Gore and More discussion

So unless you've been living on a deserted island for the last year or so, there's a very good chance that you've seen the previews to IT. If you're like me, you're also pretty fired up about it. IT is one of my favorite stories of all time and I have very high hopes for this flick based off what I have seen of the previews. Now, I know that I'm setting myself up for one gigantic fall, but who else out there is excited to see this thing on the big screen??

Maybe on Netflix. I don't hate the idea like The Dark Tower, Oh Discordia that will never be seen big me, but it seems, at best, half the story. And how could anyone be a better Pennywise than Tim Curry?

Lena wrote: "Maybe on Netflix. I don't hate the idea like The Dark Tower, Oh Discordia that will never be seen big me, but it seems, at best, half the story. And how could anyone be a better Pennywise than Tim ..."

I agree that Tim Curry was amazing as Pennywise in 1990. However, Bill Skarsgard is looking pretty damn scary in the previews. What I'm most excited about is the young cast, especially Jaeden Lieberher as Bill. He was great in St. Vincent. So, I've got my fingers crossed.

Wow. I had no idea they were remaking IT.

I am very excited for this movie. I was a little disappointed when I first saw the entire ensemble for this new Pennywise, but its been growing on me now that I've seen more trailers. No one will ever top or replace the beloved Tim Curry with his performance of Pennywise, but I'm going to give Bill Skarsgård a chance with this new film. I really am hoping this movie is not overhyped and worth watching. Either way, I'm excited and (im)patiently waiting for September to arrive.

I can't wait for this film. I'm trying to keep my hopes tempered down, but I'm doing a pretty terrible time at it. I actually re-read the novel already in preparation, which is something I rarely ever do.

One thing I do refuse to do though is try and compare and contrast the two versions. Yes, Tim Curry was great in the made for tv film, but I honestly can't see that kind of portrayal working in the film. So I'm going in looking at this Pennywise as it's own thing separate from the other version, to see whether it stands on its own.

I'm not getting my hopes up but i'll be there to see it opening weekend with both fingers crossed.

Tim wrote: "I can't wait for this film. I'm trying to keep my hopes tempered down, but I'm doing a pretty terrible time at it. I actually re-read the novel already in preparation, which is something I rarely e..."

that's a good idea.

Follow the deadlights. We all float down here.

The trailer looks pretty cool, but I like the original movie probably because I liked all the people that played in it.

The trailer looks a bit jump scary for my liking, Pennywise should be creepy not jumping out at you. But, it looks like it might be okay. (view spoiler)[As long as we don't get a dreadful spider at the end and lose all of Pennywises personality (hide spoiler)]

It's one of my boyfriends favourite books and he hasn't read it for about 15 years so he's expecting to be disappointed by the film.

There's a few of us that are going to watch it at the cinema. I'm not expecting to see the best film ever made, but it does look like it'll be a good watch.

I am SO EXCITED to see IT this weekend!!! I liked the original and am a big fan of Stephen King so im hoping it will be good. Also excited to see what they do to the movie with this new and better technology than what 1990 had lol

We watched it Sunday. That's 2+ hours of my life I'll never get back. Dreadful, dreadful movie! :(

Jessica wrote: "I am SO EXCITED to see IT this weekend!!! I liked the original and am a big fan of Stephen King so im hoping it will be good. Also excited to see what they do to the movie with this new and better ..."

Hey, horses for courses, right? Hopefully you'll find the enjoyment I missed. ;)

Aww, I loved it. :)

I loved it too and have seen it twice.

It must be me, then! ;O

Seriously, Char and Kandice, I'm glad you both enjoyed it. Our party of six were unanimous with our condemnation. ;)

I don't know if it's a good thing or bad thing that I've read 'IT' more than any other novel/story in my lifetime - I've gone through that doorstop of a book probably about 15 times in the last thirty years.

So yes, I'm a homer. And 'Chapter One' was not only my favorite movie this year, it might just be my favorite all-time horror movie.* I absolutely loved it. Hell, it even made me jump once and that never happens to me anymore. (Granted, the scene was one not in the novel, but still...)

