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Which Adaptations Are Worthy of King's Name?
The recent news that Universal will be adapting acclaimed author Stephen King's short story "Gramma" into a feature film directed by Peter Cornwell (The Haunting in Connecticut) — coupled with the imminent arrival of Halloween, of course — got us thinking about the contributions King has made to not only the horror genre, but to science fiction, fantasy and suspense, as well. With book sales in excess of 350 million copies and his stories having inspired well over a hundred feature films, TV movies and TV series, King shares company with such literary legends as William Shakespeare and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in terms of the influence his writing has had on popular entertainment.
Unlike (most) writing, however, Cinema is a collaborative medium, requiring a confluence of talented individuals to bring a story to life on screen. Sadly, far too people in Hollywood possess the vision to adequately interpret King's works, resulting in dozens of duds for every masterful adaptation. Help us sort through the schlock to find the movie adaptations worthy of bearing King's name.
Rate the Top 10 Stephen King Movie Adaptations >>
Posted 10.30.12 by BrentJS -
It was 25 years ago today when audiences first went on the fateful journey with Gordie (Wil Wheaton), Teddy (Corey Feldman), Chris (River Phoenix), and Vern (Jerry O'Connell) into the Oregonian woods to find a dead body. The movie was a sleeper hit when it was released on Aug. 8, 1986, opening in only 16 theaters but then going on to earn more than $50 million at the box office.
Since its release, Stand By Me has become a coming-of-age classic, required viewing for everyone who was young once (yes, that means everyone). To celebrate the movie's 25th anniversary, ReelzChannel is airing the Stand By Me tonight at 8 PM ET/ 5 PM PT. ReelzChannel is on DirecTV channel 238, Dish Network channel 299, and available on your cable or satellite system.
What's your favorite scene from Stand By Me (the infamous pie scene is unforgettable)? Who's your favorite character?
RELATED: 25 Things You Might Not Know About Stand By Me >>
Posted 08.08.11 by reelz -
"I never had any friends later like the ones I had when I was 12. Jesus, does anyone?" That memorable line is just one of the many reasons this coming-of-age movie holds up so well. Earlier this year, the Stand By Me cast reunited for the 25th anniversary Blu-ray release.
But we can go one better. We're airing the movie 25 years to the date it first hit theaters — August 8th at 8 PM ET/ 5 PM PT. ReelzChannel is DirecTV channel 238, Dish Network channel 299, and available on your cable or satellite system.
To celebrate the anniversary, we dug up 25 great pieces of trivia >>
Posted 08.03.11 by reelz -
Today's Challenge: Can you link The Tourist, out today on Blu-ray and DVD, with Stand by Me, out today on Blu-ray for the first time?
Our first Facebook movie game, ClusterFlick, plays off that old "six degrees of separation" theory — you know, the one that has a certain Kevin at the center of the Hollywood universe. It's easy to play, but not so easy to win. The goal is to use the major cast of movies to get from Point A to Point B in the smallest number of moves.
Play ClusterFlick >>
Posted 03.22.11 by reelz -
Children of the '80s, prepare to feel a little older. Remember that ragtag team of teens from Stand By Me? In celebration for the 25th anniversary of the release of the 1986 movie and the Blu-ray release, the cast reunited.
Jerry O'Connell (Vern), Corey Feldman (Teddy), Wil Wheaton (Gordie), along with director Rob Reiner and Richard Dreyfuss, who served as the movie's narrator, posed for a group shot at Falcon Theater in Toluca Lake, Calif. Sadly, River Phoenix, who played Chris, died of a drug overdose in 1993 at the age of 23.
One thing to say about this coming-of-age classic is that it was not a one-hit wonder for most of the principal cast. Of course, Feldman went on to star in The Lost Boys and License to Drive, among other movies and is still performing in the occasional flick nowadays. Wheaton became part of the Star Trek galaxy with his role as Wesley Crusher in Star Trek: The Next Generation. O'Connell has probably had the most successful career post-Stand By Me. He's been busy with rememberable rolls in Jerry Maguire, Scream 2 and is currently on TV on the show The Defenders and is married to Rebecca Romjin.
Who would have thought the pudgy kid would have grown up and married the supermodel?
Posted 03.18.11 by reelz -
Hot Tub Time Machine opens this Friday. The high concept for this dude comedy? As you might suspect from the movie's title, a time traveling hot tub that sends John Cusack, Clark Duke, Craig Robinson, and Rob Corddry back to the year 1986.
The now 43-year-old Cusack has aged quite well, looking not much different than he did in 1986's Stand By Me. Which got us thinking: How have the other stars of 1986's most popular and enduring flicks (TopGun, Ferris Beuller's Day Off, About Last Night...) held up? Who just needs to dip a toe in the water? And who would benefit from a long, deep soak?
Posted 03.23.10 by reelz