Conference bookie::movies

    I didn't mind Pet Semitary, I thought it was a reasonable
    representation of the Book, the one I was dissapointed with was the
    mini-series IT....I completely enjoyed the book, I like Tim Curry but
    he just didn't seem to portray the total Evil that Pennywise was in the
    book....the only one I think I haven't seen was Cat's Eye, and 
    Tommyknockers (which I considered the book to be a semi-ripoff of
    It...)
    Michael

    I don't know anything about the "Stand" yet but I just wanted to comment
    about his others.  Specifically "Cujo" and "Pet Semetary".
    
    I thought Cujo was more of a disapointment than Pet Semetary for the
    following reasons:  behind spoiler of course
    
    
    
    In the book Cujo I found some of the best parts to be what the woman
    was thinking, as she first got stuck (minor annoyance) all the way
    through the anguish of realizing she had to fight her own way out - it
    was all a "mental" thing the last half of the movie - her against a
    rabid dog.  The movie didn't even come close to making you understand
    and *feel* the way the character did in the book.
    
    Now in "Pet Semetray" (yes it was sub-par for SK but hey its Hollywood)
    at least it was about the walking dead and a crazy cat (Hmm I see a
    trend here, is SK a pet hater :^})   and seemed to translate better
    into a thriller - granted more of a blood/gore thriller but still the
    whole story seemed to transfer better than "Cujo" 
    Also the ending for "Cujo" the movie inhaled air - talk about a sappy 
    Hollywood ending....another spoiler in case you don't want to know 
    how either the book or the movie end
    
    
    
    In the book the poor child dies and we don't know at what point the
    child died - granted extremely sad ending but after the climatic chase
    and woman against dog, it just seemd to fit better....yet in the movie
    the child lives and everything is just fine - ho hum to this happy
    ending - doesn't sound like the Stephen King I've grown to know and
    love.
    
    Jt
      

    
    I was looking forward to this until I saw the actors that would be
    playing the parts. One for instance, Rob Lowe. Not my all time
    favorite.
    
    Oh well, yet another bad movie of a SK book.
    
    Glad it's on tv, and only have to pay in viewing time.
    
    Dave
    

    FYI: See also the Stephen King conference, at MCKNLY::CASTLE_ROCK.
    [It's OK to discuss King movies here, but for discussion of  the books,
    or of King-in-general, CASTLE_ROCK is the appropriate place.]
    
    -b-the-moderator

    As much as I love Stephen King novels (and novelettes)
    I don't think his work translates well into cinema works.
    And it's basically because King is such a good 'emotional'
    writer. He spends a great deal of time getting into the
    head of his characters. He can describe feelings and fears 
    like noone else.  Of course this all takes place within 
    the person, which is very difficult to transfer to the screen. 
     
    I saw King being interviewed on the Charlie Rose show a week
    or so ago and they asked him if he ever thought he had gone
    too far and he said he felt Pet Semitary was over the edge.
    The book was, I agree. The movie, ehhhhh, I hated it.  When
    asked if he had any fears himself and he said only one, that
    one of his kids would die before him. He felt that that was the
    worst pain a parent would ever endure. I also agree.  I love
    this man and his writing. I think the only way to put one of
    his novels on screen is to do it on the small screen via a
    mini-series.  The only thing he ever wrote (that I have read)
    that worked well in the theater was "Stand By Me" which really
    wasn't a full novel but a novelette called "The Body". It 
    worked because is was short and to the point to begin with.
    
    Jodi-

    I like "The Dead Zone."  
    
    Very well cast, and compelling in a way I can't really define.
    
    -Stephen

I generally don't expect the movies to be as good as his books, mainly because
one of the things that King does best with his books is get YOU to visualize
what's going on ... and I think most people will come up with visuals, moods
etc. in their own brains that thrill them much more than what they see on
the screen.

I mean, how could any director have done justice to the bathtub scene from "The
Shining?"  :^}

- Dave

  I really liked "The Dead Zone" as well. Maybe it was because it was a smaller
scope and fit the movie format. The Stand is huge and would take 9 hours or
more to tell it properly on film. It is a story that is literally of global
proportions, far to big for a movie. 
    
