Stephen King's Tommyknockers: novel vs TV series

Grojlach · 11-26-2001, 05:21 PM

Possible spoilers ahead! [img]smile.gif[/img]
Coincidences still exist in this world, and when I had to wait for a bus to arrive at the station, I quickly went inside a book store and bought a Stephen King novel I couldn't recall having read yet (read practically all of them when I was 14, 15) and when I got home and put it in my bookcase to read it once I finised Terry Pratchett's Jingo. Later that night, I was watching tv and guess what... They were going to show the tv version of Tommyknockers in 4 episodes spread over 4 weeks!

So I watched the first two episodes, then started reading the novel and finished it before the third episode aired; yesterday was the 4th and last episode.

Those who read the book will probably admit it's not the best Stephen King novel, The Green Mile was at least twice as good for instance, but I've read worse. I enjoyed it, though the ending was a little unsatisfactory (as happens more often with King's work, The Mist anyone?

).
While the first two episodes of the series weren't that different from the novelized version, the third one already pointed out that some aspects were completely different, the fourth one left me astounded. They managed to put the last few hundred pages in only one episode, the part with practically all the good action, in actually a pretty boring one. The aliens suddenly turned out to be alive after 250.000 years (!), Becka suddenly turned "good", the plot even made less sense than in the novel and even the dog survived. Of course, I can understand that they had to leave many parts from the novel out of the series, but while the first three episodes only described the preamble of the novel in a quite good chronological way, it almost looks like they suddenly realized by the second half of the third episode that they were only paid to make 4 of 'em, and not 6 or 8 which would have been much more reasonable looking at the original storyline. It all just happened too soon and in a terrible way if I may add...

Anyone else? [img]smile.gif[/img]

Ronn_Bman · 11-26-2001, 05:35 PM

The movie wasn't too bad, but the book is always better.

I enjoyed the "spooky" factor in this novel especially.

The running things together also happened in "The Stand", but I also really enjoyed that movie. I always try to read the book first.

Grojlach · 11-26-2001, 06:55 PM

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Ronn_Bman:
The movie wasn't too bad, but the book is always better.

I enjoyed the "spooky" factor in this novel especially.

The running things together also happened in "The Stand", but I also really enjoyed that movie. I always try to read the book first.<hr></blockquote>

The movie? Hmm, those episodes alltogether took 4 hours... Could that be correct? I know the Shining was 4 hours as well...

Ronn_Bman · 11-26-2001, 07:04 PM

I think it was a 2 part mini-series, the same as "It". "The Stand" was a 4 parter.

Epona · 11-27-2001, 10:18 AM

Groljach, which story was 'The Mist'? I don't remember that one, is it a short story?

I wasn't so keen on the Tommyknockers film, not one of the best King films, and it wasn't as good as the book, which also wasn't one of his best!

It and The Stand are my 2 very favourite books and the 'films' (I saw them as films, screened in one go, although I understand they were made as mini-series) were great, I thought the characters were very true to the book. And the bloke who played Stu Redman was superb, just as I imagined Stu.

The Shining - Mmmmm. I know that King's own adaptation was truer to the book, but Kubrick's is the better film, and has Jack Nicholson as the ultimate madman so wins hands down. The King adaptation was an OK film, but just not in the same league. The book is one of my favourites.

Pet Semetary - Loved the book, really brilliant, film OK, nothing to get excited about, Churchill the cat wasn't evil enough.

The Dead Zone - Book good, film wonderful! Christopher Walken is just right in that role.

Salem's Lot - For once I saw the film before I read the book. The film scared the living s*** out of me, and the book was even scarier. Vampires are one of my favourite film/book villains. David Soul was good in the role, but because I saw the film first I couldn't then imagine the character any other way which may have spoiled my enjoyment of the book.

Oooh, what others are there?
Cujo - the book was good, the film was suspenseful but ruined the ending.

Carrie - Book good, film OK, not too much to say about that one.

Firestarter - Book excellent, wonderful characters and a really great relationship between the girl and her father, film was OK.

Christine - one of those dodgy 'classic' horror films, I'm now completely fed up with seeing it and wouldn't mourn if I never saw it again. The book was great though.

