The Outsider, Lilja Speaks

My favorite Stephen King website has posted a great review of the upcoming Stephen King book, the Outsider.

"I love it," Lilja writes.

Check out the full review here: (liljas-library.com)

Ending The Mist Goes On

In an article titled, "The Mist, Love It Or Hate It," Lilja's Library posted a link to aintitcool news.  The article at aintitcool was a passionate defense of the ending of Frank Darabont's The Mist.  I loved it!  Totally disagree -- but enjoyed every bit of Quint's impassioned defense of dark endings.

The aintitcool article argues that not only are dark endings cool, but they are important for all movies because they add a layer of uncertainty to every movie watching experience.

Quint boils the issue of the Mist and the ending to this:

"So why does The Mist get singled out for its ending? I think people are a hundred times more comfortable with the idea of a big bad monster killing a person than the good guy having to pull the trigger."

I think he's right.  Really right.  And then he swings a home run,

"It would have been awful if a tentacle had come out of the gray clouds surrounding that car and yanked little Nathan Gamble out the window, sucking him into the mist for good, but people would have forgiven that. What many folks can't forgive is that Tom Jane's David Drayton is the one to kill his son."

Is this a nerd debate?  I suspected if you asked most people, they'd say, NO!  This is serious stuff.  But in truth -- it's a minor argument over a few seconds of film.  In big the scheme of things, doe sit really matter?  YES!  . . . oh, wait, my wife tells me she's never worried once about the end of The Mist.  Event though she saw it.  Not once since did she give a lot of thought to it.  Sigh.  Maybe it is a nerd debate; but it's an interesting one.

It's About Character

But let me be clear why it doesn't work for me.  It's that we are asked at the end of the movie to believe something about Drayton's character never presented to us in the rest of the film.  Let's just say, the guy at the end of the film isn't a guy I'd feel comfortable falling asleep in his car.  Throughout the film, Drayton is shown as stoic, strong, logical and ready to fight.  But when actually confronted by the monsters -- he doesn't fight, he kills his kid.  Grown men -- good guys -- don't kill little kids.  That's a pretty straight forward statement -- and it's true.  I'm not comfortable with a movie ending that tries to make the murder of a child A-OK; even cool.  I wonder if people who think this is a great ending have kids.  Of course, father's do kill their children.  And we as a society have agreed we're not cool with that.

Can you think of another scenario where it's okay for a father to kill his child?  Maybe a rapist breaks into the house, is about to rape his daughter -- so he shoots his daughter to save her from the rapist.  Doesn't work, does it?  Why?  Because you think, "why doesn't he just shoot the bad guy?"  Which make us wonder, why doesn't Drayton have any fight in him?  Why did he leave with no real plan to take on the enemy?  Wait -- But what if there's a lot of rapist after the father's girl, and he only has one bullet?  Would it be okay then to say, "You don't get my daughter!" and shoot her?  No.

Of course, The Mist offers a level of despair somewhere beyond the situations I suggested.  Because things look utterly hopeless to Drayton.  Drayton's decision at the end of the movie is a response to his own fear and hopelessness.  But he went out into the mist ready to fight and survive.  So all of his survival instincts wash away in an instant?

I'll just say that for me, the ending doesn't work because it's not the character we were presented with throughout the movie.

What I Like

My disagreement with Quint doesn't mean I didn't take his point.  In fact, I do have a new respect for the ending of The Mist; I see it through new eyes.  I don't agree, but I appreciate the perspective.  And I agree, dark endings are important.  I just want them to be -- logical.

In fact, I'm embarrassed (but not overly read faced!) to admit that Quint spots something I totally missed.  Remember Melissa McBride, who ran into the Mist to get home to her kids?  Quint writes:

Then there's the reveal that they were moments away from being saved. I'd say most who don't like the ending think it's because of this timing, but I'm not so sure. Their salvation was only moments away, but the real knife twist is when we see Melissa McBride and her family being transported past a completely broken Drayton.

What?  Of course everyone else saw it and got it -- but my entire focus was on what just happened, not on what was happening on screen.  No matter how many times I've seen that ending, I missed it!  Quint explains why that particular detail is so unnerving:

You see, he played it safe from the beginning. He did everything logically, thought through his options, and still this awful -- happened to him, yet she was reckless and ran into the mist to get home to her kids, danger be damned. She made it, her family made it, but calm, cool and collected David Drayton did not.

That's a great insight.  Of course, I didn't have that reaction, because I didn't  pick up on the fact that the lady at the end is the same lady who ran into the mist.  I was still thinking about Drayton's handy work with his gun.

