Stephen King's Books Made Into Movies

[Medusa]

This subject came up in Meanderer's Uncle Bill (Shakespeare) thread and I'm continuing it here.

@Been There, was commenting that: Definitely, all of King’s books that were turned into screenplays were good choices.


Agreed that they were probably good choices to make, but not always resulting in good movies. I cite, The TommyKnockers and Pet Cemetery, for starters. :/

Also, am I the only one who didn't know that SK hated the movie made of, The Shinning? I thought it was one of the better ones.

They've recently made a movie from, "The Long Walk," easily my favorite SK book. (Writing as Bachman).
I didn't like it at all and truly, I feel like anyone who enjoyed the book will also hate the movie.

 

[TeePee]

My favorite SK movie is "Misery". I haven't watched for a while. Every time I watched it , I would cringe when Kathy Bates was taking the sledgehammer to James Caans foot even though I knew what was coming. I'm not usually into horror type movies, but this one was excellent.

 

[Medusa]

My favorite SK movie is "Misery". I haven't watched for a while. Every time I watched it , I would cringe when Kathy Bates was taking the sledgehammer to James Caans foot even though I knew what was coming. I'm not usually into horror type movies, but this one was excellent.

That's the scene that pops into my head too. Great movie.

 

[MarciKS]

This subject came up in Meanderer's Uncle Bill (Shakespeare) thread and I'm continuing it here.

@Been There, was commenting that: Definitely, all of King’s books that were turned into screenplays were good choices.


Agreed that they were probably good choices to make, but not always resulting in good movies. I cite, The TommyKnockers and Pet Cemetery, for starters. :/

Also, am I the only one who didn't know that SK hated the movie made of, The Shinning? I thought it was one of the better ones.

They've recently made a movie from, "The Long Walk," easily my favorite SK book. (Writing as Bachman).
I didn't like it at all and truly, I feel like anyone who enjoyed the book will also hate the movie.

The long walk was gruesome enough to read. No way was i watching the movie.

 

[Medusa]

The long walk was gruesome enough to read. No way was i watching the movie.

That's the thing, I agree that the book is very graphic, which it needs to be to convey the harsh reality of the dystopia. But in the movie the violence feels gratuitous or made for shock value.

It's really not a book I would have thought would transfer well to screen and I was a bit worried about how that would play out when I heard about the movie. It didn't go well. IMO, they just ruined it as they do many of his stories.

 

[Been There]

K

This subject came up in Meanderer's Uncle Bill (Shakespeare) thread and I'm continuing it here.

@Been There, was commenting that: Definitely, all of King’s books that were turned into screenplays were good choices.


Agreed that they were probably good choices to make, but not always resulting in good movies. I cite, The TommyKnockers and Pet Cemetery, for starters. :/

Also, am I the only one who didn't know that SK hated the movie made of, The Shinning? I thought it was one of the better ones.

They've recently made a movie from, "The Long Walk," easily my favorite SK book. (Writing as Bachman).
I didn't like it at all and truly, I feel like anyone who enjoyed the book will also hate the movie.

King very much approved of the movie “Pet Sematary.” He thought the 2019 version was the better of the 2 movies. Killing the girl, Elle, and allowing the little boy, Gage to live. King said it was a great adult horror movie.

 

[Medusa]

K

King very much approved of the movie “Pet Sematary.” He thought the 2019 version was the better of the 2 movies. Killing the girl, Elle, and allowing the little boy, Gage to live. King said it was a great adult horror movie.

You can put this in shadow by using the spoiler toggle where the vertical dots are above for peeps who haven't seen it.

I'm not surprised that SK likes the version I don't. He apparently really likes the movie they've made of, The Long Walk and I've made my feelings about that know above. I suppose it's a matter of subjectivity; one's own interpretation of the material. Once a writer releases his work to the populace it becomes a slightly (or dramatically, maybe) different experience for each reader; their personal version of the story. The beauty of the art.


Edit: typo

 

[PeppermintPatty]

In my younger years I liked Stephen King books and movies. Now that I’m older, I can’t handle horror stories or movies.

 

[Medusa]

In my younger years I liked Stephen King books and movies. Now that I’m older, I can’t handle horror stories or movies.

Totally understandable. I'm veering away from them also, trying to focus on better imagery for my mind.
I did watch, "The Long Walk," though. I very much wish I hadn't, but I did.

 

[VaughanJB]

The TV movie of Salem's Lot with David Soul was really scary at the time.

Special mention though the Firestarter (the original movie). Not because the movie itself was too special, but because it has one - if not the - absolutely favorite soundtrack by Tangerine Dream. I love that album.

