Dread Central: Pierce Brosnan to Star In Bag of Bones

I'm really excited about the Bag Of Bones mini-series!  More than that, it appears Mick Garris has gotten some true talent to star.  This is from Dread Central:

With Mick Garris' adaptation of the Stephen King novel Bag of Bones going before cameras very soon, the first bit of casting news has slinked its way online and we have it for you right here! Dig it!



Sea and Be Scene reports that Pierce Brosnan is set to star in the mini-series as Mike Noonan. Pretty nifty! Look for more casting news to come sooner than you think. We'll keep you posted.


Thanks to DC reader John Swinimer.

http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/45196/pierce-brosnan-rattle-stephen-kings-bag-bones

Dread Central previously posted that "Garris will be directing a four-hour miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s Bag of Bones, which fans will be able to check out on network television sometime in 2011."

Does Stand By Me = Super 8

Jeff Jensen has one whale of a math equation! 

Stand By Me
+ Dazed and Confused
+ (Day For Night x Ed Wood)
+ (Jaws x ET)
x .5 Bambi
+ Cloverland
______________________
= Super 8

Fuzzy math, you say?  Maybe, but it's more fun than I ever had in math class.  Check out the article and try to follow that math equation -- there might be at test.

The answer -- does the equation work -- is "no".  Reason: the equation is incomplete. And, it has extra numbers -- Cloverland, come on! 

IT was a fantastic mini-series, minus the stupid adults!  And Super 8's club is nothing short of a "losers club."   Also, the formula does not need Cloverland.  That belongs on another chalkboard as a separate equation.

Here's the correct equation:

Stand By Me
+ Dazed and Confused
+ (Day For Night x Ed Wood)
+ (Jaws x ET)
x.5 Bambi
+ (IT - minus the adult actors and Pennywise)
______________________
= Super 8

Okay, go check out the math. It is fun reading. . .

http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/06/10/super-8-movie-math/

WILLA - Clayton Watson mini Interview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYFtM_ndFl8

Check out this "mini interview" with Clayton Watson, who is playing David  in the movie version of Willa.  He does note what a good job the script did with King's source material. 

Filming appears to be progressing as planned, with the studio noting yesterday, "Willa wrapped the first part of the shoot and they are getting ready for the second one in August."

 

Stephen King's Comic Biography

My copy of Stephen King's comic biography came a couple of weeks ago.  I got my copy as part of a Stephen King grab bag from Cemetery Dance.  I've read it through several times -- and enjoyed it a lot.

The text was written by Michael Lent and Brian McCarthy.  Kent Hulburt did the penciling and colors.  Bernie Lee did the letters.

The narrative moves along familiar lines, starting with the car accident.  There's lots of blood here!  The story also shows King's father walking out, and King's comment "We were latchkey kids before there were latchkey kids.  And she was a female wage earner when, basically, women did scut work and cleaned up other peoples messes." 

Most interesting is the inclusion of a story from King's boyhood not previously mentioned.  a friend wanted to crush a penny -- and so he placed it on the train track.  The worst thing imaginable happened, and the text notes that even as an adult King cannot recall the details of the event.

There is not a lot of new information here, except confirmation of a story from King's boyhood  But the new format held my interest.  I don't think I'm a good comic book reader.  There are scene shifts on the same page that don't make sense to me.  For instance, we are told that King had an uncle who could find water underground using a stick.  Scene below that shows king finding a box of his dads.  I don't understand the connection to King's uncle. 

It is neat to see the story from King's point of view.  When the doctor puts a needle in his ear, doc first just looks like any other doctor.  As the pain increases, the doctor looks like a demon, horns popping from his head and back.

the comic sells for $3.99 and is from Bluewater Comics.  One ad also stood out; Cinema St.Lous is having a Vincentennial -- "The Vincent Price 100th Birthday Celebration." 

http://www.joblo.com/horror-movies/news/stephen-kings-comic-book-biography-orbit-stephen-king-hits-shelves-this-week

Is Howard Wandering Away From The Tower?

Anthony Breznican at E.W.'s Inside Movie's has an article titled, "Ron Howard sidetracked from 'The Dark Tower' by Formula 1 racer?"  Is Howard losing heart for the Dark Tower?  Missy Davy, Howard's rep, says "The Dark Tower is still on track" for a start early next year. 

more here: http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/06/21/ron-howard-rush-dark-tower/

List: All Stephen King Movies!

Summer is here!  A time I usually spend watching some good Stephen King flicks.  Well, admitedly, not all rise to the lofty heights of "good"!  Here's a starter list of Stephen King movies.  Missing any?  (Yes, include dollar babies)

ADDITION: I am not counting those dreadful Children of the Corn sequals.  They did not come from the mind of Stephen King!

THE 70's

•Carrie (1976)
•Salem's Lot , miniseries (1979)


THE 80's

•Kubrick's The Shining (1980)
•Creepshow: "Father's Day," "The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verrill," "Something to Tide You Over," "The Crate," and "They're Creeping Up On You" (1982)
•The Boogeyman (1982)
•Cujo (1983)
•The Dead Zone (1983)
•Christine (1983)
•Disciples of the Crow (1983)
•The Woman in the Room (1983)
•Children of the Corn (1984)
•Firestarter (1984)
•Cat's Eye: "Quitters, Inc.," "The Ledge," and "The General" (1985)
•Silver Bullet (1985)
•Nightshift Collection: "The Woman in the Room" and "The Boogeyman" (1985)
•Word Processor of the Gods: episode of Tales from the Darkside (1985)
•Gramma: episode of The Twilight Zone (1986)
•Maximum Overdrive (1986)
•Stand By Me (1986)
•Creepshow 2: "Old Chief Wood'n'head," "The Raft," and "The Hitchhiker" (1987)
•A Return to Salem's Lot (1987)
•The Running Man (1987)
•The Last Rung on the Ladder (1987)
•Sorry, Right Number: episode of Tales from the Darkside (1987)
•Pet Sematary (1989)

