I think it’s interesting how the literary world views Stephen King.
Some think he’s a trashy supermarket novelist who writes about monsters. Yet, many respected universities actually teach King, treating him like another Edgar Allan Poe.
No matter how you see it, you can’t deny King is the most popular novelist of our day. And no other author — except for, say, Shakespeare — has had a greater impact on movies.
In fact, there are currently six films being made based on King books.
While there have certainly been many bad ones (Think “Hearts in Atlantis”), the ones that stay true to the original source tend to be quite good.
As we debate the best King adaptation in this week’s Grudge Match, I’ve decided to take it one step further, naming my Top Ten Stephen King Book-to-Movie Adaptations. Here goes:
10.) “Cujo”
After this movie was made, people didn’t look at dogs the same way. In fact, 25 years later, if a canine looks intimidating, we still say, “Whoa — easy, Cujo!”
9.) “The Running Man”
In 1987, the idea of a guy competing for his life on a TV show seemed a little out there. But after some of the reality shows we’ve had in recent years, it no longer seems so far fetched.
8.) “It”
This wasn’t bad for a TV mini-series. The build-up was nice, and, of course, the clown gave you the creeps.
7.) “The Stand”
This one almost needed to be a mini series (which it was) in order to do justice to King’s tome on mankind’s final stand.
6.) “Pet Semetary”
Proving that little kids can be really creepy, this one proves why it’s sometimes good to let sleeping dogs lie.
5.) “Misery”
Terrific performances by James Caan and Kathy Bates, proving that movies don’t need monsters to be scary.
4.) “The Shining”
King didn’t like some of the changes director Stanley Kubrick made for the cinematic version of his book (which he later had remade into a TV movie), but I gotta side with the director on this one. And who better to play a crazy axe murderer than Jack Nicholson?
3.) “Green Mile”
Some of King’s non-horror stories are his best. When you hear Fred Astaire’s “Cheek to Cheek,” how can you not shed a tear?
2.) “Shawshank Redemption.”
The film managed to preserve the great characters and most of the key plot points King created for this novella. This came from the book “Different Seasons,” which also included “The Body,” which was named “Stand By Me” when adapted for film.
1.) “Stand By Me”
This is when Rob “Meathead” Reiner finally got some respect. As a director, he made a terrific adaptation of King’s novella about a group of boys out to find a dead body. When you think “coming-of-age tale,” this one has to pop into your mind.
Photo: www.stephenking.com
Posted on September 8th, 2008 by Pat
Filed under: Books, Movies
While most of the films listed are here are ones I’ve enjoyed, I’d also say that the majority of movies based on King’s books aren’t good at all. I think the problem is that King puts so much into his stories, it’s difficult to get everything that’s good into a film script. Which is why the best of these adaptations are often short stories.
Speaking of “Shawshank,” you HAVE to watch this spoof by the folks at JibJab. Very, very funny.
[…] after writing about King adaptations and debating Danny on which is better — “The Shining” or “Stand By Me” […]
Pemberton, I was going to say if you don’t have “Shawshank” as the No. 1, I’m gonna have to smack you again. You got close. “Stand By Me” is good, but “Shawshank” is simply a great movie, beyond being an exact adaptation of the story.
But what about “Maximum Overdrive”? You don’t like Emilio Estevez getting smacked around by a bunch of pushy trucks?