Movie: Stephen Kings The Dark Tower Idris Elba & Matthew McConaughey

[sm625]

Can't wait to see Detta Walker. I always wondered how they would screenwrite the part where Roland is inside Eddie's mind onboard the plane, which is one of my favorite moments from the series. I hope they dont screw that up. But that's book 2. Book 1 is pretty straightforward.

 

[UNCjigga]

Can't wait to see Detta Walker. I always wondered how they would screenwrite the part where Roland is inside Eddie's mind onboard the plane, which is one of my favorite moments from the series. I hope they dont screw that up. But that's book 2. Book 1 is pretty straightforward.

404 Ka-Tet Not Found.

Based on the trailer alone, this movie seems to be more about Roland and Jake and less about Detta and Eddie. That would be disappointing to say the least...BUT justifiable if the producers/screenwriters and King decided there was no way to do the books justice, and given how the books end decided to pick up in an alternate timeline.

I wonder if that's how the movie and TV series will tie together. Perhaps the movie is a continuation, and the TV series will be selected stories from the original books? Or perhaps the movie is Roland and Jake, while the series focuses on Detta and Eddie (culminating in a movie sequel where they are now all Ka-Tet.)

 

[sm625]

404 Ka-Tet Not Found.

Based on the trailer alone, this movie seems to be more about Roland and Jake and less about Detta and Eddie. That would be disappointing to say the least...BUT justifiable if the producers/screenwriters and King decided there was no way to do the books justice, and given how the books end decided to pick up in an alternate timeline.

I wonder if that's how the movie and TV series will tie together. Perhaps the movie is a continuation, and the TV series will be selected stories from the original books? Or perhaps the movie is Roland and Jake, while the series focuses on Detta and Eddie (culminating in a movie sequel where they are now all Ka-Tet.)

Well Eddie and Susannah werent in book one so I wouldnt expect them to be in movie #1. But movie #1 has to be good otherwise there wont be a #2-#7. Unfortunately I didnt think book 1 was very good. Book 2 is way different and IMO way better.

 

[Paratus]

Oooo, wonderful question! I think they should, but what they do? Who knows.

I only read the first 2 books. I find them very difficult to read compared to his other stuff, but I always did intend to read them. Word is this movie takes place AFTER the books. One thing that is interesting is I believe they took the ideas from The Talisman and Black House and merged them for this movie. It makes sense since they actually are essentially an extended universe that directly relates to the Tower. Having not read all the books, I will probably enjoy this, but I have a feeling fans of the series are not going to be happy at all.

As for the question about IT and DT..I doubt it. I think the 'same world' of that was never originally intended and only mentioned by King as an afterthought. The same could have been said about The Talisman, but any doubt was erased when Black House came out (Black House is the sequel to The Talisman and is similar to IT in its storytelling - kids that have grown up and more or less comes right out and says "this is related to The Dark Tower series").

Well that was answered quickly. From the trailer:

The Stanley hotel used in the Shinning:

A broken down amusement park sign that reads:

Pennywise

Awesome.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Well that was answered quickly. From the trailer:

The Stanley hotel used in the Shinning:

A broken down amusement park sign that reads:

Pennywise

Awesome.

Yea read that after I posted, but there are little easter eggs of many of his things. IIRC not long ago he basically said all his stories tie back to Dark Tower. Hard to say if he ever actually intended that originally or came up with it later.

 

[Paratus]

Yea read that after I posted, but there are little easter eggs of many of his things. IIRC not long ago he basically said all his stories tie back to Dark Tower. Hard to say if he ever actually intended that originally or came up with it later.

I've read most of Kings work from the gunslinger in the early 80's through some of his work in the last couple of years.

Many of his stories centered around Castl Rock or Derry Maine, little islands of tied in stories. As the the third Dark Tower book came out he started tying them all together after that. I'm sure someone has an infographic.

Edit yup:

 

[destrekor]

Yea read that after I posted, but there are little easter eggs of many of his things. IIRC not long ago he basically said all his stories tie back to Dark Tower. Hard to say if he ever actually intended that originally or came up with it later.