THE 90's

•The Cat From Hell (1990)
•Graveyard Shift (1990)
•IT , mini-series (1990)
•Misery (1990)
•The Moving Finger: Monsters episode. (1990)
•Golden Years , miniseries (1991)
•Sometimes They Come Back (1991)
•Sleepwalkers (1992)
•The Dark Half (1993)
•Needful Things (1993)
•The Tommyknockers , miniseries (1993)
•Chinga: episode of The X-files (1993)
•The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
•The Stand , miniseries (1994)
•The Langoliers , miniseries (1995)
•The Mangler (1995)
•Dolores Claiborne (1995)
•Thinner (1996)
•The Shining , miniseries (1997)
•Ghosts: music video with Michael Jackson (1997)
•The Night Flier , HBO Movie (1997)
•Quicksilver Highway: segment Chattery Teeth (1997)
•Trucks: Remake of Maximum Overdrive (1997)
•The Revelations of 'Becka Paulson: episode of "The Outer Limits" (1997) -thanks Bryant
•Apt Pupil (1998)
•The Green Mile (1999)
•The Rage: Carrie 2 (1999)
•Storm of the Century, miniseries (1999)
•Llamadas (1999)

THE 2000's

•Paranoid (2000)
•Hearts in Atlantis (2001)
•Strawberry Spring (2001)
•Rose Red, miniseries (2002)
•The Dead Zone, TV Series (2002)
•Night Surf (2002)
•Rainy Season (2002)
•Carrie, TV (2002)
•Firestarter 2, Rekindled (2002) -thanks Bryant
•Dreamcatcher (2003)
•Autopsy Room Four (2003)
•Here There Be Tygers (2003)
•The Man in the Black Suit (2003)
•Secret Window (2004)
•Kingdom Hospital, TV series (2004)
•Salem's Lot, miniseries (2004)
•Luckey Quarter (2004)
•Riding the Bullet (2004)
•I Know What You Need (2005)
•Desperation, television (2006)
•Nightmares and Dreamscapes (2006)
•Suffer the Little Children (2006)
•1408 (2007)
•The Mist (2007)
•Dolan's Cadillac (2009)

THE 2010's

•Haven, television (2010)



Link: Arnie Cunningham Director!

Here's an interesting note from Ramblings Of A Honk Mahfah -- a Stephen King blog I really enjoy.

"I was watching the latest episode of AMC's The Killing yesterday, and noticed that Keith Gordon was credited as the director. I thought it might be worth mentioning that this is, indeed, the very same Keith Gordon who starred as Arnie Cunningham in John Carpenter's Christine."

Read the full post here, it's worth your time! 
http://honkmahfah.blogspot.com/2011/06/arnie-cunningham-director.html#comments

Children of the Corn: GENESIS

Good news. . . Lilja's Library has all kinds of cool updates.  I won't spoil the really cool stuff -- which has to do with Wind Through The Keyhole (so go check it out!) 

Not so good news, one of them is that Children of the Corn "Genesis" is being released on DVD and blue-ray.  Trust me, I'm stealing no one's thunder reprinting this!  Lilja writes, "Children of the Corn – Genesis is being released on DVD and blu-ray in the US on August 30. The film was released in a drive-in earlier this year, with the latest Hellraiser movie but after that it’s been quiet about it but not its about to be released...if anyone is interested in seeing it." 

If anyone is interested in seeing it -- indeed. 

I'll save the usual rant about this series of movies.  But I am still dumbfounded that King's name appears on it!  Who's watching these movies? 

http://www.liljas-library.com/

Houston: Late Night Showing Of Creepshow

Chris Sawin at examiner.com has a fun article about The Alamo Drafthouse, a Houston theater that is known for hosting screenings of cult classics. 

Wait. . . what is the "Drafthouse"?  The theater explains, "Cold beer, hot movies, and delicious snacks and meals; The Alamo Drafthouse is dinner, drinks, movies and events, all under one roof." 

The Alamo's current offering, how about a late night showing of Stephen King's 1982 Creepshow.  Held the day before Fathers Day, the caption reads, "Pay tribute to two fathers of the horror genre with a special screening of Creepshow with games, prizes and more. Plus, details on how to win tickets to the event."


The Alamo describes its Graveyard Shift (held the third Saturday of each month) as showings as a place where night owls come together to enjoy "some of the best horror movies ever made."  But this isn't just a viewing -- it's a event!  With giveaways, games and "surprises of all shapes and sizes."

So why Stephen King -- and Creepshow?  The Alamo gives a wonderful explanation!

Stephen King has undoubtedly earned his reputation as a modern-day master of horror — why, then, does he fare so poorly when it comes to adaptations of his work for the big screen? For every Shawkshank Redemption, there’s a dozen Lawnmower Men. There exist a handful of films, though, that are not only great adaptations — they’re great films period. Creepshow, a collaboration with Night of the Living Dead director George A. Romero, is one of those films.

Creepshow is a hallmark of the horror anthology sub-genre and a precursor to one of the best television shows of the ‘80s — Tales from the Darkside. The film pays tribute to the classic EC horror comics of the ‘50s — right down to the bright color palate and innovative framing and editing effects. Made up of five segments, the movie stars Tom Atkins, Leslie Nielsen, Ted Danson, Hal Holbrook, Adrienne Barbeau and Stephen King himself. Whether you’re a fan of zombies, monsters, revenge plots or being eaten alive by insects, Creepshow has the flavor of horror you desire.  http://drafthouse.com/movies/graveyard_shift_creepshow/houston

Sawin adds, "Fellow Houston Film Critics Society member Robert Saucedo helped organize this entire thing and will be hosting the event with newest HFCS member and Ain't It Cool News columnist Alan Cerny. The Father's Day cake for this should be epic. Couldn't really imagine a better way to spend Father's Day."

