Bobby Roberts
Banned
I realize now it read smartass, but it was an honest question - earlier there was a page of the No Country thread that wouldn't come up for like 5-10 minutes.
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Dark Tower: Clashing Visions, Brutal Test Screenings Plagued Journey to Big Screen
- Thread starter LordOfLore
- Start date
I realize now it read smartass, but it was an honest question - earlier there was a page of the No Country thread that wouldn't come up for like 5-10 minutes.
JaseMath
Member
I know the kid's rumored, but I wouldn't be surprised by McConaughey, either. Everything he says in the trailer sounds stilted and completely unnatural.
"Did he tell you that all who walk with him die by my hand?", a potentially cool line if delivered right, but again, the way it's delivered is borderline cringe-worthy.
Also see: Tomorrowland and The Nice Guys.
WordAssassin
Member
Everyone talking about Wastelands and Wizard and Glass, the real magic is in The Drawing of the Three. My dad and I have wanted to see that on screen for ages (him obviously longer than me) the whole thing with the doors and other worlds is so fucking cool.
I guess I'll have to wait for the next 'final time around' for that one /:<
I guess I'll have to wait for the next 'final time around' for that one /:<
Remember Titanic.
Dr. Carroll
Banned
It would be fantastic to someday see an adaptation of The Talisman, and Black House, by Stephen King and Peter Straub. Two extremely good books with strong connections to The Dark Tower, and a remarkably well executed time jump between them.
The audiobook of Black House by Frank Muller is one of the best things I have ever had the pleasure to listen to.
It's a pity Hearts in Atlantis had pretty much all The Dark Tower subtext removed from it. Good film, regardless.
The audiobook of Black House by Frank Muller is one of the best things I have ever had the pleasure to listen to.
It's a pity Hearts in Atlantis had pretty much all The Dark Tower subtext removed from it. Good film, regardless.
Bobby Roberts
Banned
Most of that doomsaying was based almost solely on the budget & production troubles. Not reviews of the product itself.
People were like "he's almost killed like 3 people or something and the movie costs Guatemala"
The movie being subpar trash was never really a part of that narrative.
Zelenogorsk
Banned
I love the books but I had a feeling this was going to be a disaster.
The only part of the books I wanted to see on the big screen anyways was Father Callahan's story between leaving the lot and showing up in the calla. Doubt that will ever happen now lol.
Drawing certainly has that tense 'race against time' thing going for it that I think would translate pretty well to the small or big screen, even though I don't know how they would visually represent the whole 'Roland in the doorway' thing.
The only part of the books I wanted to see on the big screen anyways was Father Callahan's story between leaving the lot and showing up in the calla. Doubt that will ever happen now lol.
Drawing certainly has that tense 'race against time' thing going for it that I think would translate pretty well to the small or big screen, even though I don't know how they would visually represent the whole 'Roland in the doorway' thing.
-Plasma Reus-
Service guarantees member status
Burn it all to the ground.
Citizen Mane
Member
I made a post a while ago complaining about the current crop of child actors. The kids in the new It movie look terrible too, it's ridiculous.
I wonder if King will like this one though...
I wonder if King will like this one though...
SubjectNineteen
Neo Member
Hmm. I knew this would be a troubled production as soon as the rumors of a Dark Tower movie were swirling around years back. It's just too ambitious a project to produce in such a way where it will a.) be even semi-affordable, and b.) appeal to both fans of the series and the general Summer theater-goer. There's just too much to it to encapsulate in a single film where it can appeal to everyone, its financiers included.
The main catch 22, as I see it, is that to be faithful to the franchise would mean investing a great deal of money into an unproven cinematic property.
...And that could go abysmally (See: Dune -- I absolutely LOVE Lynch's Dune for what it is, mind, but I realize it's basically the poster child of box office failures based on literary works).
...Or it could go brilliantly (See: Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. However, for every LotR there's a Hobbit, so...yeah. Even a proven property can sour).
So, the movie was in a precarious position from the beginning. They couldn't be too ambitious because the franchise has been pretty far removed from the public consciousness after about 13 years now, since the last book was released, and there's really no telling how the public will respond. And based on what's been said of the test screenings in this topic, the answer seems to be "not real well."
So, it seems they've had to reign the production in quite a bit. Because, if they blow a hundred million or more dollars on a film that brings in a quarter of its budget, or even less, that will very likely mean an end to to not only the property's future cinematic prospects, but a potential end to those involved in its creation. One need only look as far as Michael Cimino's career after Heaven's Gate, and he had The Deer Hunter behind him, which was a critical darling.
In my opinion, for a cinematic adaptation of the Dark Tower series to be truly faithful to the source material, it would almost have to be a series, if the director et al. were hoping to capture the work from beginning to end. I could possibly see it condensed into a trilogy, by shoehorning some of the books together into a movie. But, that would be exuberantly expensive, and as I said before, there's no telling how well it would do since the final book of the series is now thirteen years old. If the books were being released in the same time frame as the movie, as the Harry Potter books were when the films were being made, it would possibly have more series potential, but as it stands, a series would be too financially risky.
