Register  |  Sign In
View unanswered posts | View active topics It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:28 am



Reply to topic  [ 21 posts ] 
 The Dark Tower 

Rate This Film
A 0%  0%  [ 0 ]
B 33%  33%  [ 2 ]
C 17%  17%  [ 1 ]
D 17%  17%  [ 1 ]
F 33%  33%  [ 2 ]
Total votes : 6

 The Dark Tower 
Author Message
KJ's Leading Pundit
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 4:45 pm
Posts: 63026
Location: Tonight... YOU!
Post The Dark Tower
Image

Quote:
The Dark Tower is an upcoming American science fantasy western action horror film directed and co-written by Nikolaj Arcel. The film is a continuation of Stephen King's novel series of the same name, the film stars Idris Elba as Roland Deschain, a gunslinger on a quest to protect the Dark Tower – a mythical structure which supports all realities – and Matthew McConaughey as his nemesis, Walter o'Dim, the "Man in Black".[2]

Intended to launch a film and television franchise, the first installment combines elements from several novels in the eight-volume series, taking place partly in modern-day New York City and partly in Mid-World, Roland's Old West-style parallel universe. Additionally, King has tweeted a photo of the Horn of Eld with the caption "Last Time Around", which relates to the ending of the final book, The Dark Tower VII; Arcel has said that fans will know the film is a sequel to the books' events.[3] The film is set to be released on August 4, 2017 in 3D and 2D by Columbia Pictures.

_________________
trixster wrote:
shut the fuck up zwackerm, you're out of your fucking element

trixster wrote:
chippy is correct

Rev wrote:
Fuck Trump


Tue Aug 01, 2017 12:38 pm
Profile
Extraordinary
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 12:25 am
Posts: 18842
Location: San Diego
Post Re: The Dark Tower
It's definitely one that gets worse the more I think about it. About 30 minutes in I was thinking "this isn't bad at all" but as it ends (its a very short film) it just falls short in every aspect. Poor development of the relationship between the Gunslinger and Jake and a disconnect as to what story they're trying to tell. The potential is there, and the leads are good (McConaughey is an afterthought, not really sure why people say he's Razzie bad, he's barely in the movie), the execution is just off. Too bad, I'm actually interested in where the story goes, I guess I'll read the summaries of the books on Wiki.


Sat Aug 05, 2017 2:36 am
Profile
Hold the door!

Joined: Sun Jun 01, 2014 10:26 pm
Posts: 20301
Location: Where they shot Knock at the Cabin
Post Re: The Dark Tower
publicenemy#1 wrote:
I guess I'll read the summaries of the books on Wiki.

Or you could read the actual books!?


Sat Aug 05, 2017 10:15 am
Profile
Superman: The Movie
User avatar

Joined: Fri Oct 22, 2004 8:47 am
Posts: 21141
Location: Massachusetts
Post Re: The Dark Tower
Yeah, just jump right in to the 8-part book series. Have fun.

_________________
My DVD Collection
Marty McGee (1989-2005)

If I’m not here, I’m on Letterboxd.


Sat Aug 05, 2017 4:39 pm
Profile WWW
Pure Phase
User avatar

Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 7:33 am
Posts: 34865
Location: Maryland
Post Re: The Dark Tower
This is not so bad. It is perhaps anticlimactic after a over a decade's worth of failed attempts to adapt Stephen King's flawed, glorious, sprawling eight-novel fantasy saga for the big screen, but it is very entertaining as a fast-paced, lean, mostly unpretentious genre film. It firmly held my attention and is never less than competently produced. Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey deliver above-average performances—the former charismatic and stoic, the latter preening and tastily malevolent—and British teenage actor Tom Taylor is an engaging and sympathetic lead/audience surrogate. What the film could use is simply...more: more eerie-neat creature F/X and world building, more character development, an extra set piece or two, a more elaborate final battle, etc. It feels overly satisfied going 70 percent of the way, with being all right and acceptable, and would benefit from an injection of extra imagination and maybe even a dose of madness. But at the same time, it is fine and closer to the top of the King-on-screen canon than the bottom.

