Tag Archives: Stephen King

Books

Stephen King’s Top 10 best novels… in celebration of his birthday today…

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Stephen King celebrates his 66th birthday today and I thought it would be cool to list ten of my favorite books of his. Yes, I have his entire body of work. Yes, I have ’em all in original editions with original cover jacket and all. A few of them don’t have cover jackets, though. I have collected every Stephen King book over the years but the only one I’m missing is, “Danse Macabre”, which that one is hard to find the original edition of. It wasn’t easy for me to collect his entire body of work as most of his books are so old and rare now.

I’m looking forward to his upcoming new book, “Doctor Sleep”, which is the sequel to the Shining.

Anyway, here are my top 10 favorite Stephen King books in no particular order:

  • The Dark Tower Series (all of them)
  • Needful Things
  • The Green Mile
  • The Dark Half
  • Under the Dome
  • Dreamcatcher
  • Nightmares and Dreamscapes (his best short story collection)
  • The Shining
  • Misery
  • Lisey’s Story

I like all of his books, of course, but those ones I listed are my favorite. Happy Birthday, Stephen. I’m sure he and his wife Tabitha are enjoying it somewhere in Maine.

Kev

movies

Just finished re-reading, Stephen King’s “Carrie”… ***Spoilers beware***

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I just finished re-reading Stephen King’s, “Carrie”, novel. This was obviously the first novel, King has written in his career. The story was originally intended to be a short story for a magazine, but King has decided that this story was garbage, so he throw it out. His wife, Tabitha King, dug the story out of the trash, and she read it. She loved it too much that she begged him to finish it. Stephen finished it, but expanded it into a novel instead of a short story. Now look, where the book got him. He is the world’s most famous writer, all because of,”Carrie”. If he threw out “Carrie”, and if his wife haven’t found it, then King wouldn’t have gotten where he is today.

On with the story, I really hope the new “Carrie” film with Chloe Moretz, would stay more faithful to the book. I’m going to talk a little bit about the story, with spoilers of course.

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The reason I hate Depalma’s version of “Carrie” so much is because for the most part, most of it didn’t follow the book. I thought most of that film was pretty whacky to begin with; even though, I thought Depalma’s version of the Prom scene was terrific. That was the only good part about that movie.

However, in King’s book, “Carrie”, Carrie White just didn’t go in total destruction mode of the Chamberlain High School. She destroyed the whole town. In the book, she already knew she had telekinetic powers, while the movie acted like she was trying to figure it out. At the end of King’s book, Carrie actually dies because she used way too much kinetic powers to kill Chris Hargensen and Billy in a car, (I think they showed the car destruction in the new “Carrie” trailer, that was just out). In Depalma’s version of the movie, they let Carrie survive at the end. Will they actually let “Carrie” die, in this movie?

In King’s book, the book ends with another girl named, Melina, having telekinetic powers, similar like Carrie’s. I wouldn’t be surprised if the new “Carrie” movie with Chloe Moretz, will let Carrie live at the end so there can be a sequel. This movie shouldn’t have a sequel ’cause King’s book didn’t end like that.

I’m hoping, and praying that the new “Carrie” film with Chloe will stay more true to this book, this time around, and looking at the new trailer, it looks like it might. While Depalma’s version with Sissy Spacek is a classic movie, indeed, it just didn’t work for me. I think Chloe’s version will make it just right, this time around.

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Kev

movies

Cool Video: I was actually pretty impressed with the new “Carrie” trailer!!!

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I meant to post this a few days ago, but I actually loved the new “Carrie” trailer. The film looks surprisingly good and I’m gonna try to see it, hopefully. How faithful is the new film to the book, this time? I have no idea. I haven’t read the book in a long time, and I planning on re-reading it soon, so I can tell if it is or not. It does look a little different than the Depalma version for sure. To be honest, I never liked the Depalma version, it was way different than the book, although, I still like the Prom scene at the end. A lot of people are complaining that the film has been remade a couple of times. It’s like, so what, ya know? Maybe they felt like the older versions of “Carrie”, didn’t work. This would be considered the third “Carrie” remake ’cause the second time was in 2002 for a TV film. I think this one wants to stay faithful to the book, this time around.

I also wanted to respond to this misinformed comment posted in that youtube video by some idiot, “Don’t need to go to cinema now. Saw the whole film in the trailer.” I know that was a joke, but it was dumb. I’m sure there is way more to the film than that, ’cause I noticed that the trailer is loaded with secrecy. This film wants to get more in depth with the story. Keep in mind that the book doesn’t end with the prom scene, the story drags on after that. I do remember that the book has a controversial ending, and not sure if this movie will use that ending from the novel. Depalma’s version didn’t use the ending from the book, his ending of the film was different.

