Read Negative User Reviews for The Dark Tower

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joefurlanAug 4, 2017

This series is second only to Lord of the Rings in my favorites of all time. I've read the books many times. I've dreamed of this story being brought to the big screen for 20 years. This movie is a **** alternate story set in the DarkThis series is second only to Lord of the Rings in my favorites of all time. I've read the books many times. I've dreamed of this story being brought to the big screen for 20 years. This movie is a **** alternate story set in the Dark Tower Universe. It has next to NOTHING to do with the books. It's it's own story and it's a crappy one told on a budget with horrible casting, a mushy, utterly banal script and totally standard special effects. It is literally the worst book adaption brought to film I've ever seen. Stephen King and all involved... you have forgotten the faces of your fathers. Shame on you. Court would have beaten the living **** out of you had you handed him this pile of drek. Tragic. Mark my words nothing more will be made based on these books. You've ruined what could have been a 7 year saga bigger than Game of Thrones. Unforgivable.… Expand

19 of 20 users found this helpful191

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timaoAug 4, 2017

This thing posing as the dark tower manages to turn one of the most epic, insane, heartbreaking, and fun series into boring, tired, drek. Do not see this movie if you read the books, especially if you really loved them.

19 of 21 users found this helpful192

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2

bkristmanAug 4, 2017

Honestly. We waited all this time and had to listen to all the stories about the movie being 'on...then off again.....' for the last 10 yrs and they came out with THIS piece of garbage?
Save your money.

26 of 29 users found this helpful263

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AshenkharAug 4, 2017

As a huge fan of the book series, this is a very disappointing movie. Fans wanted the actual Dark Tower series. Not some stunted alternate version that has nothing at all to do with the series.

This has all the signs of the typicalAs a huge fan of the book series, this is a very disappointing movie. Fans wanted the actual Dark Tower series. Not some stunted alternate version that has nothing at all to do with the series.

This has all the signs of the typical Hollywood book-to-movie adaptation disaster. Take a series with a devoted fanbase. Slap the name on a generic action movie. Put in a few references to the books "for the fans" and call it good.

No thanks. The Lord of the Rings strayed slightly from the source material, but they did it *RIGHT*! Nobody wanted a fake Dark Tower movie. They wanted a series of movies that at least attempted to stay true to the books.

There is one other thing I have to say to maker of this travesty. It has been said before.

You have forgotten the face of your father.… Expand

21 of 24 users found this helpful213

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3

MojitoAug 5, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Is this movie an entertaining 95 minutes? Yes.
Good casting choices? Yes, I loved the actors.

Does the film have other good qualities...?

Not many. This was one of the worst film adaptations of a novel I've seen. When you consider how long this adaptation has been a concept, how many attempts have been made, and the effort spent to achieve this in 2017? I seriously just don't get it. #CashGrab #AudiencesAreStupid #JustGetItDone?

All right, only 5000 characters I can post. Let's get this over with:

1) Tone & Mood. Mostly wrong throughout the film. The books are epic in scale, very dark and brooding. Post-apocalyptic, lonely, desolate, etc. While the film occasionally makes you feel that way, mostly it's "Just Another Action Film". Many scenes feel forced. Many scenes feel totally artificial. Not sure what the director was looking for, but they failed.

2) Story. The film's title is misleading. It should have been titled "Jake's Adventure feat. Roland". This film was really all about Jake. Everyone else is a guest star.

3) Roland's motivation for pursuing the Man In Blank is *completely* different than the novels. It's nonsense.

4) Roland is supposedly *not* a Gunslinger anymore due to the above point. I cannot even begin to describe how much this irks me.

5) Roland embraces Jake as a friend too early/easily and divulges personal information. I'll just blame the 95 minute length for this one.

6) Walter cannot harm Roland *directly* with magic. However, apparently he can harm Roland *indirectly* with magic, by throwing very sharp and fast objects at him. So while Walter *could* have very easily dispatched the Gunslinger these past dozens of years, or when he killed his father, he didn't...because why not???