*Well, at least until Guillermo del Toro gets his version of 'At the Mountains of Madness' up and running one of these decades. *fingers crossed*

I hope he gets to do it. I love that man!

Michael wrote: "I don't know if it's a good thing or bad thing that I've read 'IT' more than any other novel/story in my lifetime - I've gone through that doorstop of a book probably about 15 times in the last thi..."

I've read that doorstop three times and each time I swear I love it even more. My husband is not a reader at all, but he has seen the mini-series and he did attend the new movie with me on opening night. He loved it!

Sorry it didn't work for you or your party, David. :(

Buckled and saw IT.
I screamed once with a great jump scare.
(view spoiler)[the projector leap out (hide spoiler)]
I didn't mind the changes for brevity and can we all agree a kiss is better than a gang bang?
I liked the kids in the 80s version (or 50s version depending on how you look at it) better with the exception of Beverly and Georgie.
No one was ever going to replace Jonathan Brandis or Tim Curry for me but neither of the new actors sucked.
For me IT was somewhere between ok and pretty darn good.

Did anyone else think it was weird that they had the clown say "beep beep Richie" when none of his friends did.

I read it was due to the changing of the young cast to be set in the 1980s instead of the 1950s and the difference in the language from those eras. They also decided to have Pennywise say it as a nod of recognition of the book.

I think the "bbep beep" was just another in a long list of Easter Eggs thrown in for us, the fans of the book. Movie watchers only wouldn't get them, or even notice, but those of us who loved the book can revel in those little "inside" nods to the page.

I suppose as a modern horror movie -- all jump thrills with no 'actual' horror -- IT is passable, but the movie totally shied away from everything that made the book -- and to a lesser extent the mini-series -- classic.

Sure, Beverley's dad remained the scariest thing in the movie, but the aspects of racism, misogyny, homophobia, abuse, all of the things which gave the book IT's power (You see what I did there, right?), the movie discarded these in favor of cheap (and largely flawed) jump thrills.

Honestly, I'm glad people enjoyed the film, but, personally, meh!

The bullies were still scary as well as the reminder of where your meat comes from and the emotional cost of those who have little economic choice but to provide it for the rest of us.
I really hate that I'm a failed vegetarian but I keep trying. Some things are harder in Texas.

Lena wrote: "Buckled and saw IT.
I screamed once with a great jump scare.
[spoilers removed]
I didn't mind the changes for brevity and can we all agree a kiss is better than a gang bang?
I liked the kids i..."

Yes, we can agree regarding the kiss! (Someone elsewhere wondered if that could also be a nod to King's upcoming book Sleeping Beauties.)

You mean the literal floating? Maybe.

I thought the kiss was a great move. It was really a sweet, touching moment. It was a "coming of age" moment that is a big theme in the book.

ElleEm wrote: "I thought the kiss was a great move. It was really a sweet, touching moment. It was a "coming of age" moment that is a big theme in the book."

Yeah, but this was handled much better than what happened in the book. IMO

Char wrote: "ElleEm wrote: "I thought the kiss was a great move. It was really a sweet, touching moment. It was a "coming of age" moment that is a big theme in the book."

Yeah, but this was handled much better..."

I didn't want to see that scene on the big screen either. I was referring to the overall coming of age theme in the book, not just to that one particular scene.

ElleEm wrote: "Char wrote: "ElleEm wrote: "I thought the kiss was a great move. It was really a sweet, touching moment. It was a "coming of age" moment that is a big theme in the book."

Yeah, but this was handle..."

I was hoping they had changed it, and I was relieved to see that they had. But yeah, coming of age is a big part of it.
It seems that it's now becoming a big thing-coming of age horror set in the 80's-what with Stranger Things and now the news of Dan Simmons' Summer of Night being made into a film.

There is simply no way they were going to show the scene on screen. I hate that scene of the book and always have, but never thought they would include it in the film. I wondered if there would be a replacement, and was happy with the kiss.

I'm glad they included the deadlights, but it was better done in the eyes than in the lamprey mouth.