B/B-

_________________
ImageImageImage

1. The Lost City of Z - 2. A Cure for Wellness - 3. Phantom Thread - 4. T2 Trainspotting - 5. Detroit - 6. Good Time - 7. The Beguiled - 8. The Florida Project - 9. Logan and 10. Molly's Game


Sat Aug 05, 2017 11:27 pm
Profile
The Kramer
User avatar

Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 11:36 am
Posts: 23695
Location: Classified
Post Re: The Dark Tower
Gunslinger, Drawing, Wastelands, Wizard, Wolves, Song, Dark Tower. What is the 8th?


Sun Aug 06, 2017 12:04 am
Profile
Hold the door!

Joined: Sun Jun 01, 2014 10:26 pm
Posts: 20301
Location: Where they shot Knock at the Cabin
Post Re: The Dark Tower
Jmart wrote:
Yeah, just jump right in to the 8-part book series. Have fun.

People read long book series all the time.

The eighth is the 2012 midquel Wind Through the Keyhole


Sun Aug 06, 2017 12:24 am
Profile
Pure Phase
User avatar

Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 7:33 am
Posts: 34865
Location: Maryland
Post Re: The Dark Tower
I have not read it, nor, sadly, have I finished the original series (I was quite a fan of the first few in my teenage years), but I thought The Wind Through the Keyhole was accepted as a proper Dark Tower novel.

_________________
ImageImageImage

1. The Lost City of Z - 2. A Cure for Wellness - 3. Phantom Thread - 4. T2 Trainspotting - 5. Detroit - 6. Good Time - 7. The Beguiled - 8. The Florida Project - 9. Logan and 10. Molly's Game


Sun Aug 06, 2017 12:52 am
Profile
The Wall
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 10:50 am
Posts: 16163
Location: Croatia
Post Re: The Dark Tower
David wrote:
I have not read it, nor, sadly, have I finished the original series (I was quite a fan of the first few in my teenage years), but I thought The Wind Through the Keyhole was accepted as a proper Dark Tower novel.

It is.


Sun Aug 06, 2017 4:31 am
Profile WWW
KJ's Leading Idiot

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 8:15 pm
Posts: 36915
Post Re: The Dark Tower
This was fast paced and well sewn together never overstaying its welcome but also never taking a breather and glossing through a lot of material that the non-book readers would not have time to think about. The story comes out as very generic which never exceeding in any aspects. There is also not much at stake or the gravitas of it were never felt; the only time I remember emotional connection was the death of a parent. The biggest flaw is the bond between Jake and Roland which is why this feels more rushed than usual. McConaghey feels wasted here and Elba just plays himself. I also felt it lacked much imagination and made this look like just another Western mash-up with futuristic technology.

5/10


Sun Aug 06, 2017 10:24 am
Profile
Pure Phase
User avatar

Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 7:33 am
Posts: 34865
Location: Maryland
Post Re: The Dark Tower
I do not believe it is fair to say Elba just plays himself. No, he is not transforming into Stephen Hawking, but he doesn't use his natural accent and conveys a nice sense of cynicism and exhaustion. He sells the character within the space allowed to him.

On another note, this is the third summer 2017 movie to reference Arthurian legend, albeit more briefly than Transformers 5 and, of course, the Guy Ritchie movie. Hollywood bet big on Arthur this year.

_________________
ImageImageImage

1. The Lost City of Z - 2. A Cure for Wellness - 3. Phantom Thread - 4. T2 Trainspotting - 5. Detroit - 6. Good Time - 7. The Beguiled - 8. The Florida Project - 9. Logan and 10. Molly's Game


Sun Aug 06, 2017 12:59 pm
Profile
now we know
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2004 9:31 pm
Posts: 66998
Post Re: The Dark Tower
David wrote:
No, he is not transforming into Stephen Hawking


LOL - now that I'd like to see!

_________________

STOP UIGHUR GENOCIDE IN XINJIANG
FIGHT FOR TAIWAN INDEPENDENCE
FREE TIBET
LIBERATE HONG KONG
BOYCOTT MADE IN CHINA



Sun Aug 06, 2017 11:39 pm
Profile WWW
The Kramer
User avatar

Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 11:36 am
Posts: 23695
Location: Classified
Post Re: The Dark Tower
I really liked this and am genuinely confused at the terrible reviews. Sure some things could have landed with a bit more oomph, and the movie badly needed a scene where Roland sacrificed his revenge for the greater good. It's a solid adaptation of Gunslinger and The Wastelands though, minus the huge bear. The 3 main actors are all good, Junkie XLs score is excellent, it is always moving at a swift pace and the action scenes are thrilling.


