tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post4677093015816245360..comments2024-03-05T21:05:36.848-05:00Comments on CommentaramaFilms: Film Friday: Dreamcatcher (2003)AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-58393146846463930552012-06-04T12:44:23.355-04:002012-06-04T12:44:23.355-04:00Anthony, Several of King's early books really ...Anthony, Several of King's early books really were great. I enjoyed them a lot. I haven't enjoyed any recently, but he definitely has talent when he chooses to use it.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-44683308063660419372012-06-04T03:33:17.923-04:002012-06-04T03:33:17.923-04:00I like Stephen King, though he's often derivat...I like Stephen King, though he's often derivative and wildly uneven. Sometimes what he does is just amazing. Even his best books have their bad spots, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't really enjoy the likes of The Flexible Bullet (a short story out of Skeleton Crew IIRC), It, Stand By Me, The Stand, 1408 and the Dead Zone. <br /><br />Anyway, Dreamcatcher the book was pure garbage and put me off reading King for years so I'm not surprised the movie sucks.Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16124128949343301445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-55198791151962011912012-06-02T14:45:42.860-04:002012-06-02T14:45:42.860-04:00PikeBishop, Always feel free to speak your mind! :...PikeBishop, Always feel free to speak your mind! :)<br /><br />I personally think that King's early stuff was quite good. I don't know that his story ideas were ever all that special, but it was always very readable and I enjoyed the books. And that comes through in films like <i>Christine</i> and <i>It</i>, where you have an enjoyable look into people's lives before the horror aspect take over.<br /><br />But somewhere along the way, he really lost it in my opinion and his stories just became pure formula supporting undeveloped and rushed ideas. I also get the sense he lost his editor at some point because it seems they no longer take out any thing from the stories, which makes them full of fluff.<br /><br />It is interesting that <i>Shawshank</i>, <i>Stand By Me</i> and <i>Apt Pupil</i> all came from the same book, and have little to do with the horror stories for which he's famous. Perhaps he should have written more non-horror stories?<br /><br />I've often wondered which of his books will be remembered in the future and I can't think of that many that will. I would say "The Stand" and "The Shining" most likely will, possibly "Different Seasons" and maybe "It".<br /><br />What do you think?AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-40600354119828622902012-06-02T12:27:04.822-04:002012-06-02T12:27:04.822-04:00Andrew, since I haven't seen this film, I woul...Andrew, since I haven't seen this film, I would like to comment on King's films and add to the discussion of King as a writer from your post last year about "The Dome." (With your permission, Sir)<br /><br />1. As a writer, before I gave up on him, a college room mate of mine observed that King is "The Master of the Mundane." No one can describe everyday life like King. I tend to agree. I loved "The Body" and "The Shawshank REdemption" for these reasons, and as far as IT goes, I thought the horror parts were laughable and boring, but I can pick up that book and read and re-read his description of AMerican life when we raced our bikes home to see the Lone Ranger or the Apocalyptic Rock Fight.<br /><br />King did have some good chops in the early days, and he did have a great talent with words. Pick up The Stand and re-read that awesome chapter where the introduce the Dark Man, and you can practically hear "Sympathy for the Devil" in the background as Flagg traverses the dark side of 20th Century America (from both the left and the right interestingly enough)<br /><br />I know I am in the minority here but I think "Different Seasons" is probably his best book. NO werewolves, apocalypic flus or killler dogs, just four well rounded human(ist) stories. INterestingly enough those stories have produced two of the best films, based on King (Shawshank Redemption, Stand By Me) and one mediocre one, Apt Pupil). I'm surprised TAles of the DArk Side or one of the Twilight Zone retreds of the last cople of decades didn't tackle the fourth tale, which is to brief to be a full-length film.PikeBishophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05761380937971970762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-83082228739484860602012-06-02T11:36:44.159-04:002012-06-02T11:36:44.159-04:00Soonertroll, That is an excellent AC/DC song!