If you're not sold on the drafthouse theater yet, check out this paragraph: "We have zero tolerance for talking or cell phone use of any kind during movies, and we aren't afraid to kick anyone rude enough to start texting their friends during a show right out of the theater. We also hate it when other movie theaters make you watch advertisements after you've already paid to see the movie, so we're vigilant about never letting ads hit our screens - we've even turned down PSAs for great causes because we don't want ANYTHING to disrupt your experience of the show. Instead of ads or mind-numbing content named after the number of minutes you have to sit through it if you get to the theater early, we create custom preshows with content themed to most of the features we program."  I need to head toward Houston!
http://www.examiner.com/movie-in-houston/ticket-giveaway-for-alamo-drafthouse-s-graveyard-shift-featuring-creepshow

Does Stephen King Need Help Developing Storylines?

Ellen LaConte has an article titled, "Why Stephen King Can Help Save Us From Climate Change." 

Oh really!  He can?  I didn't know that super-power was in his bag of tricks.  But, ya never know what the King of Horror has to offer us.  Personally, I thought saving the earth was for Captain Kirk. 

LaConte writes the article as a letter to Stephen King.  This makes me think she's actually serious!  Anyway, just the opener is a dozy: "Dear Stephen King, Most of your books are too scary for me."  She admits she doesn't read much Stephen King, but her son does.  Just like study, if you lay on the book, it sinks in -- and if you live in the house with someone who's read Stephen King, then it's just like you've read 'em!

So what can Stephen King do to save the planet?  Well, LaConte has a great idea: he should write a politically driven novel.  RIGHT!  That's new stuff, isn't it?  And this novel should be about the environment.

Wait a minute, every Stephen king fan in the world will say, King has already written that book! It was called: Under The Dome!  Someone proof reading the article must have figured this out, because she then gives this quick aside -- to King, of course -- "Now I know, Mr. King, that you're familiar with the predicament we're in, which is scarier even than the hot-housed version of some of our present quandaries you offered up in Under the Dome, which is saying a lot."  Did she read the novel to the end?  There was NO AIR!  She wants King to get "scarier" than that?  I guess he could have let the characters suffocate, but it really couldn't get much worse than UTD.

But have no fear.  You see, King doesn't need to come up with a storyline -- LaConte has written up a storyline for Stephen King.  Because, you know, he apparently calls her when he's out of ideas.  Her outline. . . has to do with HIV, the global economy and the breakdown of society.  Yes!  The breakdown of society.  Because, again, this is unexplored territory.

Can I just ask. . .
1. Why is anyone publishing this stuff?
2. If she wants to write a letter to King, why doesn't she just mail it to him?  If she can't afford the stamp, she could email it.
3. Does she really think King needs her help getting story ideas?
4. Is she truly unaware that her storyline is not really all that unique?

Of course, this is all necessary, because Hollywood hasn't done any global disaster films related to the climate, right?  oh, wait. . . does anyone remember Day After Tomorrow?  No?  You didn't miss much.  Basically -- movie in short -- global warming really means global cooling; and Mexico might be America's last best hope.  Yep, that was the plot as I remember it. 
What is interesting is that LaConte thinks King needs to add his voice to the problem.  That's what will help.  But it's not like King has been silent on this, or an array of issues!  In fact, many of his novels have been issues driven.  He described Needful Things as a commentary on the 80's spending.  The Dead Zone speaks about Nukes.  Pet Sematary is about animal rights. . . wait, I might be wrong on that one.  Cujo is!  No, that's not it! 
 
http://www.alternet.org/environment/151226/why_stephen_king_can_help_save_us_from_climate_change?page=1

Willa To Start Filming Soon

Christopher Birk, director of the Stephen King movie Willa, shared that they are less than a week away from Shooting 'Willa' in the Hamptons in New York.  Exciting stuff!

Here are a few pictures of the actors/actresses and the filming location:




Interior Of Club

 


Train Station

 



Clayton Watson
as DAVID

 


Sarah Hogrefe
as WILLA

 





Jane Brown
as PAMMY ANDERSON



LOST based on The Stand

I really enjoyed Andy Williamson's review of Super 8.  Of course, I thought Super 8 was incredible -- and Andy just had all the right words to review it well.  Well, he also made an off-handed comment about The Stand that I was unaware of.  Williamson writes, "Abrams’ King obsession can be found in his TV series Lost, which he claims was based on King’s The Stand. . ." 

Read the full review here:
http://www.examiner.com/pop-culture-news-in-national/super-8-movie-review-review

(Link) DVD Verdict Review: Children of The Corn 666

DVD Verdict Review has taken on the case of Children of the Corn 666.  The verdict is not good.  No surprise here.  I must agree with the review, I also have never been a fan of the children of the corn series of movies.  I frankly, don't get it.  I mean, not problem understanding the thin stupid plot -- I just don't understand how more movies keep getting made! 

DVD Verdict says: "Well, now. I didn't think things could get worse. How very, very wrong I was." 

There are some interesting thoughts on Stephen King:

"For those wondering what either of these movies have to do with Stephen King's original "Children of the Corn" story, the answer is almost nothing. Except for the idea of kids living in cornrows, these movies have little in common with King's short story. In fact, it's a bit of a surprise the author didn't fight to have his name removed from the credits of each of these films ala the Lawnmower Man films. Both Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror and Children of the Corn IV: Isaac's Return are exceptionally bad movies. Unfortunately, they don't fall under the 'so bad they're good' category; these are bottom of the barrel cheapies that will be long forgotten to the folds of time."

After declaring the films boaring, the review closes with this verdict: "Both of these straight-to-video horror movies are found guilty of being shameless cash-ins."

http://www.dvdverdict.com/reviews/childrencorn2pkbluray.php

Summer Flicks We Won't Forget

MSN has a fun article titled "Pass the popcorn."  They discuss some of the really great Summer movies of the 1970's and '80's.  You know: Superman (the real Superman), Star Wars (the real Star Wars!), Jaws -- HEY!  No remake of Jaws? -- Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Raiders Of The Lost Ark (remember, don't look in the ark!), ET, Poltergeist, Ghost Busters, Back To The Future, The Goonies, Aliens, Rodger Rabbit.

Of course, the article is typical MSN -- so biased they can't even write about Summer movies without finding fault with Ronald Reagan!  Seriously, MSN?  However, who can really fault an article that has the insight to give Star Wars and the Empire Strikes Back their own spots. 

