944 reviews
As someone who hasn't read the Stephen King books that the movie is based on I have a different perspective than other reviewers. If you're comparing a movie to a book then it's pretty rare that you will not be disappointed but if you have nothing to compare it to then you look at it as a stand alone piece of work and this is not too bad. It's pretty much a good vs evil story. Mathew McCoughanhey is very evil and Idris Elba is very good. The story is good and the acting is excellent. Okay nobody will win an Oscar for this but on the other hand you don't start watching this and think what the hell am I wasting my time on this for. Not a bad movie as long as you haven't read the books apparently.
Stephen King is notoriously difficult to adapt, some of his work near-unfilmable or at least with parts that are (i.e. 'IT'). Which is why film/television adaptations are such a mixed bag.
Made up of eight books, 'The Dark Tower' book series is simply spectacular, with wildly entertaining and imaginative stories, a deft mix of genres, unparalleled attention to detail and conflict and with characters that are far more than standard clichés. Hearing that there was going to be a film, part of me was a little excited but there was even more apprehension considering the scale and length of the series on the whole. Also because of the reception the film received, being critically panned but the audience reaction being much more mixed.
After seeing it, 'The Dark Tower' to me wasn't as bad as reputed to be and could have been far worse. The complaints however are understandable and valid, contrary to what those vehemently and in some cases condescendingly say those who found problems with the film do know what they're talking about. There are merits with 'The Dark Tower', but it has a lot of problems that cannot be ignored, no matter how hard people try. Considering the track record for Stephen King adaptations, it was useless expecting a straight up adaptation on my part and the film was seen with no aim to compare the different mediums and instead judge it on its own.
There are much better adaptations of King's work, especially 'The Shawshank Redemption', 'Stand By Me', 'Misery', 'Dolores Claiborne', 'Carrie' (1976), 'Salem's Lot', 'The Shining' (Kubrick) and 'The Green Mile'. There are also far worse, such as 'Children of the Corn' (2009), 'Sleepwalkers', 'Tommyknockers', 'Thinner', 'Dreamcatcher' and 'The Langoliers' (of the ones seen, there's some to go yet). 'The Dark Tower' is towards the weaker end though. As an adaptation, it's pretty much an abortion, asking for a straight up faithful adaptation of one book was a big ask but this feels like a severely truncated cliff-notes version of one book with fleeting references to the others.
This did affect the pacing and storytelling of the film, and reinforced the notion in my mind that the books are better adapted as a series of at least two hour films or a series of mini-series. One film of just over 90 minutes, whether in comparison to the books or on its own, just doesn't cut it.
It's not an irredeemable film by all means. The acting was the best asset, with a calmly stoic, gravitas-filled and the personification of authoritative dignity Idris Elba particularly acquitting himself well. Tom Taylor is also credible, instead of bland or annoying or both he holds his own. While views on Matthew McConaughey's villain were more mixed, McConaughey to me had a few uneven moments where he was too smug (blame the writing more than him though) but mostly he was suitably sinister.
For a limited budget, 'The Dark Tower' could have looked worse. Not everything visually works, but it's skilfully photographed, atmospherically lit and has some quite authentic production design. The action is choreographed reasonably well and has suspense, excitement and tension. The music has some haunting moments and positively pulsates.
However, 'The Dark Tower' is far too short and feels very rushed as a result of cramming in a lot. The film does try to do too much and doesn't have the length to do much with any of it, which makes a lot of elements underwritten and without much impact. Only in the action does the film excite or nail-bites, the script is far too watered down, cliché ridden and half-baked to make the exposition scenes work and characterisation is severely wanting despite the valiant efforts of the cast.
Not everything works visually. Some of the editing is sloppy and the visual effects look like they were made last minute and with the worst of budget limitations. The direction shows unease with the material, while the story is choppy and the ending rushed and anti-climactic. Pacing is erratic, the exposition is clunky and very draggy while the final third is over-stuffed and was in need of slowing down.
In summation, could have been far worse and it is watchable but as an adaptation it's a disaster and judging it on its own terms sees just as many problems. Even when one is trying not to compare, which this review really tried not to and only mentioned how it fared as an adaptation in half a paragraph or something, 'The Dark Tower' is very problematic on its own.
Oh and, despite being a subjective person, don't let those defending the film make you feel like it's illegal to dislike the film and have problems with it, this whole agenda-against-critics has become out of control and uncalled for. If one likes the film fine but learn the difference between fact and opinions and be mature. 5/10 Bethany Cox
Made up of eight books, 'The Dark Tower' book series is simply spectacular, with wildly entertaining and imaginative stories, a deft mix of genres, unparalleled attention to detail and conflict and with characters that are far more than standard clichés. Hearing that there was going to be a film, part of me was a little excited but there was even more apprehension considering the scale and length of the series on the whole. Also because of the reception the film received, being critically panned but the audience reaction being much more mixed.
After seeing it, 'The Dark Tower' to me wasn't as bad as reputed to be and could have been far worse. The complaints however are understandable and valid, contrary to what those vehemently and in some cases condescendingly say those who found problems with the film do know what they're talking about. There are merits with 'The Dark Tower', but it has a lot of problems that cannot be ignored, no matter how hard people try. Considering the track record for Stephen King adaptations, it was useless expecting a straight up adaptation on my part and the film was seen with no aim to compare the different mediums and instead judge it on its own.
There are much better adaptations of King's work, especially 'The Shawshank Redemption', 'Stand By Me', 'Misery', 'Dolores Claiborne', 'Carrie' (1976), 'Salem's Lot', 'The Shining' (Kubrick) and 'The Green Mile'. There are also far worse, such as 'Children of the Corn' (2009), 'Sleepwalkers', 'Tommyknockers', 'Thinner', 'Dreamcatcher' and 'The Langoliers' (of the ones seen, there's some to go yet). 'The Dark Tower' is towards the weaker end though. As an adaptation, it's pretty much an abortion, asking for a straight up faithful adaptation of one book was a big ask but this feels like a severely truncated cliff-notes version of one book with fleeting references to the others.
This did affect the pacing and storytelling of the film, and reinforced the notion in my mind that the books are better adapted as a series of at least two hour films or a series of mini-series. One film of just over 90 minutes, whether in comparison to the books or on its own, just doesn't cut it.
