Shawshank is best King adaptation
According to this website, The Shawshank Redemption is the best adaptation of a Stephen King story.
’1408′, being released this weekend, will mark the 99th adaptation (for TV or film) from the mind of Stephen King. In honour of this, The Pocono Record lists their top 5 SK adaptations:
2. Stand By Me
3. Misery
5. The Stand
All, I think are good choices (although I’ve never been able to watch the ankle-breaking scene in ‘Misery’), but I’d like to add one of my own:
‘It’. Never was I scared more by seeing something on the TV since I hid behind the chair my grandfather was sitting in, while he babysat me and my brothers, and watched ‘Jaws’ at aged 6. Tim Curry’s “Beep beep Richie” and “They all float down there” sending chills down my spine, even as a 15 year old.
What’s your favourite/most memorable Stephen King adaptation?
Posted on June 21, 2007, in Film. Bookmark the permalink. 56 Comments.
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The Running Man as a “best” adaptation? Are you freaking kidding me? What the heck does the Ahnold testosterone fest have anything to do with the book?
It’s a good movie. It doesn’t really matter how close it is to the book itself.
It’s been a rough go for Stephen King movies as of late. Dreamcatcher anyone? I agree with Rebecca about “It”. The first half scared me silly.
HP,
I don’t think it was even a good movie. I know I liked it when I was a teenager, but the more I saw it the more I realized how utterly fake the movie was. Commando was better than the Running Man.
It was a good show up until the climax, in which the killer clown turns out to be a giant spider. Typical King let-down, but not the fault of the TV version, obviously.
The first half of “It” was great. I’ve always had a distrust for clowns, which made it worse. The ending of the second half was kind of lame, though.
Worst Adaptation: “The Lawnmower man”
I would take out the Running Man and either insert IT or the Green Mile. Or maybe The Shining.
I actually really liked The Dead Zone, too.
I’d put The Green Mile at #1.
What does “best SK adaptation” mean? Does it mean the best movie that is based on a work by SK? Or does is mean a movie that best reflects the book it was based on?
Assuming it just means “movie that I liked” I’ll agree with Eric and put The Green Mile at #1 and Shawshank at #2. I think those are actually the only prison movies that I like. Does Running Man count as a prison movie?
I’ve always loved Kubrick’s The Shining, though I know Stephen King didn’t like it.
I thought The Stand was also well done, though too long.
Come on. Kubrick’s Shining was by far the masterpiece compared to those films. It’s simply a work of genius. Shawshank is a feel-good.
And where’s Carrie???? Come on. There’s a reason this list went no further than the Pocono Record.
1408, by the way, is supposed to be pretty good and quite scary.
Uh, as far as the worst adaptation? Langoliers, anyone?
I like the list, with the exception of Running Man. As a Stephen King fan from way back, no book as ever scared me the way The Shining did.
I still say Dreamcatchers is his worst. His and Morgan Freeman’s.
#12: “There’s a reason this list went no further than the Pocono Recored”
You’re right SG, I would have taken the much more seriusly if the Scranton Times had picked it up.
Wow- always thought King did the Shining. That is definitely the scariest movie for me, next to Aliens.
Anna,
A version more true to his book came out in the 90′s as a mad efor TV movie. It didn’t even hold a candle to Kubrick’s version.
In terms of best movies and not necessarily adaptatons I’d say:
1. Shawshank
2. Shining
3. Misery
4. Green Mile
5. Stand By Me
Carrie would probably be in the top 10, although I personally never cared for it.
King hated Kubric’s The Shining since Kubric changed the ending. Of course in those days King’s ending was unfilmable. What’s inexplicable to me is that there’s this one director King loves and who he keeps having do miniseries. I think he’s horrible though. The TV version of The Shining was unwatchable in my opinion.
Clark,
I haven’t read King’s book The Shining. I probably won’t. What was the ending of the book?
In the book, Jack blows up the Overlook Hotel.
It’s kind of hard to take seriously any list that puts Running Man above The Shining.
wow, well that’s a slightly different ending then, isn’t it?
That’s how the TV Version ended it. I like Kubrick’s better.