I a...Soonertroll, That is an excellent AC/DC song!<br /><br />I agree that she started his decline somewhere around <i>It</i>.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-55838359061701752812012-06-02T11:35:24.161-04:002012-06-02T11:35:24.161-04:00Indi, Christine was passable, but that's becau...Indi, <i>Christine</i> was passable, but that's because it was totally a John Carpenter film and all of his films hit a solid B.<br /><br />I didn't care for <i>Maximum Overdrive</i> because it just had too much implausibility. I don't mind the concept, it's just the way it was executed required too much suspension of disbelief for me.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-43654166115893178902012-06-02T05:18:55.965-04:002012-06-02T05:18:55.965-04:00At least Maximum Overdrive gave us a nice AC/DC so...At least Maximum Overdrive gave us a nice AC/DC song. King began his decline after It.Soonertrollnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-87324736449641265112012-06-02T02:01:29.792-04:002012-06-02T02:01:29.792-04:00To date the best Steven King movie I have seen is ...To date the best Steven King movie I have seen is Maximum Overdrive.<br /><br />Carrie was never my cup of Tea but Christine was passable. I also liked Pet Cemetary.<br /><br />The rest I could take or leave although some have been out right bad.<br /><br />How much of MAximum Overdrive was King's short story and how much was good writing and directing added on.Individualisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11005025873042230314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-22125644485465221332012-06-02T00:29:35.417-04:002012-06-02T00:29:35.417-04:00Doc, If you've seen it twice and can't rem...Doc, If you've seen it twice and can't remember it, that does indeed speak volumes! LOL!AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-31407538643448474642012-06-01T22:25:43.662-04:002012-06-01T22:25:43.662-04:00I've seen this a couple times when there was n...I've seen this a couple times when there was nothing else on, but I barely remember it, which should tell you something. I don't think it's horrid, but it's not good either. It has brief moments where it feels like it is about to become a good film, but then they kill those moments pretty quickly.Doc Whoahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16283308866886912377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-49084780341042510522012-06-01T22:23:37.809-04:002012-06-01T22:23:37.809-04:00tryanmax, I have no problem with Daredevil for the...tryanmax, I have no problem with Daredevil for the same reason you mention.DUQnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-39457924737245387842012-06-01T19:36:32.877-04:002012-06-01T19:36:32.877-04:00Indi, Yep, this film is a metaphor for eating at T...Indi, Yep, this film is a metaphor for eating at Taco Bell. ;)<br /><br />Actually, there are quite a few fart jerks early on and a fairly gross toilet scene. Blech.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-17914651844421904062012-06-01T19:30:20.811-04:002012-06-01T19:30:20.811-04:00So let me get this straight.....
The aliens have ...So let me get this straight.....<br /><br />The aliens have red dust that if you come in contact will give you worms that will become more aliens when they evacuate your bowels......<br /><br />Is this a story about the terrible horrors for the humans or the aliens ....<br /><br />cause d@^#!!! I would not want to be those aliens especially if the humans eat a lot of spicy Mexican food....Individualisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11005025873042230314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-7768408797971119092012-06-01T17:45:41.397-04:002012-06-01T17:45:41.397-04:00Cris, I suspect the movie isn't much better th...Cris, I suspect the movie isn't much better than the book, if at all. It really strikes me as an idea he had which he never bothered to flesh out before writing the story.<br /><br />In terms of King himself, I get the feeling he had a couple of neat ideas when he first started -- with things like "The Shining" and "Carrie" and a couple of the other early ones. But over time, he seems to have run out of ideas. And rather than stop and come up with ideas, his response has been to just keep turning out more and more books.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-28392739882607638252012-06-01T17:37:10.319-04:002012-06-01T17:37:10.319-04:00Never got to the movie. The book was horrid. I t...Never got to the movie. The book was horrid. I threw it out and would not pass it along due to embarrassment that I had even read it!<br /><br />Stephen King: Carrie and The Shining....CrisDnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-61290907172360047112012-06-01T17:22:52.612-04:002012-06-01T17:22:52.612-04:00T-Rav, As someone who loves horror films and has s...T-Rav, As someone who loves horror films and has seen a boatload, <i>1408</i> offended me left and right because every single moment in it was stolen from other films.<br /><br /><i>It</i> is pretty good. I personally wouldn't say it was scary, but it was enjoyable. Although, I like all the actors from my childhood, so you may not have the same reaction.