I reminded myself halfway through the movie that what I was seeing on the big screen had no bearing on what was being told on paper.
Game of Thrones really screwed me up. Just yesterday I was having a conversation about Jeyne Poole, the character who actually dealt with the rape and marriage storyline involving Ramsey Bolton and Reek. Poole’s story is so much worse than what Sansa faces in her place and highlights one of many inconsistencies between print and screen. However, given the lack of any print books beyond The Winds of Winter, the HBO team can be forgiven.
The Sony Pictures Team cannot.
What’s that line? ‘You had one job.’ They failed miserably at that job. In fact, there are several moments in the movie where it feels as though they could have succeeded in creating a film that launched the series as a viable franchise. No such luck. The movie sank like a man wearing armor in a lake.
There was some good here. Idris Elba’s portrayal of Roland was dark, brooding, and occasionally outstanding. The kid who plays Jake Chambers was solid throughout. Heck, there even were moments where it felt like the book. Unfortunately there were more moments where it felt like a drinking game–take a drink every time a different Stephen King book is referenced. Short of ‘Under the Dome’ it felt like the major novels were fairly well represented. This of course, is not the point of the story. That is the problem of the film. It doesn’t tell a story related to the text in ay substantial way. It goes off course in a direction that will never lead it to the books.
Or the Tower.
Some Thoughts:
- I started a list!
- A conversation with my partner reminded me that my lack of motivation affects more than just me.