There is a pattern here - in general, films OK, books brilliant. Perhaps I should just stick to the books. The only films which came anywhere close were the mini-series IT and The Stand.

Epona · 11-27-2001, 10:21 AM

OMG, In my list above, I COMPLETELY forgot the best film out there, The Shawshank Redemption, which is of course a WONDERFUL film, adapted from King's short story 'Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption'. I could never get into the story, but the film makes it onto my top 10 all time movies!! If you haven't seen this film, GO, run see it NOW, go on, what are you waiting for????

The Green Mile was also a good film, the books were OK.

Sir ReGiN · 11-27-2001, 01:14 PM

I haven't actually seen IT-the movie, but I think the book was VERY good..at least.
Though my absolute favourite King book is 'Bag of bones'!
Hope they don't make a movie out of that one..

Why not?

Because I think the King movies are a disgrace to the books, with the exception of The Shining..but that was made by the greatest genius ever, Stanley Kubrick

..oh, and the shawshank redemption was good to

Still, I think they should make movies out of Terry Pratchett's books

Maybe in the same spirit as Harry Potter?
Those of you who have read anything by the master himself, know what I mean [img]smile.gif[/img]

Neb · 11-27-2001, 01:26 PM

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Sir ReGiN:
Still, I think they should make movies out of Terry Pratchett's books
Maybe in the same spirit as Harry Potter?
Those of you who have read anything by the master himself, know what I mean [img]smile.gif[/img] <hr></blockquote>

Would never work, half of Pratchett's books usually lie in the little sideways comments by the author to what's going on.....

Did I just hear someone say that "It" as a movie was GOOD? It SUCKED, HORRIBLY, at least, it did compared to the book, the book scared the s*** out of me! I was afraid to sleep for WEEKS after reading that book for fear that something was lurking below my bed or in a closet, sewer gratings still frighten me.....

Sir ReGiN · 11-27-2001, 02:40 PM

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Neb:
[QB]

Would never work, half of Pratchett's books usually lie in the little sideways comments by the author to what's going on.....QB]<hr></blockquote>

It depends on how the story is told.
I actually think some people could make pretty good Pratchett movies..Monthy Python, I think, would have the right sense of mind for it?
[img]smile.gif[/img]

Grojlach · 12-02-2001, 03:07 PM

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Epona:
Groljach, which story was 'The Mist'? I don't remember that one, is it a short story?

<hr></blockquote>

Yep, it is, from a novel with 3 short stories called Skeleton Crew. Other stories in it were Here be tigers (only a few pages long) and the perhaps more famous short story The Monkey. Quite good actually. [img]smile.gif[/img]

11-26-2001, 05:21 PM	#1
Grojlach Zartan Join Date: May 2, 2001 Location: Ulpia Noviomagus Batavorum Age: 44 Posts: 5,281	Possible spoilers ahead! [img]smile.gif[/img] Coincidences still exist in this world, and when I had to wait for a bus to arrive at the station, I quickly went inside a book store and bought a Stephen King novel I couldn't recall having read yet (read practically all of them when I was 14, 15) and when I got home and put it in my bookcase to read it once I finised Terry Pratchett's Jingo. Later that night, I was watching tv and guess what... They were going to show the tv version of Tommyknockers in 4 episodes spread over 4 weeks! So I watched the first two episodes, then started reading the novel and finished it before the third episode aired; yesterday was the 4th and last episode. Those who read the book will probably admit it's not the best Stephen King novel, The Green Mile was at least twice as good for instance, but I've read worse. I enjoyed it, though the ending was a little unsatisfactory (as happens more often with King's work, The Mist anyone? ). While the first two episodes of the series weren't that different from the novelized version, the third one already pointed out that some aspects were completely different, the fourth one left me astounded. They managed to put the last few hundred pages in only one episode, the part with practically all the good action, in actually a pretty boring one. The aliens suddenly turned out to be alive after 250.000 years (!), Becka suddenly turned "good", the plot even made less sense than in the novel and even the dog survived. Of course, I can understand that they had to leave many parts from the novel out of the series, but while the first three episodes only described the preamble of the novel in a quite good chronological way, it almost looks like they suddenly realized by the second half of the third episode that they were only paid to make 4 of 'em, and not 6 or 8 which would have been much more reasonable looking at the original storyline. It all just happened too soon and in a terrible way if I may add... Anyone else? [img]smile.gif[/img] __________________ [url]\"http://www.audioscrobbler.com/user/Grobbel/\" target=\"_blank\"> [img]\"http://www.denness.net/rpi/username/Grobbel\" alt=\" - \" /></a>

