Quoted from Electric Dreamer Kinda stopped reading him after he burned my wallet with Pet Semetery.

Burned your wallet?  What's that mean?  Pet Semetery was a great King novel.  The movie was far from great, but then again, most of King's works doesm't translate well to film...or people just have trouble translating his work to film.

As I've told Pia before, Bag of Bones was one of my least favorite pre 2000 King novels.  Post 2000 novels?  Uhhh, has there been a good one yet?  I tried reading Lisey's Story and never got past page 50...terrible!

Most King's novel don't transfer well on film??  Jeff dear, have you looked at the list of films that are adapted from his work??

Yes, I know them all and seen them all.  I'm referring to his novels, and I'm not including made for TV or cable films.

I am not a fan of Carrie or The Shining, either.  I've said it over and over about The Shining, but obviously my feelings about that movie are not in line with public opinion.  I did enjoy The Mist though, but that was based on a novella.

Which novels are you referring to, BTW?

Salem's Lot.  Incredible novel and hugely influential on the vampire genre.

The 1979 mini-series adaptation, even though it changed huge portions of the novel, was excellent.  I'd say the Kurt Barlow in that version was the scariest on-screen vampire ever.

Agreed, but that was a made for TV film, which as I said, I'm not counting. It was very well done for what it was for sure.

Misery, Shawshank Redemption, the Green Mile, Dolores Claiborne, Secret Window....

Yeah...

Misery - dull, but decent.

Green Mile - Didn't do anything for me, sorry to say.  I know many love it.

Dolores Claiborne - Nope, nothing great, IMO.

Secret Window - C'mon now...terrible!

Quoted from Dreamscale Burned your wallet?  What's that mean?  Pet Semetery was a great King novel.

When the novel came out, there was a manufactured "media frenzy".
It was touted as the "great lost Stephen King novel". Too shocking to print!
In reality, I learned later that he had shelved it for years due to quality concerns.

I thought it was a pedestrian effort that was utterly predictable.
Even at the age of 12, I felt ripped off by that garbage and how it was marketed.

To each his own.

E.D.

Not sure why you're not counting made for TV films, Jeff, as I think Salem's Lot is one of the best King adaptations ever.  Although, the less said about that Rob Lowe version, the better.

But as far as theatrical releases, The Dead Zone was solid.  Cronenberg + King is probably going to equal some intense stuff.  Throw in Christopher Walken and there you go.

Cujo was not a good movie, but it did have its moments.  And to think Stephen King doesn't even remember writing that novel.

Ryan, you are correct...The Dead Zone was definitely a pretty good flick.  Looking back on it, I'd even say it was a good flick, but compared to the novel?  No, not even close.

But, I guess that's what I'm saying.  There are a vast number of his works that have made it to film, and many are decent to pretty good, and some, like The Shining and Shawshank, in some people's minds, are classics.

BUT...

They pale in comparison to what King wrote on the page, and what images he bored into our brains with his prose.

Throw in the fact that most of his works are 400+ pages (many 600+) and it becomes clear, at least for me, that he's a tough act to turn into a solid film.

Don't get me wrong, cause IMO, he's the best writer of all time, and easily my personal favorite (although I do have an affinity for both Peter Benchley and Steve Alten - but I know damn well Alten is a shitty writer with a wonderful imagination).

And Ryan, I'll agree with you again, Salem's Lot with David Soul was a great made for TV King film.  Barlow definitely rocked, it was scary, creepy, and overall well done.  But, let's understand that in my mind, Stephen King novels should translate into R rated movies, based on this, I just can't include it as a "real" movie.  

Yeah, good points Jeff.

Its always been a sticking point about King's novels/stories being made into movies. I think with the better technology, his most recent ones have been ok.

but, as Jeff noted, they seem to make his weaker novels into films - the ones Jeff mentioned are a good example. i didnt see any of those films but I didnt like the books they were based on.  Dreamcatcher was his worst book ever in my opinion so I can only imagine how bad the film was.

The stand mini series was done pretty well, and covered the essence of the great tale. It looks a bit dated now and there's rumours of a re-make directed by Ben Affleck.

IT was average and very hurried - and dated. That tale needs a mini series to do it any justice and I think one is in the works.

Curiously enough, I have never The Shining for some reason (nor seen the movie). Its one of the few King books I haven't read.

My top 3 books of all time are:  

The Lord Of The Rings

The Stand

It

I'm reading The Dark Half now.  Had the book for many, MANY years, but don't think I ever actually finished it.  I have  seen the movie a few times...

I'm on page 300 of 11.22.63

If you're looking for horror, this one might not be for you, but damn! That man can write anything that will just suck me in to his world!!

Yep...I agree.  King's the man, but I still can't say anything he's done in the last 10 years or so has caught my eye.

I was actually trying to read some Clive Barker but I gave up the other night.  I've had 4 of his HUGE novels for many years but never was bale to get past page 50 on any of them.  Too cryptic a style, too out there, but I do love his imagination.

I'd still love to see The Dark Tower picked up. The Gunslinger would certainly be manageable, I feel. It sucks that Ron Howard and co. dropped the project, but I really wasn't ecstatic about Javier Bardem as Roland, so I guess at least that's one good thing.