Stephen King Fans discussion

I watched the movie some time last year and just finished the book. I can't believe that they're even related. Except for the very basic premise, the two works couldn't have been any more different. IMO, the book was far better than the movie as well.

True but you can say that about most of King's movies. They really do go far far from the story sometimes. But it is still a fun action movie IMO

It is a fun movie...I wonder if they remade it now if it would be more like a reality tv show like in the story than a glittery game show that was popular in the 80's?

Rachel wrote: "It is a fun movie...I wonder if they remade it now if it would be more like a reality tv show like in the story than a glittery game show that was popular in the 80's?"

Definitely! It could almost come across as a "souped-up" version of Survivor.

Kandice wrote: "Rachel wrote: "It is a fun movie...I wonder if they remade it now if it would be more like a reality tv show like in the story than a glittery game show that was popular in the 80's?"

Definitely..."

Actually, the first time I read The Running Man was at the height of Survivor popularity and I remember thinking, "Oh God, we're headed in this direction." Especially now with the economy so bad. Wasn't poverty the reason for people volunteering for these games in the story? In the movie they were criminals I think...

Most of the shows volunteers were poverty stricken, but the Running Man often used prisoners that had been falsely accused. It kept them from defending themselves or telling their side of events.

I read it when it first came out, and remember when Survivor first came on immediately comparing it to The Running Man and The Long Walk. Pretty scary.

The bad thing about 'Running Man' the Movie... The 3 main characters, Arnold, Maria, & Richard had different accents.. I really believe that's what killed the movie

On of my favorite movies... though I haven't read the book.

you should, Angie. Although, the book is so different from the movie. It's grittier.

Rachel wrote: "you should, Angie. Although, the book is so different from the movie. It's grittier."

the book is wwaayyyy different than the movie. i like the movie as well, great B-Movie. (view spoiler)[ the book is not so sweet. the movie, the exact some revenge... the book... mmm, not so much til later.. (hide spoiler)] wasn't so sure about spoilers.

Angie wrote: "On of my favorite movies... though I haven't read the book."

Yes, you definitely should, Angie!

I think the Running Man movie was made because hollywood needed a new action thriller to put Arnie in. It was very much his film and fit perfect with what he was doing back in the 80's.

I read the book last year and was very impressed.

I like both the book and the movie a lot - Richard Dawson as Killian was fantastic! Probably my favorite "I'll be back" from Arnold. (Only in a rerun!)

Robdemanc wrote: "I think the Running Man movie was made because hollywood needed a new action thriller to put Arnie in. It was very much his film and fit perfect with what he was doing back in the 80's.

I read t..."

Didn't see the movie but read the book. Liked it a lot. But check out the Long Walk, another Bachman Book, written around the same time, I think. The Long Walk is better I think, in fact it may be one of King's very best and written at the start of his career. WOW!

Thanks Nick I am planning to get hold of all the Bachman books soon and will look out for The Long Walk.

I must have read The Long Walk 15 times by now. It's such a fantastic story: heartbreaking and terrifying at the same time. It reads like something that could happen for real. (Please, forgive me my bad English. I am Dutch).

Marjo wrote: "I must have read The Long Walk 15 times by now. It's such a fantastic story: heartbreaking and terrifying at the same time. It reads like something that could happen for real. (Please, forgive me m..."

Your english is great and reads better than some of the novelists whose works I've read. There's some suggestion that The Long Walk was a book that King started when he was in college and worked on for years. It shows.

Thank you very much Nick, you are very kind. And I absolutely agree: it does show.

my personal favorite of the Bachman books (so far...still have yet to read Blaze) is Roadwork. That was fantastic! I'm actually quite surprised it hasn't been optioned for film yet.

I am reading this again right now and it is truly one of Kings most readable books. Very hard to put down. Perhaps its because he uses the countdown for the chapter numbers and the chapters are short by his standards.

Anyway I think a new film should be made and it should follow the storyline in this book and not the 1988 film.

saw the film before I read the book. Reading the book made me realize how awful the film actually was. Concept in the book was much more exciting.

Joe wrote: "saw the film before I read the book. Reading the book made me realize how awful the film actually was. Concept in the book was much more exciting."

That is true. Next to the book the film is atrocious. But I think they deliberately made the film tongue in cheek.

Is it sad that I like this movie... I mean ARNOLD!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2BZC...

I'm happy I read the book before seeing the movie. I didn't picture anyone remotely similar to Arnold while reading.

I just read this book and found it a very fast read. It's a great way to get introduced Stephen King's writings outside horror. The story is very prescient, and amazing considering it was written a while back.

The movie is really just a campy overblown 80's romp that celebrates Arnold in a real cheesy way. The gladiator take on the story is sort of fun, but does not compare to the much more gritty tale told by King.

My podcast just reviewed both the book and movie. Check it out if you're interested: http://nodeodorantinouterspace.wordpr...

Thus far, the best Bachman novel. Still have a few to go.

The Story was so much better than the movie. I would love to see the movie remade.

I liked the movie but if I had to pick I think the story was better.

The story i incredibly chilling and was very prescient at the time it was written. (Survivor, the Bachelor, to name a couple), but the movie was plain campy. I enjoyed them both, but for very, very different reasons.

R.a. wrote: "Thus far, the best Bachman novel. Still have a few to go."

THE LONG WALK

Nick wrote: "R.a. wrote: "Thus far, the best Bachman novel. Still have a few to go."

THE LONG WALK"

Hi Nick,

Despite the great ending to The Long Walk, I find the The Running Man. to be more readable.

They both, of course, have a dystopic future setting as well as a "ticking" race structure.

But, I found TRM quite prophetic although the ending to TLW is a better written ending.

Good reading!

I love both, but for some reason found The Long Walk more satisfying. They have very similar feels, though. Part of it may be King's way with children and young adult characters.

Kandice wrote: "I love both, but for some reason found The Long Walk more satisfying. They have very similar feels, though. Part of it may be King's way with children and young adult characters."

It's amazing that to me, both these books, and even The Hunger Games, are all basically the same story... or at least they have the same premise. BTW, Kandice I fully agree with you that King's understanding of children is one of his greatest gifts and one of his greatest gifts to us.

The movie is absolutely dire, and made far worse by "Arnie's" cheesiness. The attempts at humour throughout just don't work and I cringed the whole way through. The book had tension, drama and great characterisation, as usual from the King, and left me wanting more. The film made me want to have the time I wasted watching it back to do something useful with. Claptrap.
It's annoying how many good King novels are ruined by the film adaptation of them - even the ones King had a hand in or oversaw. Waiting to see how much they can ruin "It" with the remake.

Paul wrote: "The movie is absolutely dire, and made far worse by "Arnie's" cheesiness. The attempts at humour throughout just don't work and I cringed the whole way through. The book had tension, drama and grea..."

Agreed Paul. There aren't many King books that translate very well to film other than Misery. TV adaptations for IT, The Stand and The Shining (TV not film) were good. I watched IT last Saturday after several ciders down the pub and it wasn't too bad!

His short stories seem to fare better when adapted to TV or Films.

I too fear that Hollywood will not do justice to the wonderful book "IT". I hope the remake is much scarier and Pennywise far more menacing than the TV series. Take John Boy out of the equation as well and Bill should be much edgier.

Just finished last night and found it better than I expected on a second read. I thought the characters were strong, and the ending surprised me even though I'd read the book before. It takes great skill to catch a group of strong adversarial characters in a web that just seems impossible to escape and then have it all work out. I think this was actually one of King's better endings.