The article includes Stand By Me.  Here's the entry:

'Stand by Me' (1986)

Like "The Goonies," "Stand by Me" is a coming-of-age film that does not really have any sci-fi or horror elements in it. So what is it doing on this list? Well, it's based on a novella by Stephen King, and it features several sequences (the pond full of leeches, the discovery of the dead boy) that drift queasily toward more macabre territory. But it's the association with King that has made it a fan favorite after all these years, and deservedly so. "Stand by Me" is a wonderful, poetic and bittersweet rumination on friendship, loss of innocence, memory and mortality, and its four young leads all shine as the four boys who are all a little older when their journey is over.

Iconic scene: Gordie (Wil Wheaton), who wants to be a writer, tells his friends his story "The Revenge of Lard-Ass Hogan," about a pie-eating contest gone horribly wrong.

http://movies.msn.com/movie-guide-summer/pass-the-popcorn/photos/?GT1=28177&photoidx=13

JJ Abrams SUPER 8

JJ Abrams was very interested in the Dark Tower. . . way back before Ron Howard was.  Remember that?  He walked away from the project in 2009.  So what's he been up to?  SUPER 8!  Wow, this movie was awesome!  A classic monster movie without the  bad "classic monster movie" special effects.  But this is not a special effects driven film. 

In many ways the movie reminded me of a Stephen King story.  The characters were through the roof good.  And the story was much more about the people, not the monster.

Of interest to the Stephen King universe is the several references to horror director George Romero (Creepshow).  The name of the fictional chemical plant in the movie within the movie is: "Romero Chemical Plant."  I also enjoyed spotting Darth Vader's Tie Fighter.

The movie was so well executed, I am hopeful maybe Abrams can be brought onto the new IT project.  It's not just how he handled the monster, it's how Abram's presented children.  The dialogue was real, the children's lives complex, and their emotions raw.  While the young band of movie makers is not exactly a "loser club", it wouldn't be too far a leap.  Seriously -- I have been Ho-Hum over the IT remake; but his hand in the project could seriously energize it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCRQQCKS7go

1978 The Stand Journal 10

                     Picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Randallflagg7.jpg

After the death of mother Abigail the story moves to beautiful Las Vegas.  King does not give the dark side much time to revel in their own glory.  Stuff starts going bad quick!  Flagg, it turns out, is not such a good leader.

Results of fear in culture:
1. People in Vegas are very efficient.  More so than in the Free Zone.  They not only have the lights on, but they are preparing planes for combat.

2. Unhappiness.  Though productive, the Dark Man's people are ruled by fear, and thus very unhappy.  They do not build deep relationships.  This is brilliantly revealed from Tom's point of view.

3. Unable to maintain lasting loyalty.  Flagg, though he is able to draw people to himself, is unable to keep people from defecting.  This bit of info is unveiled through Lloyd.  Flagg does not inspire loyalty from those who know him best. 

Note also Flagg's inability to control or lead The Trashcan man.  Granted, perhaps now one could control ole Trashy, but Flagg doesn't even try.  This is the opposite of Mother Abigail, who inspired loyalty, love and acted as a shepherd of the people.  A moses type.

There are times the story starts to take turns that I am interested in, even though I know King is not going to follow them through.  The bombers preparing to wipe out the Free Zone is cool stuff!  Of course, the idea of an all out war between the two sides would have been an interesting direction.  However, King moves the story much like the Biblical Apocalypse -- at the great battle of Armageddon, evil turns out to be inept in the face of God. 

4. Means of control.  Flagg uses raw fear to keep things well oiled an running smoothly.  The most feared punishment is crucifixion.  This method of controlling subjects was used by many ancient societies, most notably Rome. 

In the end, a fear based people results in a dysfunctional society (just as on a micro-level this happens in a family which is built on fear instead of love).  This is illustrated through the fate of Flagg's bride, Nadine. Closest to him, she is drawn to him, but does not love him.


So why is Flagg unable to build a functional society?  Is it simply that he is a poor leader?  I'm not sure.  I think King is taking some shots at Communism and other Police State societies that gain power through fear.

A final thought: Those thinking about defecting tell Lloyd that they are headed to South America.  I believe in the extended version, Flagg reappears on a beach. . . maybe -- South America ?

Ransom Note For Stolen Maine Highway Sign Delivered To King's Radio Station

Bangor Daily News reports that police are investigating the disappearance of Gov. Paul LePage's "pen For Business" sign on Kittery's Interstate 95.  The sign disappeared "sometime before Memorial day."  Reason no one is sure. . . probably because it took government a while to call each other and ask if they are the ones who took it down! 

A ransom note was taped to the door of WZON-FM (King's station).  The article says "The note was composed using letters cut out of newspapers and magazines and glued to a piece of paper."  The article also notes, "King has raised money for and contributed to Democratic candidates in Maine and Florida." 

And, the story concludes by telling us that "police have several leads on the stolen sign." 

http://bangordailynews.com/2011/06/03/politics/ransom-note-for-%E2%80%98open-for-business%E2%80%99-sign-left-at-king%E2%80%99s-radio-station/

Link: The legend of Kubrick lives on

JAM Showbiz has an interesting article on Stanley Kubrick.  Bruce Kirkland writes, "Filmmaker Stanley Kubrick died suddenly of a heart attack in his sleep 12 years ago, leaving behind a legacy of just 13 feature films, two of which he had long since disowned, including Spartacus. Yet a passionate debate about all of his controversial classics rages on."

The article is very insightful.  However, they have a list of 5 top scenes, and the Shining doesn't make it.  Come on!  They did include it in their cover picture.

http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/Artists/K/Kubrick_Stanley/2011/06/03/18233471.html?cid=rssentertainment

Yosemite Hotel The Basis Of Kubrick's The Shining

IMDB has an interesting note on the Ahwanee Hotel in Yosemite -- it seems that Kubrick's version of The Shining designed the hotels lounge on the Ahwanee Hotel's lounge.  IMDB explains,

"Indeed, the chandeliers, windows and fireplace are nearly identical, so much so that people entering the Ahwahnee often ask if it's the Shining hotel."  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081505/trivia#p=631;t=1038

This is only relevant because the Ahwanee is popping up in recent news reports.  People magazine speculates that the newly married Prince William and his bride Kate might stay at the Ahwahnee hotel if they visit Yosemite.