It's not an irredeemable film by all means. The acting was the best asset, with a calmly stoic, gravitas-filled and the personification of authoritative dignity Idris Elba particularly acquitting himself well. Tom Taylor is also credible, instead of bland or annoying or both he holds his own. While views on Matthew McConaughey's villain were more mixed, McConaughey to me had a few uneven moments where he was too smug (blame the writing more than him though) but mostly he was suitably sinister.
For a limited budget, 'The Dark Tower' could have looked worse. Not everything visually works, but it's skilfully photographed, atmospherically lit and has some quite authentic production design. The action is choreographed reasonably well and has suspense, excitement and tension. The music has some haunting moments and positively pulsates.
However, 'The Dark Tower' is far too short and feels very rushed as a result of cramming in a lot. The film does try to do too much and doesn't have the length to do much with any of it, which makes a lot of elements underwritten and without much impact. Only in the action does the film excite or nail-bites, the script is far too watered down, cliché ridden and half-baked to make the exposition scenes work and characterisation is severely wanting despite the valiant efforts of the cast.
Not everything works visually. Some of the editing is sloppy and the visual effects look like they were made last minute and with the worst of budget limitations. The direction shows unease with the material, while the story is choppy and the ending rushed and anti-climactic. Pacing is erratic, the exposition is clunky and very draggy while the final third is over-stuffed and was in need of slowing down.
In summation, could have been far worse and it is watchable but as an adaptation it's a disaster and judging it on its own terms sees just as many problems. Even when one is trying not to compare, which this review really tried not to and only mentioned how it fared as an adaptation in half a paragraph or something, 'The Dark Tower' is very problematic on its own.
Oh and, despite being a subjective person, don't let those defending the film make you feel like it's illegal to dislike the film and have problems with it, this whole agenda-against-critics has become out of control and uncalled for. If one likes the film fine but learn the difference between fact and opinions and be mature. 5/10 Bethany Cox
- TheLittleSongbird
- Aug 20, 2017
- Permalink
I've been looking forward to seeing this movie for a few years, I've read all the books including the more recent one ('The Wind Thru the Keyhole') and other books that Walter appeared in. It's currently 2017, and anyone who hasn't learned the 'book to movie' lesson by now needs to finally learn it so that they can also enjoy movies what they are, which is an extra bonus for a book that is well liked by a lot of people. If the movie actually turns out good than all the better, but being more realistic about movies not having to live up to the books they're based on is best thing to do so you don't end up like the rest of these bitter people who leave the movie theater as quickly as possible just to come back home and write a 'nerd'tastic negative one starred review expressing all their deep down inner angst in the most pathetic form possible. Luckily I beat many of them to the punch before they tore this fun and entertaining movie apart, and I did find it entertaining thanx to having zero expectations about it, go ahead and try it next time you go to a similar movie, you'll at least temporarily enjoy yourself. Whining and complaining about trivial things isn't good for you or anyone else anyways.
I thought they did a fairly good job considering all the various challenges that this potential movie presented them, and the fact that it at one point seemed like it may never even get released or get just get much further delayed didn't make the project seem as promising as it did when first hearing about it's production a few years back for the first time. I got my expectations up very high when I first heard about it, but as time went on I would settle for just about anything decent, and 'decent' it sure was, though I'll rate the movie a 10 to make up for one or two reviews from the Negative Nancys of IMDb. I'm happy to see that Sony left this open for a sequel, It's still not a for sure thing if they'll make another, though King seems to think they will, but I'd pay a lot of money to see a movie based of the backstory from 'Wizard and Glass'.
Bottom line: Have fun, it's a fun movie whether you have read the books or not. Not a bad choice for the kids either, lot of action, no nudity, and not much cussing from what I recall, (12+ is my guess depending on who you are, ratings can be deceiving).
If you haven't read the books: Read them if you're an avid reader, you won't regret it, but if you're just an average reader then the 8 books will take you far too long to get thru and you'll probably give up and have wasted a lot of time trying. One trick is just to be disciplined enough to read every single day if possible, and it doesn't even have to be much because it will add up over the course of year, and if you were to read 10 - 15 pages per day every day you'd be able to finish 'The Dark Tower' series within one year. (Quick easy formula: 365 days per year, very roughly 365 pages per book, so 5 pages per day will get you thru 5 books per year, and not difficult at all to make that 40 pages per day, and at the end of the year you will have read 40 BOOKS! Probably more books than you've ready in your life, just got to form the habit first and go from there, keep track with a notebook to stay disciplined if you have to).
Other King suggestions: 'The Shining' Even better than the movie, and possibly underrated because of the movie's popularity, and the fact most people are too lazy to read.
'The Eyes of the Dragon' Walter is a main character, and King once again digs into the darkness of the man's psyche while weaving a great story in Medieval times.
'The Stand' The ultimate apocalyptic adventure with Walter doing what he does best, and the fate of the lives of dozens of different characters all linked to Walter thru their dreams of him, and has 1000 or so pages to all find each other and come together to somehow stop him while avoiding much betrayal and many obstacles along the beaten path that is led and aided by their other dreams of another character who is out to help them find where they need to be going.
'Different Seasons' No, it's not a story about a possessed spice rack) This book includes four novellas (short novels). Most of you will recognize of 2 or 3 of the others as those were all turned into good movies ('The Shawshank Redemption' 'Apt Pupil' and 'The Body' AKA 'Stand By Me'), and just as is usually the case are far superior to the films, and not that the films are bad at all.
It's just the reality that books always beat movies, it's no contest at all, but movies are a time for us to do something unproductive and be happy while doing it. So don't be like these sad saps who would actually pay for a movie knowing very well that they'll not have a good time. One of the secrets to life is 'to have a good time when you're able to', and if you like to laugh at bad movies that are trying to be serious then you need to finally get yourself on the MST3K and Rifftrax bandwagon.