I’ll have to start re-reading the book again, maybe I will this weekend. Looking forward to seeing it. As you all know, I’m a huge fan of horror films. Love them.

Kev

 

TV

Cool Video: Stephen King’s “Under The Dome” teaser is here!!!

Stephen King’s “Under the Dome” teaser hit the web. It’s not really an official teaser, just a first look kind of thing. With footage from the series, behind the scene stuff, and of course, interviews with, Stephen King himself. “Under The Dome” is one of the best books Stephen King has written in the last 10 years. It’s a long book, over 1,000 pages thick, but I read through the whole thing. I really hope they do a good job with the show ’cause it looks interesting. I’m always skeptical of Stephen King TV shows, mini series or big screen movies ’cause King hasn’t made that many good films over the years. I’ll watch the first episode of “Under the Dome”, to see how it is.

Check out the video, here.

Kev

Books

Stephen King’s “Doctor Sleep” cover revealed…

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Stephen King has a new book coming out later this year in Sept., and it’s the sequel to “The Shining”. The cover jacket artwork has been revealed. Check it out, here. I’m pretty stoked for this book, and can’t wait for it come out. I’m glad he’s finally getting back into horror ’cause he’s been staying away from that genre for years. The plot of the story, sounds like it’s horror to me!

Who’s the girl on the front cover? According to the synopsis of the book, it’s a character named, Abra Stone, who Danny Torrance must save from the True Knot. The True Knot, is a name of a group of travelers who travel across the country, feeding off of children. Of course, Danny, who is now a middle aged man keeps getting haunted by his father’s past at the Overlook Hotel.

You can expect plenty of Jack Torrance flashbacks in the book for sure. Hopefully!

Will they make this book into a movie to follow up Stanley Kubrick’s movie? Wouldn’t surprise me. I’m feeling this book is going to be King’s biggest seller in a long time, so Stephenie Meyer and J.K Rowling, should take note and watch out. It’s the Shining, and it’s a horror novel. It’s going to get everyone stoked for this novel, so expect a lot of over hype too.

Kev

movies

Cool Photo: See the NEW Carrie drenched in pig’s blood!!!

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Chloe Moretz herself, was the first to release this photo still from the upcoming “Carrie”, remake. She released it herself exclusively on her instagram page. Stephen King himself, is not involved with the new “Carrie” remake, at all. Which is a good thing actually. I’m a big Stephen King fan, but mostly a fan of his writing. Most of his movies are garbage with the exception of “The Shawshank Redemption”, “The Green Mile”, “Misery”, “Needful Things”, “Pet Sematary”, “Stand By Me”, and “Dreamcatcher” which I thought were really good films.

I didn’t even care for Depalma’s version of “Carrie” that much, it didn’t follow the book hardly at all. So I’m hoping the remake will stay faithful to the book. I plan on re-reading “Carrie” soon.

See Chloe drenched in pig’s blood here. I hope they do the film justice, and hope they make it better than the Depalma version. Sissy Spacek was a great Carrie White, don’t get me wrong, it’s just that the script was really bad. Could the remake do the prom scene just as good? I’m hoping!

Kev

Books

Finished re-reading “The Dark Tower” series by Stephen King…

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So today, I just finished re-reading the 7th and final novel of the “Dark Tower” series by Stephen King. There are actually 8 “Dark Tower” books actually, that includes, “The Wind Through the Keyhole”, the new one. After re-reading all 8 books which took me a couple of months, they are pretty long stories, I just want Stephen to keep these stories going. They were very addicting stories.

I can now see exactly why major movie studios keep rejecting this project so that these books can be made into major films. It isn’t because the movie studios think the stories suck. I’m sure they love ’em, but why won’t the major studios make these books into films that Ron Howard was planning? Simply put, like I’ve been saying before, the project is way too big and will be VERY expensive, that even Hollywood couldn’t afford. The Dark Tower stories are full of weird stories, unique characters, and strange locations that it’s going to be a lot of money to make all that. It will probably take tons of CGI work too. It’s a fantasy & adventure story, part western too.

I love the stories of Roland, Eddie, and Susannah. One thing to keep in mind though, that the entire Dark Tower story, doesn’t end too good as everyone would think. The ending of the story is going to piss a lot of people off especially “Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands” and Dark Tower VII. Stephen King is clearly not about pleasing the reader at all. He’s all about what makes the story works. He will write something, even if he doesn’t like it. He will write whatever is right for the story.