<br /><br />I'd say his scariest book (of the ones I've read) was <i>Pet Sematary</i> and the scariest film by far was <i>The Shining</i>.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-28903871125349097632012-06-01T17:14:02.881-04:002012-06-01T17:14:02.881-04:00I have to say, I think I can count on my fingers t...I have to say, I think I can count on my fingers the number of King films I've seen, and the only one that actually freaked me out was you-know-what. I haven't seen <i>It</i>, though, nor do I have any plans to do so. <br /><br />I saw <i>1408</i> not long ago, and while I wouldn't say it's a strong film, necessarily, it's better than I expected. Kind of disjointed, but it has a good ending.T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-22099102438079824712012-06-01T16:21:38.231-04:002012-06-01T16:21:38.231-04:00Ed, Thanks! I have the exact same thought about t...Ed, Thanks! I have the exact same thought about the "quarantine." If this stuff can travel on any animal, as we're told and shown repeatedly, then a couple of checkpoints on the roads leading out of the forest are not a quarantine. And when you start with that weak of an attention to detail, everything else follows and you go downhill fast.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-20116891028268312112012-06-01T16:20:11.618-04:002012-06-01T16:20:11.618-04:00Lawhawk, "terrible waste of talent" is a...Lawhawk, "terrible waste of talent" is a great way to put it. This movie has so much going for it, from the cast to the director to the filming locations. The only thing it didn't have was a story that made sense and which kept your interest.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-64141258227909453662012-06-01T16:16:53.853-04:002012-06-01T16:16:53.853-04:00Andrew: I've soured on King, much like you. ...Andrew: I've soured on King, much like you. But <i>Dreamcatcher</i> was on TV a couple of days ago, and since I like all the major actors and a few of the minor ones, I thought I'd give it a chance. Frankly, the commercials were more interesting than the movie. Terrible waste of talent. I gave up about three-quarters of the way through it and switched to another channel.LawHawkRFDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17800255923675295515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-64950163594034168582012-06-01T15:54:27.135-04:002012-06-01T15:54:27.135-04:00Nice review! I agree completely. This film works ...Nice review! I agree completely. This film works on a scene by scene level, but it really falls apart once you start trying to connect the scenes. There is so much that you need to take on faith that it makes sense because it really doesn't if you pay attention. For example, how the heck do they quarantine what appears to be hundreds of square miles to make sure no single animal gets through? Not to mention, what good is the quarantine if they don't then go through the area and purge it? What's to stop a dear or rat or snake from just staying in the quarantine zone until the army leave again and then destroying the world? Basically, to believe this plan by the army will work, you need to believe that all the animals will rush to the checkpoints where they can be short. That's stupid.Edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18122308626703654554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-58120114955610611252012-06-01T15:09:54.712-04:002012-06-01T15:09:54.712-04:00Jed, I like Bates for the most part. It kind of d...Jed, I like Bates for the most part. It kind of depends on the role.<br /><br />What's interesting to me is that he's managed to make so many books into films despite the abysmal track record. If I were a producer looking at this list, I would think that my chances of having a genuine hit are very, very low and I would go for something safer.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-23266389154170366922012-06-01T15:07:36.869-04:002012-06-01T15:07:36.869-04:00Nightcrawler, I'm actually not sure about thos...Nightcrawler, I'm actually not sure about those either. They were big at the time, but I can't say I've seen a lot of call for them being remembered.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-64879858289770814062012-06-01T14:40:09.937-04:002012-06-01T14:40:09.937-04:00seing the full list makes me realize that a couple...seing the full list makes me realize that a couple of them I did see and sort of liked, (Misery and Delores Clairborne) helped kick start the career of Tennessean Kathy Bates. Bates is my contemporary and makes a pretty good character actress of a certain type. I've already discussed The Shining during your review of that film. It may have been the only King book I ever read. Saw it restored recently in 1080p and gained more respect for the film as a result of those discussions.Tennessee Jedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10604275115906776992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-27521940269060518162012-06-01T14:25:13.206-04:002012-06-01T14:25:13.206-04:00That's about how I'd see it too, though I ...That's about how I'd see it too, though I don't think Running Man has any staying power and I'm not sure Stand by Me does either.NightcrawlerERhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03104937671864473431noreply@blogger.com