Last movie watched...

[Arkwright99]

The Dark Tower. I've no idea how someone who hadn't read the books would find the film...

As someone who hasn't read the books I can tell you exactly what how I found the film: woeful. It wasn't difficult to follow the story (what little story there was) it just seemed so... pointless; and I've never seen an audience vacate a cinema so quickly once the credits started rolling. There was a [non]literal stampede to the exit.

Here's the review I posted on FB:
[spoiler]Everyone says The Dark Tower series is King's great epic but if the film is symptomatic of the books then I don't know where this praise comes from. Maybe the problem is trying to distil seven novels into a 95min film?

At the risk of spoilers, why have a Tower that can be destroyed by the mind of a child? Why, if you find such a child, don't you kill him to protect the Tower? (The kid stumbles around with such a gormless, slack-jawed expression I wouldn't hesitate to shoot him if I was the Gunslinger.) Perhaps these questions are explained in the books? Well, I'm sure I wouldn't know because, based on this film, I'd never read them.

My daughter was to have seen TDT with me but went to a party instead. I'd say, if you'll excuse the pun, she dodged a bullet on this one. Seriously, don't waste your money on it.

(Btw, had I known Akiva Goldsman had had a hand in writing/producing TDT I'd have passed on it. As far as I'm concerned his name is synonymous with bad films.)[/spoiler]

[Keef Monkey]

I can totally understand why seeing the film has put you off the idea of ever reading TDT, which is a shame. I would say definitely don't judge the series itself on the film adaptation, because the film bears very, very little resemblance to them.

[Theblazeuk]

Oh wow, Akiva Goldsman is linked to *alot* of stinkers. Possibly the best one on there is Nu-Trek, if you don't include Good-Bad movies like Deep Blue Sea.

[Dandontdare]

Oh wow, Akiva Goldsman is linked to *alot* of stinkers. Possibly the best one on there is Nu-Trek, if you don't include Good-Bad movies like Deep Blue Sea.

Just checked his filmography- it's like searching IMDB for "disappointing"

[Smith]

Batman and Robin.

[Mattofthespurs]

Seeing The Dark Tower later today.
It's been made clear, for a couple of years now, that this first film is a primer, simply to introduce the characters and themes that run through the series of books.
If this film is successful in anyway, shape, or form, it is the producers design that a series of three films and a TV series will follow.
It's a risky gamble but one of the reasons that TDT has a short running time.
Personally I adore the books and have been following the adventures of Roland since the early 80's when I picked up the original short stories in Fantasy and Science Fiction magazine back in the early 80's due to being such a massive King fan.
I'm not concerned. The books are still there, unchanged, on my shelf. I always think that when they make a film from a book it's an interpretation rather than adaptation. It can't really be anything else because a book is so personal where a film is perceived, in general, in the same way by all.
I'm still looking forward to it.

[Keef Monkey]

I hope you enjoy it! That plan sounds great, and I do hope it pans out and that the sequels and series happen. Would love to see how they plan to get it on course with the story. My problem is that as a primer it doesn't actually set up the world or the characters at all - there's barely any backstory or attempt to explain the world, and when they do offer up some morsels of information they just feel...wrong. If this film had been all set-up and world building it could have been amazing, but instead it feels like it's thrown all that out in a rush to the finish line.

I do fully expect to watch it again at some point with a more forgiving eye, and hopefully enjoy it a lot more on its own merits, but right now that disappointment that it doesn't feel like the books is the main thing I'm feeling.

[ming]

This old film's still got it!

I love that film.  It's been years since I watched it though; will dig it out for a viewing over the weekend.

[Mattofthespurs]

I do fully expect to watch it again at some point with a more forgiving eye, and hopefully enjoy it a lot more on its own merits, but right now that disappointment that it doesn't feel like the books is the main thing I'm feeling.

I do understand that it's hard sometimes, especially on subject matters that you lovely dearly, to accept the changes and differences.
I'll come back later and let you know what I think.

[Tiplodocus]

Batman and Robin.

Uh Oh, you'vyou've summoned Professor Bear.

[Tiplodocus]

ATOMIC BLONDE

Why didn't I really enjoy this? It had all the right bits in all the right places but for me was less than the sum of those parts.

[Professor Bear]

Batman and Robin.

Uh Oh, you'vyou've summoned Professor Bear.

Don't look at me, I think Batman and Robin is a terrible film.  It achieved the impossible task of making Batman look silly.

[Mattofthespurs]

Just got back from watching The Dark Tower. I think the two negative reviews on here must have prepared me for the worst because I quite enjoyed it.
Sure it plays like a pilot of a TV (even with a cheesy 1980's buddy movie ending) and I can completely understand that those that hold the eight novels (and one novella) in such high esteem, of which I count myself, maybe disappointed.
However, I did feel it was a decent introduction to Roland, Jake, R.F, the breakers, and nature of The Tower. The explanations of many of these things were short and often explained in one short sentence but I was glad that was the case as I think it would have bogged the film down. If the viewer pays attention all things are explained.
Personally I can't see the film being successful enough to warrant a TV series and a series of films and I think that was a shame. I thought the cast were very good especially of the three leads.
Not a great film by any stretch of the imagination, more of a taster of things to come and a solid 6/10 for me.
I went with the missus who finished the books just under a year ago and she enjoyed it too.

[Smith]

Hunter Prey is actually,pretty original.At least it shows you dont need tons of money to make an interesting SF movie.

[Mattofthespurs]

Moneyball. Watched that last night on SKY movie. Had seen it before but they missus had not so I suggested it. We are both sports fans, which helps, and both enjoyed it, me for the 2nd time. 7/10

American Made. Saw this at the cinema today. Enjoyable (true) story. Nothing overly spectacular, just solid entertainment and personally I like Tom Cruise and think he's a fine actor. Period setting played well (late 70's to mid 80's) and plays similar to a Scorcese movie, especially the latter 35 minutes of Goodfellas. Enjoyable 7/10.