nd season, book 2 etc...
(I realize season 6 would be kinda short, but dem's da breaks if you're gonna do it right...)

/by the way, link is farked
//thankee sai

The Dark Tower series had me until King seemed like he just wanted to end the series quick and dirty.

Didn't like the ending, won't spoil for anyone who hasn't read.

king said that he'd never take the Dark Tower to film/tv and i'm pretty happy about that. they can only ruin it. his books, for the most part, don't translate well to film. i remember reading It, and then seeing the movie. perhaps it was the fact that it came out in the 80s, but it blew dick.

i loved the Talisman - very fun book. The Black House was ok, not nearly as engaging as Talisman.

hopefully they can actually capture the atmosphere while keeping to the story for once.

Arrghhh the Black house was the first book that I wanted to burn, what a festering pile. yea child torture is a real riveting plot device. As the sequel to the Talisman it was a very poor continuation. Cant tell if King's or Straub's parts sucked more.

I have however been waiting for the Mist to be done. As a short story it is perfect for a feature length film. Based on the story there were enough hints and details at what is in the mist and now with good sfx. they can do it justice.

please don't suck, please don't suck....

Wooollffffff!

Anyone hating on The Stand can suck it. Go read Harry Potter or something.

Oh yeah, the DVD is going for 100$ plus these days so if you can find it on the cheap, snatch that shiz up.

"IT" is also the best SK book, ever.

/not a big fan of either movie

TheFunChicken

You are my hero.

Also, I agree with whoever said that the Dark Tower should never be brought to the screen. That's just wrong.

FlyingPig: But, am I the only one who ever noticed that The Mist and The Langoliers are basically the same story?

yes you are. the langoliers was a rip-off of a twilight zone when they redid the twilight zone in the late 80s. Actually all of the stories in that book were twilight zone rip-offs.

The Mist was one of my favorite of his short stories. and haven't they been making (or planning on making) The Talisman for a while now? *checking IMDb* Yep.

I would love to see eyes of the dragon made. With the right kids in the parts it could be amazing. Just so long as they don't get Flagg from "The Stand" to play Flagg. He just was NOT right...

Cell is a good read. i also like The Shining, a good book. Four Past Midnight isn't too bad.

"Actually, I'll make one minor concession. Dark Tower would be good if they got Hugh Laurie (House) to play Roland. For some reason, I think he would kick arse in that role."

All I can see is him walking on screen a la Clint Eastwood and then bursting out into Bertie Wooster.

/will take someone like Clint or better to step up

So, is The Long Walk in production yet? I always thought it would be neat to see 99 kids get their heads blown off, let alone an actual studio alowing them to do so. I would love to see an adaption to Rage (NOT the Carrie sequel), but I don't see that happening.

gadmo78: Here's the only way to adapt the Dark Tower... you do it as an adult animated series on HBO - half hour episodes:
1st season, book 1... 2nd season, book 2 etc...
(I realize season 6 would be kinda short, but dem's da breaks if you're gonna do it right...)

/by the way, link is farked
//thankee sai

One addition.

Do it in rotoscope, like they did for the Fellowship of the Ring animated flick.

FlyingPig: Actually, I'll make one minor concession. Dark Tower would be good if they got Hugh Laurie (House) to play Roland. For some reason, I think he would kick arse in that role.

I disagree. He's a good actor, yes.

But, if it were to be live action, I'd want someone unknown. HBO is farking excellent at scraping up total unknowns with great acting ability for their original series.

I don't want to be watching the movie and thinking of him telling a patient to shut the hell up.

pinkdaisyy Just so long as they don't get Flagg from "The Stand" to play Flagg. He just was NOT right...

What you said! Ugh! I hated that corn-fried fugly dolt...

/wanted Alice Cooper
//yes, really
///or someone along those lines
/translation, dude. NOT you
/nadine was teh hot

I wouldn't be who I am today without "Survivor Type"