The Stand

LemJe · 11-04-2005, 07:57 PM

I just reread the Stephen King book "The Stand" It has always been one of my favorite books and I havnt read it in several years so I fgured what he hell and picked it up. I still think the book is excellent. (Though I wouldn't recommend reading it this time of year when everyone is getting their first colds of the season. Every cough, sniffle or wheeze I heard made me wonder if I should start stockpiling survival gear.) I hadnt see the mini series "The Stand" since it orginally aired in 94. I remembered it being a fairly decent movie and decided to pick up the DVD.
Wow, my memory must really be going beacuse that was a really bad movie. I can understand some changes to the script due to the length of the book but it seems they went hogwild. Just to name a couple they completely removed the Rita character and replaced her with the Nadine Cross character. They also had Mother Abigal handpick the members of the Freezone commitee where as in the book there was several chapters dedicated to not only getting the right people picked for the group but also how to do it without Mother Abigal.
The acting was also really bad. In the book the character of Nick Andros is a 21 year old rather plain looking character. So in the movie we get Rob Lowe who was 30 at the time. In the book the character of Nadine Cross was more or less a tragic hero that was at first trying desperatly to get out of the situation she was destined for and then realizing she had no choice and excepting her fate. In the movie we get Laura Giacoma in a bad wig playing a character from the start who seems to be a certifiable maniac that wants to destroy everything about the Free Zone.
These are just a few complaints I have about the mini series but it did get me thinking. "The Stand" woud be a great series for some channel like HBO. Where it could be more than 4 episodes and they could actualy show some of the gore from the plague. Though the orginal mini series did have some great makeup and I believe even won an Emmy for it. I think it could be better. In the book when Larry Underwood takes his journey through the Lincholn tunnel its a hair raising hours long journey but in the mini series its a five minute comedy relief. I would love to see it filmed in a better way.

Am I alone in thinking this is a book that is crying out for a great film?

From a Buick 8 · 11-11-2005, 06:39 PM

Back when the miniseries originally came out, I thought the first night was a great start and then after that it went down hill.

I would like to see that book get a good treatment.

Also the Dark tower book series would be great.

wahlers · 11-11-2005, 08:35 PM

I have no problems with the mini-series except the guy playing Flagg sucks and the effects (especially "The Hand of God" are bad).

Keep in mind too that the teleplay was written by King himself, so shortcuts, removals, additions, etc. were all done by King.

That doesn't mean that people should like them, but it at least validates them some.

11-13-2005, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by From a Buick 8

Also the Dark tower book series would be great.

I would love for Peter Jackson to do the series.

MooglePorn · 11-13-2005, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bune duggy

I would love for Peter Jackson to do the series.

Ewww, keep him the fuck away from my Dark Tower series.

11-13-2005, 08:12 PM

I knew someone would say that.

Here's the caveat: if he directs, that's all he's allowed to do. No writing (not one word) and no hiring his significant other to write either. they would probably invent a love story or something that we don't need. However, he could get the directing done and done well.

From a Buick 8 · 11-14-2005, 05:54 PM

I have always thought that the Dark Tower would lend itself well to computer animation.

Reaver · 12-05-2005, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MooglePorn

Ewww, keep him the fuck away from my Dark Tower series.

I'd rather see someone like Clint Eastwood direct, someone with a solid Western tradition under their belt.

venetian blinds · 12-07-2005, 02:17 AM

Given the length of the series and the nods to other king books, is a dark tower movie even possible? I'd love a movie based just on the third book though. The city of Lud is etched in my brain.

From a Buick 8 · 12-07-2005, 01:59 PM

Maybe the sci-fi channel could do it as a mini series. That way they could each book a nice treatment.

Reaver · 12-07-2005, 04:06 PM

I would love to see Viggo Mortensen play Roland, and Jason Lee play Eddie.

scarlettlil · 06-04-2006, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaver

I would love to see Viggo Mortensen play Roland, and Jason Lee play Eddie.

I agree. I think they would make great choices for those roles.