I think he envisioned it the moment he started including the Man in Black in many of his stories, with different identities. Usually as Randall Flagg or R.F.. Though for The Gunslinger (Book 1), I can't remember if he ever named the MiB - they may have but it would have been Walter o'Dim I think. To be fair, I don't think the MiB was linked with the Randall Flagg identity until later books, so your question may still remain unanswered.

He has had numerous stories though that have linked the characters - if it wasn't the intent when the first book was written (as a series of short stories), it wasn't long until that was the intent. I can't remember when it was made clear in The Dark Tower series, but the various identities started to come together it appears back in the 80s, perhaps limited though... ? It does appear to have been made clear for sure, if not before, then around the mid-90s with some stories then.

(I just got out of a long Wiki dive. Need to breathe! Last stop was the Byzantine Empire. WTH?! lmao)

If you wiki Randall Flagg, you'll start finding the right links that are relevant for the character. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Eyes_of_the_Dragon appears to be the point the link may or may not have been solidified. If it wasn't, then it appears to be fully linked by 1998.

 

[destrekor]

Oh.... oh my!! That infographic is beautiful.

In my wiki dive I discovered The Eyes of the Dragon - I missed that one!
I have not read an extensive list of King's body of work, but I have enjoyed everything that I have read. And want to read more, but first my goal is to expose myself to more authors and worlds; as a one-day-destined-to-be-a-writer, I think it critical to expand my sphere of influences. But I long for more King, sooo many great stories I've been dying to read after having a taste of them in some fashion. The Stand is high on that list. Yes, I haven't read it. Crucify me already and let's move on! lol

 

[destrekor]

And before anything else of King's, I think I desperately need to re-read the novels (not necessarily before the new movies - first up is The Expanse, at least the first two or three novels now that the second season has wrapped up). I just need more Oy! in my life.

 

[Paratus]

Ok so the Gunslinger catching the speed loaders out of the air was cool.

This reload was better:

And I completely missed this equally awesome one handed reload:

(It's subtle but he pushes the shells out of their loops and into the revolver with his thumb as he rolls it by.)

 

[destrekor]

Ok so the Gunslinger catching the speed loaders out of the air was cool.

This reload was better:

And I completely missed this equally awesome one handed reload:

(It's subtle but he pushes the shells out of their loops and into the revolver with his thumb as he rolls it by.)

So beautiful!


I'm thinking some early criticism of the trailer is overblown. That criticism mostly seems to be focused upon the trailer's action-adventure-magic approach, somewhat generic. But, I think it shows the real diehards the elements we need to see, while otherwise hiding them within the "ooo ahh" generic action-adventure epic journey trailer sprinkled with magic. This is useful for those who haven't read the books, get's them teased sufficiently. This is the first trailer. There are other trailers than these to be had. In due time. I'm in no rush to spoil the anticipation, and fully understand the advertising dynamics. By pushing into August, they're actually putting themselves into safer waters, their release weekend looks very weak overall. I mean some good movies potentially, some Sundance films it looks like, but as far as major advertising campaigns it looks like Roland will basically have the weekend to himself.

I'm still expecting it to be quite different than what this trailer lets on. And in a great way. I like what I see from a technical standpoint, and I think I can see a possibly great Walter with more dialogue. It does sound like they have held true to Roland remaining the quiet cowboy on a mission.

 

[BxgJ]

Anyone planning to go this weekend? It's getting hammered in reviews, and I haven't seen much positive about it at all.

 

[purbeast0]

I've been seeing a ton of trailers for this on TV recently and the movie looks so terrible. I'll probably check it out once it hits Redbox though and there is nothing else to rent.

 

[K1052]

I'm hearing nothing but bad things about this.

 

[NuclearNed]

I'm hearing nothing but bad things about this.

It's bottoming out on RT

 

[BxgJ]

There was a planned tv series as well, supposedly was going to take it slower instead of trying to stuff the entire 7 (well 8 with that last addition) book series into a 90 or so min show. I'll bet that gets 'put on hold' now. I'm not just hearing this was a bad adaptation, but much worse unfortunately.

 

[Thebobo]

I read a couple of the books very bizarre. It's like Salvador Dali in print.

 

[Paratus]

From what I read another case of to many cooks in the kitchen.

Sigh.

 

[destrekor]

From what I read another case of to many cooks in the kitchen.

Sigh.