  I agree that Cujo was really bad. I loved the book, hated the movie. One
major problem was that in the book you got to see the world from Cujo's point
of view. Of course in the movie he's totally reduced to a mindless Hollywood
monster. 

  The biggest problem in general is that Hollywood views Steven King as the
writer of horror stories where he is really the writer of stories with great
characters, especially great villains who are all over simplified and
monsterized, like Cujo, for the big screen. Once in a while they make the
transformation as they did in "The Dead Zone", but more often they don't.

  Well, maybe this time,
  George

    Gee, I sorta liked Cujo, the movie.  Dunno why. Wasn't the same as the
    book, natch, but still liked it.  Also liked Christine, the movie, which
    came about as close to the book as one seems to come.  Misery wasn't
    too bad, either.  Didn't quite catch the overwhelming sense of
    desperation I got from the book, but not a bad job. 
    
    
    kim 

    Also the fact that the human imagination has no FX budget, so you can
    'think' it as complex or as simple as the reader wishes.....
    
    Michael

    
    	"Christine" was definitely my favorite, with "Carrie" being a
    	close second.
    
    	And regarding "Cat's Eye", there are 3 parts to that movie,
    	with "Cat's Eye" being only one of them.  The other two were
    	[I believe] "Quitters, Inc." and "The Ledge", from "Night Shift".
    
    
    							GTI

    
    Christine, good movie. Almost forgot that one.
    
    The other guy in the movie, drove a really nice 68-69 Charger, which I
    wouldn't mind owning.
    
    Dave
    

    Best Stephen King movies:
    
    1) The Dead Zone - a perfect role for Christopher Walken
    2) Christine - great music; the transformation of the kid was great
    3) Stand By Me - excellent ensemble acting by the four kids
    4) Firestarter - one of my kids' favorite flicks - I like it a lot, too
    5) The Shining - "Here's Johnny!" still cracks me up
    
    NAZZ
    

    I don't read Stephen King, but I will watch his movies. As you pointed
    out, some of the movies are good, but for some reason don't do great
    box-office.
    
    The Dead Zone
    Firestarter
    Maximum Overdrive

    I found that Firestarter, for having a reasonably adept cast, was
    either scripted or delivered in such a way that the dialog seemed
    hokey, stiff and/or forced.  Then again, I seem to recall this was a
    Dino De Laurentis film, which (except for Flash Gordon) usually conjure
    images of not very good. The book I liked a lot. The film left me cold.
    (Drew Barrymore, even when she was supposed to be "cute", does that to
    me)  
    
    (for those who are about to cry out "Flash Gordon???" in disbelief, I
    contend that the usual amount of De Laurentis hokey-ness fit in this
    case.  The movie was, after all, camp.  Pure camp.  :)
     
    Cheers,
    
    kim

    I watched the Dark Half last night and I'll give that one two thumbs up
    
    

    I thought the book, Needful Things was one of King's best. However, the 
    movie was a major disappointment.

In of itself, or in comparison to the book?

- DC

    I don't like Stephen King's stuff.  I started to read "Needful Things"
    and stopped at the point were the dog was killed and then the owner...
    Anyway, it's simply awful.  I must admit I haven't read/seen everything
    of his - but I've read/seen a lot and I don't like it.  No more.  With
    little spare time, I am now very selective.
    
    Patricia

    
    re. 19
    
    That's too bad. A lot of people do find Stephen King's writing to be
    highly entertaining. I know I do. But, then again my wife isn't into
    horror/si-fi and the like either.
    
    Dave
    

    Just a little niggle that has been bothering me through this string...
    
    The tone of a few notes imply that a Stephen King book is made into a
    Stephen King movie, and therefore Stephen King has had input into how
    the movie turns out.  It is more correct to say that the movie is based
    on a book by Stephen King.  Some of the movies have had no input from
    King at all.
    
    Therefore, a movie based on one of King's books may be nowhere near as
    good as the book (or vice versa, I guess, but I've yet to see one).
    
    One movie that a lot of people don't associate with King is "The
    Running Man".  This is based (loosely, because most of the story, and the
    ending, is completely different) on a book written by King under the
    Richard Bachman pseudynom.
    