The People article is here: http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20395222_20499231,00.html

People makes the following case for the Ahwanee:

"Isn't it right that the posh duo would be staying somewhere fit for a queen – literally. The Mary Curry Tresidder Suite at Yosemite's Ahwahnee Hotel became known as The Queen's Room after a 1983 visit by William's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. The romantic suite features a four-poster canopy bed, to say nothing of a large bathroom with craftsmen-designed cabinets and bidet. Plus, there is a Queen's table in the hotel's dining room!"

People has more than just their own speculating to drive the point home.  Note this quote: "An employee at the picturesque hotel predicts this is where the happy couple would bunk if they journey to the area. . ."  Some unnamed employee think the Prince and Princess would stay there!  Not a reservation, just some persons guess -- given credibility because they work there.  But they don't want to put their name on the story.  This is starting to look real official, People!

Once building a case for William and Kate to stay at the hotel, People then (unknowingly) explain exactly why the couple might not want to stay at the Ahwanee: It seems the daughter of a park concessionaire died in the hotel on Halloween night, 1970.  Couple that with the place looking like the interior of Kubrick's version of The Shining, and I don't know that you have a home run! 

The article notes,

"The hotel's interior also inspired the set for the deserted mountain house in the 1980 Stanley Kubrick film based on the Stephen King novel, The Shining."

I wonder if William and Kate have seen The Shining.  Would they walk in, look around and ask each other, "Why does this look so familiar?"  Hard to picture prince William's head popping through a door he just axed and announcing, "Heeeeee-re's Willie!"

Hold on, let me connect all the dots.  You followed that, right?  The People article is saying that William and Kate MIGHT (based on an employee's speculation) stay at a hotel that was not used in Kubrick's The Shining, but was the inspiration for the lobby. 

11/22/63 excerpt

I spotted this first over at the awesome Lilja's Library!  (There are a ton of updates the last few days, so go check them out.)  King has decided to wet our appetite for his latest gigantic novel with a special gift -- a taste test.  Yep, it's an excerpt from 11/22/63.  Dread Central excitedly put news of the excerpt this way: "Few authors look out for their fans like Stephen King does."

The excerpt reveals a first person account (unless there is a change mid-book, like Christine).  The writing is King's usual energetic, strong prose.

Here is a snippet, but the full except is below.

On Monday, March 25, Lee came walking up Neely Street carrying a long package wrapped in brown paper. Peering through a tiny crack in the curtains, I could see the words REGISTERED and INSURED stamped on it in big red letters. For the first time I thought he seemed furtive and nervous, actually looking around at his exterior surroundings instead of at the spooky furniture deep in his head. I knew what was in the package: a 6.5mm Carcano rifle—also known as a Mannlicher- Carcano—complete with scope, purchased from Klein’s Sporting Goods in Chicago. Five minutes after he climbed the outside stairs to the second floor, the gun Lee would use to change history was in a closet above my head. Marina took the famous pictures of him holding it just outside my livingroom window six days later, but I didn’t see it. That was a Sunday, and I was in Jodie. As the tenth grew closer, those weekends with Sadie had become the most important, the dearest, things in my life

Here is the PDF from dreadcentral: http://www.dreadcentral.com/img/news/jun11/excerpt.pdf

SHE'S BACK! -- Carrie The Musical

It seems Stephen King musicals are on the prowl!  Ghost Brothers is on the lose, and wouldn't ya know it. . . someone has decided that Carrie should be resurrected -- again.  This time the musical!  Now, a while back it was done in drag -- but I think this effort is totally serious.  Exciting, since it got such great reviews last go-around.

So with a new Carrie movie in the works, I guess someone decided it was time to dust off that old Carrie musical.  I understand how The Sound Of Music is good musical material.  But may I ask. . . who out there seriously thinks Carrie belongs in the "musical" territory?  South pacific, Phantom of the Opera, Cats, The Wizard of Oz, Music Man, Oklahoma, The King and I, Paint your Wagon, Seven brides for seven brothers, Show Boat, State Fair -- all belong in that coveted "musical" genre.  Isn't Carrie kind of a square peg?

The Associated Press expressed their excitement this way: "It will be the first time the show has been professionally produced since its 1988 Broadway flop."  Or, in other words -- whoopieeeee.

MCC theaters has announced Carrie the musical in their line up.  Here's the info from their website.

She's not like other girls.

Begins Jan 31
Carrie
Book by Lawrence D. Cohen
Music by Michael Gore
Lyrics by Dean Pitchford
Based on the novel by Stephen King
Directed by Stafford Arima


Carrie White is a misfit. At school, she’s an outcast who’s bullied by the popular crowd, and virtually invisible to everyone else. At home, she’s at the mercy of her loving but cruelly over-protective mother. But Carrie’s just discovered she’s got a special power, and if pushed too far, she’s not afraid to use it...


Based on Stephen King’s bestselling novel, the musical of Carrie hasn’t been seen since its legendary 1988 Broadway produc­tion. Now, the show’s original authors have joined with direc­tor Stafford Arima (Altar Boyz) and MCC Theater for a newly reworked and fully re-imagined vision of this gripping tale. Set today, in the small town of Chamberlain, Maine, Carrie features a book by Lawrence D. Cohen (screenwriter of the classic film), music by Academy Award winning composer Michael Gore (Fame, Terms of Endearment), and lyrics by Academy Award win­ning lyricist Dean Pitchford (Fame, Footloose). The cast will be led by Tony Award nominee Marin Mazzie (Next to Normal, Kiss Me Kate) as Carrie’s evangelical mother, Margaret White, and Molly Ranson (Jerusalem, August: Osage County) as the lonely, vengeful, yet fragile girl at the center of it all.

http://www.mcctheater.org/currentseason.html#carrie

Lights. . . Cameras . . . BAG OF BONES!