Check out the article at aintitcool -- I liked it a lot.aintitcool.com

Rocky Wood

My favorite Stephen King website posted some sad news today:

Today is a very sad day because a friend and King expert; Rocky Wood has passed away. I think many of us knew he was terminally ill. I have for years but I had no idea that it would happen so soon.

 I never met Rocky in person but we spoke through email and he often sent me news bits for the site, the last one less than a month ago. I will miss him a lot!

 Walk in peace my friend, there are other worlds than these...

(liljas-library.com/article)

Stephen King said about Wood:
Rocky Wood was my go-to guy for all things Shining, providing me with names and dates I had either forgotten or plain got wrong. He also provided reams of info on every recreational vehicle and camper under the sun (the coolest was Rose’s EarthCruiser). The Rock knows my work better than I do myself. Look him up on the web sometime. He’s got it going on.
-Stephen King in the Author’s Note to Doctor Sleep

Wood was author of:

•The Complete Guide to the Works of Stephen King 

•Stephen King: Uncollected, Unpublished 

•Stephen King: The Non-Fiction 

•Stephen King: A Literary Companion 

Check out his website at: www.rockywoodauthor.com

Lilja weighs in on REVIVAL

Check out my favorite Stephen King website, www.liljas-library.com.  He has posted a review of Revival.  Now, honestly, Lilja's reviews are my favorites because -- well, he actually understands Stephen King's work. He's always honest when something doesn't work; and is able  to spot unique things King does.  

I like this -- "the last 50 pages are really dark."

Check out the review for yourself.

A Good Marriage lands a 5/10 From JoBlo

Lilja's Library pointed King fans to the first review of A Good Marriage, posted at joblo.com.  How'd it do?   Chris Bumbray gave it a five out of ten.

"Sadly," Bumray writes, "King's connection is really the only thing that distinguishes the movie from your run of the mill low budget thriller."

That's disappointing.  I had high hopes for this movie.  So, what will I do?  Ignore Bumray until I see the movie for myself.  As Bumray notes, "if you're a Stephen King completist you'll want to see this regardless. . . " YEP!

King on TV

This is reposted  from my favorite Stephen King website, liljas-library.com/

Don't miss King on TV today!

CBS This Morning
WHEN: approximately 8:30am ET/PT (live on the east coast) (“CBS This Morning” airs 7am-9am ET/PT)
ONLINE: http://www.cbsnews.com/cbs-this-morning/

The View
WHEN: approximately 11:25am ET/ 10:25am PT (”The View” airs 11:00am-noon ET/ 10:00am-11:00am PT)
ONLINE: http://abc.go.com/shows/the-view

HuffPost Live
WHEN: 2:00pm-2:30pm ET/ 11:00am-11:30am PT (live)
TUNE-IN: http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/stephen-king-a-good-marriage-revival/5409e8b9fe3444b410000446

Late Night with Seth Meyers
WHEN: approximately 12:50am ET/PT (“Late Night w/ Seth Meyers airs 12:30am-1:30am ET/PT)
ONLINE: http://www.nbc.com/late-night-with-seth-meyers

Review Of Stephen King Action Figure

I love this line, "What's so great about this figure is that authors don't usually get action figures made out of them.  Actually, I don't think an authors ever been made into an action figure."

Waiting for my Ray Bradbury, Rod  Serling, Robert McCammon, Dean Koontz, Robert Bloch, Poe action figures.

"As to any kind of likeness to Stephen King, this would  get a zero."

I first saw this at my favorite Stephen King website, liljas-library.com/

John Grisham Accepts Stephen King Challenge

I first spotted this at Lilja's Library.

DUTCH Revival Cover

source: liljas-library.com

This is the Dutch cover for Revival. I found this at Lilja's Library.  Lilja is currently seeking obscure foreign editions of Stephen King's work.  It's a pretty neat project.  Of course, Dutch isn't obscure.  AND -- I like this cover A LOT.  It may be just the complete let down of the American edition.

I  wrote to Cemetery Dance and asked them if they would be producing a special edition of Revival.  I opted for the CD edition of both Doctor Sleep and Full Dark, No Stars, over a First Edition.  Their books are always beautiful.  However, the publisher emailed back to say that they did not have plans for a special edition of Revival.

What exactly is Revival?  There is a book description out, that still doesn't reveal much.   King said it was a nasty little novel.  Are we in for a treat?

Robin Williams

We'll miss you, Robin.