    The movie is very funny, in places, and contrasts very strongly against
    the dark message contained in the book.
    
    
    cheers
    
    ..klaas..
    

    Klaas,
    
    I agree (and I'm a Stephen King fan), but... but...
    
    Who gave permission in the first place to make the movie?  His
    reliquishing control is a conscious act for which he can be held
    accountable!
    
    Leslie

>    reliquishing control is a conscious act for which he can be held
    
    For enough money I'll relinquish control of my novels, too.
    
    I can only recall one S.K. book-to-movie I enjoyed: Stand By Me.
    The rest have been poorly done. But I still read King's books.
    So I guess I'm not holding him accountable for quality of screenplays.
    
      John

    When you sell the movie rights to a novel, you don't typically get any
    say so over what happens to it once its gone.  For the purposes of
    making a movie out the book, the novel is now in the hands of the
    filmmakers.  Overlooking the difficulty of turning a novel into a 2
    hour script, scripts have a habit of being written by small armies,
    none of whom in the author (many book authors can't write a movie
    script).   As the endless verisons continue, with various input by
    directors, producers, whatevers, the end result can be something which
    doesn't really do the book justice, and which really CAN'T be blamed on
    the author, unlesss you want to blame them for selling the rights in
    the first place.
    
    Cheers,
    
    kim
    

    Kim,
    
    I do blame the author for selling the rights in the first place, WHILE
    AGREEING to let them use his name and the book's title WITHOUT
    retaining any control over the finished product.  I know it happens; I
    think it's dumb.  I know more money is nicer than less money, and only
    Stephen King can decide what's more important to him (artistic
    integrity on a work that bears his name, or more bux).
    
    Having said that, I'll go see any "Stephen King" movie, and enjoy
    it, even while I"m griping about what they should have done/could have 
    added/shouldn't have changed, etc.
    
    Leslie

    "When you talk about turn 400 single spaced pages into a 40 page double
    spaced script, you'll have to lose something..."
    
    -Some author regarding this subject

	Re last few...

	I agree with the comments and sentiments regarding the transfer
	of a long and complicated story to the screen and the loss of
	the detail...

	However...

	The Dark Half...

	The major change of the description and portrayal of the
	"other half" from the book to the screen was, I felt, totally
	unnecessary and self destructive to what could have been IMHO
	an excellent classic horror film, while remaining true to the
	original storyline and characters as excellently written by
	King. 

	My favourite King-based film?? 

	Carrie... for introducing me to one of the finest writers
	of our generation, not just horror, but real-life fears
	and problems described as though he just reads your mind...

    "The Stand" is currently in filming as a TV mini-series (according to
    some lengthy article with photos in "Fangoria" or similar magazine.)
    
    - Dave

    
       I've heard a few factiods about "The Stand" (TV Version), most of
    wich I like! It is going to be lengthy (8 hours I Think). Rob Lowe is
    going to play Nick Andros? I know it sounds bad at first, but think
    about it, it's actually a pretty good choice! I recognized the guy who
    is playing Tom Cullen but I can't think of his name at the moment. Here
    comes the bad part: Molly Ringwald as Franny. Ouch! It's not that I
    dislike Molly Ringwald, but she seems to be too frail for the
    character. Any thoughts or arguments on these?
    
    Kevin

    
    
    re: .17
    
    I think that Needful Things is second only to The Stand in terms of
    excellence.  Am I to understand that Needful Things has been made into
    a film?
    
    Scott
    
    
    

    
    Yup.  Had Max von Sydow in it.
    
    DFW

.30> I think that Needful Things is second only to The Stand in terms of
>    excellence.  Am I to understand that Needful Things has been made into
>    a film?
    
    A little scouting about via Notes>DIR/TITL=NEEDFUL would tell you that
    note 322 discusses this very movie. This is still a small enough
    conference to where we don't need directory notes, which are found in
    many of the larger conferences.
    
    I thought the review in 322.0 was very well written.
    
      John

    Needless Things will be out on video on Feb 28.

    
    Stand alert.
    
    The TV movie or miniseries starts Sunday night, 5/8.
    
    Yep, another movie  vs the book opportunity. Doubtful it will come
    close to the book.
    