I thought they did a fairly good job considering all the various challenges that this potential movie presented them, and the fact that it at one point seemed like it may never even get released or get just get much further delayed didn't make the project seem as promising as it did when first hearing about it's production a few years back for the first time. I got my expectations up very high when I first heard about it, but as time went on I would settle for just about anything decent, and 'decent' it sure was, though I'll rate the movie a 10 to make up for one or two reviews from the Negative Nancys of IMDb. I'm happy to see that Sony left this open for a sequel, It's still not a for sure thing if they'll make another, though King seems to think they will, but I'd pay a lot of money to see a movie based of the backstory from 'Wizard and Glass'.
Bottom line: Have fun, it's a fun movie whether you have read the books or not. Not a bad choice for the kids either, lot of action, no nudity, and not much cussing from what I recall, (12+ is my guess depending on who you are, ratings can be deceiving).
If you haven't read the books: Read them if you're an avid reader, you won't regret it, but if you're just an average reader then the 8 books will take you far too long to get thru and you'll probably give up and have wasted a lot of time trying. One trick is just to be disciplined enough to read every single day if possible, and it doesn't even have to be much because it will add up over the course of year, and if you were to read 10 - 15 pages per day every day you'd be able to finish 'The Dark Tower' series within one year. (Quick easy formula: 365 days per year, very roughly 365 pages per book, so 5 pages per day will get you thru 5 books per year, and not difficult at all to make that 40 pages per day, and at the end of the year you will have read 40 BOOKS! Probably more books than you've ready in your life, just got to form the habit first and go from there, keep track with a notebook to stay disciplined if you have to).
Other King suggestions: 'The Shining' Even better than the movie, and possibly underrated because of the movie's popularity, and the fact most people are too lazy to read.
'The Eyes of the Dragon' Walter is a main character, and King once again digs into the darkness of the man's psyche while weaving a great story in Medieval times.
'The Stand' The ultimate apocalyptic adventure with Walter doing what he does best, and the fate of the lives of dozens of different characters all linked to Walter thru their dreams of him, and has 1000 or so pages to all find each other and come together to somehow stop him while avoiding much betrayal and many obstacles along the beaten path that is led and aided by their other dreams of another character who is out to help them find where they need to be going.
'Different Seasons' No, it's not a story about a possessed spice rack) This book includes four novellas (short novels). Most of you will recognize of 2 or 3 of the others as those were all turned into good movies ('The Shawshank Redemption' 'Apt Pupil' and 'The Body' AKA 'Stand By Me'), and just as is usually the case are far superior to the films, and not that the films are bad at all.
It's just the reality that books always beat movies, it's no contest at all, but movies are a time for us to do something unproductive and be happy while doing it. So don't be like these sad saps who would actually pay for a movie knowing very well that they'll not have a good time. One of the secrets to life is 'to have a good time when you're able to', and if you like to laugh at bad movies that are trying to be serious then you need to finally get yourself on the MST3K and Rifftrax bandwagon.
- wileyschmitt
- Aug 2, 2017
- Permalink
It a great 90 min Sony Pictures action movie. Some alternate dimension stuff, bad guy with sweet powers and lots of pew pew. Elba and McConaughey are awesome. Fun times.
Imagine someone told all of Game of Thrones in one movie that was just an hour and a half, then cut out 99% of the story. :(
Granted, I have not read the books from Stephen King, but I am familiar with them as I used to work in a bookstore. I was looking forward to watching the adaptation of the novels here, and was expecting quite the unique experience.
"The Dark Tower" had a good story, albeit somewhat shallow in comparison to what I have heard about the novels from friends who read them.
They had a good cast, whom did indeed put on great acting performances in bringing out their characters on the screen.
One of the major things that kept "The Dark Tower" afloat for me was some really nice CGI and special effects throughout the entire movie.
Wonderful connection to "IT" (Pennywise) and good tie-in with The Shine ability from "The Shining", if you are familiar with those from other works of Stephen King.
All in all, then "The Dark Tower" was a tad above mediocre end result that could have been so much more. It just felt shallow and superficial, and it was definitely like they were in a rush to get through it. Which was a real shame, because it was painstakingly obvious throughout the entire movie, and it definitely served as an anchor holding it back.
"The Dark Tower" had a good story, albeit somewhat shallow in comparison to what I have heard about the novels from friends who read them.
They had a good cast, whom did indeed put on great acting performances in bringing out their characters on the screen.
One of the major things that kept "The Dark Tower" afloat for me was some really nice CGI and special effects throughout the entire movie.
Wonderful connection to "IT" (Pennywise) and good tie-in with The Shine ability from "The Shining", if you are familiar with those from other works of Stephen King.
All in all, then "The Dark Tower" was a tad above mediocre end result that could have been so much more. It just felt shallow and superficial, and it was definitely like they were in a rush to get through it. Which was a real shame, because it was painstakingly obvious throughout the entire movie, and it definitely served as an anchor holding it back.
- paul_haakonsen
- Jun 17, 2018
- Permalink
Yes, it has characters named after characters from the books. Yes, there is a Tower and a villain and a boy. And that's where ANY resemblance ends.
I could rant and rave about the total lack of Eddie, Susannah, or Oy. I could complain about the total change of the dynamic between the last of the line of Eld and the boy who said "Go, then. There are other worlds than these." I could mention the skipping of ALL the books and picking up at the beginning of the end (which isn't an end at all). All of that and more.
But I'd be wasting my breath.
Instead, I'll ignore the source material - just like the screenwriters did, apparently - and say the action scenes were rushed, the acting was flatter than flat, and the amount of deus ex machina displayed in every possible scene was breathtakingly arrogant. Can't think of a good way to resolve a conflict? Easy-peasy, a gateway or two with strobe lights!
I don't expect anyone to take seven books' worth of storyline and pack it into a single movie. But to completely ignore all source material and just cobble something unrelated together is unforgivable, especially with a story as fan-driven and notoriously complex as this one.
King fans are never going to settle for a halfway attempt when it comes to his opus - and this didn't even try to get halfway. The vague hints (a talking racoon commercial instead of Oy? Really?) and nods ("thankee-sai") aren't going to appease us, they're going to enrage us. And by the way, they're totally lost on anyone who isn't enraged.
As criminal as it is to slap the DT label on this thing and then tell people that it's just another iteration of the story, it is equally criminal to put Idris in a role for which he is a total mismatch; equally criminal to put McConn in one where he's limited to slithery evil one-liners and big grins. Both of these men have SO much more potential than is shown here, and the lack of story kept them on painfully short leashes.