Dogg · 08-16-2006, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scarlettlil

I agree. I think they would make great choices for those roles.

I think they would do nicely.

The only real problem being that it is such a long series, too much would be cut out.

11-04-2005, 07:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
LemJe Actor Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA	The Stand I just reread the Stephen King book "The Stand" It has always been one of my favorite books and I havnt read it in several years so I fgured what he hell and picked it up. I still think the book is excellent. (Though I wouldn't recommend reading it this time of year when everyone is getting their first colds of the season. Every cough, sniffle or wheeze I heard made me wonder if I should start stockpiling survival gear.) I hadnt see the mini series "The Stand" since it orginally aired in 94. I remembered it being a fairly decent movie and decided to pick up the DVD. Wow, my memory must really be going beacuse that was a really bad movie. I can understand some changes to the script due to the length of the book but it seems they went hogwild. Just to name a couple they completely removed the Rita character and replaced her with the Nadine Cross character. They also had Mother Abigal handpick the members of the Freezone commitee where as in the book there was several chapters dedicated to not only getting the right people picked for the group but also how to do it without Mother Abigal. The acting was also really bad. In the book the character of Nick Andros is a 21 year old rather plain looking character. So in the movie we get Rob Lowe who was 30 at the time. In the book the character of Nadine Cross was more or less a tragic hero that was at first trying desperatly to get out of the situation she was destined for and then realizing she had no choice and excepting her fate. In the movie we get Laura Giacoma in a bad wig playing a character from the start who seems to be a certifiable maniac that wants to destroy everything about the Free Zone. These are just a few complaints I have about the mini series but it did get me thinking. "The Stand" woud be a great series for some channel like HBO. Where it could be more than 4 episodes and they could actualy show some of the gore from the plague. Though the orginal mini series did have some great makeup and I believe even won an Emmy for it. I think it could be better. In the book when Larry Underwood takes his journey through the Lincholn tunnel its a hair raising hours long journey but in the mini series its a five minute comedy relief. I would love to see it filmed in a better way. Am I alone in thinking this is a book that is crying out for a great film? __________________ Get busy living......or get busy dying. My Little Collection

11-11-2005, 08:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
wahlers Actor Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Columbus, OH (right now)	I have no problems with the mini-series except the guy playing Flagg sucks and the effects (especially "The Hand of God" are bad). Keep in mind too that the teleplay was written by King himself, so shortcuts, removals, additions, etc. were all done by King. That doesn't mean that people should like them, but it at least validates them some. __________________ And that is the way the world ends. Not with a bang. or a whimper. but with a THWAKK!

12-07-2005, 04:06 PM	#11 (permalink)
Reaver Metrosexual in Training Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Beyond the outer rim...	I would love to see Viggo Mortensen play Roland, and Jason Lee play Eddie. __________________ My personal website (get updates on my novel) The Dead Robots' Society (a podcast I co-host with other writers on writing)

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11-11-2005, 06:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
From a Buick 8 Actor Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: KY	Back when the miniseries originally came out, I thought the first night was a great start and then after that it went down hill. I would like to see that book get a good treatment. Also the Dark tower book series would be great.

11-13-2005, 08:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
bune duggy	I knew someone would say that. Here's the caveat: if he directs, that's all he's allowed to do. No writing (not one word) and no hiring his significant other to write either. they would probably invent a love story or something that we don't need. However, he could get the directing done and done well.

11-14-2005, 05:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
From a Buick 8 Actor Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: KY	I have always thought that the Dark Tower would lend itself well to computer animation.

12-07-2005, 02:17 AM	#9 (permalink)
venetian blinds Actor Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Canada, eh	Given the length of the series and the nods to other king books, is a dark tower movie even possible? I'd love a movie based just on the third book though. The city of Lud is etched in my brain.

12-07-2005, 01:59 PM	#10 (permalink)
From a Buick 8 Actor Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: KY	Maybe the sci-fi channel could do it as a mini series. That way they could each book a nice treatment.