    Dave
    

    So far, this is one of the closest I've seen of a movie to the book.
    It's almost word for word.
    
    John

Apart from Molly Ringwald as Fran being a complete farce, the TV Movie is
exceptional. Many of the books powerful scenes have lost a bit of edge,
but for TV, I'd say that it has retained the flavor very well.

Did anyone notice a credit in the first part for Jess, who didn't appear
at all? I believe that scene must have been edited out at the last minute.
Kinda wierd, but given Molly's (who would have been in his scene) terrible
acting, I'm glad they removed it!

Kevin

  It's pretty good and what is there is pretty faithful to the book but by
necessity they have left a great deal out. As a result it tends to be a bit
choppy. 

  For example, in one scene we see people on the road to Nebraska or Colorado,
in the next they have got there, met the other characters, and a few new ones
have shown up who's background is not explained. Of course if they put that
stuff in they would be up to about 16 hours instead of 8. 

  Fran is terrible and Harold is entirely miscasted. He is suppose to be a nerd
that's rejected by women but he's played by a good looking guy who you would
think a lot of women would like. Also I notice that his skin which had some
blotches at 1st has cleaned up. I guess he was able to corner the market on
clearasyl.

  Nick and Randal Flag are great. Most of the others are ok.

  George

    I'm reading the book, lagging a little behind the miniseries.  I like
    the TV version better, to tell the truth; it's well streamlined.  The
    book is definitely bloated.  It's not the number of characters or
    scenes; it's the way some of the scenes drag on and on.
    
    As TV goes, it's pretty decent.  Beyond that, it's a great exercise in
    how to adapt a novel for the screen.  (A comparable job is adaptation
    of "The Princess Bride" -- again, the novelist wrote the screenplay.)

    Nit:
    
    Harold's acne cleaned up in the book as well.  All that exercise, good
    food, fresh air.  He lost weight too.  By the time they got to Boulder,
    Harold didn't realize it but he was a nice looking young man.
    
    That's the tragedy of his turning to the Dark Man; he could have been
    somebody in Boulder.
    
    Ahh, poor Harold.
    
    Bonnie  
          

    
    Tv does a better job with SK books than theatical films.
    
    Really did enjoy this miniseries.
    
    Heck, could have watched it for seven nights.
    
    

    I thought they could have made enough traveling sub-plots to keep the
    flick alive a few more night, too, without padding the film.  I had
    to keep explaining why things were happening to folks who had not read 
    the book.
    
    All things considered, I thought they did the book justice.
    
    (Hated Molly as Fran, yet most of the other other characters were
    exactly how I pictured them.)

    Did anyone notice how The Stand did in the ratings?
    
    NAZZ

    I thought it was done very well....Loved Gary Sinise as Stu Redmond...
    Loved Rob Lowe as Nick Andros.....I do think that I would rather have
    had it go for a whole week and catch all the details that were in the
    book because it did miss links here and there and left you unsure.....
    Like the father of Fran's baby and her father was never told about the
    baby and the children of the neighbors of Stu were never mentioned...
    the book showed how it happened fast yet gradually and how everything
    fell into place...and I did expect to see Tom Cullen playing with the
    legos and small details that add character....Larry spending the night
    with that woman who threw things at him when he left the next day....
    his parties, and how he ended up at his mothers......I could've watched
    more by far.......but it was good but could've been much better...
    Harold was a poor casting job.....I wanted to see the transformation.. 
    
                                                          j.m.o.  mary

    re: .42
    
    Part I finished in second place, behind "Home Improvement."  Didn't
    hear anything about the remaining parts (which aired during the next
    Neilsen rating period.)
    
    Mike

    Part 2 won the next week.
    Part 3 was second.
    Part 4 was third.
    
    NAZZ

    Just released on video...(August 26)
                                        Jim

    	Interesting note here ... Mike Lookinland [Bobby Brady] played
    	a sentry in this movie.  I did not know that.
    