6) Not sure why Jake needs an evil stepfather when his equally careless and inconsiderate father from the novels would have sufficed. Unnecessary script change.

7) Post-apocalypse villagers apparently still have working generators for inter-dimensional portal technology? Wow. Besides blatantly violating the novels, you'd think with such portals and technology at their disposal, they'd have better defenses. Why not zip over to Earth and steal some firearms?

8) No explanation of what Gunslingers actually are. Audience is left wondering what's the point of them.

9) Jake's "shine" powers are drastically over-mentioned, over-used, overblown compared to novels. Besides cross-dimensional spying on people, he can maintain inter-dimensional portals? Amazing.

10) Apparently Jake killed the creepy house demon with his powers?!? This was not at all obvious during the "fight" scene. Good thing Walter mentioned it later, or I wouldn't have known.

11) Roland briefly teaches Jake to use firearms. Then immediately says Jake doesn't actually need them, because his powers are his mind. What was the point?

12) Random attacks of random things in forest, because we needed some action scenes. Roland, gunslinger supremo, doesn't hear Jake leave camp and wake up immediately?

13) Dark Tower will ultimately be *really* easy to find, since you can just follow the gigantic blue attack-beams made by the Breakers. Of course, they'll likely use one of the many high-tech portals just lying around everywhere...

14) Vampires hide from us the fact they are vampires? Would have make henchmen scarier. I guess we'll be surprised later.

15) Hospital treats Gunslinger for various unusual ailments. Neither he nor Jake have forms of ID. No police called, no security guards at hospital. Gunslinger and Jake just stroll out.

16) Firearms shop person easily ambushed by man with firearms.

17) Inter-dimensional portal in NY kitchen left standing open during latter half of movie? No FBI/CIA/NSA called? Chefs just continue cooking and ignoring gaping portal, until Jake and Roland return? Maybe more of Jake's mysterious mind-portal-control nonsense.

18) Jake is awarded title of gunslinger for staying strapped in chair, resisting mind control, and maybe keeping portal open? Whatever.

19) Does Roland reclaim title of gunslinger for himself? Why? His motivations were rescuing Jake, with a side-motivation of revenge on Walter? Yes, rescuing Jake *happened* to have good results for the Tower. But does Roland ever actually admit he cares about saving it and the universe?

20) Roland's father stands in for Cuthbert and Alain? Seems another unnecessary script change, but fine.
21) Besides the occasional comic relief, Roland seems pretty comfy in NY. Why? Totally different from novels when he sees it through Eddie. 22) Walter is supposed to be unpredictable, kind of crazy, chatty, psycho, never-know-what-he'll-do. In movie he's a pretty serious villain. Well, that's almost 5000 characters. So...people of Earth? Can we acquire some film rights and allow independent filmmakers to redo this someday and do it justice?… Expand

17 of 20 users found this helpful173

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2

Nobilis1984Aug 6, 2017

What a waste of a big series of books. Once more a King filming properly goes off. The trailer shows only a lot of gunfights with very thin action and weak dialogues. Hence, the whole film has not become better. To the abovementioned problemWhat a waste of a big series of books. Once more a King filming properly goes off. The trailer shows only a lot of gunfights with very thin action and weak dialogues. Hence, the whole film has not become better. To the abovementioned problem still come many lengths on the negative list.… Expand

10 of 10 users found this helpful100

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1

mintloNov 14, 2017

I read the books and after watching the movie and considerable thought, I think this movie is piece of poop that should never have been made. This should be a series on HBO, Netflix, or Amazon that is true to the source material(well, mostlyI read the books and after watching the movie and considerable thought, I think this movie is piece of poop that should never have been made. This should be a series on HBO, Netflix, or Amazon that is true to the source material(well, mostly true to the source material).… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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Quiet_SparkJan 4, 2018

