The Mist

[Jimmy]

This is one of my favourite Stephen King short story and I've hoping to see it make as a film since I had read it. So the movie interest me, that's why I've read nothing about it (review, critics or news)

I've watched the anouncement for the DVD release and the movie is suppose to be release on a 1 disc and a 2 disc edition. The 2 disc edition will have a B/W version so my question is for those who have seen the movie : Do you think that a B/W version will add something more to the ambiance of the movie? Something like a feeling of a fifties monster movie.

Don't give me any spoiler since I want to be surprise by the DVD

[lovemunkey187]

I've not seen it, but if in doubt, go for the 2disc edition.

[Jimmy]

I have receive it this week and I've decide to watch it today. I've just watch the regular version today, so I can't comment on the B/W version.

The film is not bad but after 20 years of waiting to see this story made as a movie I'm not completly satisfied. As usual with the movie adapted from King books a lot is change and some of the cast choice don't work.

I use the spoil tag for those who have not seen it yet

[spoiler]The bad thing
The beginning is too short : the storm happen fast and we don't see Stef Drayton enough to care about her
Stef is suppose to go at the supermarket, but she can't because Brent take the last place in the car
Brent Norton is an old white guy (not a fourty years old black guy) - bad cast choice
Mrs. Carmody is too young - bad cast choice
The CGI effect for the tentacles is very badly made
Ollie Weeks is too old - bad cast choice
Amanda and David are suppose to have a sexual relation
David never discover what happen to his wife in the book
The end is bad (it was ok untill the army appear, that's a feel good ending and it's not necessary)

The good thing
The event in the supermarket happen mostly like in the book (except for the pharmacy)
The effect for the mist is well done
Thomas Jane and Laurie Holden did a good job
The flies and the spider are well done
It made me jump a couple of time (something who didn't happen for me usually)
The real end (without the stupid soldier shit)[/spoiler]

Another recent film who is a deception for me, sorry for those who have like it.

[Achim]

I saw the Mist at the theater today.

For the most part I will say that it is quite a good horror film, mostly true to the story (probably unless you just read it recently) and except one obvious CGI reveal it is well done (I guess it's budget limitations).

Basically I agree with most everything Jimmy said within the Spoiler. However, I mainly disagree with one thing, which I will respond with a spoiler tag too:
[spoiler]
The one thing I really hate about this movie, hate to he extent that I am considering taking it from my DVD Wish List!

*****SPOILERS WILL FOLLOW, I MEAN IT!*****
Now, Jimmy said that the appearance of the army at the end made it a "feel good ending". I disagree. Actually, the ending was very dreadful, as the main character had just made a very tough decision which included killing his own sun and was about to get himself killed by the monsters when the army appeared. I really can't see how it's feel good, when the main character faces this devastating truth that he killed some friends and his son needlessly! A friend of mine, who hadn't read the story, actually liked the ending for that reason, as it shows what awful tricks life can play; and I am beginning to see his point. Still, nothing "feel good" about it though. Sorry Jimmy, if we are just caught in a language situation and you meant it another way...

Well, I guess I am a purist and had hoped the film would have ended like the story, with them just driving off into uncertainty; this is where Jimmy and me agree...
*****END OF SPOILERS*****
[/spoiler]

[Jimmy]

[spoiler]Now, Jimmy said that the appearance of the army at the end made it a "feel good ending". [/spoiler]

[spoiler]What I was meaning by a "feel good ending" is the fact that the movie end with a resolution of the creature problem. In the book nothing is resolve at the end (that's why I like the story), no soldier came and save the day. The end for me is after David has killed the 4 others survivors, this is not the book ending but I like it. I just don't like what came after, looks too much like something add after a test showing. [/spoiler]

[Achim]

[spoiler]What I was meaning by a "feel good ending" is the fact that the movie end with a resolution of the creature problem. In the book nothing is resolve at the end (that's why I like the story), no soldier came and save the day. The end for me is after David has killed the 4 others survivors, this is not the book ending but I like it. I just don't like what came after, looks too much like something add after a test showing. [/spoiler]

[spoiler]Yeah, I imagined you probably didn't mean actually "feel good" and were just referring to the fact the army stopped the "end of the world" crisis. I just wanted to clarify that for other readers too and at the same time express my feelings against the ending.[/spoiler]

[Najemikon]

[spoiler]This is brilliant! An invisible thread! [/spoiler]

[Jimmy]

[spoiler]This is brilliant! An invisible thread! [/spoiler]

[spoiler]We don't want to let everyone knowing the end of it, even if it's a bad one (not necessary to hide this, but it keeps the topic mysterious  )[/spoiler]

[Najemikon]

[spoiler]This is brilliant! An invisible thread! [/spoiler]

[spoiler]We don't want to let everyone knowing the end of it, even if it's a bad one (not necessary to hide this, but it keeps the topic mysterious  )[/spoiler]

[spoiler]True enough and much appreciated because I haven't seen it! But other people who haven't seen it won't know that I'm not joining in. I could insult people and they would never know... [/spoiler]

[Achim]

I mentioned that I hate the ending as a comment to a Yes vote for a contribution. As a reaction a friend PMed me (I don't think it was his contribution...) and pointed out to me that the ending was

[spoiler]indeed meant to be understood in the way I mentioned above (creating real pain for the main character as for his pointless killings). Furthermore it was not only approved by Stephen King but he supposedly even said that he wished he'd have thoughht of that at the time, then he could have ended the story in exactly that way!

This information is apparently taken from the Audio Commentary on the disc.
[/spoiler]

[DJ Doena]

I'd never watch a movie with such a title. 

[Najemikon]

 

[lyonsden5]

I really need to get and watch this movie so I can read this thread 

[Jimmy]

[spoiler]Furthermore it was not only approved by Stephen King but he supposedly even said that he wished he'd have thoughht of that at the time, then he could have ended the story in exactly that way!
[/spoiler]

Maybe but ... [spoiler]The fact that King like or not the end is not revelent, this is not a good end. There's no reason for the apparition of the army to save the day. This end ruins a movie who was not so bad untill than, not a flawless movie but certainly one of the good Stephen King book's adapdation.

By the way I don't trust King : he is the one who had directed "Maximum Overdrive"  [/spoiler]

[RossRoy]

I really need to get and watch this movie so I can read this thread 

Yeah, I know. Me too.