Dread Central has posted some great news: Bag Of Bones begins filming in Nova Scotia July 6th, 2011 and will continue through to August 31, 2011.  But pre-production stated today!  At the helm is director Mick Garris, who has filmed several other King projects.  http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/44744/stephen-kings-bag-bones-begins-filming-july
I am excited that this will be a mini-series, as if gives King's work room to breath.  However, I hope it maintains a little more energy than Desperation did.

Shawshank: Make it a vacation!

Bob Downing, writing for Akron Beacon Journal, has an interesting article about the shooting locations for the Shawshank Redemption.  No, it was not filmed in Maine!  Try. . . Mansfield, Ohio.

Downing reveals, "If you're looking for a movie-themed last minute road trip this Memorial Day weekend, the Shawshank Trail, with 12 stops in three counties, might be just the ticket. The drive-it-yourself Hollywood tour, mostly around Mansfield in Richland County — some three hours from Detroit — celebrates the 1994 film "The Shawshank Redemption" with Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman. It has its own website, brochure, map and special offers for visitors."

The notes in this article are great.  Want to see the tree where the letter was hidden?  You can pay it a visit. . . only it's on private property!  And what about the prison itself?  Yep!  You can visit there, too! 

Downing explains, "The Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society offers Sunday afternoon tours. . . . The Hollywood tour includes a peek at Dufresne's tunnel, which is two feet in diameter. The sewage Dufresne crawled through in the film was concocted from chocolate syrup, sawdust and water.  You can also see the warden's office and the carving on the ceiling that reads "Brooks was here. So was Red."

And I was wondering where to spend my summer vacation!

This is under the heading: "If You Go"



The Shawshank Trail
Mansfield & Richland County Convention & Visitors Bureau
124 N. Main St., Mansfield, Ohio 44902
(419) 525-1300 or (800) 642-8282; www.mansfieldtourism.com/shawshank


Ohio State Reformatory
100 Reformatory Road, Mansfield, Ohio 44905
Tickets for the Sunday and weekday tours are $8 for adults and $6 for children 7 to 17.
(419) 522-2644; www.mrps.org or www.mansfieldtourism.com.

Malabar Farm
4050 Bromfield Road, Lucas, Ohio 44843
Tour fee is $4 for adults, $3.60 for 55 and older and $2 for students 6 through 18.

The Full Article Is Here:


http://www.detnews.com/article/20110528/LIFESTYLE07/105280303/1034/ENT/Fans-can-escape-to-Shawshank

1978 The Stand Journal 9: Welcome Edgar Allan Poe To The World Of The Stand!

King's love for Edgar Allan Poe can be spotted in a lot of his work (follow the tag at the end of this post for more).  The theme of revenge in Dolan's Cadllic is quite reminiscent of “The Cask of Amontillado."  King honored Poe's short story The Tell Tale Heart with his short story The Old Dudes Ticker.

Note these similarities between the Cask of Amontillado and Dolan's Cadillac:

1. Both are stories of revenge.
2. Both use the idea of being buried alive. Dolan in his car, Fortunato is buried in the wall.
3. Both are told in the first person.
4. Both Dolan and Fortunato die very slowly.
5. Both Fortunato and Dolan have similiar pleas:

Poe writes:  “For the love of God, Montresor!”  "Yes”, I said, “for the love of God!”
King writes:  “For the love of God!” he shrieked. “For the love of God, Robinson!”  “Yes,” I said, smiling. “For the love of God.”


Welcome Edgar Allan Poe To THE STAND:

In the scenes when The Judge is making his way toward Las Vegas, he encounters some a crow.  The lines about the crow are direct references to Poe's The Raven.

Here's some snapshots from The Stand, chapter 51,

Tap tap tap on the window . . .
Tap tap Tap like the raven that had flown in to roost on the bust of Pallas.
Will I get any idea what chinks there might be in the dark man's armor?  Nevermore.
Will I get back safe?
nevermore.
tap, tape, tap. 

• Like The Raven, the judge is very lonely.  The lonely man in the Raven is filled with sorrow for his lost Lenore.  The judge misses The Freezone.  In fact, he is so lonely, he compares himself to Cain, outcast by God.
• The lonely man in The Raven distracts his mind with books.  As the Judge rests, he occupies his mind by reading.
• The lonely man is interrupted by a "tapping."  As cited above, the King section of The Stand is blocked by "tapping" both at the beginning and the end of the section.
• Both men are interrupted by a bird: A Raven / A Crow.  Crows in King's work represent omens.
• The raven perched on the bust of Pallas.  That is the goddess of wisdom in Greek mythology.  King writes: "Tap tap tap like the raven that had flown in to roost on the bust of Pallas."  (p.629, pb)
• When the lonely man asks the name of the Raven, it answers "Nevermore."  The same line repeated several times to The Judge.
• The lonely man understands that the bird does not speak for wisdom, but has been taught "by some unhappy master."  Likewise, The Crow is not a crow, but the Dark Man!
• My mom noted that the meter of this section matches Poe's as well.

Read The Raven here: http://www.heise.de/ix/raven/Literature/Lore/TheRaven.html

Jason Sacks Review: One For The Road

I was unaware this book existed until i read Jason Sacks' review!  It is an illustrated short story: One For The Road.  Sacks writes: The book isn't quite comics; it’s illustrated fiction with the text of the story appearing on one page and the art appearing on the opposite page. In that way, this story avoids one of the great flaws that many adaptations of King's work share: that readers don't get to enjoy King's evocative and entertaining phrasing.


He also notes, "King's work has always been well known for its verisimilitude with the writer’s wonderful ability to capture the colloquial way that people actually speak. That realism is ideal for this story, as it's told by a small-town bartender in an out-of-a-way bar on the night of a horrific blizzard. If the book had been done as an adaptation of King's work rather than as a prose-and-pictures presentation, readers would simply not be able to enjoy the dialectical realism of King's narrative."


Full review here: http://www.comicsbulletin.com/reviews/130633411553584.htm

NEWS: I AM THE DOORWAY

Mark Mcfarlane, who is doing "I AM THE DOORWAY" had some really exciting news.  The adaptation was orginally supposed to be a "short" . . . but a big change is under way.  Mark is now reworking the script to make it a feature film!  Mark says, "As of now it is being developed as a feature film!"