    
    
                         "Stand, The" (1994) (mini)

                                [TV series]

                 The End of the World Is Just the Beginning

                              USA 1994 Color

Produced by: Greengrass Productions
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo
Genre(s)/keyword(s): Sci-Fi / Drama / disaster / religion
Certification: Germany:16

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Directed by
     Mick Garris

Cast (in credits order) probably complete
     Gary Sinise .... Stu Redman
     Molly Ringwald .... Frannie Goldsmith
     Jamey Sheridan .... Randall Flagg
     Laura San Giacomo .... Nadine Cross
     Rob Lowe .... Nick Andros
     Corin Nemec .... Harold Lauder
     Ruby Dee .... Mother Abigail
     Miguel Ferrer .... Lloyd Henreid
     John Landis .... Russ Dorr
     Ray McKinnon .... Charlie Campion
     Sam Raimi .... Bobby Terry
     Mike Westenskow .... Paul Burlson
     John Dunbar .... Dave Roberts
     Ryan Healy .... 4th Teenager
     Mike Lookinland .... Sentry No. 1
     David Sosna .... Some Man
     rest of cast listed alphabetically
     Kareem Abdul-Jabbar .... The Monster Shouter
     Chuck Adamson .... Barry Dorgan
     Anthony Adler .... Dying Janitor
     Sam Anderson .... Whitney Horgan
     Steve Anderson .... Army Officer
     Rick Aviles .... Rat Man
     Kathy Bates (uncredited) .... Rae Flowers (uncredited)
     Jesse Bennett .... Vic Palfrey
     Johnny Biscuit .... Norm Bruett
     John F. Bloom .... Joe-Bob Brentwood
     J. Scott Bronson .... Man in Convoy
     Ervin Butler .... B-Ball Boy
     Hope Marie Carlton .... Sally Campion
     David Kirk Chambers .... Brad Kitchner
     Laura Conover .... Nurse
     Bill Corso .... Corpse in Lincoln Tunnel
     Ossie Davis .... Judge Farris
     Kevin Doyle .... Sarge
     Troy Evans .... Sheriff Baker
     Bill Fagerbakke .... Tom Cullen
     Matt Frewer .... Trashcan Man
     Warren Frost .... George Richardson
     Cynthia Garris .... Susan Stern
     Jeff Gelb .... NY Radio Announcer
     Leo Geter .... Chad Norris
     Sandra Gimpel .... Woman in Store
     Alan Gregory .... Al Bundell
     Mary Ethel Gregory .... Alice Underwood
     Thomasyn Harlow .... Cynthia
     Ed Harris (uncredited) .... Gen. Starkey (uncredited)
     Jim Haynie .... Deputy Kingsolving
     Thomas Holland .... Carl Hough
     Sherman Howard .... Dietz
     Ken Jenkins .... Peter Goldsmith
     David Jensen .... Major Jalbert
     Richard Jewkes .... Dick Ellis
     Kevin Kennedy .... Dave Zellman
     Patrick Kilpatrick .... Ray Booth
     Michelle King .... Reporter
     Stephen King .... Teddy Weizak
     Robert Knott .... Lou Carsleigh
     Brittney Lewis .... Arlene
     Richard Lineback .... Poke
     Elizabeth Lough .... Young Woman
     Jordan Lund .... Bill Hapscomb
     Bruce MacVittie .... Ace-High
     Frank Magner .... Vince Hogan
     Dan Martin .... Rich Moffat
     Patrick McKinley .... Flu Buddy Man
     William Newman .... Dr. Soames
     Kellie Overbey .... Dayna Jurgens
     Wendy Phillips .... Lisa Hull
     Vince Rodriguez .... Lisa's Driver
     Bridgit Ryan .... Lucy Swann
     Sarah Schaub .... Gina McCone
     Tressa Sharbough .... Marcy Halloran
     Julie Simper .... Lila Bruett
     Shawnee Smith .... Julie Lawry
     Taylor Smith .... Baby Lavon
     Adam Storke .... Larry Underwood
     Billy L. Sullivan .... Joe
     George Sullivan .... Sargent
     Millie Teri .... Weeping Woman
     Peter Van Norden .... Ralph
     Ray Walston .... Glen Bateman
     Michael D. Weatherred .... Mike Childress
     Rob Weller .... Game Show Host
     Max Wright .... Herbert Denninger
     Derryl Yeager .... Man in Street
     Brayton Yerkes .... Old Man in Store

Written by
     Stephen King (also novel)

