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Hag 12 Down (6 KP) rated The Fireman in Books
Dec 30, 2017
The Book I can't forget
This is the book I can't let go of. There are several books that give me withdrawal, but this one. Oh my! I read it 15 months ago and I can't get over it. I check out my books from the library, but I keep thinking daily that I should buy a copy and re-read it. The fun part is that when I read this book I had no idea who Joe Hill was. Simply not a clue. When I finished reading it I started researching to see what else he had written. I was pleasantly surprised to find he is Stephen King's son! I read so many King books when I was younger! Pick this up and read it. Don't be intimidated by it's size, you won't regret it. I realize I haven't said anything about the actual plot. That's because you deserve to enjoy every minute of it on your own.
SummerLGrant (185 KP) rated The Dark Tower (2017) in Movies
Sep 10, 2017
Average
Hollywood seems to be going for a Stephen King binge at the moment, and this one isn't great. I haven't yet read the books and even though this doesn't do anything to promote them it hasn't put me off.
There was so much potential for this film to be amazing but it felt so rushed, as if they weren't confident it would be good enough to get a sequel so they crammed as much as they could to get the story properly resolved (like Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children). None of the characters developed beyond your initial impression of them, almost as if that was all sacrificed at the expense of fitting too much into the film. I'm sure there were also little details about the world that would have made it much more interesting, if the few bits that made the final cut were any indication.
An easy film to watch that doesn't ask you to engage your brain but very disappointing.
There was so much potential for this film to be amazing but it felt so rushed, as if they weren't confident it would be good enough to get a sequel so they crammed as much as they could to get the story properly resolved (like Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children). None of the characters developed beyond your initial impression of them, almost as if that was all sacrificed at the expense of fitting too much into the film. I'm sure there were also little details about the world that would have made it much more interesting, if the few bits that made the final cut were any indication.
An easy film to watch that doesn't ask you to engage your brain but very disappointing.
I didn't want it to end
I love Horror so I was really excited for this to come out. I didn'y really know what to expect as I haven't watched the original 'IT' yet, or read the book by Stephen King, but I knew the basics of what this movie was about.
I loved the way this film makes you feel and the style of it, it's not like all other horror movies out there. There is a bit of a Stranger Things vibe to it, which I loved.
I absolutely adored Pennywise in this remake, I loved the way he moved his body, it added to the creepyness of the film.
I found it more creepy and a bit disturbing than I did scary, there was one jump scare that got me though.
I loved the way this film makes you feel and the style of it, it's not like all other horror movies out there. There is a bit of a Stranger Things vibe to it, which I loved.
I absolutely adored Pennywise in this remake, I loved the way he moved his body, it added to the creepyness of the film.
I found it more creepy and a bit disturbing than I did scary, there was one jump scare that got me though.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Pet Sematary (2019) in Movies
Apr 9, 2019 (Updated Apr 9, 2019)
Stephen King adaptation is a serviceable tale warning against meddling with the primal forces of life and death; also about the importance of correct spelling. Starts with the usual horror film trope of a nice family moving to the peaceful countryside and having horrible experiences; this time they concern an ancient burial ground out the back of the house with the power to reanimate corpses buried there - sounds great for when the family pet gets run over, but is it really such a good idea?
Benefits greatly from a strong performance from Jason Clarke as one of King's Everyman protagonists, driven into very bad choices; John Lithgow is also good value as the neighbourhood's Creepy Exposition Yokel. The pacing is a bit skewed, but the film digs profitably into ideas of grief and madness, although some may find it tough to watch in a not-very-fun way due to some of the subject matter. A competent and enjoyable piece of high-class schlock.
Benefits greatly from a strong performance from Jason Clarke as one of King's Everyman protagonists, driven into very bad choices; John Lithgow is also good value as the neighbourhood's Creepy Exposition Yokel. The pacing is a bit skewed, but the film digs profitably into ideas of grief and madness, although some may find it tough to watch in a not-very-fun way due to some of the subject matter. A competent and enjoyable piece of high-class schlock.
I do like a post-apocalyptic kind of book, and this delivered in spades. It was written in a completely believable way, beginning with a second American Civil war, that was ended by the North releasing hundreds of airborne viruses that infected and killed those in the South indiscriminately. And those viruses continue to kill.
Vida meets two brothers, Garrett and Dyce, and they travel together in a world where to travel alone is death, to travel or to be outside when the wind blows is death.
I loved the world building in this. There will always be comparisons to Stephen Kings ‘The Stand’ with books like this, but other than viruses and a complete breakdown of society, I couldn’t actually see a comparison.
I’m looking forward to reading ‘North’, which is the final part of this two part series, and seeing where the authors take us.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Corvus, for my copy of this book.
Vida meets two brothers, Garrett and Dyce, and they travel together in a world where to travel alone is death, to travel or to be outside when the wind blows is death.
I loved the world building in this. There will always be comparisons to Stephen Kings ‘The Stand’ with books like this, but other than viruses and a complete breakdown of society, I couldn’t actually see a comparison.
I’m looking forward to reading ‘North’, which is the final part of this two part series, and seeing where the authors take us.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Corvus, for my copy of this book.
Sarah (7800 KP) rated Pet Sematary (1989) in Movies
Oct 19, 2018
A good adaptation
Whilst this isn’t one of the best Stephen King adaptations, it’s a lot better than expected.