According to Lilja's Library, Robin Williams were considered for the part of Jack in Kubrick’s The Shining. Lilja writes, "That would have been interesting!"  No kidding!

A few of his movies.  I highlighted my favorites.  What is your favorite Robin Williams movie?

•  2014  Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (post-production) , Teddy Roosevelt 
• 2014  Merry Friggin' Christmas (post-production) , Mitch 
• 2014  The Angriest Man in Brooklyn , Henry Altmann 
• 2014  Boulevard , Nolan Mack 
• 2013-2014  The Crazy Ones (TV Series) , Simon Roberts 
• 2013  The Face of Love , Roger 
• 2013/ Lee Daniels' The Butler , Dwight D. Eisenhower 
• 2013  The Big Wedding , Father Moinighan 
• 2012  Louie (TV Series) , Robin 
• 2012  Wilfred (TV Series) , Dr. Eddy 
• 2011  Happy Feet Two , Ramon / Lovelace (voice) 
• 2009/ Old Dogs , Dan 
• 2009  Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian , Teddy Roosevelt 
• 2009/ World's Greatest Dad , Lance 
• 2009  Shrink , Holden 
• 2008  Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series) , Merritt Rook 
• 2007  August Rush , Maxwell 'Wizard' Wallace 
• 2007  License to Wed , Reverend Frank 
• 2006  Night at the Museum , Teddy Roosevelt 
• 2006  Happy Feet , Ramon / Lovelace (voice) 
• 2006  Man of the Year , Tom Dobbs 
• 2006  Everyone's Hero , Napoleon Cross (voice, uncredited) 
• 2006  RV , Bob Munro 
• 2006  The Night Listener , Gabriel Noone 
• 2005  The Big White , Paul Barnell 
• 2005  Robots , Fender (voice) 
• 2004  Noel , Charlie Boyd / The Priest (uncredited) 
• 2004  House of D , Pappass 
• 2004  The Final Cut , Alan Hakman 
• 2003  Life with Bonnie (TV Series) , Kevin Powalski 
• 2003  Freedom: A History of Us (TV Series documentary) 
• 2002  Insomnia , Walter Finch 
• 2002  Death to Smoochy , Rainbow Randolph 
• 2002  One Hour Photo , Seymour Parrish 
• 2001  A.I. Artificial Intelligence , Dr. Know (voice) 
• 1999  Bicentennial Man , Andrew Martin 
• 1999  Jakob the Liar , Jakob 
• 1998  Patch Adams , Patch Adams 
• 1998  What Dreams May Come , Chris Nielsen  
• 1997  Good Will Hunting , Sean Maguire 
• 1997  Flubber , Professor Philip Brainard 
• 1997  Deconstructing Harry , Mel 
• 1997  Fathers' Day , Dale Putley  
• 1996  Hamlet , Osric 
• 1996  The Secret Agent , Assassin (uncredited) 
• 1996  Jack , Jack Powell 
• 1996  The Birdcage, Armand Goldman 
• 1995  Jumanji , Alan Parrish 
• 1995  Nine Months , Dr. Kosevich 
• 1994  Being Human, Hector 
• 1993  Mrs. Doubtfire , Daniel Hillard / Mrs. Doubtfire 
• 1992  Toys , Leslie Zevo 
• 1992  Aladdin , Genie / Merchant (voice) 
• 1991  Hook , Peter Banning 
• 1991  The Fisher King , Parry 
• 1991  Shakes the Clown , Mime Class Instructor (as Marty Fromage) 
• 1991  Dead Again , Doctor Cozy Carlisle 
• 1990  Awakenings , Dr. Malcolm Sayer 
• 1990  Cadillac Man , Joey O'Brien 
• 1989  Dead Poets Society , John Keating 
• 1988  The Adventures of Baron Munchausen , King of the Moon (as Ray D. Tutto) 
• 1987  Good Morning, Vietnam , Adrian Cronauer
• 1986  Seize the Day , Tommy Wilhelm 
• 1986  Club Paradise , Jack Moniker 
• 1986  The Best of Times , Jack Dundee 
• 1984  Moscow on the Hudson , Vladimir Ivanoff 
• 1983  The Survivors , Donald Quinelle 
• 1982  The World According to Garp , Garp 
• 1980  Popeye , Popeye 

and, of course. . . Mork and Mindy

Awesome Cover For THE SHINING

I found this on my favorite Stephen King website, www.liljas-library.com

Lilja posted:

The 44th language that a King book is translated into has been found. Today I found out that The Shining has been translated into Breton. Breton is a celtic language that's spoken in western France, the Brittany region and what’s extra interesting is that only 200,000 people have Breton as their native language. Very impressive that they now got their own translation of a King book if you ask me.