Watching this was like lighting the fuse on an M-80 and tossing it in a garbage can... only to have it fizzle out. There's a wee bang, a puff of acrid smoke, and that's it. No glorious explosions and light shows. Just... disappointment and the sharp smell of defeat, and a hole in your wallet where your money used to be.
I could rant and rave about the total lack of Eddie, Susannah, or Oy. I could complain about the total change of the dynamic between the last of the line of Eld and the boy who said "Go, then. There are other worlds than these." I could mention the skipping of ALL the books and picking up at the beginning of the end (which isn't an end at all). All of that and more.
But I'd be wasting my breath.
Instead, I'll ignore the source material - just like the screenwriters did, apparently - and say the action scenes were rushed, the acting was flatter than flat, and the amount of deus ex machina displayed in every possible scene was breathtakingly arrogant. Can't think of a good way to resolve a conflict? Easy-peasy, a gateway or two with strobe lights!
I don't expect anyone to take seven books' worth of storyline and pack it into a single movie. But to completely ignore all source material and just cobble something unrelated together is unforgivable, especially with a story as fan-driven and notoriously complex as this one.
King fans are never going to settle for a halfway attempt when it comes to his opus - and this didn't even try to get halfway. The vague hints (a talking racoon commercial instead of Oy? Really?) and nods ("thankee-sai") aren't going to appease us, they're going to enrage us. And by the way, they're totally lost on anyone who isn't enraged.
As criminal as it is to slap the DT label on this thing and then tell people that it's just another iteration of the story, it is equally criminal to put Idris in a role for which he is a total mismatch; equally criminal to put McConn in one where he's limited to slithery evil one-liners and big grins. Both of these men have SO much more potential than is shown here, and the lack of story kept them on painfully short leashes.
Watching this was like lighting the fuse on an M-80 and tossing it in a garbage can... only to have it fizzle out. There's a wee bang, a puff of acrid smoke, and that's it. No glorious explosions and light shows. Just... disappointment and the sharp smell of defeat, and a hole in your wallet where your money used to be.
- cryfenril-38465
- Apr 22, 2018
- Permalink
If you're unable to recite every line of every Stephen King novel and are able to just sit and enjoy a romp of an adventure then this is worth a watch
It has a smattering of subtlety scary scenes which give you a hint of evil and it's well paced
The relationship between The Gunslinger and Jake is really endearing and maybe that's what drew me to this moreso than the plot etc....
I really enjoyed it, in fact I've watched it a couple of times.
It has a smattering of subtlety scary scenes which give you a hint of evil and it's well paced
The relationship between The Gunslinger and Jake is really endearing and maybe that's what drew me to this moreso than the plot etc....
I really enjoyed it, in fact I've watched it a couple of times.
- stevecheaney
- Jun 2, 2022
- Permalink
As far as I am concerned, there is no Dark Tower movie yet.
My wife and I went to see this movie last night. This is probably the only review I've done in the past 30 years and that's because I believe this was "UNFAIRLY REVIEWED BY CRITICS", so I'm hoping you'll give this movie a shot after reading what I have to say.
I almost didn't go because the movie review in USA Today newspaper only gave it one star. Some of the user reviews here didn't seem very enthusiastic about the movie either. I'm 67, retired, and a King fan (I've red The Dark Tower books). My wife is 70, retired and not a King fan (she hasn't read any of the Dark Tower books). Just to provide some additional perspective some of the movies we've seen so far this year and how we rated (in chronological order) The Founder 5, A Dog's Purpose 5, John Wick Chapter 2 5, Logan 6, Kong; Skull Island 7, Beauty and the Beast 7, Power Rangers 5, The Fate of the Furious 8, Guardians of the Galaxy 2nd Vol 8, Pirates of the Caribbean 4, Wonder Woman 9, The Mummy 5, Spider Man 6, War for the Planet of the Apes 8, and The Dark Tower 8.
I was worried standing in line to see the movie so when the previous show got out I started asking people (must have been close to 20) if the liked the show. (Would have asked more except my wife was feeling a little embarrassed.) Everyone said a hearty "Yes" except for one couple who shook their heads and said, "It wasn't like the books" and gave it a thumbs down. After that I was encouraged and looked forward to seeing the movie. I figured most of the critics were slamming it because it didn't follow the books closely. Frankly, from what I've seen, King books have always had a tough time being translated to the big screen.
Although this movie didn't follow the books "right on" the main gist of the plot and characters were there so I wasn't disappointed. Contrary to what some other critical and user reviews have said, the plot was cohesive, well thought out, and had similarities to the book. The acting was very well done all around, the action was excellent and was not jittery or blurry. It's easy to connect to the characters and the emotional points of the plot.
I started with a list of movies we've seen and how we rated so you can compare how similar, or not, your ratings were to put in perspective how likely you'd be to enjoy this movie. I wonder if critics and some users go to movies for reasons different from ours. We just want to see fun, entertaining, well acted movies that have been filmed and directed by good professionals. The ONLY ding we could give this movie was that it wasn't done in a manner similar to "Lord of the Rings" where it's carried out over 3 films with greater detail and depth. That might have been better, but maybe not. Regardless, I wish critics would at least rate movies like this with 2 stars as long as they're fun, well done and entertaining. There's no way this was a one-star film.
Unless you really need the movie to follow all the outline and plot of the books, I'm extremely confident you'll enjoy this movie. It's well worth going to the show to see. You'll like it!
I almost didn't go because the movie review in USA Today newspaper only gave it one star. Some of the user reviews here didn't seem very enthusiastic about the movie either. I'm 67, retired, and a King fan (I've red The Dark Tower books). My wife is 70, retired and not a King fan (she hasn't read any of the Dark Tower books). Just to provide some additional perspective some of the movies we've seen so far this year and how we rated (in chronological order) The Founder 5, A Dog's Purpose 5, John Wick Chapter 2 5, Logan 6, Kong; Skull Island 7, Beauty and the Beast 7, Power Rangers 5, The Fate of the Furious 8, Guardians of the Galaxy 2nd Vol 8, Pirates of the Caribbean 4, Wonder Woman 9, The Mummy 5, Spider Man 6, War for the Planet of the Apes 8, and The Dark Tower 8.