What's that mean to us?  Two things:
1. The project is getting bigger.
2. As Mark says, "audiences may have to wait a bit longer to see it."

We can't wait!

Howard: The Dark Tower Is Moving Forward

EW has posted an interview with Ron Howard, which includes some Dark Tower news.  Howard says, "“We had to pull back to our September start date due to budget delays and ongoing story development and logistical issues, but Dark Tower is moving forward." 

Good to know!  He says that they should start in Spring, and then Howard drops this strange news -- " I can’t really say who’ll be in it yet, but Javier Bardem has shown a great deal of interest."  A great deal of interest?  I thought they had signed him.  I guess I thought this was all more cemented than it appears to be.

http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/05/24/ron-howard-dark-tower/

Joe Hill Movie: Twittering From The Circus Of The Dead

This story looks totally awesome!  "Twittering From The Circus of The Dead" is a short story by Joe Hill.  What's unique about the story is that it is written entirely as tweets from a teenage girl.  The story trails a family on a cross country trip that goes "horribly wrong."  Of course, any of us who took family vacations as kids already know. . . they ALL go horribly wrong!

 Hollywoodreporter says that Mandalay has picked up the film rights to Twittering from the Circus of the Dead. "The company is moving fast putting the creative pieces together, tapping Chris Borrelli to write the adaptation and is in negotiations with Todd Lincoln to direct."



http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/mandalay-picks-up-rights-joe-191102?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thr%2Ffilm+%28The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+Movies%29

Covers for CD IT

This is from Lilja's Library -- easily the best Stephen King website on earth.  These are pictures of the gift, limited and lettered editions of the CD IT.  http://www.liljas-library.com/

http://www.liljas-library.com/

IT Cemetery Dance Special Edition

How exciting is this!  25 years after IT was first released, Cemetery Dance is issuing a special edition.  Not only that, it will sport new artwork and a new afterword by Stephen King. 

This is from Cemetery Dance. 

http://www.cemeterydance.com/page/CDP/PROD/king06

It: The 25th Anniversary Special Limited Edition


Featuring a brand new afterword by Stephen King, full-color wrap-around color artwork by Glen Orbik, and nearly thirty original color and black & white interior illustrations by Alan M. Clark and Erin Wells!


IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR COLLECTORS:
Now that we've had a chance to look at the orders, the Deluxe Lettered Edition sold out within 25 minutes of being announced. Thank you for your interest in this special edition!


About this Deluxe Special Edition:
Cemetery Dance Publications is very pleased to announce our Special Deluxe Limited Edition of Stephen King's classic novel It, which he calls his "final exam on Famous Monsters" in his brand new afterword to this oversized special edition!


This is easily the biggest, most lavish production Cemetery Dance Publications has ever undertaken. Glen Orbik painted the gorgeous wrap-around cover artwork, Alan M. Clark and Erin Wells created nearly thirty exclusive interior illustrations including black & white drawings and color paintings, and we hired the designer of the Limited Editions of The Secretary of Dreams, Blockade Billy, Riding the Bullet, and Full Dark, No Stars to create a unique interior design unlike any book we've ever published!


This fine collectible volume will be available in three states this fall, all of them printed in two colors and bound in fine materials that go beyond the scope and quality of our other much-acclaimed Stephen King special editions. Already deep in production, the exclusive Cemetery Dance Special Limited Edition of It by Stephen King will be the perfect addition to any collection. We expect strong demand for this collectible given the popularity of the novel, so don't wait to place your order or you might miss out!


Special Features Exclusive to this Collector's Edition:


• brand new afterword by Stephen King detailing why he wrote the book
• deluxe oversized design (7 inches X 10 inches) featuring two color interior printing
• epic wrap-around full color cover artwork by Glen Orbik
• nearly thirty pieces of color and black & white interior artwork by Alan M. Clark and Erin Wells
• interior color artwork will be printed on a high-quality glossy stock and tipped into the book
• high-quality embossed endpapers and fine bindings for all three editions
• full-color signature sheets with exclusive color artwork in the signed editions
• a page count so high it pushes the limits of our printer — easily our largest book ever!
• extremely collectible print run that is a tiny fraction of the MILLIONS of copies of this novel you've seen in bookstores over the last 25 years — and you will NOT find our edition in chain bookstores!

Lohan Reacts to King Comment

With news of a Carrie Remake (again), Stephen King quipped that it would be fun to cast.  He sarcastically suggested that Lindsay Lohan would be a good pic.  Well. . . word got back to Lindsay!  And according to TMZ, Lohan "is a big fan of King's work."

TMZ says that their sources report she was "stoked when she heard king mention her name and thinks working with king would be epic."  But she'd really like a role in. . . the Dark Tower!

http://www.tmz.com/2011/05/23/lindsay-lohan-carrie-stephen-king-remake-film/

Is Radio An Overlooked Medium?

I have previously detailed a few of Stephen King's work that has been adapted to radio.  I love that format!  Did you know that the Martian Chronicles was originally done as a series of radio plays, long before it became a mini series.

Know what would be cool. . . a Stephen King radio playhouse.  Consider:

1. Everything is scarier on the radio.  Just listen to "Lights out everybody."
2. Radio can take you more places on a cheaper budget.
3. Radio drama's often go on and on for many episodes.  They are not locked in to a single episode.
4. Stars on the radio don't demand a trillion dollars.

Just suggesting that with all the Dark Tower drama about budget -- maybe there is another (better) format that had been largely overlooked in the Stephen King universe.  Hard to do a modern story on the radio?  Did you know that Lucas put all three of the true Star Wars movies to radio?  Yep!  And the first one was something like six hours!  It is great.

Radio doesn't cut out any other medium.  But it does open the door to some greater creativity.  Frankly, I would love to travel with Larry Underwood through the Lincoln tunnel on radio.  Now that would be scary.  It just can't be done visually -- but I'll bet it can be done as a radio play. 