Cinematography by
     Edward J. Pei

Music by
     W.G. Snuffy Walden

Production Design by
     Nelson Coates

Costume Design by
     Linda Matheson

Film Editing by
     Pat McMahon

Produced by
     Mitchell Galin
     Richard P. Rubinstein (executive)

Other crew
     Tony Adler (first assistant director)
     Julie Anderson (assistant production co-ordinator)
     Fabiana Arrastia (art department co-ordinator)
     George Atamian (key set dresser)
     Pam Bartella (supervising sound effects editor)
     Juergen Baum (gaffer)
     Susan Benjamin (set decorator)
     John Bowen (dialogue editor)
     Dan Bradley (stunt co-ordinator)
     David Buckley (key set costumer)
     Lou Carlucci (special effects co-ordinator)
     Roanna De La Cruz (production secretary)
     Beth DePatie (production coordinator)
     Donna Donato (assistant editor)
     Roger Doran (colorist)
     Jim Doyle (special effects)
     William 'Fleet' Eakland (transportation co-ordinator)
     Andre G. Ellingson (special effects)
     Miriam Epstein (production assistant)
     Star Fields (construction coordinator)
     Audrey Fontaine (unit publicist)
     Ian Fox (second unit cinematographer)
     Kevin J. Foxe (location manager)
     Barry Franenberg (property master)
     Darren Fuller (production assistant)
     Norman Gay (additional picture editing)
     Steve Gehrke (script supervisor)
     Laura Greenlee (production supervisor)
     Barbara Harris (II) (voice casting)
     Klaus Hoch (best boy electrician)
     Bill Holdsworth (electrician)
     Sam Huston (leadman)
     Ronnie Jaynes (construction foreman)
     Kevin Kennedy (grip)
     Joseph King (production assistant)
     Lynn Kressel (casting)
     Gabby Leff (casting assistant)
     Peter Levy (location manager)
     Kim E. Lombardi (clearance coordinator)
     Marco Londoner (editorial production assistant)
     Mike Lookinland (second assistant camera operator)
     Bill Marino (audio consultant)
     Paul H. Maritsas (cableman)
     Christian Martinez (grip)
     Grant Maxwell (re-recording mixer)
     Peter McIntosh (second unit director)(supervising producer)(unit
     production manager)
     David Meeks (animal trainer)
     Katherine Moore (still photographer)
     Mark Emery Moore (camera operator)
     Marshall Moore (location manager)
     Camille Morris (costume supervisor)
     Susan Nowak (unit publicist)
     Tena Parker-Liddiard (key hair)
     Peter Pastorelli (location manager)(second unit first assistant
     director)
     Robert Pearce (production assistant)
     Alexandra Perce (second unit second assistant director)
     Michael Perry (art director)
     Robert Perry (boom operator)
     Ashley Petersen (make-up)
     Connie Pierce (costumer)
     Travis Porter (production assistant)
     Cate Praggastis (local casting)
     John G. Raymer (electrician)
     Robert Reeves (production assistant)
     Burton Rencher (art director)
     Rachel Rencher (production assistant)
     Vince Rodriguez (key grip)
     Allan K. Rosen (music editor)
     Mike Ruschak (re-recording mixer)
     Jason Salonen (electrician)
     Michael Samson (second assistant director)
     Rick Schexnayder (sound mixer)
     Chuck Schmitz (special effects)
     Heidi Seeholzer (assistant makeup)
     David Shaffer (transportation captain)
     Alvin Simmons (dolly grip)
     Roz Soulam (local casting)
     James Sprattley (first assistant camera operator)
     Sara Spring (production supervisor)
     Matt Springer (production assistant)
     Lee Steadman (assistant location manager)
     Bill Stephan (on-line editor)
     Tom Streich (best boy grip)
     Pat Stubbs (transportation co-captain)
     Joan S. Thomas (costume supervisor)
     Thomas Udell (production accountant)
     Diane Vilagi (production executive)
     Kevin Ward (boom operator)
     Micole Weaver (costumer)
     Matthew T. Weiner (second second assistant director)
     Doug Weinman (electrician)
     Rick Wessler (foley)
     Laura Young (sound dailies)