I was worried standing in line to see the movie so when the previous show got out I started asking people (must have been close to 20) if the liked the show. (Would have asked more except my wife was feeling a little embarrassed.) Everyone said a hearty "Yes" except for one couple who shook their heads and said, "It wasn't like the books" and gave it a thumbs down. After that I was encouraged and looked forward to seeing the movie. I figured most of the critics were slamming it because it didn't follow the books closely. Frankly, from what I've seen, King books have always had a tough time being translated to the big screen.
Although this movie didn't follow the books "right on" the main gist of the plot and characters were there so I wasn't disappointed. Contrary to what some other critical and user reviews have said, the plot was cohesive, well thought out, and had similarities to the book. The acting was very well done all around, the action was excellent and was not jittery or blurry. It's easy to connect to the characters and the emotional points of the plot.
I started with a list of movies we've seen and how we rated so you can compare how similar, or not, your ratings were to put in perspective how likely you'd be to enjoy this movie. I wonder if critics and some users go to movies for reasons different from ours. We just want to see fun, entertaining, well acted movies that have been filmed and directed by good professionals. The ONLY ding we could give this movie was that it wasn't done in a manner similar to "Lord of the Rings" where it's carried out over 3 films with greater detail and depth. That might have been better, but maybe not. Regardless, I wish critics would at least rate movies like this with 2 stars as long as they're fun, well done and entertaining. There's no way this was a one-star film.
Unless you really need the movie to follow all the outline and plot of the books, I'm extremely confident you'll enjoy this movie. It's well worth going to the show to see. You'll like it!
Stephen King's Dark Tower novels may have their flaws but they are nonetheless a highly creative juggernaut that deserved either a fully committed TV adaptation or to be simply left alone.
I'm not sure what was going through the heads of the people involved with this limp mess of a movie. it manages to achieve the double whammy of being completely incomprehensible to non-book readers whilst also being highly insulting to fans of the novels.
As for Matthew McConaughey, I've never been much of a fan and this tragic performance confirms my suspicions that he is one of the most one-dimensional and overrated actors in the business. Idris Elba manages to salvage some artistic integrity from the ruins with a reasonable performance but there is not much one can do with such a godforsaken script.
I love the Dark Tower novels and would recommend them to anybody. It would be difficult for even the best in the business to adequately bring the story to life through cinema but these clowns didn't even try. One of the laziest and Hollywood productions of all-time.
I'm not sure what was going through the heads of the people involved with this limp mess of a movie. it manages to achieve the double whammy of being completely incomprehensible to non-book readers whilst also being highly insulting to fans of the novels.
As for Matthew McConaughey, I've never been much of a fan and this tragic performance confirms my suspicions that he is one of the most one-dimensional and overrated actors in the business. Idris Elba manages to salvage some artistic integrity from the ruins with a reasonable performance but there is not much one can do with such a godforsaken script.
I love the Dark Tower novels and would recommend them to anybody. It would be difficult for even the best in the business to adequately bring the story to life through cinema but these clowns didn't even try. One of the laziest and Hollywood productions of all-time.
- Ruskington
- Aug 17, 2020
- Permalink
I have to be careful not to overstate this movie's grade. I have been guilty of doing that a few times immediately after a movie. Maybe the theater ambiance got to me or maybe one good scene stuck with me so I rate the entire movie based upon that. I can still say that this movie is good.
Idris Elba as the Gunslinger and Matthew McConaughey as the antagonist, Walter, were great. Their performances were right on point. They didn't do too much nor too little.
The story was also good. This movie was based upon a Stephen King novel of the same title and King rarely swings and misses. The base premise was that of good versus evil. More specifically it was about the demon world seeking entry into the human world and the coalition of gunslinger, seer, and shiner attempting to prevent it.
There was some good action in a measured amount. Likewise, there was a small dose of comedic scenes to provide levity as there were the heavy scenes that caused the heart to pound. I enjoyed the movie and I could definitely see there being a sequel.
Idris Elba as the Gunslinger and Matthew McConaughey as the antagonist, Walter, were great. Their performances were right on point. They didn't do too much nor too little.
The story was also good. This movie was based upon a Stephen King novel of the same title and King rarely swings and misses. The base premise was that of good versus evil. More specifically it was about the demon world seeking entry into the human world and the coalition of gunslinger, seer, and shiner attempting to prevent it.
There was some good action in a measured amount. Likewise, there was a small dose of comedic scenes to provide levity as there were the heavy scenes that caused the heart to pound. I enjoyed the movie and I could definitely see there being a sequel.
- view_and_review
- Aug 6, 2017
- Permalink
This film spent a decade in production hell and anyone who has read the series knows that to call it unfilmable is an understatement. It is a genre bending sci-fi western fantasy supernatural horror time travel tale that takes place in an interdimensional multi-verse that includes our own Keystone Earth with visits all over those other worlds. Even knowing where to start filming this could take 6 months to debate. This isn't a perfect movie and it is going to mystify a lot of people that need everything explained to them or a box to put it in. A lot of people will dismiss that as bad filmmaking. I thought they captured the essence of the story and laid down some good groundwork. It is a brisk 95 minutes but it felt over 2 hours, and it is a rare film where that is a compliment. I had LOW expectations. I've followed the making of this thing since the start and there have been some decisions that were... questionable. I walked away mildly impressed. And in this case that is probably high praise. I won't be recommending it to anyone that isn't familiar with the books. In short: I liked it, but I was willing to give it a chance. I hope it gets a sequel and they can start filling in the worlds without all the exposition that was necessary to get this one moving.
- talismanthirteen
- Aug 2, 2017
- Permalink
Those who tried to turn The Dark Tower series by Stephen King into a movie, have forgotten the face of their fathers. They did not aim with their hearts..
Hopefully some day the King's magnus opus will get the remake(s) it deserves. With enough time, attention and heart to explore its full, rich potential in depth and spirit.
I believe Idris Elba could have worked and I'm wondering what happened.. Did the director fall asleep? Did he not see the big flatline? McConaughey could've worked too, but.. when all is hollowed out, what conquest is left to be made.. There is no Darkness, no White here..