While i'm not a fan of the book series I have read the first two and this movie goes out of its way to change everything into something that will have mass appeal rather than a niche movie for fans. It was incredibly miscast, the primeWhile i'm not a fan of the book series I have read the first two and this movie goes out of its way to change everything into something that will have mass appeal rather than a niche movie for fans. It was incredibly miscast, the prime culprits being the Gunslinger and the man in black, the plot was generalized and changed so much from the book nothing made sense at all and it spent way too much time on earth when the book mostly takes place in midworld. This movie was an attempt to cash in on a successful franchise while generalizing the plot to maximize profit from mass appeal.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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2

DomgwyDec 18, 2017

He who trusts Sony with his franchise has forgotten the face of his father….

A film adaptation of Stephen King’s epic seven book series The Dark Tower has been along time coming. After languishing in development hell for decades withHe who trusts Sony with his franchise has forgotten the face of his father….

A film adaptation of Stephen King’s epic seven book series The Dark Tower has been along time coming. After languishing in development hell for decades with directors, stars and studios coming and going, 2017 has finally seen the story of Roland of Gilead and his existential quest for the mysterious Dark Tower brought to life on the big screen.

Except not really….

Although I haven’t yet reached the conclusion of the story in its original medium, I know enough to know that this film is for the most part completely divorced from the source material.

From the opening text its clear that the filmmakers have decided to simplify and streamline the (admittedly meandering) plot of the books into a more straightforward ‘Macguffin’ plot involving the use of children for evil purposes.

From there we get a fairly generic ‘save the world’ story revolving around a young boy from modern day New York (Jake played by Tom Taylor) as he journeys to strange new worlds and meets ‘The Gunslinger’ Roland (Idris Elba) all the while pursued by the sinister agents of The Man in Black (Matthew McConaughey).

Making Jake the protagonist of this first attempt to adapt The Dark Tower makes perfect sense. In a complex world of parallel universes, ancient cultures and high fantasy, having a character from ‘our world’ to ask the questions is a tried and tested genre trope (think Neo in The Matrix or any of the Doctor’s companions in Doctor Who).

Unfortunately, Jake’s attempts to understand just what the hell is going on are met with vague answers, mountains of exposition and throwaway lines that deserve much more explanation than they are given (did he just say ‘Excalibur’?).

For some bizarre reason the filmmakers have decided to try and cram the full story of The Dark Tower, complete with a final confrontation between The Gunslinger and The Man in Black, into one 90 minute film. In a world in which EVERYTHING wants to be a multi-film franchise and The Fast and Furious series has no less than eight entries with a ninth on the way…this choice makes no sense on any level.

The film itself doesn’t make a lot of sense either, image if someone tried to edit the entire Harry Potter series into a 90 minute fan film on youtube and then put it out in cinemas — there you have The Dark Tower (2017).

One of the most frustrating things about the whole debacle is the casting. Idris Elba is great as Roland, with an unspoken world-weariness coupled with a magnetic screen presence, he is an inspired choice for the part (and another reason I was excited to see the adaptation). Likewise McConaughey brings a detached menace to The Man in Black reminiscent of David Tennant’s Killgrave from Jessica Jones, only this time he has the whole universe at his fingertips. Unfortunately both actors are held back by a thread-bare script with very little in the way of ‘character’ to work with and minimal screen time together.

In terms of the plot the stakes couldn’t be higher with the Man in Black seeking to bring about THE END OF THE UNIVERSE by destroying The Dark Tower of the title.

This should feel like a big deal, but as the film barrels-on, motivations become less and less clear and the point of the whole thing gets lost in amongst conflicting lore and strange tonal choices. As a comparison, The Lord of Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring did a great job of setting up the potential horror of the world under the rule of Sauron, making it very clear what our heroes were fighting for and setting up their motivations for the next 7 hours of screen time. The Dark Tower instead chooses to make Roland and Jake’s quest to take down the Man in Black far more personal, so much so that by the end, the pair seem fairly apathetic about the whole ‘end of the universe’ thing.