 

[KSav]

K

King very much approved of the movie “Pet Sematary.” He thought the 2019 version was the better of the 2 movies. Killing the girl, Elle, and allowing the little boy, Gage to live. King said it was a great adult horror movie.

I read he was a huge fan of the new ending of The Mist, too, that film director Frank Darabont added.

 

[DebraMae]

I enjoyed the books Pet Sematary and Cujo but the movies just weren't as good to me. As a matter of fact I laughed a few times during Pet Sematary.

 

[KSav]

Totally understandable. I'm veering away from them also, trying to focus on better imagery for my mind.
I did watch, "The Long Walk," though. I very much wish I hadn't, but I did.

I haven't read The Long Walk; it's one of the very few Bachman/early King books and novellas that I haven't. When I was visiting my older daughter and her family about 6 weeks ago, my son-in-law put it on. I had just lost a treasured online friend and was NOT in the mood for something so dark. I eventually excused myself and went to bed early. The part I saw was quite a difficult watch, I thought.

 

[seadoug]

I saw the 2017 release of "It" and it was darn scary. I'm now watching "Welcome to Derry" on HBO. It is a prequel set in the 60's and it is worthy successor.

I also thought the movie "Christine" was somewhat scary. I read the book first and wasn't really disappointed.

BTW, I also thought the movie "The Long Walk" was unnecessarily violent but I enjoyed the Lord of the Flies undercurrent.

 

[Been There]

I have seen most all of his books turned into movies that were written into screenplays. “Misery” was an excellent movie. Cathy Bates was super in the movie. I think she won an Oscar for her role in that movie. In the movie “”Pet Semetary, I liked seeing Fred Gwynn from the TV series “The Munsters.” He also was in “My Cousin Vinny.” He can be funny in the right role. I liked when he corrected Pesci with the word, “utes,” instead of “youths.”

Christine was a B movie (imo) and I felt it was more for the younger people. I didn’t like Keith Gordon. I think his acting could use some improvement. Same for his part in “Back To School” with Rodney Dangerfield and funny man, Sam Kinison. I saw Kinison in concert. He had me in tears.

 

[TeePee]

I have seen most all of his books turned into movies that were written into screenplays. “Misery” was an excellent movie. Cathy Bates was super in the movie. I think she won an Oscar for her role in that movie. In the movie “”Pet Semetary, I liked seeing Fred Gwynn from the TV series “The Munsters.” He also was in “My Cousin Vinny.” He can be funny in the right role. I liked when he corrected Pesci with the word, “utes,” instead of “youths.”

Christine was a B movie (imo) and I felt it was more for the younger people. I didn’t like Keith Gordon. I think his acting could use some improvement. Same for his part in “Back To School” with Rodney Dangerfield and funny man, Sam Kinison. I saw Kinison in concert. He had me in tears.

This has nothing to do with SK but Fred Gwynn. He did great in "My Cousin Vinny". "My Cousin Vinny" is a movie I never get tired of. Marissa Tomei ((sp?) cracked me up with her "biological clock".

 

[BJintheUK]

I really liked Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, but I didn't think much of the Dark Tower film. Having read all 7 books in the Dark Tower series, reducing it to one short film was an absolute travesty.

 

[Been There]

That's the scene that pops into my head too. Great movie.

That was and is an awesome movie. IMO, throughout the whole movie, the viewer never knew what “Annie” was going to do or come up with next. When Paul was roaming through Annie’s home and she was coming down the driveway in her car, it was touch and go if he was going to make it back to his side of the house. Also, when she blew a hole through Buster, it was definitely a surprise part.

I hadn’t read the book before I watched the movie, so everything she came up with and did was somewhat of a surprise. I was glad she won an Oscar. I thought she poured her heart out and into the role.

 

[Trade]

I haven't seen the movie but "The Long Walk" in the Bachman books was one of my favorites. Back when I used to run for execise I took a measuring wheel home from work and measured out a one kilometer course around a grass field at the local junior high school and when I ran it I would pretend that I was having to stay at under a 6 minute a kilometer pace to avoid being run over by either a steam roller or a tank.

 

[RadishRose]

Salem's Lot with David Soul was really scary at the time.

VERY!

 

[-Oy-]

I really liked Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, but I didn't think much of the Dark Tower film. Having read all 7 books in the Dark Tower series, reducing it to one short film was an absolute travesty.

Big SK and Dark Tower fan here - hence my username

Agree with all of the above - the DT film was appaling. BTW - the DT Series now comprises 8 books with him slotting in "The Wind Through the Keyhole" between books 4 and 5. It's pretty good.

 

[Medusa]

The TV movie of Salem's Lot with David Soul was really scary at the time.