The playground equipment and other stuff comes alive in the book/TV version. In the movie you have that creepy chase down the garden maze. The creepiest part of Kubrick’s Shining is the ending with Jack in that picture. Wow.
The TV version also has that scene with the dead woman seemed completely disconnected from the plot.
“Dolores Claiborne” works well for anyone who likes to see a child-abuser and wife-beater get his comeuppance.
1408 is a really creepy story, btw. Must be a lot of filler to make into a full-length movie, though. (Ah, what am I saying? I could watch John “Tentacles. NT. Big difference.” Cusack any day.)
Like most people, I enjoy the books more than the movies, but they did a very faithful adaptation of Green Mile. Enjoyed it at least as much.
It’s unfortunate, the turn of events in the world around us, but we will never see a real adaptation of Stephen King’s The Running Man done properly.
Dan – agreed – Commando was better.
aRJ – I took it to mean best film based on SK material (but I could be wrong).
I’d definitely have The Green Mile and probably Carrie (the first SK book I read) in my top 5 ahead of The Running Man and The Stand. Shawshank would still be my #1 though (with Green Mile #2)
SG – I’ve watched the trailer for ’1408′ and thought it looks like it could be good. But it doesn’t come out in England until August, so I’ll have to wait anyway. (Anyone who sees it this weekend – let us know if it was any good!)
Rebecca, AICN loved 1408, fwiw.
Pet Sematary, of course, and only partially because we get Joey Ramone singing “I don’t wanna be buried/In a pet cemetary.”
Then CUJO!, with the kid from Who’s the Boss fighting off furry death.
WAIT! I forgot the best of all: Maximum Overdrive. Emilio and the other survivors fighting off death by tractor-trailer, with AC/DC providing the menace. Who made who?
It also occurs to me that “Amores Perros” gets all the hype, but “Cat’s Eye” did it first…
Wow Greg, I forgot about Maximum Overdrive. wasn’t one of the killer trucks labeled “Happy Toys for Girls and Boys” or something? That truck really creeped me out. And then there was the scene in the beginning where the ATM machine tells the bank patron to ^#^%$ off, or something creative like that. Great Flick
1. Shawshank Redemption
2. Stand By Me
3. The Shining
I think the next is a tie between Carrie and the Dead Zone.
As I remember it, Salem’s Lot was one of the scarier stories by Stephen King. I also thought it was very well written. I’ve seen a television adaptation of the movie but I think there’s more than one version.
I really liked the book Firestarter but I’ve read the movie is a stinker.
John, I don’t remember that truck, but the visual I remember most clearly is the guy who is killed by his Walkman. The whole sequence of the kid riding his bike through the suburbs and seeing the different ways machines killed people is great.
What does Commando have to do with anything? Predator is better than them both, as is Terminator 1 and 2.
I personally like the Running Man, but agree it isn’t that great a movie. Then again, I think the Shining, while blessed with a couple great scenes, isn’t that special.
HP,
I was being derisive to Running Man. Commando is not a good movie, but it was far better than the Running Man.
In order for a movie to be a good adaptation of a book, it has to convey through the medium of film what the book conveys through the written word. The Green Mile was a far better movie than the novel, and as such should be near the top of the list. I don’t even think you could call the Running Man an adaptation, it’s more like the film was loosely based on the book. It definitely doesn’t deserve to be called one of the best.
And in my last sentence, “it” refers to the antecedent “Running Man” not the proper noun, title, “It”.
The Green Mile is CRAP. Pandering CRAP! There ain’t nothing in the world a magical black man won’t sacrifice himself for. Utterly worthless CRAP.
Yeah, I don’t like that movie much.
I’d have to put Shawshank at #1 just for making me think something Stephen King made up doesn’t totally suck.
Shawshank was Steven King?
You don’t like the Shining, Brian?
One of my favorite books by him has to be Firestarter. If I remember right the movie was pretty good.
Green Mile is very sentimental. The race issue is interesting as it definitely can be read in a very negative way or it can be read in a way where the guy is a complete Christ figure. Both readings are valid but I prefer the nicer one rather than the quasi-racist reading.