More than anything The Dark Tower is a massive wasted opportunity. As a book reader (sort of) it’s hard to know what general audiences with no exposure to the series will make of this cinematic mess but judging from the poor box office it doesn’t look like they thought much. What could have been a epic story spanning over a decade in film or TV has fallen at the first hurdle.

While some Stephen King’s fans are understandably angry at the failures of this adaptation I can’t say I feel the same way. I think the negative buzz combined with the short run-time prepared me for the worst. I’m not angry, I’m just disappointed.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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1

gamekillbrNov 10, 2017

Cliched, weak, uninteresting bland generic scripted "action movie", filled with boring senseless stuff because not only did they shave off 95% of the material it was "inspired" from, but also, tried to shove up random stuff without noCliched, weak, uninteresting bland generic scripted "action movie", filled with boring senseless stuff because not only did they shave off 95% of the material it was "inspired" from, but also, tried to shove up random stuff without no explanation at all (locations, images, characters, behaviors etc). Complete waste of time. People who say this movie is not bad are being too kind.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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3

shpostalAug 5, 2017

I expected better, to start right off the bat. Much better. Yet another Stephen King saga set to film with some promise, but manages to come up short. I submit the original "Rose Red" and "It" for evidence, two movies thatI expected better, to start right off the bat. Much better. Yet another Stephen King saga set to film with some promise, but manages to come up short. I submit the original "Rose Red" and "It" for evidence, two movies that are impossibly long, and twice as dull. So at least "The Dark Tower" spares us the monotony, but even with the prospect of Matthew McConaughey as a sorcerer set to destroy the Universe which is protected by The Tower, the film never bothering to explain how, and the fine actor Idris Elba, fails to grip the imagination. What matters here is the lack of intensity, emotion, and frightening moments you ought to expect given the premise. McConaughey does not come across as evil as he is supposed to be, nor do his followers. For a character supposedly the last great cosmic Gunslinger, Elba does not connect, and that's really the fault of the script. This movie is disjointed, fails to involve the viewer, and worst of all, comes across as yet one more hack sci-fi/superhero cliche. King's formulas have run their course, and the lack of fresh approaches to what could have been a good movie in better hands is wasted. For a film about impending apocalypse, we're left thinking it will be a boring one.… Expand

7 of 8 users found this helpful71

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2

VahagnmkAug 6, 2017

The Dark Tower sets a new low for how loose and unrecognizable a book adaptation can be and still be presented as such to the audience. I don't know for whom the movie is intended. For the fans of the book series, it will be infuriating asThe Dark Tower sets a new low for how loose and unrecognizable a book adaptation can be and still be presented as such to the audience. I don't know for whom the movie is intended. For the fans of the book series, it will be infuriating as the movie is as far from a good adaptation as possible. For the people unfamiliar with the book, it is just another dull, boring, teen fantasy movie. Truely a shame.… Expand

7 of 8 users found this helpful71

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1

DConroyAug 7, 2017

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. God awful. I went in, a fan of the books, with the lowest expectations, knowing what would be on screen would be different, so I'm not nitpicking about small nuance changes, but rather, immense changes that fundamentally change the story, and certainly not for the better.

A major shift in character is Roland. Forget about casting Elba(who did fine,as expected), be more concerned with the night and day difference in the character. In the books, a recurring theme is that Roland is constantly faced with incredibly difficult, life and death choices to make. Roland is who he is because of years of his obsession with the tower costing those around him dearly. In this film, Roland is barely even concerned about the tower at all. Not only does not have to make tough choices, he doesn't make any at all. His character guided through the film on a rail. Jake makes the discoveries, Jake makes the strategy choices. Its Jake that leads Roland.

Speaking of Jake, well, readers will know that Jake pays the ultimate price, not once but twice in the first book alone. The second time, a result of another one of Roland's tough choices. The line, "there are other worlds than these" is used in promotion of the film, but not used anywhere in the film, and certainly not where it comes from in the book, where it is so pivotal, and causes major change in Roland's character. All missing.