Special mention though the Firestarter (the original movie). Not because the movie itself was too special, but because it has one - if not the - absolutely favorite soundtrack by Tangerine Dream. I love that album.

I liked Salem's Lot too. I think there's a later version, but I haven't seen it. Also Firestarter, with a young Drew Barrymore, was really good. I'll have to find the soundtrack on Youtube at some point because I'm curious now.

You know, there have been several mentions of movies that I realize I actually did enjoy. Maybe I don't dislike the movie versions as much as I thought. I mean, definitely:

The Tommyknockers
Creep Show
Cats Eye
Silver Bullet
Maximum Overdrive
Creep Show 2
Night Shift
Cujo and
Children of the Corn
The Long Walk

were, IMO, generally awful.

But, now I’m really thinking about it:

The Shinning
The Stand
Salem's Lot
Carrie
The Dead Zone
Christine
The Running Man
Stand by Me
Firestarter
The Dark Half
Misery
The Shawshank Redemption
Dolores Clairborne (another Kathy Bates movie)

These range from decent to really good, IMHO. I know there are others but these are most of what I've seen. Interestingly, the ones I didn't like, except for, The Long Walk, were all done with SK's involvement.

 

[Medusa]

I read he was a huge fan of the new ending of The Mist, too, that film director Frank Darabont added.

That makes sense to me because the ending SK wrote was unsatisfying and, while the movie ending was dark, it did at least offer closure.

I haven't read The Long Walk; it's one of the very few Bachman/early King books and novellas that I haven't. When I was visiting my older daughter and her family about 6 weeks ago, my son-in-law put it on. I had just lost a treasured online friend and was NOT in the mood for something so dark. I eventually excused myself and went to bed early. The part I saw was quite a difficult watch, I thought.

Yeesh, that was a terrible way to be introduced to what is really a very engaging and captivating story. I've heard it called an allegory of the Vietnam War and I can see that.

I saw the 2017 release of "It" and it was darn scary. I'm now watching "Welcome to Derry" on HBO. It is a prequel set in the 60's and it is worthy successor.

I also thought the movie "Christine" was somewhat scary. I read the book first and wasn't really disappointed.

BTW, I also thought the movie "The Long Walk" was unnecessarily violent but I enjoyed the Lord of the Flies undercurrent.

I haven't heard of "Welcome to Derry." I don't have HBO right now as MAX increased their prices and I got annoyed. I'll have to wait. Agreed about Christine and The Long Walk.

 

[Medusa]

I have seen most all of his books turned into movies that were written into screenplays. “Misery” was an excellent movie. Cathy Bates was super in the movie. I think she won an Oscar for her role in that movie. In the movie “”Pet Semetary, I liked seeing Fred Gwynn from the TV series “The Munsters.” He also was in “My Cousin Vinny.” He can be funny in the right role. I liked when he corrected Pesci with the word, “utes,” instead of “youths.”

Christine was a B movie (imo) and I felt it was more for the younger people. I didn’t like Keith Gordon. I think his acting could use some improvement. Same for his part in “Back To School” with Rodney Dangerfield and funny man, Sam Kinison. I saw Kinison in concert. He had me in tears.

You know, it's so weird, but when I think of this movie I always picture a young Kevin Bacon in that role. I had to look up who Keith Gordon was. Huh. I did like the movie, though; I do remember that. But I can't now recall the main character's performance. Weird.

I enjoy seeing Fred Gwynn (who I always think of as Herman Munster) in movies too.

I really liked Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, but I didn't think much of the Dark Tower film. Having read all 7 books in the Dark Tower series, reducing it to one short film was an absolute travesty.

I thought they did an exceptionally good job with, The Green Mile. Tom Hanks was great in it.

That was and is an awesome movie. IMO, throughout the whole movie, the viewer never knew what “Annie” was going to do or come up with next. When Paul was roaming through Annie’s home and she was coming down the driveway in her car, it was touch and go if he was going to make it back to his side of the house. Also, when she blew a hole through Buster, it was definitely a surprise part.

I hadn’t read the book before I watched the movie, so everything she came up with and did was somewhat of a surprise. I was glad she won an Oscar. I thought she poured her heart out and into the role.

Agreed! Her performance was outstanding. I did read the book before seeing the movie and she still managed to shock and scare me.



Edit: typo

 

[Medusa]

I haven't seen the movie but "The Long Walk" in the Bachman books was one of my favorites. Back when I used to run for execise I took a measuring wheel home from work and measured out a one kilometer course around a grass field at the local junior high school and when I ran it I would pretend that I was having to stay at under a 6 minute a kilometer pace to avoid being run over by either a steam roller or a tank.

View attachment 472264

Seriously, that is so cool.