Firestarter starred Drew Barrymore, when she was just a little kid (appropriate to the role). I remember seeing it a long time ago and thinking it held pretty closely to the book. But it’s been a long time …
In my personal opinion, Stephen King wrote most of his best books at the earlier part of his career. It seemed to me the more popular he got and the longer he was a writer, the less he relied on an editor. It seemed his books just got longer and longer. I remember reading “It” and thinking that about a third of the book could have been cut out and the story would have been better.
I’m reading The Dark Tower Series right now (am on book 4) and hear the latest ones (5,6 & 7) aren’t as good. Anyone read them all? I hope it’s not the case as I’m really enjoying them so far.
Rebecca, they are mixed. I don’t think any of them are as good as the first one. (The original – I heard he came out with a revised one) I think the first one is the best thing King ever written. You’ll probably be pissed at the last volume. (I was) But the fifth one is quite good. The third book I thought was among the weakest, truth be told.
There was a Roland short story in that collection (Skeleton Key?) that also had 1408 in it. Reading that short story almost made me want to read the Dark Tower books. (Also, the weird connection in Hearts in Atlantis.)
Hearts in Atlantis – the old guy – is actually a pretty important figure in the Dark Tower series. So is the Dark House, or whatever it’s called, series. Even though I found it pretty silly. (Although the sequel was better)
I agree with Clark regarding the Dark Tower. I think that the first book of that series is the most powerful thing King has ever written.
I appreciate that the silent guy is supposed to be a Christ figure. Of course, he is also supposed to be as far from a physical Christ figure as you can get. So, he’s a big, mute, retarded Black guy. Huzzah!
HP: you forgot bald.
It’s almost like you don’t like black people, ya racist! =) (or you and your racist friend)
I’m seeing good reviews for 1408 – Eric Snider says it’s scary without being gory. Puts me in mind of The Others – I wonder if it’s as good.
What about Christine???? That was a decent book, and I remember the movie scaring me (I think it was the use of the music in Christine that was freaky…the radio from the car).
I saw 1408 over the weekend. The lead up and the events in the hotel were done well and Cusack did a good job(and, that damn Carpenter’s song will forever be tainted by this movie…very Christinesque). The ending, in true King form, could have been much better.
I’ll just chime in to say that I decided a long time ago that, for me, it is not the responsibility of an adaptation to replicate the experience of the book. I like a movie to be true to the spirit of the book, but not just be crib notes for people who don’t read.
The best SK book is “Pet Semetary” –> movie: sucked
The best SK movie is “Carrie” –> book: eh…
Darabont’s adaptation of “The Mist” comes out in the fall. Is it wrong to pray that it comes out awesome? It’s one of my favorite stories.
I’m an avid King fan and I thought I’d chime in too.
First, I think that THE DARK TOWER I is far from his best work and I’ve read everything but his latest, including the revision of THE GUNSLINGER. It doesn’t hold a candle to THE STAND, THE SHINING, SALEM’S LOT, or PET SEMETARY, which I think is both his best and scariest book.
I actually think the best chapter in THE DARK TOWER series is THE DRAWING OF THE THREE. I feel like the last three books all had great moments, but didn’t fulfill all the promise of the beginning of the series. I’m relieved that THE DARK TOWER is over, it was infecting and driving all of King’s work and I think now that it’s wrapped up, for better or for worse, he can explore other things. For example, LISEY’S STORY was probably his most personal novel yet.
I think that blaming King for the low quality of the film adaptations of his work is a bit unfair, since he had little to do with most of them, but in general I think the strength of the adaptation depends on the strength of the director and that’s why my list would look something like this:
1. THE SHINING
2. CARRIE
3. STAND BY ME
4. MISERY
5. SALEM’S LOT
I think SHAWSHANK is over-rated and so is Darabont. He is a slavish adapter of King’s work and brings nothing new to it. Watching THE GREEN MILE after having read it is mind-numbing. There’s hardly a word of dialogue in it that isn’t directly lifted from the book.
Wow – “The Mist” is being made into a movie?
That is one extended short story that really got my attention when I read it. A very creepy and cool idea for a movie. Should be very interesting.