We're left to watch a cheap, commercial flimsy pumped up with some action. Nothing but another typical hollow, hollywood cliche production. Have they not read the books? King's inspirations? Serge Leone's masterfully directed spaghetti Westerns to name just one of many...
If you're into a fast and simple movie snack, go for it. Otherwise, I urge you to read the books. They are more than worth your time and investment! Engaging, enlightening magic from a true wordslinger!
Hopefully some day the King's magnus opus will get the remake(s) it deserves. With enough time, attention and heart to explore its full, rich potential in depth and spirit.
I believe Idris Elba could have worked and I'm wondering what happened.. Did the director fall asleep? Did he not see the big flatline? McConaughey could've worked too, but.. when all is hollowed out, what conquest is left to be made.. There is no Darkness, no White here..
We're left to watch a cheap, commercial flimsy pumped up with some action. Nothing but another typical hollow, hollywood cliche production. Have they not read the books? King's inspirations? Serge Leone's masterfully directed spaghetti Westerns to name just one of many...
If you're into a fast and simple movie snack, go for it. Otherwise, I urge you to read the books. They are more than worth your time and investment! Engaging, enlightening magic from a true wordslinger!
- gottenkieny
- Aug 27, 2018
- Permalink
I had hoped to watch Roland-Idris quietly move through a vast and surreal desert (the book like).
Both Jake (kid) and Walter (villain) get more screen time than Roland however. And 75% takes place in NYC, not Mid-World. (If I wanted NYC, would have stayed home and watched Seinfeld or Goodfellas....)
Casting was great.
Ending was horrid.
An extra star for the attempt of S. King multiverse. They even stole half the plot from Doc Sleep.
I assume all plans for sequels and a spin off show are now dead & buried.
Matthew McConaughey should reprise the character in a remake of The Stand (HBO).
Both Jake (kid) and Walter (villain) get more screen time than Roland however. And 75% takes place in NYC, not Mid-World. (If I wanted NYC, would have stayed home and watched Seinfeld or Goodfellas....)
Casting was great.
Ending was horrid.
An extra star for the attempt of S. King multiverse. They even stole half the plot from Doc Sleep.
I assume all plans for sequels and a spin off show are now dead & buried.
Matthew McConaughey should reprise the character in a remake of The Stand (HBO).
I was warned by trusted friends that, as a fan of the books, I would be sorely disappointed with this movie. I didn't listen
I was warned by trusted friends that the movie bears only the merest passing resemblance to the books, and butchers even those points. I didn't listen
I was warned by trusted friends that - even if viewed without any prior knowledge of the the books - it was still a terrible movie in it's own right. I didn't listen.
I'm grateful that I didn't pay anything (other than my time) to watch this movie, and I will never doubt my trusted friends again.
It saddens me to think about they wasted the incredible opportunity this movie represented. Maybe some day, someone will do the books justice and not just make crap like this as a quick money-grab.
I was warned by trusted friends that the movie bears only the merest passing resemblance to the books, and butchers even those points. I didn't listen
I was warned by trusted friends that - even if viewed without any prior knowledge of the the books - it was still a terrible movie in it's own right. I didn't listen.
I'm grateful that I didn't pay anything (other than my time) to watch this movie, and I will never doubt my trusted friends again.
It saddens me to think about they wasted the incredible opportunity this movie represented. Maybe some day, someone will do the books justice and not just make crap like this as a quick money-grab.
- rickbrightwell-399-560921
- Jan 30, 2019
- Permalink
Ka like a Wheel; a phrase repeated often in the books refers to fate being like a wheel in that it rolls on and on and you can either roll with it or be crushed by it. What goes around, comes around is another way of looking at it and Everything's Eventual is still another. There are a lot of things wrong with this movie however there are a lot more things right with it. First off, Robin Furth had a hand in the story and if that name is unfamiliar to you, you have forgotten the face of your father. Robin is the majordomo behind Marvel's amazing Dark Tower comic book series. She was also Stephen King's personal consultant when crafting the second half of his epic series of novels. In Mr. King's own words (and also in my opinion) "She knows this stuff better than I do." So, be sure that the minds behind this movie have a deep understanding and appreciation of the source material. Secondly, this is not an adaptation. This is an original story set in the same universe as the novels. If you followed the series you know that there are other worlds than these and this movie takes place in one of those other infinite possibilities. There are echoes of the books of course, enough to earn a knowing chuckle from the Constant Reader and enough Stephen King Easter Eggs to fill a basket of Youtube "What you Missed" type videos. The characters are true to themselves. Jake is Jake, Roland is Roland, and Matthew McConaughey's Walter o'Dim a.k.a Randall Flagg a.k.a. The Man in Black is so deliciously vile his performance alone is worth the price of admission. If you're a Stephen King fan you owe it to yourself to see this new chapter in Roland's eternal quest. Certainly the movie has problems just as certainly as the books did. Just ignore the ending as much as you did the last two books and you'll have a great time.
- comicempguy
- Aug 4, 2017
- Permalink
Truth be told though not terrible I've never been a fan of The Dark Tower books, I've read 5/7 and though being a huge Stephen King fan I could never seem to get into them.
Upon hearing that The Dark Tower was being turned into a feature movie however I was quite excited, until I heard the casting........until I saw the writer.....and until I saw the trailer. My expectations crumbled and I felt so bad for any real fans of the franchise.
Not only is The Dark Tower not loyal but I've never seen something encapsulate Hollywood so fiercely.
Let's break it down. We have the dark brooding hero (Who wields Excalibur no less) versus a charismatic villain. The good guy is protecting a child who is key to everything and the bad guy has lots of generic monstrous minions to do his bidding? Sound even remotely original?
Top that off with all your usual clichés, Hollywood tropes and 90 minute runtime and you have a seven book epic compacted beyond belief and smeared with cinematic "Magic"
I wanted to like this, I wanted to be proved wrong but this is the biggest mess since Death Note (2017)
The Good:
McConaughey is great
The Bad:
Not even remotely loyal to the books
Too "Hollywood"
Very anti-climatic
Upon hearing that The Dark Tower was being turned into a feature movie however I was quite excited, until I heard the casting........until I saw the writer.....and until I saw the trailer. My expectations crumbled and I felt so bad for any real fans of the franchise.