Mon Aug 07, 2017 1:55 am
Profile
Superman: The Movie
User avatar

Joined: Fri Oct 22, 2004 8:47 am
Posts: 21141
Location: Massachusetts
Post Re: The Dark Tower
zwackerm wrote:
Jmart wrote:
Yeah, just jump right in to the 8-part book series. Have fun.

People read long book series all the time.


Yeah, if it interests them.

_________________
My DVD Collection
Marty McGee (1989-2005)

If I’m not here, I’m on Letterboxd.


Wed Aug 09, 2017 6:22 pm
Profile WWW
KJ's Leading Idiot

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 8:15 pm
Posts: 36915
Post Re: The Dark Tower
Elba's accent is changed yet but its the tough guy act that comes our repetitive for me. I agree that Elba is good for this role but he didn't do much justice to the character, there were other factors at play here but its just the general feeling that he could have done more in scenes of death and the finale.


Sun Aug 13, 2017 10:57 am
Profile
The Kramer
User avatar

Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 11:36 am
Posts: 23695
Location: Classified
Post Re: The Dark Tower
The death of his father was pretty bad. I thought he did well in his physical acting though.I loved how he shot people, so mechinical, never doubting that it was a kill shot and just moving on. He had the look of someone who has been worn down by doing the same thing for countless years.

Spoiler: show
Infinite years if we go by the end of book 7.


Sun Aug 13, 2017 4:31 pm
Profile
The Wall
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 10:50 am
Posts: 16163
Location: Croatia
Post Re: The Dark Tower
Well technically you should as this is a continuation as he has the horn this time in the movie.


Sun Aug 13, 2017 5:15 pm
Profile WWW
Forum General

Joined: Wed Oct 28, 2009 9:48 pm
Posts: 8942
Location: Houston, Texas
Post Re: The Dark Tower
Not a bad film, but it could have been so much better IMO. It works at best as a basic action film that's a timewaster, but nothing more which is a shame, because I really enjoyed the world this movie was set in, but they never take the time to fully flesh it out. The mythology is the main thing that kept me interested, and I would be very happy to actually see a tv show based on these books. As for the film itself the kid is pretty good and Elba is solid as the hero, but I wish they let him have more of a personality like in the New York scenes. McConaughey as the villain was pretty stale and weak honestly which was disappointing because there were instances where he had some screen presence, but he just ends up being wasted.


Mon Oct 09, 2017 11:28 pm
Profile
now we know
User avatar

Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2004 9:31 pm
Posts: 66998
Post 
The Dark Tower

This isn't so bad. It's actually quite fun. It could have done with being more grandiose and, not necessarily upping the stakes, but stressing the stakes and the rules of the world more, perhaps in a prologue. Idris Elba is cool. McConaughey is pretty good too. I would have loved to see them duke it out Neo-Agent Smith stylee. But it never happens. I liked all of the New York-set scenes. When he's being chased by the asylum workers, then when the Gunslinger goes to New York and fights with Jackie Earle Haley. But the film is all basic. It never feels special or awesome. This happens, then that, then it's over. It's too neat.

B

_________________

STOP UIGHUR GENOCIDE IN XINJIANG
FIGHT FOR TAIWAN INDEPENDENCE
FREE TIBET
LIBERATE HONG KONG
BOYCOTT MADE IN CHINA



Thu Oct 26, 2017 10:14 am
Profile WWW
Keeping it Light
User avatar

Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2015 8:06 am
Posts: 11185
Location: Bright Falls
Post Re: The Dark Tower
Ouch, that was painful and bad. Just a disappointing film, completely average in execution and pretty much just not exciting at all. I liked Matthew as the villain, but he wasn't really good either, only Elba showed some resemblance of a good character for me. Some of his gunslinger scenes were cool, other than that the film had nothing going for it. I was glad when it was over, pretty terrible really. Oh, I guess one other highlight was Jake's mom is hot.

D


Fri Dec 22, 2017 1:37 pm
Profile
Hold the door!

Joined: Sun Jun 01, 2014 10:26 pm
Posts: 20301
Location: Where they shot Knock at the Cabin
Post Re: The Dark Tower
This was beyond dull and pointless. Whatever makes the book series popular is not present in this generic ass fantasy flick.

F


Mon Jan 15, 2018 5:52 pm
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Reply to topic   [ 21 posts ] 

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 48 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group.
Designed by STSoftware for PTF.