This stays very true to the original book. It’s been a while since I’ve read the book, but there was nothing in this that stood out as being different, which is always good news. This is a typical late 80s film, with some very weak performances and feels very much like a made for TV movie. That said, a lot of the physical effects and make up were very impressively done and the film is a lot bloodier than i ever would’ve expected. There are also some very bad special effects, but fortunately these are few and far between. Watching this has made me intrigued to see how the new adaptation turns out - if they manage to stay faithfully to the story but with a 21st century update on the effects, it should really be one to watch.
This stays very true to the original book. It’s been a while since I’ve read the book, but there was nothing in this that stood out as being different, which is always good news. This is a typical late 80s film, with some very weak performances and feels very much like a made for TV movie. That said, a lot of the physical effects and make up were very impressively done and the film is a lot bloodier than i ever would’ve expected. There are also some very bad special effects, but fortunately these are few and far between. Watching this has made me intrigued to see how the new adaptation turns out - if they manage to stay faithfully to the story but with a 21st century update on the effects, it should really be one to watch.
Scott Tostik (389 KP) rated Malevolent (2018) in Movies
Nov 2, 2018
Netflix.... Fuck off
Brother and sister team in the 80s try and make a quick buck by faking paranormal activity in "clients" houses...
The sister is allegedly a psychic and all of the activity appears to be EVP related.
I watch paranormal shows... Do i believe in them??? Sometimes..
But this... Is a hard sell.
I get it Netflix, i really do... But stop putting out every little indie horror flick that catches your eye and leave the scares to the pros.
I can honestly say i think ive only seen one Netflix horror movie that i actually enjoyed. And thats because it was written by Stephen King.
I get it, cash in on what people enjoy... Horror... But expecting fans of the genre to be happy with any slapped together piece of dog vomit is insulting to fans.
While this movie had great potential... It just didn't deliver in the finished product.
Back to the drawing board Netflix...
The sister is allegedly a psychic and all of the activity appears to be EVP related.
I watch paranormal shows... Do i believe in them??? Sometimes..
But this... Is a hard sell.
I get it Netflix, i really do... But stop putting out every little indie horror flick that catches your eye and leave the scares to the pros.
I can honestly say i think ive only seen one Netflix horror movie that i actually enjoyed. And thats because it was written by Stephen King.
I get it, cash in on what people enjoy... Horror... But expecting fans of the genre to be happy with any slapped together piece of dog vomit is insulting to fans.
While this movie had great potential... It just didn't deliver in the finished product.
Back to the drawing board Netflix...
David McK (3623 KP) rated The Gunslinger in Books
Jan 28, 2019
This is almost heresy, I know (at least, to certain sections of the internet) but I've never actually really been all that big a fan of Stephen King.
Never-the-less - and prompted, somewhat, by the upcoming movie - I thought I would still give what King himself considers to be his magnum opus a go.
And, I have to say - much like the central character of Roland Deschain is described - I found this to be somewhat slow, somewhat plodding, lacking any real sense of urgency or adventure. That's not to say there's no real striking imagery associated with it: for me, the best bit is the shoot-out in the town, but this just (as a whole) did not do it for me and has somewhat dooused my interest in going to see mthat ovie
For my post-apocayptic(ish) cowboy reading, I think I'll stick with David Gemmell's Jon Shannow trilogy.
Never-the-less - and prompted, somewhat, by the upcoming movie - I thought I would still give what King himself considers to be his magnum opus a go.
And, I have to say - much like the central character of Roland Deschain is described - I found this to be somewhat slow, somewhat plodding, lacking any real sense of urgency or adventure. That's not to say there's no real striking imagery associated with it: for me, the best bit is the shoot-out in the town, but this just (as a whole) did not do it for me and has somewhat dooused my interest in going to see mthat ovie
For my post-apocayptic(ish) cowboy reading, I think I'll stick with David Gemmell's Jon Shannow trilogy.
David McK (3623 KP) rated The Long Earth in Books
Jan 28, 2019
Terry Pratchett has long been one of my favourite authors; I don't think I've ever really read any of Stephen Baxter.
I do know that Pratchett has collaborated with other authors before - Neil Gaiman springs immediately to mind (<i>Good Omens</i>) - but Pratchett is better known for his series of Discworld books. Unfortunately, Discworld this ain't: slow moving with not much happening and might as well end with three little words: To Be Continued ...
Truth be told, on reading this it didn't really get much of a Pratchett 'feel' to the story - there was only occassional hints of his touch on the contents. I can't speak for how much it felt like a Baxter work, not having read many of his before, but if this <b>is</b> predominately his feel, and based purely on this one book, he's not an author I would be looking out for.
In short: disappointing.
I do know that Pratchett has collaborated with other authors before - Neil Gaiman springs immediately to mind (<i>Good Omens</i>) - but Pratchett is better known for his series of Discworld books. Unfortunately, Discworld this ain't: slow moving with not much happening and might as well end with three little words: To Be Continued ...
Truth be told, on reading this it didn't really get much of a Pratchett 'feel' to the story - there was only occassional hints of his touch on the contents. I can't speak for how much it felt like a Baxter work, not having read many of his before, but if this <b>is</b> predominately his feel, and based purely on this one book, he's not an author I would be looking out for.
In short: disappointing.