11-26-2001, 05:35 PM	#2
Ronn_Bman Zartan Join Date: March 11, 2001 Location: North Carolina USA Age: 58 Posts: 5,177	The movie wasn't too bad, but the book is always better. I enjoyed the "spooky" factor in this novel especially. The running things together also happened in "The Stand", but I also really enjoyed that movie. I always try to read the book first. __________________ [img]\"http://home.carolina.rr.com/orthanc/pics/Spinning%20Hammer%20Sig%20Pic.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

11-26-2001, 06:55 PM	#3
Grojlach Zartan Join Date: May 2, 2001 Location: Ulpia Noviomagus Batavorum Age: 44 Posts: 5,281	<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Ronn_Bman: The movie wasn't too bad, but the book is always better. I enjoyed the "spooky" factor in this novel especially. The running things together also happened in "The Stand", but I also really enjoyed that movie. I always try to read the book first.<hr></blockquote> The movie? Hmm, those episodes alltogether took 4 hours... Could that be correct? I know the Shining was 4 hours as well... __________________ [url]\"http://www.audioscrobbler.com/user/Grobbel/\" target=\"_blank\"> [img]\"http://www.denness.net/rpi/username/Grobbel\" alt=\" - \" /></a>

11-26-2001, 07:04 PM	#4
Ronn_Bman Zartan Join Date: March 11, 2001 Location: North Carolina USA Age: 58 Posts: 5,177	I think it was a 2 part mini-series, the same as "It". "The Stand" was a 4 parter. __________________ [img]\"http://home.carolina.rr.com/orthanc/pics/Spinning%20Hammer%20Sig%20Pic.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

11-27-2001, 10:18 AM	#5
Epona Zartan Join Date: March 1, 2001 Location: London, England Age: 54 Posts: 5,164	Groljach, which story was 'The Mist'? I don't remember that one, is it a short story? I wasn't so keen on the Tommyknockers film, not one of the best King films, and it wasn't as good as the book, which also wasn't one of his best! It and The Stand are my 2 very favourite books and the 'films' (I saw them as films, screened in one go, although I understand they were made as mini-series) were great, I thought the characters were very true to the book. And the bloke who played Stu Redman was superb, just as I imagined Stu. The Shining - Mmmmm. I know that King's own adaptation was truer to the book, but Kubrick's is the better film, and has Jack Nicholson as the ultimate madman so wins hands down. The King adaptation was an OK film, but just not in the same league. The book is one of my favourites. Pet Semetary - Loved the book, really brilliant, film OK, nothing to get excited about, Churchill the cat wasn't evil enough. The Dead Zone - Book good, film wonderful! Christopher Walken is just right in that role. Salem's Lot - For once I saw the film before I read the book. The film scared the living s*** out of me, and the book was even scarier. Vampires are one of my favourite film/book villains. David Soul was good in the role, but because I saw the film first I couldn't then imagine the character any other way which may have spoiled my enjoyment of the book. Oooh, what others are there? Cujo - the book was good, the film was suspenseful but ruined the ending. Carrie - Book good, film OK, not too much to say about that one. Firestarter - Book excellent, wonderful characters and a really great relationship between the girl and her father, film was OK. Christine - one of those dodgy 'classic' horror films, I'm now completely fed up with seeing it and wouldn't mourn if I never saw it again. The book was great though. There is a pattern here - in general, films OK, books brilliant. Perhaps I should just stick to the books. The only films which came anywhere close were the mini-series IT and The Stand. __________________ [img]\"http://www.wizardrealm.com/images/epona.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