I was hoping for so much more, but I expected this outcome. Between it being -- while atypical -- a King book, and the movie supposed to capture the first book (The Gunslinger), I always felt this would be the ultimate result. It's a very dry, sparse book, and clearly the team did understand they needed to incorporate elements from later books if this was to have a real shot at being a proper introduction to the series. It sounds like they had the right idea but failed quite badly when trying to pull it off.

I still very much want to catch it in theaters. I just hope they at least make back the production budget, and can be convinced that more entries into the cinema series is warranted. Regardless of how this movie shakes up (and it sound likes at least the acting is good, so, the characters should be great in the long run), if I can get The Drawing of the Three in theaters and The Wizard and Glass in a TV series, I'll be very happy. The two best novels of the series! The Drawing of the Three should make for a great movie if adapted correctly, it's written perfectly for it. The Wastelands... that will probably end up getting mixed with another plot. But Blaine! I need Blaine, and Oy! Oy and 'Ake! I need this in my life, if nothing else, I need a quality visual representation of Oy and 'Ake! to complete me'life. For Maturin!

 

[Ns1]

RT is fucking this movie in the ass, no reacharound.

 

[luv2liv]

(It's subtle but he pushes the shells out of their loops and into the revolver with his thumb as he rolls it by.)

is this possible in real life? i dont have a revolver to play with. but it looks doable

 

[gorobei]

is this possible in real life? i dont have a revolver to play with. but it looks doable

nope
bullet loops generally require you to pull the cartridge out since any rimmed case would get caught/stuck if you tried to push. any loop loose enough to push it thru wouldnt really be able to perform the actual function of holding the cartridge.
additionally the spacing between chambers on the cylinder is minimal(a few mm at most) so the wide spacing of the bullet loops would mean the rounds would never line up at the correct intervals.

also dropping rounds into the cylinder like the top image is improbable given the tight tolerances of the chambers and the casing. even a tapered case like a .38-40 wont drop cleanly into the chambers that easily. brass is used in cases because it has the right amount of friction to stay in place during firing and enough lubricity to extract without extreme force. any round that drops in that easily is under the tolerances needed. the round will fire but accuracy goes to pits and extraction becomes an issue as an overly slick round will recoil back into the breech area creating a potential jam.

looks cool but would never happen in real life.

 

[destrekor]

nope
bullet loops generally require you to pull the cartridge out since any rimmed case would get caught/stuck if you tried to push. any loop loose enough to push it thru wouldnt really be able to perform the actual function of holding the cartridge.
additionally the spacing between chambers on the cylinder is minimal(a few mm at most) so the wide spacing of the bullet loops would mean the rounds would never line up at the correct intervals.

also dropping rounds into the cylinder like the top image is improbable given the tight tolerances of the chambers and the casing. even a tapered case like a .38-40 wont drop cleanly into the chambers that easily. brass is used in cases because it has the right amount of friction to stay in place during firing and enough lubricity to extract without extreme force. any round that drops in that easily is under the tolerances needed. the round will fire but accuracy goes to pits and extraction becomes an issue as an overly slick round will recoil back into the breech area creating a potential jam.

looks cool but would never happen in real life.

All of which really doesn't matter - this is actually a case of gunslinger magic, tricks that exist in that world.

 

[Oyeve]

nope
bullet loops generally require you to pull the cartridge out since any rimmed case would get caught/stuck if you tried to push. any loop loose enough to push it thru wouldnt really be able to perform the actual function of holding the cartridge.
additionally the spacing between chambers on the cylinder is minimal(a few mm at most) so the wide spacing of the bullet loops would mean the rounds would never line up at the correct intervals.

also dropping rounds into the cylinder like the top image is improbable given the tight tolerances of the chambers and the casing. even a tapered case like a .38-40 wont drop cleanly into the chambers that easily. brass is used in cases because it has the right amount of friction to stay in place during firing and enough lubricity to extract without extreme force. any round that drops in that easily is under the tolerances needed. the round will fire but accuracy goes to pits and extraction becomes an issue as an overly slick round will recoil back into the breech area creating a potential jam.

looks cool but would never happen in real life.

Then it's a good thing that it's a movie ffs.

 

[pcslookout]

Looks stupid.