Best Stephen King Adaptation

rhett · 08-06-2002, 08:22 AM

There have been some classics and a whole lot of stinkers...but which film is the BEST Stephen King adaptation? Given the sheer number of films he has been given credit for, I have excluded TV movies from the listings (Salem's Lot was released as a feature film at one point). Vote away!

Hellbilly · 08-06-2002, 04:32 PM

I love Carrie and The Dead Zone but my vote went to the one King didn't like at all: Kubrick's version of The Shining.

DefJeff · 08-06-2002, 05:45 PM

well i voted for Christine, cuz its my favorite King adaption as well as being a really good movie.

The Shining and Firestarter made it a tough decision, cuz theyre also awesome flicks

Rock · 08-06-2002, 07:11 PM

I voted for THE DEAD ZONE but think CUJO and CARRIE are just as good...and DOLORES CLAIBORNE deserves kudos too, even if not a "horror" movie...

Paff · 08-06-2002, 07:52 PM

Had to vote Carrie, though Norma will probably rig this election too.

I think it's the best adaptation, since it's faithful to the book but changes what's necessary for a movie.

Kubrick's The Shining IS a great movie, but a lousy adaptation since it completely undermines the story in the novel. Conversely, the TV miniseries is TOO faithful to the book, and lacks the quick pacing a movie needs.

And while not horror, The Shawshank Redemption is both a great film and adaptation, it also illustrates why King's novels don't translate well to film: It's a short novel just over 100 pages or so, and yet it took a 2 hour 45 minute film to tell that story. So what do you do with King's typical 500+ page novels??

08-07-2002, 07:16 AM

I'm trying to vote for CHRSTINE....but I keep getting this message saying "The action you have attempted could not be performed as your session appears to be invalid". Whatever

.

While THE SHINING is an amazing film, I can't help but enjoy CHRISTINE more. Actually, fuck it, they're tied. THE SHINING feels so epic and it's all so creepy, while CHRISTINE is the epitome of 80's fun. I can't choose

.

08-07-2002, 07:40 AM

CUJO all the way! It is an absolute classic that is full of realistic sheer terror, and Cujo is one of my favorite cinematic (and novel) villains ever!

THE NIGHT FLIER, SILVER BULLET, THE DEAD ZONE, and CHRISTINE all rank very high too!

rhett · 08-07-2002, 07:52 AM

This was a damn tough choice for me.
The Dead Zone, Carrie and The Shining all rank right up there in my favorite horror films of all time, and Christine is done by John Carpenter, so it is damn tough to pick a film out of these four.

Carrie though, is my date for the Best King Adaptation. With a much more balanced pace than both TDZ and The Shining, and some amazingly expressionistic photography, I just can't pick another film over it.

Mark Relford · 08-08-2002, 04:15 AM

It was a hard choice, but I went with The Shining. Um, let's see- Excellent performances, cinematography by the legend, John Alcott, haunting music, (especially, the main theme by Wendy Carlos & Rachel Elkind. It's a damn shame that a proper soundtrack hasn't been released!) and truly memorable scenes. (The creepy twins, blood flowing from the elevator, quick flashes of the murdered Grady family, the woman in the tub, etc.)
Sure, it's not a faithful adaptation, but I'll take Kubrick's hedge maze over those lame hedge animals anytime.

08-12-2002, 04:18 PM

Wasn't Storm of the Century an adaptation? It was one of the better movies with King's name on it.

rhett · 08-12-2002, 05:38 PM

"Storm of the Century" was more of a TV movie, just like "Rose Red" and the newer version of "The Shining". Since polls are limited to 20 votes, I never had room for it. It is definitely a good mini-series though.

The Chaostar · 08-15-2002, 01:00 PM

"Come play with us Danny..."

KillerCannabis · 09-03-2002, 08:53 PM

I had to go with Silver Bullet. There's just something I really enjoy about this flick. Close second was Shining, followed by Carrie.

09-23-2002, 06:56 PM

The Shining - with Carrie as runner up

09-24-2002, 04:43 AM

This was a tough one! I picked Creepshow, but felt bad leaving out especially Carrie, The Shining, Christine, and Cujo. Good pool!

View Poll Results: What is the best Stephen King horror adaptation?
Carrie	29	19.08%
Cat's Eye	1	0.66%
Children of the Corn	2	1.32%
Christine	8	5.26%
Creepshow	8	5.26%
Cujo	4	2.63%
The Dark Half	1	0.66%
The Dead Zone	19	12.50%
Firestarter	0	0%
Graveyard Shift	0	0%
Maximum Overdrive	2	1.32%
Misery	12	7.89%
Needful Things	2	1.32%
The Night Flier	0	0%
Salem's Lot	12	7.89%
The Shining	46	30.26%
Silver Bullet	5	3.29%
Sleepwalkers	1	0.66%
Thinner	0	0%
Voters: 152. You may not vote on this poll

08-06-2002, 08:22 AM	#1
rhett Moderator Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Canada Posts: 8,876	Best Stephen King Adaptation There have been some classics and a whole lot of stinkers...but which film is the BEST Stephen King adaptation? Given the sheer number of films he has been given credit for, I have excluded TV movies from the listings (Salem's Lot was released as a feature film at one point). Vote away! __________________ "It's a good scream...it's a good scream..."