11-27-2001, 10:21 AM	#6
Epona Zartan Join Date: March 1, 2001 Location: London, England Age: 54 Posts: 5,164	OMG, In my list above, I COMPLETELY forgot the best film out there, The Shawshank Redemption, which is of course a WONDERFUL film, adapted from King's short story 'Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption'. I could never get into the story, but the film makes it onto my top 10 all time movies!! If you haven't seen this film, GO, run see it NOW, go on, what are you waiting for???? The Green Mile was also a good film, the books were OK. __________________ [img]\"http://www.wizardrealm.com/images/epona.gif\" alt=\" - \" />

11-27-2001, 01:14 PM	#7
Sir ReGiN Gold Dragon Join Date: August 11, 2001 Location: The land of blonde virgins Age: 43 Posts: 2,563	I haven't actually seen IT-the movie, but I think the book was VERY good..at least. Though my absolute favourite King book is 'Bag of bones'! Hope they don't make a movie out of that one.. Why not? Because I think the King movies are a disgrace to the books, with the exception of The Shining..but that was made by the greatest genius ever, Stanley Kubrick ..oh, and the shawshank redemption was good to Still, I think they should make movies out of Terry Pratchett's books Maybe in the same spirit as Harry Potter? Those of you who have read anything by the master himself, know what I mean [img]smile.gif[/img] __________________ Take a look at your Promised Land<br />Your deed is that gun in your hand

11-27-2001, 01:26 PM	#8
Neb Account deleted by Request Join Date: May 17, 2001 Location: . Age: 39 Posts: 8,802	<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Sir ReGiN: Still, I think they should make movies out of Terry Pratchett's books Maybe in the same spirit as Harry Potter? Those of you who have read anything by the master himself, know what I mean [img]smile.gif[/img] <hr></blockquote> Would never work, half of Pratchett's books usually lie in the little sideways comments by the author to what's going on..... Did I just hear someone say that "It" as a movie was GOOD? It SUCKED, HORRIBLY, at least, it did compared to the book, the book scared the s*** out of me! I was afraid to sleep for WEEKS after reading that book for fear that something was lurking below my bed or in a closet, sewer gratings still frighten me.....

11-27-2001, 02:40 PM	#9
Sir ReGiN Gold Dragon Join Date: August 11, 2001 Location: The land of blonde virgins Age: 43 Posts: 2,563	<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Neb: [QB] Would never work, half of Pratchett's books usually lie in the little sideways comments by the author to what's going on.....QB]<hr></blockquote> It depends on how the story is told. I actually think some people could make pretty good Pratchett movies..Monthy Python, I think, would have the right sense of mind for it? [img]smile.gif[/img] __________________ Take a look at your Promised Land<br />Your deed is that gun in your hand

12-02-2001, 03:07 PM	#10
Grojlach Zartan Join Date: May 2, 2001 Location: Ulpia Noviomagus Batavorum Age: 44 Posts: 5,281	<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Epona: Groljach, which story was 'The Mist'? I don't remember that one, is it a short story? <hr></blockquote> Yep, it is, from a novel with 3 short stories called Skeleton Crew. Other stories in it were Here be tigers (only a few pages long) and the perhaps more famous short story The Monkey. Quite good actually. [img]smile.gif[/img] __________________ [url]\"http://www.audioscrobbler.com/user/Grobbel/\" target=\"_blank\"> [img]\"http://www.denness.net/rpi/username/Grobbel\" alt=\" - \" /></a>

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Stephen King's Dark Tower Series	NewbietoRPGs	Entertainment (Movies, TV Shows and Books/Comics)	0	12-06-2004 02:50 PM
Dreamcatcher - Stephen King	Ladyzekke	Entertainment (Movies, TV Shows and Books/Comics)	8	03-26-2003 03:29 PM
Two Stephen King Books	Ladyzekke	Entertainment (Movies, TV Shows and Books/Comics)	15	09-24-2002 05:15 AM
Stephen King's It................	Tiamat	General Conversation Archives (11/2000 - 01/2005)	16	04-27-2002 09:01 AM
Stephen Donaldson	AzureWolf	Entertainment (Movies, TV Shows and Books/Comics)	13	05-08-2001 07:11 PM