If you're a multi-millionaire author like Stephen King and you rip another writer's work, there's a risk of coming across as a mean old bully. I mean, you don't see Tom Hanks criticizing Drew Barrymore's limited acting range (although that'd be awesome).
But since King is one of my influences, and since he recently went after two best-selling authors whose work I despise, I applaud the balls it took for him to speak his mind.
No one who reads Stephenie Meyers' weak take on vampires is gonna be swayed by anything I write here in my little corner of the Innertubes, but maybe they'll take a card-carrying horror master's word for it.
The same goes for fans of James Patterson, whom I recently credited with pinching out such a steaming pile of literary excrement that it made me realize I'm already a better writer than he or his collaborators could ever hope to be.
Put 'em in their place, Unca Steve. I got your back.
Showing posts with label stephen king. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stephen king. Show all posts
2.04.2009
11.21.2007
The Block is Engulfed by The Mist
The Mist: Written and directed by Frank Darabont, based on the novella by Stephen King.
Baggage going in: I read the original story back in 1985 when it was part of the Skeleton Crew collection, and a year later I purchased the 3-D audiobook version on cassette (which remains a mind-blowing experience). It is one of my top ten favorite King stories. When I heard Darabont was going to helm the big-screen adaptation I broke down into tears and wee-wee'd in my boxers.
You know you're in the right movie when: The stockroom scene cements its faithfulness to the source material by recreating even the bursting bag of dog food...but the suckers on the tentacles have now been upgraded to long, black spikes. Don't stand near the door, Norm!
I have ADD--boil it down™: A mysterious mist harboring bloodthirsty creatures rolls over Castle Rock, Maine, and a melting pot of townspeople are trapped in a grocery store...Thomas Jane becomes every character he plays, and he's unrecognizable at first...the subtext during the "consequences of ruling through fear" conversation made me want to stand and applaud...you may want to smack Marcia Gay Harden in real life because of her perfect Mrs. Carmody (but don't)...I was disappointed by no King cameo...CG was top-notch...Toby Jones as "Ollie" deserves to be the next big action hero...make sure your date doesn't eat popcorn with too much butter on an empty stomach like mine did.
Final word: Darabont takes you farther into the mist than even King did--and ultimately schools him in the ways of raw horror.
Hardcore rating: 4 out of 5 "Hardcore, Chucks"
Baggage going in: I read the original story back in 1985 when it was part of the Skeleton Crew collection, and a year later I purchased the 3-D audiobook version on cassette (which remains a mind-blowing experience). It is one of my top ten favorite King stories. When I heard Darabont was going to helm the big-screen adaptation I broke down into tears and wee-wee'd in my boxers.
You know you're in the right movie when: The stockroom scene cements its faithfulness to the source material by recreating even the bursting bag of dog food...but the suckers on the tentacles have now been upgraded to long, black spikes. Don't stand near the door, Norm!
I have ADD--boil it down™: A mysterious mist harboring bloodthirsty creatures rolls over Castle Rock, Maine, and a melting pot of townspeople are trapped in a grocery store...Thomas Jane becomes every character he plays, and he's unrecognizable at first...the subtext during the "consequences of ruling through fear" conversation made me want to stand and applaud...you may want to smack Marcia Gay Harden in real life because of her perfect Mrs. Carmody (but don't)...I was disappointed by no King cameo...CG was top-notch...Toby Jones as "Ollie" deserves to be the next big action hero...make sure your date doesn't eat popcorn with too much butter on an empty stomach like mine did.
Final word: Darabont takes you farther into the mist than even King did--and ultimately schools him in the ways of raw horror.
Hardcore rating: 4 out of 5 "Hardcore, Chucks"
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