Imagine Christine as a radio drama.  All that music in the background!  Car sounds.  You'll get to know the sound of Christine's engine quickly.

Even though radio drama's don't really play so much on. . . radio. . . that should not shut out the format.  In fact, with mp3, I listen to more radio now than ever.  It is a format that Dickens' works have been well represented. 

Works already in radio format: Misery, Pet Sematary, The Mist 3D sound.

For a fuller treatment of the subject, see my earlier article.  http://talkstephenking.blogspot.com/2010/02/stephen-king-radio-dramas.html

May 21 2011 End Of The World

I Belive Time Has An End. . . Just Not Today

Today is the day!  Harold Camping has announced that the end of the world is. . . well, about 3 hours ago.  According to Camping, there was supposed to be a super big earthquake in New Zealand that would start rock and rolling across planet earth and arrive at California at 6pm PST.  It's good when God operates on Pacific Standard Time, isn't it? 

Camping is a false prophet.  I'm a evangelical, Bible believing follower of Jesus.  Yes, I believe in The Second Coming and a final judgment.  I suspect the world will not end today.  In fact, on any other day, I would say, "Maybe."  But today, I imagine the Lord will let Mr. Camping sweat. 

For sincere believers, Camping is an irritation. The Bible says that if someone falsely makes a prophecy in the name of the Lord, they should be stoned (the old fashioned way!).  I think Mr. Camping will be hiding in doors quite a bit in the days to come.

YO!  What I really like is that false prophet Camping thinks God needs HIM to do an advertising campaign for the Parousia (visible coming of Christ).  Camping has T-Shirts, buttons -- I ordered my own "free" bumper stickers.  But, they never came.  I was bummed.  My fine collection of heresy will have to do without. 

I read this (and like it) --

 St. Francis of Assisi, while hoeing in his garden, was once reportedly asked what he would do if he knew that Christ was coming back that very day.  He answered, “I’d keep right on hoeing.” So, it stands to reason, he would probably be hoeing today.

End Of The World Movies

I was interested in a news article that cited several "End of the World" movies.  I realized. . . I like end of the world movies.  Funny thing, this article didn't catch The Stand. 

Here are a few favorite SK End of the World stories:

• The Stand.  Plagues -- the Darkman (sometimes actually called the anti-Christ) -- this is heavy duty.
• Maximum Overdrive.  Earth passes through a comet, and now our cars are angry with us.  Blenders are also on the slightly upset side.
• The Dark Tower.  Come on, you know this story is really about the end of days, right?  If the Tower falls. . .
• Cell.  Don't answer that phone, or you may discover you have a strange craving for human flesh.
• The Mist.  The movie makes this less mysterious, but in the novel it seems possible that the entire world has been covered in the eerie mist.

Not SK End of the World Movies I Like:

• Deep Impact.  My favorite of the "something big is going to hit earth" movies.  Only, it backs down from its own idea.  As if the movie scared itself!  Original idea: A huge comet will hit earth.  Humans will survive underground in an elaborate cave system called "The Ark."  But, instead, just a little comet hits, and so people just climb up into the hills to survive.  Ahhh, if only surviving the end of days were so easy.  But still, it's a good movie.
• ID4 (Independence Day).  This movie is great!  I mean, really great.  The president flys a fighter against an alien invasion force.  The real gem is Will Smith chewing out the alien corpse as he drags him through the Grand Canyon.
• Mars Attacks.  I went to the theater thinking this was a serious film.  I was really bummed it was so campy (Camping).  But now it's one of those movies I love.  Root for the bad guys, it's more fun. 
• The Martian Chronicles.  This one is the big one!  Ray Bradbury actually lets earth have it.  I mean, KA-BOOM!  The mini-series was scripted by Richard Matheson, and though slow at points, I find it a lot of fun.  This story gives the end of the world a unique twist.  Humans travel to Mars, accidentally kill all the Martians.  Humans begin to colonize Mars, but the project never gets beyond the initial phases before earth blows itself up!  Thus, humanities future lies on Mars.  It's good stuff, trust me.
• War of the Worlds.  Seems Mars has a big role in the end of the world, doesn't it?  We should nuke them first -- preemptive strike.  I like the classic version.  I am not a fan of H.G. Wells writing.  But that old movie was great!  End of the world?  Yep, it's there!  My favorite scene is the guys standing in front of the spaceship waving a white flag.  "Everyone knows the white flag," they reason.  Now, the new one is okay, but it's hard to stomach Tom Cruise -- and that girl screams through the entire movie.
• Day After Tomorrow.  Who can't enjoy a movie where global warming leads to huge storms, snow and ice?  It was called "Global WARMING" right? 
• The Matrix.  This movie has a wonderful moment in it when you realize that the world you see is not the world that is!  The world as we know it ended, and lives on only in group imagination. 
• I Am Legend.  This movie is based on a short novel by Richard Matheson. 
• The Walking Dead.

I just can't swallow Armageddon.  Sorry.  I find myself asking: Why did they put guns on the space module?  Also not a big fan of 2012.  Honestly, I didn't really understand most of it.  I'm the kid in the back of the class, "Excuse me. . . I don't get it." Also worthy of mention is The Core -- But, it's not worthy of much mention!  Does Walle count as end of the world?  I don't even know if it counts as a real movie.

I have not seen: Reign of Fire, Left Behind, End of Days, 12 Monkeys, Dawn of the Dead, 28 Days Later, The Children of Men (but it looks cool).

Books that never became movies, I offer just one: Swan Song.  Hey, where's the Swan Song movie?  Man!  Carrie is on remake #4, and we still don't have a Swan Song movie?

By the way -- CDC (Center For Disease Control) is saying we should be prepared for Zombies.  Shouldn't they be worrying about things like -- disease? The primary concern with Zombies is not disease, it's being eaten!  Certainly you don't want to french kiss a zombie, but when encountering one, your primary concern is not disease -- it's "can I run faster than this thing?"  Do these people drink Kool aid with Mr. Camping? 

I'm sure I forgot A LOT. . . so go ahead, what end of the world movies / books / TV shows do you love?