08-06-2002, 04:32 PM	#2
Hellbilly Water-squirting greatness Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Franconia Posts: 13,666	I love Carrie and The Dead Zone but my vote went to the one King didn't like at all: Kubrick's version of The Shining. __________________ "Common sense turns me on"

08-06-2002, 05:45 PM	#3
DefJeff Franca Stoppi's #1 fan Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Hamden, CT Posts: 3,112	well i voted for Christine, cuz its my favorite King adaption as well as being a really good movie. The Shining and Firestarter made it a tough decision, cuz theyre also awesome flicks __________________ Thrash explains TWIN PEAKS!: <thrashard76> its the ultimate tribute to Italian cinema, no real plot but fun just the same My Growing DVD Collection

08-06-2002, 07:52 PM	#5
Paff Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Location: SoCal Posts: 6,538	Had to vote Carrie, though Norma will probably rig this election too. I think it's the best adaptation, since it's faithful to the book but changes what's necessary for a movie. Kubrick's The Shining IS a great movie, but a lousy adaptation since it completely undermines the story in the novel. Conversely, the TV miniseries is TOO faithful to the book, and lacks the quick pacing a movie needs. And while not horror, The Shawshank Redemption is both a great film and adaptation, it also illustrates why King's novels don't translate well to film: It's a short novel just over 100 pages or so, and yet it took a 2 hour 45 minute film to tell that story. So what do you do with King's typical 500+ page novels?? __________________ CINEMA PAFF - Your BB-Movie Showcase * * - The extra B is for BYOBB Paff's Laserdiscs

08-06-2002, 07:11 PM	#4
Rock Stalker Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Livermore, CA Posts: 379	I voted for THE DEAD ZONE but think CUJO and CARRIE are just as good...and DOLORES CLAIBORNE deserves kudos too, even if not a "horror" movie...

08-07-2002, 07:16 AM	#6
Andrew Guest Posts: n/a	I'm trying to vote for CHRSTINE....but I keep getting this message saying "The action you have attempted could not be performed as your session appears to be invalid". Whatever . While THE SHINING is an amazing film, I can't help but enjoy CHRISTINE more. Actually, fuck it, they're tied. THE SHINING feels so epic and it's all so creepy, while CHRISTINE is the epitome of 80's fun. I can't choose .

08-07-2002, 07:40 AM	#7
Cujo108 Guest Posts: n/a	CUJO all the way! It is an absolute classic that is full of realistic sheer terror, and Cujo is one of my favorite cinematic (and novel) villains ever! THE NIGHT FLIER, SILVER BULLET, THE DEAD ZONE, and CHRISTINE all rank very high too!

08-07-2002, 07:52 AM	#8
rhett Moderator Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Canada Posts: 8,876	This was a damn tough choice for me. The Dead Zone, Carrie and The Shining all rank right up there in my favorite horror films of all time, and Christine is done by John Carpenter, so it is damn tough to pick a film out of these four. Carrie though, is my date for the Best King Adaptation. With a much more balanced pace than both TDZ and The Shining, and some amazingly expressionistic photography, I just can't pick another film over it. __________________ "It's a good scream...it's a good scream..."

08-08-2002, 04:15 AM	#9
Mark Relford Chairman of the Bored Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Indy Posts: 2,610	It was a hard choice, but I went with The Shining. Um, let's see- Excellent performances, cinematography by the legend, John Alcott, haunting music, (especially, the main theme by Wendy Carlos & Rachel Elkind. It's a damn shame that a proper soundtrack hasn't been released!) and truly memorable scenes. (The creepy twins, blood flowing from the elevator, quick flashes of the murdered Grady family, the woman in the tub, etc.) Sure, it's not a faithful adaptation, but I'll take Kubrick's hedge maze over those lame hedge animals anytime. __________________ "Have you ever had an Egyptian feast?" Last edited by Mark Relford; 08-08-2002 at 04:56 AM.

08-12-2002, 04:18 PM	#10
jacob Guest Posts: n/a	Wasn't Storm of the Century an adaptation? It was one of the better movies with King's name on it.

08-12-2002, 05:38 PM	#11
rhett Moderator Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Canada Posts: 8,876	"Storm of the Century" was more of a TV movie, just like "Rose Red" and the newer version of "The Shining". Since polls are limited to 20 votes, I never had room for it. It is definitely a good mini-series though. __________________ "It's a good scream...it's a good scream..."

08-15-2002, 01:00 PM	#12
The Chaostar Johnny Hallyday forever Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Hell-as Posts: 4,257	"Come play with us Danny..." __________________ "Only on Horrordvds.com could a well intentioned get well thread turn into an infomercial about the propensity for testicular perspiration". There Is No Freedom, Wake Up.

09-03-2002, 08:53 PM	#13
KillerCannabis Slow, Deep & Hard Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: So Cal Posts: 5,606	I had to go with Silver Bullet. There's just something I really enjoy about this flick. Close second was Shining, followed by Carrie.

09-23-2002, 06:56 PM	#14
Pope V Guest Posts: n/a	The Shining - with Carrie as runner up

09-24-2002, 04:43 AM	#15
McBride_01 Guest Posts: n/a	This was a tough one! I picked Creepshow, but felt bad leaving out especially Carrie, The Shining, Christine, and Cujo. Good pool!

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