Another key missing element, is the journey! Every step of the way in the books is an ordeal unto itself. Here they literally jump from place to place, not really having to earn any of it the way they are forced to in the books.

It was nice to see little touches, like the rose graffiti on the wall at the end of the movie, or that Walter's base(?!) is at 19-19. That they say "thankee sai" in the village. But all is overshadowed by other major elements reduced to line or two, such as the whole concept of "the world has moved on" reduced to Roland not knowing what a theme park is. All of Ka, reduced to Walter's one line "once more around the wheel my friend."

Its not just that its different. Its that it rips the soul from the story and the characters. It does not resemble the story at all. If you loved the books, you'll likely be disappointed or upset. If you never read the books, you'll likely leave wondering what any of that was about, since they do very little explaining for the uninitiated.… Expand

6 of 7 users found this helpful61

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corinthiansAug 4, 2017

This film was only like the novels because it became a tired mess by the end, and it was similarly, with minimal effort by its writers, abruptly put out of it's misery.

6 of 7 users found this helpful61

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1

BassiuSAug 17, 2017

If you are a fan of the series, please, don't do it to yourself. This is a ham-fisted travesty of an adaptation. This story, this universe, these characters, deserve so much more. Instead we're subjected to a cheap, shameless cash in on theIf you are a fan of the series, please, don't do it to yourself. This is a ham-fisted travesty of an adaptation. This story, this universe, these characters, deserve so much more. Instead we're subjected to a cheap, shameless cash in on the brand recognition of King and the Tower, which lives up to not one bit of potential. What a waste. Genuinely upsetting for a fan, utterly boring for everyone else.… Expand

6 of 7 users found this helpful61

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2

Michael_Stars_5Aug 9, 2017

After watching 1 hour and a half of terribly handled action scenes, I can definitely say that Dark Tower is one of the worst films this year and probably the worst Stephen King adaptation. The very few parts that surprised me about this filmAfter watching 1 hour and a half of terribly handled action scenes, I can definitely say that Dark Tower is one of the worst films this year and probably the worst Stephen King adaptation. The very few parts that surprised me about this film is Matthew McConaughey's Man In Black, a surprisingly memorable villain that will give kids nightmares!
Idris Elba's Gunslinger is weak, not memorable and just flat out disappointing, the story spans around 5 books or so, the plot is overstuffed and crammed into a complete disaster of a film, a few surprising scenes with good visuals can't save this terrible, boring attempt at recreating a fun book.… Expand

5 of 6 users found this helpful51

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BertoflyingfoxAug 7, 2017

This movie absolutely sucked. They've ruined the Dark Tower and Stephen King is laughing his way to the bank with a check for $10 "haha, suckers! This'll last me a week!!You have forgotten the face of my ass!"

The author is as much to blameThis movie absolutely sucked. They've ruined the Dark Tower and Stephen King is laughing his way to the bank with a check for $10 "haha, suckers! This'll last me a week!!You have forgotten the face of my ass!"

The author is as much to blame for this as the production, fawning over this movie like it does any of the books justice. It does not. Don't care about the gunslingers skin tone, but the tone of the characters and world are completely replaced with nonsensical fluff.

I don't know how anyone (King included) can agree that removing Eddie Dean and Odetta Holmes would be beneficial to the story. They are absolutely essential.