So, I guess I can understand why they're doing this weird sequel/reboot/whatever thing they're doing. It can't really be helped. It seems they're basically toeing the water to see if there's further series potential there. If the movie flops, they're only out sixty mil and they can all move on with their lives. But if it does well, then they have at least some proof that the series can sell, which will increase the likelihood of a sequel. It's a fiscally much better situation than spending two or three times as much and having the movie crash and burn at the box office.
The Dark Tower is one of my favorite properties in fiction, so I am still excited to see the movie despite my reservations. I think there's some potential there. I really hope it does well, because the series, in my mind, something truly special.
I was in a fortunate position to be able to start and finish the whole series, from book I through VII, over the course of a summer, after the final book had released, so I didn't have to go through that ungodly wait between The Wizard in Glass and Wolves of the Calla. That said, the ending did come as a gut punch, but it didn't ruin the whole of the journey I'd been taken on.
So, I'm hungry for more Dark Tower...even if the movie crumbles and takes the Tower with it. It will hopefully at least be quite a spectacle.
The main catch 22, as I see it, is that to be faithful to the franchise would mean investing a great deal of money into an unproven cinematic property.
...And that could go abysmally (See: Dune -- I absolutely LOVE Lynch's Dune for what it is, mind, but I realize it's basically the poster child of box office failures based on literary works).
...Or it could go brilliantly (See: Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. However, for every LotR there's a Hobbit, so...yeah. Even a proven property can sour).
So, the movie was in a precarious position from the beginning. They couldn't be too ambitious because the franchise has been pretty far removed from the public consciousness after about 13 years now, since the last book was released, and there's really no telling how the public will respond. And based on what's been said of the test screenings in this topic, the answer seems to be "not real well."
So, it seems they've had to reign the production in quite a bit. Because, if they blow a hundred million or more dollars on a film that brings in a quarter of its budget, or even less, that will very likely mean an end to to not only the property's future cinematic prospects, but a potential end to those involved in its creation. One need only look as far as Michael Cimino's career after Heaven's Gate, and he had The Deer Hunter behind him, which was a critical darling.
In my opinion, for a cinematic adaptation of the Dark Tower series to be truly faithful to the source material, it would almost have to be a series, if the director et al. were hoping to capture the work from beginning to end. I could possibly see it condensed into a trilogy, by shoehorning some of the books together into a movie. But, that would be exuberantly expensive, and as I said before, there's no telling how well it would do since the final book of the series is now thirteen years old. If the books were being released in the same time frame as the movie, as the Harry Potter books were when the films were being made, it would possibly have more series potential, but as it stands, a series would be too financially risky.
So, I guess I can understand why they're doing this weird sequel/reboot/whatever thing they're doing. It can't really be helped. It seems they're basically toeing the water to see if there's further series potential there. If the movie flops, they're only out sixty mil and they can all move on with their lives. But if it does well, then they have at least some proof that the series can sell, which will increase the likelihood of a sequel. It's a fiscally much better situation than spending two or three times as much and having the movie crash and burn at the box office.
The Dark Tower is one of my favorite properties in fiction, so I am still excited to see the movie despite my reservations. I think there's some potential there. I really hope it does well, because the series, in my mind, something truly special.
I was in a fortunate position to be able to start and finish the whole series, from book I through VII, over the course of a summer, after the final book had released, so I didn't have to go through that ungodly wait between The Wizard in Glass and Wolves of the Calla. That said, the ending did come as a gut punch, but it didn't ruin the whole of the journey I'd been taken on.
So, I'm hungry for more Dark Tower...even if the movie crumbles and takes the Tower with it. It will hopefully at least be quite a spectacle.
Even if this movie was a big hit we would never get that sequence on the big screen. Feels like a big chunk of fans are violently oppose to Wolves even though it's up with the best of them in the series. I disliked the book as well at first, but it really grew on me. It's in my top 3 now.
Zelenogorsk
Banned
Hell yeah. I feel the same way, great book!
Astral Dog
Member
poor King
WordAssassin
Member
It's been so long I honestly can't remember if there's a representation of the person's mind Roland is in, but they could do the visual as simply as, Roland opens door, view through door is POV of person, he steps through, cut to shot of person where they pause and/or eyelids flutter.
Then we'd get to see my absolute favorite thing, actors acting like other actors/actor's characters.
PhoncipleBone
Banned
Agreed. Assuming you were talking about Raffey Cassidy and Angourie Rice.
IlGialloMondadori
Member
It's not a great line. It's definitely a little awkward. He delivers it poorly too.
PhoncipleBone
Banned
Perhaps McConaughey is only as good as his director. He had a lucky streak of great directors pushing him, but now is in a rut?
