I didn't see any proper thread for Dark Tower, so apologies if I'm a sperg and glossed over more well-written threads beforehand.
For those unfamiliar, The Dark Tower is Stephen King's magnum opus, a sprawling, surrealist western high fantasy novel with post-apocalyptic horror throughout.
Yeah, it's a hell of a read and ride.
That said, I've heard a lot of salt about how loose and unfaithful the film is as far as adaptations go, having been "Hollywood-ed" simplified beyond reason with a tinge of SocJus with the casting of Idris Elba as the Gunslinger, who was always a white Clint Eastwood-type.
After watching the film premiere though...
But enough about what I think. What did you guys think of the Dark Tower 2017 film?
For those unfamiliar, The Dark Tower is Stephen King's magnum opus, a sprawling, surrealist western high fantasy novel with post-apocalyptic horror throughout.
Yeah, it's a hell of a read and ride.
That said, I've heard a lot of salt about how loose and unfaithful the film is as far as adaptations go, having been "Hollywood-ed" simplified beyond reason with a tinge of SocJus with the casting of Idris Elba as the Gunslinger, who was always a white Clint Eastwood-type.
After watching the film premiere though...
It wasn't bad. I don't understand the outright hate. Critics are slamming the film non-stop, yet the casual moviegoer, girlfriend among them- thoroughly enjoyed the film.
Liberties were taken, but it was done so well that the entire film was just as much a thrill-ride as the books were. Granted, half (hell, 3/4) of the material sometimes felt too weird or awkward, and the film easily keeps things simple and straightforward.
Most damning from the books is that King never planned out properly, writing as he felt like it without a goal or ending. I remember I was upset finally reading the ending, it felt like such a huge cop-out knowing that he never planned anything out for the series and that he essentially wrote himself out of a sticky mess as it wore on and opted for a really cheap end trick.
The film, taking into account what happens at the end of Book VII, is essentially the Coda, the bookend (ha) of the series. It serves as a decent ending to great series, while standing on its own as a solo film.
Liberties were taken, but it was done so well that the entire film was just as much a thrill-ride as the books were. Granted, half (hell, 3/4) of the material sometimes felt too weird or awkward, and the film easily keeps things simple and straightforward.
Most damning from the books is that King never planned out properly, writing as he felt like it without a goal or ending. I remember I was upset finally reading the ending, it felt like such a huge cop-out knowing that he never planned anything out for the series and that he essentially wrote himself out of a sticky mess as it wore on and opted for a really cheap end trick.
The film, taking into account what happens at the end of Book VII, is essentially the Coda, the bookend (ha) of the series. It serves as a decent ending to great series, while standing on its own as a solo film.
But enough about what I think. What did you guys think of the Dark Tower 2017 film?