I hope Hollywood will start making these books into movies soon. If Hollywood won’t do it at all, then it would be much cheaper if they can be made into TV mini series instead. The stories are way too long. I don’t know how Ron Howard thinks he’s going to pull this off but it will be interesting. Javier Bardem dropped out of playing Roland earlier last year, and it was a bummer too. He would have made a good Roland.

If you haven’t read the Dark Tower series yet, you should.

I love Stephen King. He’s my favorite writer. I have collected most of his books and it took me years to get all his stuff too. I just love his writing style and he’s the best at writing stories better than anybody out there. Of course, there are other authors I admire who are right behind King like George R.R. Martin, and Dan Brown who are a few of my other favorites. Tomorrow, I’m going to start re-reading, “A Clash of Kings”, the third book of the Game of Thrones series, in time before Season 3.

Kev

Books

Stephen King tops the Hollywood Reporters “25 Most Powerful Authors” list… which doesn’t surprise me at all…

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The Hollywood Reporter, compiled a list of the 25 most Powerful Authors list. Authors who created a huge impact in the entertainment industry. I pretty much agree with the list. They did a good job. It doesn’t surprise me at all, to see that Stephen King, tops the list. Why? Because Stephen King, is the King!

The only thing I disagree with though, that Stephenie Meyer doesn’t belong in the top ten. J.K. Rowling deserves to be no. 10, not 11.

Anyhow, Stephen deserves to be on top, because he has been a dominating force in the entertainment industry for years. Not just with books, through movies, and TV. Even the comics! The man is even an actor and screenwriter himself. He is multi-talented.

I have collected, most of Stephen King’s books over the years. It took me years to collect his work, ever since I was a kid. It’s hard to find his classic books these days ’cause the book industry changed. You can’t find his classic editions of his older novels anymore. I only need 8 books left to get, which are the really hard to find ones. I’m a Stephen King fanatic. This guy has changed my life. While a lot of his movies suck, it’s his books that matters.

King continues to dominate the industry to this day.

I’ve been re-reading the Dark Tower series, ’cause I’ve wanted to be reminded of the plot, plus those stories are so good and addicting. Ron Howard is planning those “Dark Tower” movies, and would like to re-learn the story again.

The Hollywood Reporter did a smart thing putting King on top. If he wasn’t no. 1 on this list, that would be insane. Congrats to Mr. King. I’m sure he’s flattered and proud.

Check out the list, here.

Kev

TV

Report: Stephen King’s “Under The Dome” will get aired on CBS as a 13 episode TV series…

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The Stephen King and Steven Spielberg collaborated TV show, “Under the Dome”, which will be adapted from King’s novel, was going to get aired on Showtime, but the crew behind this project, felt that cable wasn’t right for this and they made an official deal with CBS to get it aired on there instead. It will be a TV series, not a mini-series. The 1st season will be 13 episodes and there will be more seasons. “Under the Dome” is a science fiction novel that is over a thousand pages long, and yes, I’ve read the whole thing. It’s a really great book, and I would suggest you all to read it if you’re a King fan.

The article says, that this isn’t going to be a re-telling of the same story, it’s going to be a TV friendly version. So you can expect them to leave so much out and change things around a lot. Only thing though, Stephen King on TV is usually garbage. I’ll admit that “Bag of Bones” with Pierce Brosnan, was absolutely horrible.

Hopefully, they redeem themselves this time and make this show a good one. I’ll watch the first episode of “Dome”, to see how it is. If I don’t like, next please. “Dome” is a really amazing book, I couldn’t put this down and I hope they don’t ruin the story.

I wonder whose going to be playing Barbie Barbara (yes, a male character) and “Big Jim” Rennie? The two main characters of the story.

I wish them luck on this project. If they can last a full season and get a lot of ratings, I’d be surprised. I’m kind of skeptical Spielberg producing “Dome”, because his dinosaur show, “Terra Nova” only lasted one season.

See the story, here.

Kev

movies

The Brock’s Horror Film Pick #28: The Shining (Kubrick/Nicholson version)

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A top horror film list is not complete when you don’t put the “The Shining”, in there. I’ve always loved the original “Shining”, movie. Such a classic. It is Nicholson’s best role other than “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”. A great movie to watch on Halloween with the whole family. A lot of people are going to get bored at the start of the movie with that 3 minute long opening credits sequence with the boring music, but they put that in there for a reason. The opening credits sequence is just an introduction, leading you up to the Overlook Hotel as the family travels there on the road. This is the movie that Stephen King even hated himself, but the movie still gets a lot of praise and respect by a lot of fans to this day. It is one of most watched movies around Halloween season. This has always been a great flick.

Kev