He is a great choice for Randall Flagg/Man in Black. If they ever do get to make a big budget version of The Stand, hopefully they get someone that can tap into the potential.
He is a great choice for Randall Flagg/Man in Black. If they ever do get to make a big budget version of The Stand, hopefully they get someone that can tap into the potential.
TAJ
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
After finally seeing Star Trek Beyond a couple days ago I expected it to be Idris Elba.
McConaughey does look like he's cheesing it up and will surprisingly be terrible but I doubt that the test audiences wanted him recasted. People generally know he's a capable actor at this point and so they likely wouldn't say that they wanted him recasted but just to tone down the performance if he did that bad. That's a significantly simpler fix than a complete recast, as that can be altered with a few reshoots.
However if it's the kid, that's a much more likely scenario of test audiences saying to get rid of him.
However if it's the kid, that's a much more likely scenario of test audiences saying to get rid of him.
It feels and sounds like it's comedy McConaughey instead of drama McConaughey.
Blue Ninja
Member
Fuck, I wanted this movie to be good, so badly. Will wait for some reviews first.
the_darkness
Banned
Didn't we read a lot of the same crap about Wonder Woman?
It would be if the internet was as big in 2017.
I mean this might be terrible, but awful shoots have produced films which have been successes. Christ, internet would've savaged Apocalyoae, Now and Godfather just based on shoots. ("Look at Coppola and the DOP arguing again, lol, bomba")
hodayathink
Member
Anonymous sources, months before the movie came out, and on semi-random film blogs (and I think a podcast). If something is from Variety, Deadline, or Hollywood Reporter, more than likely it came from the actual studio in some way. Variety especially is more of a studio mouthpiece than anything else.
Grizzlyjin
Supersonic, idiotic, disconnecting, not respecting, who would really ever wanna go and top that
World War Z being halfway decent is also a small miracle. That movie was plagued with production issues.
https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2013/06/brad-pitt-world-war-z-drama
LordOfLore
Banned
The fact they're doing a second one is really interesting.
WWZ is outrageously fucking stupid for a movie that tries to take itself with even a grain of seriousness.
Discotheque
Banned
with freaking David Fincher of all people directing it, first movie was whatever but I'm hyped to see this sequel.
EverythingShiny
Member
I'm so sad about this. The Dark Tower is my absolute favorite book series. I love both Idris Elba and McConaughey but I'm going to be so disappointed if they shifted the movie to be Jake-centric. I'll still see it because I'm dying to see Roland on the big screen but I'm definitely going in with low expectations. What a fucking disaster. I'd still love for the tv show to happen but I won't hold my breath.
TheExhaustedWalrus
Member
I read the first three books this year before any promo came out about the movie, so I'm kinda sad that it ended up this way. With the right talent (and don't get me wrong, Elba is perfect for the role), it could make an excellent HBO miniseries or series. I don't know why they didn't do that. It's not like the audience is fully there for a movie; it's just too esoteric for that.
they've still got spider-man to save them
or at least until they fuck that up again with all their extended universe plans that have carried over from their last failed attempt
DeathoftheEndless
Crashing this plane... with no survivors!
Father Callahan's redemption is one of my favorite parts of the series. 'Salem's Lot is probably my favorite King book and I thought it was a very satisfying conclusion for that character.
One of my favorite moments in the entire series is the cliffhanger in Wolves of the Calla where Father Callahan
finds the book in the Doorway Cave
ronaldthump
Member
MM when he overacts is total shit. Which he does way too often. He's been good in restrained roles where they pull him back but for a long time I found him unwatchable.
Bobby Roberts
Banned
No, because at no point was Titanic's quality as a movie called into question the way this film's has been. It doesn't matter what time period the discussion was had, the discussion wouldn't have included "awful test screenings" in the mix because Titanic was never considered to be a wreck of a movie.
Just that it was probably becoming too expensive to ever make its money back.
Which it ended up doing
You keep conflating generally negative reports about the production with what's happening here, which is that nobody who sees the movie likes it, regardless of how it was made.
The production is troubled because they can't fix what they have, and they can't fix what they have because it's too fucking broken.
That's not what happened on Titanic.
Maybe it's a cry for help.
"Please, we don't want to make movies anymore, we're bad it, just let the studio flop itself out of existence."
GuitarAtomik
Member
As someone who's never read the books, all I can say is that I was really disappointed in the visual style of the movie because I've associated it with the Marvel version of the comic for years:
You'd probably need Tarsem and a bigger budget to hit those kind of visuals, but what they have now is so grey and dreary and generic looking. Again, haven't read the books so maybe that's closer to the source material.
You'd probably need Tarsem and a bigger budget to hit those kind of visuals, but what they have now is so grey and dreary and generic looking. Again, haven't read the books so maybe that's closer to the source material.
Switch Back 9
a lot of my threads involve me fucking up somehow. Perhaps I'm a moron?
Abso friggin lutely
Tatsumaki Senpuukyaku!
Member
It's not done but it's pretty good