Going to see IT tonight (finally!). Thoughts to come.

Kandice wrote: "There is simply no way they were going to show the scene on screen. I hate that scene of the book and always have, but never thought they would include it in the film. I wondered if there would be ..."

I totally agree.

Have to agree with David. I went in with semi-high hopes, but I thought the clown was too unrealistically scary (what kid would go near that thing? Tim Curry worked because he was charming and funny until it was too late), and I hated that they took Mike's important historian role and gave it to Ben. Thought that was so unnecessary.

Also didn't care for the sexualization of Bev. I didn't think it was necessary to make her the girl with the bad rep, or have her flirt with the pharmacist, and I missed her kick-ass shooting abilities. Instead, she gets to be rescued...yawn.

But whenever I've voiced the slightest criticism against the movie online, people have ripped me a new one, so clearly I'm in the minority. I just felt taking power away from the female and POC characters was in poor taste, not to mention unnecessary.

Plus, I didn't find it the slightest bit scary. Didn't so much as flinch.

J.H. wrote: "Have to agree with David. I went in with semi-high hopes, but I thought the clown was too unrealistically scary (what kid would go near that thing? Tim Curry worked because he was charming and funn..."

I feel similar as you about some of the problems with this movie. To me they are small things (I really, really liked the movie overall) but I can see how you would take bigger issue with them. I appreciate everyone's take on it whether they liked it or didn't. I really appreciate it when people can say why they had a problem with it rather than just a blanket statement saying it deviated from the book.

So with that being said I will describe how I felt about the pharmacist scene. It disgusted me, he is a creep and he is a "monster". It was truly a shock seeing Bev flirting with him but I think she used his evil against him.

It also bothered me that Mike's role was taken away from him and I wonder why he was even present in the film. He really didn't do anything. But I keep reminding myself that we have another chapter left and maybe they aren't done with his story yet.

I'm cool with varying views on the movie, it would be boring if everyone was gushing.

I'm not arguing, but I didn't feel that Bev lost her strength. I thought she was a pretty kick ass girl even in the movie. I loved that way she used the pervy pharmacists ... inclinations against him. Although we don't get to see her with a sling shot, she was the first to jump in, she was awesome in the rock fight and she was the one who insisted on standing up to It together. I really liked movie Bevvie.

Waiting on you Ken!

I finished IT not too long ago and just... whoa!!

I loved the movie. Even better than I hoped. They finally did the book justice IMO, although I missed the adult/child flashbacks. Loved the children cast too. Tim Curry was fun as Pennywise but the joking feel didn't fully fit the book IMO. I think Bill did fine and there were some genuinely creepy parts. A surprising amount of working humor too.

Lena wrote: "Waiting on you Ken!"

Okay. I finally saw IT tonight and I loved it. The acting was superb. Whoever did the casting deserves a bonus. All of those kids could act their butts off. I particular thought Bill, Ben, Beverly, Richie, and Henry were great. The script did a nice job hitting all of the greatest hits of the story and didn't stray away very often. I also thought the cinematography was beautiful using those Canadian locations and making them Derry. I don't know how they made the house on Niebold St look so good, but that's using Hollywood magic for ya. Finally, I loved Pennywise. I know. I know. He wasn't Tim Curry, but honestly, I didn't want a Tim Curry-like performance here. As much as a I thought Curry carried the 1990 version of IT, I think Skaarsgard's version here was more accurate to the way I thought the book portrayed it. All in all, I was very pleased with the movie. With IT raking in the dough at the box office, I hope that means it will open the door for more King adaptations with large budgets.

Watched IT a couple of nights ago and really enjoyed it. Though it was a good representation of the book. The characters and settings were spot on. The old scary house was brilliant.

Kellywise - Ahhhhhh!!!
https://youtu.be/Hlt3rA-oDao

LOL, Lena. I hadn't seen that! ;-)

Didn't really care for the new one. I don't know I just couldn't get into it(no pun intended). I'll watch the second one when it comes out, maybe that will help me appreciate the first one, assuming this one is actually worthy.