Not only is The Dark Tower not loyal but I've never seen something encapsulate Hollywood so fiercely.
Let's break it down. We have the dark brooding hero (Who wields Excalibur no less) versus a charismatic villain. The good guy is protecting a child who is key to everything and the bad guy has lots of generic monstrous minions to do his bidding? Sound even remotely original?
Top that off with all your usual clichés, Hollywood tropes and 90 minute runtime and you have a seven book epic compacted beyond belief and smeared with cinematic "Magic"
I wanted to like this, I wanted to be proved wrong but this is the biggest mess since Death Note (2017)
The Good:
McConaughey is great
The Bad:
Not even remotely loyal to the books
Too "Hollywood"
Very anti-climatic
- Platypuschow
- Oct 21, 2017
- Permalink
I've been reading these books for over two decades now. I was really pumped about the movie. I saw the very first showing, and I can say that the negative reviews coming out about this film are unwarranted.
First, you have to keep in mind what they were hoping to achieve with this movie given the budget. It's a similar play to that of the first Hunger Games movie. If they get some traction with this one, then the subsequent movies/TV series get twice the money to work with. I personally think that they did a fantastic job with this first effort.
The acting was solid. The story was actually pretty good. It had some great actions sequences, and the CGI was surprisingly good (most of the time). It was also a very efficient use of time. Every scene helped explain the Dark Tower lore to new audiences.
It was a fun action flick that doesn't try to repeat the experience of reading the books. I'll always have the novels. I wasn't expecting this movie to recreate that experience for me.
Plus, as a die hard fan from way back, it was just great to see Roland and Jake on screen for the first time. It just felt right.
Give it a try with an open mind.
First, you have to keep in mind what they were hoping to achieve with this movie given the budget. It's a similar play to that of the first Hunger Games movie. If they get some traction with this one, then the subsequent movies/TV series get twice the money to work with. I personally think that they did a fantastic job with this first effort.
The acting was solid. The story was actually pretty good. It had some great actions sequences, and the CGI was surprisingly good (most of the time). It was also a very efficient use of time. Every scene helped explain the Dark Tower lore to new audiences.
It was a fun action flick that doesn't try to repeat the experience of reading the books. I'll always have the novels. I wasn't expecting this movie to recreate that experience for me.
Plus, as a die hard fan from way back, it was just great to see Roland and Jake on screen for the first time. It just felt right.
Give it a try with an open mind.
- justinwright-05174
- Aug 3, 2017
- Permalink
Stephen King is a master of many things, and Hollywood has never been afraid to capitalize on the epic tales he has crafted over the years. This weekend his legendary Dark Tower series gets its own chance to "shine" and prove to fans that the series can continue on. Did Sony studios plan to make a "sequel" to the books thrive, or will if fall victim to the shortcuts the film industry often takes. Robbie K here to share his thoughts on another movie. Why don't we get started then?
LIKES:
Nice Set Up: Doing my research, I realized where the directors were planning on taking this film franchise and the books it is based on. The Dark Tower acts as a "sequel" to the books and builds as an introduction to the series. It sets a nice framework up for those who haven't read the series and prepares us for an adventure that could span multiple films/shows in the future. It has simplified the complexity of King's work and thrown hints at how his worlds are connected, perhaps inspiring some rewatching of his classics.
Action Scene: Dark Tower primarily is about opening us up to a world and setting the pieces and that unfortunately doesn't bring much action. However, the group managed to put a dazzling piece together involving our gunslinger and a round of minions. Idris Elba finally gets to show off his legendary skills, outside of acting, as the lone gunslinger in his quest to stop the forces of evil. The stunts are epic, the editing is on point, and the violence is contained to not be overly gory but still strong enough to be considered action instead of a bland use of a gun. It took the movie long enough to get to this point, but I thoroughly enjoyed the climax fight.
The Acting: I'm not calling this the world's best acting, or even Oscar Worthy on most levels, but the acting is decent in the Dark Tower. Tom Taylor as the new kid with the shine, does a decent job playing the troubled, awkward kid and portraying that strange view of the world. His other emotions, however, needs a little work as these come off dry, awkward, and sometimes a bit underwhelming given the circumstance. Matthew McConaughey brings his Lexus commercial approach to the mix, the cool delivery of his lines, holding an air of superiority and malicious intent. He has the villain role down and instills a bit of chill when he appears on the scene. Of course, the champion of this movie is Idris himself, hitting the role with 100% accuracy. Elba's got the rogue part down and the edgy, loner bravado brings the bang to the proverbial gun. And the chemistry Elba has with his cast only amps up his skills, a talent I always like to see.
DISLIKES:
Rushed: Sure the movie made a nice framework for introducing the series to nonreaders, it failed to deliver those important details. The Dark Tower leaves a lot questions unanswered in terms of the origins of all the pieces involved in this war. As for the parts they do fill in, these are lacking on so many levels, lacking real depth or mystery to get you hooked into the film. Even worse, much of the quest has little in regards to obstacles, with most problems being solved with little effort. You get to hear all about the things lying in wait, but their actual involvement in the movie is little to none. While this not only limits the story, it also limits the special effects and creature design we could have gotten as well. A few CGI and makeup effects stand out, but the Dark Tower's first film is rather lackluster given the potential of King's books.
Anticlimactic: Much of the movie is rather dull, drawn out in a manner of theoretical talks of ideal brain power, anarchy, and abduction. All the fancy words and magic didn't help a limited dialog that can be boiled down into a single-minded set of plots that we hear over and over again. When things finally get going, and all the hot air from the cast is lit aflame the action barely catches light before being snuffed out. With the exception of one scene (see likes), The Dark Tower's gun slinging is not what I expected. This is particular true for the final fight between antagonist and protagonist that was more lame than impressive. All the hype and rivalry to end so abruptly, not the direction I would have taken.
Predictable/Lazy: There was so much potential placed on this movie, and the trailer painted what could have been an epic adventure. Yet, somewhere the film fell victim to cheap shortcuts, low use of nightmarish effects, and a direction that went down the wrong tangent for an opening. It felt uninspired and lazy at times, and perhaps they cut a lot of good parts to fit into the short run time.