While you're at Lilja's Library,  you can send him a photo of yourself  and Mr.  Mercedes and be sure to take the "Author Photo Quiz."  --no,  it's not that easy!

Esquire Offers New KING Story UPDATED

This was first posted at Lilja's Library -- which is a well written King site with LOTS of  news, information and interviews.  Check  it out at liljas-library.com/

Apparently the August edition of Esquire  will be running a new story from Stephen King.  Of course,  none of my local stores have Esquire -- and so I must wait patiently.  Waiting is only made easier by the fact that I still have a few pages of Mr. Mercedes to finish up.

UPDATED: (from Lilja's Library)

King's upcoming story in Esquire Magazine is called That Bus Is Another World.

PHOTO: liljas-library.com

PHOTO: liljas-library

Lilja's Pictures Of Mr. Mercedes

I'm loving the pictures Lilja's Library is posting of people with the new Stephen King book, Mr. Mercedes.  (It's not a contest, just fun)  Check it out here: www.liljas-library.com/mmspecial.php

And -- that's my Susie girl.

Link: Lilja's Library Posting STEPHEN KING AND THE SIMPSONS

liljas-library.com is my favorite Stephen King website.  Today, he posted a great article on Stephen King and The Simpsons.  Lilja writes:

The new King Simpson’s figurine got me thinking. King and Matt Groening (the creator of The Simpsons) both played in the band The Rock Bottom Remainders and I know Matt used King and his books several times in the show. Here are a few, maybe you know more?

Go check out the article, and the youtube video's he compiled.

Under The Dome Trailer

From: Lilja's Library

Mr. Mercedes Cover Wrap

From my favorite Stephen King website: www.liljas-library.com/

Bad Little Kid

BAD LITTLE KID (in french : "SALE GOSSE")

From stephenking.com: Stephen's visit in Germany and France last November was not only for his fans a very special event, but also for him. To thank all his German and French fans for their warm welcome he came up with a great idea: He wrote a story, "Bad Little Kid", which will be available in e-book format from 14th of March just in German (Böser kleiner Junge) and French (Sale Gosse).

Lilja's Library gives this summery of Bad Little Kid: George Hallas is in prison. In one week, he is to be executed. He has remained silent for a long time, but now he opens up to his public defender, Leonard Bradley. He tells him how his dreadful deed came to pass. For Bradley, the confession will eventuelly have spooky consequences.

Club Stephen King offered this, "A diabolical kid who cause the inevitable death of your relatives, a bad little kid who has led George Hallas, accountant, in the death row. And that may, one day, cross your path."

Mr. Mercedes UK Cover

CELL filming

Dread Central posted pictures today from the filming of CELL.  Where did they get the pictures?  Via my favorite King website,  Lilja's Library

The Dread Central article notes,

Paranormal Activity 2's Tod “Kip” Williams is directing; John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson star in the film, which recently began shooting in Atlanta. Producers are Richard Saperstein, Michael Benaroya, Brian Witten, and Shara Kay. The screenplay was written by Stephen King with revisions by Adam Alleca. 

Fuhrman plays a teenage neighbor of Cusack’s character who joins him and Jackson on their journey to safety after a mysterious pulse spreads like a virus through the human population. Keach will play the headmaster of a prep school where the survivors stop along their way.

LILJA'S LIBRARY: Aaron Paul A Possible For Eddie Dean

Posted from my favorite Stephen King website, Lilja's Library:

Aaron Paul as Eddie Dean? Well, maybe. This is from Cinema Blend:

We’ve heard this before. But Paul was in Sundance recently promoting a new film, and was asked by Ain’t It Cool News about the Dark Tower books and whether he’d ever been considered for Dean. The character is a strung-out junkie pulled into a mystical realm by the story’s main hero, Roland, a gunslinger. Dean becomes a hero, despite his numerous flaws. Sounds a lot like Jessie, no? Anyway, Paul says that he hasn’t read all of the books (there are seven), but dropped this huge bomb:

Here is what he said...

I've had a ton of meetings on that. I just had a general sit down with Ron Howard, who is a huge fan of the show, which is such a crazy thing to even think that Ron Howard even knows who I am. They're definitely planning on making it. … I'm excited. Their goal is to do three films, but also have a television element to it, which will be very interesting. From what I hear, Eddie Dean is a pretty epic, iconic character.