The Mist (movie) was great!

This isn't an in depth review or anything, but The Mist was terrific! It's been decades since I read the story, but from my hazy memory it was pretty faithful. Very well done overall.

Still, I feel a little bad for Frank Darabont. Four feature films as a director and his best three were all Stephen King adaptions, as was his student film.

I thought it looked good in the ads I've seen.

I'm curious about the book. I saw it at my bookstore the other day and was struck by how small it was compared with most other King books. I hadn't heard of it before -- I thought it was a take on Herbert's The Fog.

I might wait for the DVD but I'll definitely see it.

Scaryguy,

Do NOT buy the stand alone of The Mist! That is $6.99. Instead, spend $7.99 on Skeleton Crew which will give you The Mist and 20 other EXCELLENT stories. Why they released The Mist instead of just changing Skeleton Crew's cover like they usually do when a King story is filmed I do not understand.

I'm going to see The Mist Saturday. I'll give you my opinion then!

#3

Thanks for the heads up!

I saw it last night and was floored! I'm eager to hear the debate over the ending begin.

I saw a review in my free paper today about the ending being a rip off. Makes me more curious . . .

There was a very good review on CNN' website today. The wife won't watch it, but maybe the son and I'll go. I agree with the comment about the book, though. Go get Skeleton Crew.

Scaryguy,

I won't give it away, but the ending is very TWILIGHT ZONE, in a very twisted, unsettling way.

The butler did it!!!

I'm sick right now and not in my best mind I guess, but what was the ending ripped off from? Or are they saying that it was good until the end?

I'm not sure about 'ripped off from', but this morning another reviewer said it was great 'until the predictable ending.'

I didn't a chance to go see The Mist this weekend like I had planned. I more than a little frustrated!

To me the ending wasn't predictable, but maybe that's because I read the story and was expecting the same ending.

For anyone who's read the novella and watched the movie, which ending worked better for you?

I'd heard that they'd filmed a different ending than the novella, but to me it wasn't a predictable ending. I saw the movie on Saturday and enjoyed it, most of it stays true to King, including specific dialogue. I then went back and reread the story yesterday, and must say that I prefer the story, even though it doesn't have a nice tidy ending. Much of the novella is internal to the main character, or just plain 'ol description, most of which is lost in the translation to film (which is the case for most adaptations of King's work). Don't get me wrong, the actors and effects are great, and the movie is worth seeing as it is certainly one of the better adaptations.

BTW: Ended up finding Skeleton Crew at my local library for sale for a buck!

The Mist was great! Still have to see the movie though . . .

Scaryguy,

You mean you haven't already read Skeleton Crew? Oh man, that book is a classic. I'm envious of all the great stuff you're about to read! (They aren't all winners, but the ones that are... wow!)

I was able to post a review of that book here on LT even though I'd read it fifteen years ago. That book made a big impact. Enjoy!

I loved Skeleton Crew I can't wait to see The Mist.

I watched The Mist over the weekend.

I can't tell you how long I've waited for this movie. I can't tell you how long I've waited for Uncle Stevie to go back and finish the story.

I can tell you I hated the ending. I was like WTF??! that ending was just wrong. If it was meant to be unsettling then it missed. The original ending even though I didn't like it would have been much better than the one the movie provided. I did watch the commentary and explanation was even dumber, budget restraints?

Beeg,

Sounds like the ending did unsettle you.

I'll have to watch the commentary to see what they have to say about the ending. I liked it myself and can see why they didn't end it the same way the story ended.

LOL I sound a bit rabid huh? it's a frustration for me when they make a book into a movie, and change it - like drastically. This guy has made it his goal to follow the books, why he decided this was the better way to go was the unsettling part.

Since I agree with most of your reviews, I would love to have you explain to me why you liked this ending?

I haven't seen the movie yet; mainly because I NEVER think the movies are as good as the books. Eventually I'll rent the DVD, and hope I don't share in the sentiment.

Well, it's hard to talk about the ending without spoiling things for people that haven't seen the movie or read the story. (Not that The Mist is like The Sixth Sense where there's a twist that changes everything about the movie or anything.)

But I think that the ending in the story would have just seemed, I don't know. Maybe anti-climactic? It worked well fo the story, but maybe it didn't translate to the screen well.

As I said, I haven't yet listened to the commentary, so I don't know why Frank Darabont felt compelled to change things, but considering he stuck so close to the rest of the story and considering that Stephen King was involved with this movie and even did appearances to promote it and write a nice little note about it for the DVD, I have to figure that Frank had good reasons and SK was okay with the altered end.