The VERDICT:
Overall the Dark Tower is not bad when you understand the plan to expand upon in the years to come. As a stand-alone film, it does the job of introducing characters and the world, but it failed to reel me into the full-on adventure. With a rushed plot, easy challenges, and lazy production approach, this film is mediocre at best given the hype of everything. Therefore, this reviewer recommends holding off seeing this film until Redbox gets it in stock.
My scores:
Action/Adventure/Fantasy: 6.5 Movie Overall: 6.0
LIKES:
Nice Set Up: Doing my research, I realized where the directors were planning on taking this film franchise and the books it is based on. The Dark Tower acts as a "sequel" to the books and builds as an introduction to the series. It sets a nice framework up for those who haven't read the series and prepares us for an adventure that could span multiple films/shows in the future. It has simplified the complexity of King's work and thrown hints at how his worlds are connected, perhaps inspiring some rewatching of his classics.
Action Scene: Dark Tower primarily is about opening us up to a world and setting the pieces and that unfortunately doesn't bring much action. However, the group managed to put a dazzling piece together involving our gunslinger and a round of minions. Idris Elba finally gets to show off his legendary skills, outside of acting, as the lone gunslinger in his quest to stop the forces of evil. The stunts are epic, the editing is on point, and the violence is contained to not be overly gory but still strong enough to be considered action instead of a bland use of a gun. It took the movie long enough to get to this point, but I thoroughly enjoyed the climax fight.
The Acting: I'm not calling this the world's best acting, or even Oscar Worthy on most levels, but the acting is decent in the Dark Tower. Tom Taylor as the new kid with the shine, does a decent job playing the troubled, awkward kid and portraying that strange view of the world. His other emotions, however, needs a little work as these come off dry, awkward, and sometimes a bit underwhelming given the circumstance. Matthew McConaughey brings his Lexus commercial approach to the mix, the cool delivery of his lines, holding an air of superiority and malicious intent. He has the villain role down and instills a bit of chill when he appears on the scene. Of course, the champion of this movie is Idris himself, hitting the role with 100% accuracy. Elba's got the rogue part down and the edgy, loner bravado brings the bang to the proverbial gun. And the chemistry Elba has with his cast only amps up his skills, a talent I always like to see.
DISLIKES:
Rushed: Sure the movie made a nice framework for introducing the series to nonreaders, it failed to deliver those important details. The Dark Tower leaves a lot questions unanswered in terms of the origins of all the pieces involved in this war. As for the parts they do fill in, these are lacking on so many levels, lacking real depth or mystery to get you hooked into the film. Even worse, much of the quest has little in regards to obstacles, with most problems being solved with little effort. You get to hear all about the things lying in wait, but their actual involvement in the movie is little to none. While this not only limits the story, it also limits the special effects and creature design we could have gotten as well. A few CGI and makeup effects stand out, but the Dark Tower's first film is rather lackluster given the potential of King's books.
Anticlimactic: Much of the movie is rather dull, drawn out in a manner of theoretical talks of ideal brain power, anarchy, and abduction. All the fancy words and magic didn't help a limited dialog that can be boiled down into a single-minded set of plots that we hear over and over again. When things finally get going, and all the hot air from the cast is lit aflame the action barely catches light before being snuffed out. With the exception of one scene (see likes), The Dark Tower's gun slinging is not what I expected. This is particular true for the final fight between antagonist and protagonist that was more lame than impressive. All the hype and rivalry to end so abruptly, not the direction I would have taken.
Predictable/Lazy: There was so much potential placed on this movie, and the trailer painted what could have been an epic adventure. Yet, somewhere the film fell victim to cheap shortcuts, low use of nightmarish effects, and a direction that went down the wrong tangent for an opening. It felt uninspired and lazy at times, and perhaps they cut a lot of good parts to fit into the short run time.
The VERDICT:
Overall the Dark Tower is not bad when you understand the plan to expand upon in the years to come. As a stand-alone film, it does the job of introducing characters and the world, but it failed to reel me into the full-on adventure. With a rushed plot, easy challenges, and lazy production approach, this film is mediocre at best given the hype of everything. Therefore, this reviewer recommends holding off seeing this film until Redbox gets it in stock.
My scores:
Action/Adventure/Fantasy: 6.5 Movie Overall: 6.0
Terrible 105 minute adaptation of the series that true fans have waited over 30 years for. They should really rethink this and fix the disaster that so many true fans think of it. They should make it a story worth watching (better than high school vampires and werewolves, and true fans will go to showings faster than Harry Potter could whip up a spell!)
- Tom-Collins76
- Apr 26, 2020
- Permalink
So I'll forewarn everyone this was one Stephen King book I haven't read, keep that in mind.
That said, I'm in my 30s and I actually enjoyed this movie. There are a few things here and there I have a beef with but overall it was quite entertaining and well made I thought. My biggest beef of which was casting McConaughey as the man in black. I like him, he's a great actor, but I just don't think he knows how to be truly sinister as I suspect would be appropriate for such a character. I can think of so many more genuinely creepy actors.
Also the whole "bad guy acts like he's this supernatural villain, yet he operates out of some Star Trek base camp" just didn't seem sinister enough to my liking.
But other than those two gripes, it was a great movie.
That said, I'm in my 30s and I actually enjoyed this movie. There are a few things here and there I have a beef with but overall it was quite entertaining and well made I thought. My biggest beef of which was casting McConaughey as the man in black. I like him, he's a great actor, but I just don't think he knows how to be truly sinister as I suspect would be appropriate for such a character. I can think of so many more genuinely creepy actors.
Also the whole "bad guy acts like he's this supernatural villain, yet he operates out of some Star Trek base camp" just didn't seem sinister enough to my liking.
But other than those two gripes, it was a great movie.
I'm not a fan of Stephen King and I haven't read the Dark Tower Books. I didn't know it was an S.King adaptation. If I could evaluate the movie as its own qualities it's nonsense that it deserves less than 6 stars. Scenes, actors, art direction, editing, sound mixing all were first class. What was missing was the quality and consistence of a sold script which stems from the imagination of Mr. King. I enjoyed this as a typical science fiction action movie.
- mhmt_korkmaz
- Jun 16, 2020
- Permalink