Guhhh, so sad how this turned out. Until next time folks, hopefully on a better movie, game, or TV show.… Expand

9 of 11 users found this helpful92

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2

giantpegasus123Aug 8, 2017

There are a few issues here from the start. 1. This is a VERY LONG book series, that incorporates a bunch of King's characters from other books in certain ways, its basically a homage to himself (which makes sense for King). 2. The booksThere are a few issues here from the start. 1. This is a VERY LONG book series, that incorporates a bunch of King's characters from other books in certain ways, its basically a homage to himself (which makes sense for King). 2. The books suck, they are all setup with no payoff (again pretty typical for King with of course a few exceptions). That being said the setup in the first book or two is actually pretty good, but its just set up, and then it turns into a disjointed disaster with King playing himself. 3. This series is wayyyyy too deep to do in a movie let alone 3. The depth of the characters backstories and how they all change (which is really the only redeeming part of the series - except roland his ending sucks). Thats impossible to do in one movie. The way to salvage this series was to do a movie basically only about book 1 and END IT THERE. The problem here is they are using a movie to try and set up a TV show, which after this may not happen anymore who knows. 4. Stephen King is the most overatted author ever. He does bring up interesting ideas and develops characters well, the problem is after that he doesnt explore the interesting idea and the development is meaningless because the rest of the story sucks and goes off into convoluted territory with no real ending. Or over 1000 pages of repetitive "love story" nonsense that was 11/22/63. Another book that had a pretty good beginning and then completely falls apart and you wonder why the hell you went to the end. IMO one of if not the most over rated book ever.… Expand

6 of 8 users found this helpful62

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MysticDingoOct 31, 2017

To put it quite simply, this is not a dark tower movie. I have read every single book in the series and have been a fan for years. I was so, so disappointed by this movie, and how poorly it resembles the book series. The only way that I couldTo put it quite simply, this is not a dark tower movie. I have read every single book in the series and have been a fan for years. I was so, so disappointed by this movie, and how poorly it resembles the book series. The only way that I could think of to do the Dark Tower any justice via visual media would be to hand it over to HBO or Showtime to create an unrated series that takes several seasons (at least one per book if not more) to tell the story as it should be told, and even then I would expect them to ruin it as pretty much every HBO and Showtime series has a specific "style" with specific elements that they add that is not a part of any original work that they adapt. Anyways, tl;dr, if you are a fan of the books, just don't bother.… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

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kuehnauAug 15, 2017

Yeah, so I don't know what the writer(s) director(s) were thinking with the Dark Tower series. Instead of just starting from the beginning like they should have, they begin the film focused mostly on Jake. More importantly, the openingYeah, so I don't know what the writer(s) director(s) were thinking with the Dark Tower series. Instead of just starting from the beginning like they should have, they begin the film focused mostly on Jake. More importantly, the opening sequences makes it appear as if the film (and the Dark Tower) is focused around Jake, which is absurd. While Jake was a major character, his role was never as important as Roland's.

It amazes me, really. Fans for a franchise will work hard to propell to popularity and then, hey, let's make a film about this beloved franchise and then just mess it all up. Has Hollywood learned nothing about messing with the source material?

King should be ASHAMED he allowed this sad excuse of a movie to have been released. What a waste of time, effort and money. A stain on an otherwise amazing series by Stephen King. Fans of the books WILL not like the movie. Take the money you were going to use to see this film and use it to wipe your butt next time you have a bowl movement, it's about the same thing.… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

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waffles2009Aug 11, 2017

This movie was confusing and convoluted for those who had not read the books and a vast disappointment for those who had. Who in their right mind would squish an eight novel epic into a 95 minute long movie? Trite is the word...

5 of 8 users found this helpful53

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1

fragmanSep 2, 2017

It would've been more fulfilling to have another 10 years without a movie adaptation of The Dark Tower than having this one is. It is pretty apparent that of all the people who wrote the script and were in charge of casting, not a single oneIt would've been more fulfilling to have another 10 years without a movie adaptation of The Dark Tower than having this one is. It is pretty apparent that of all the people who wrote the script and were in charge of casting, not a single one has picked up one of the books.
It has nothing to do with The Dark Tower, even if they claim it's set in the same universe. Change the character names and it might actually be good.
Get the books or audiobooks instead.… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

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Garr1ckSep 18, 2017

This film is a travesty. Not only does it completely destroy the characters and story from the books, but to the casual movie-goer it is an incoherent and ill-conceived piece of trash. It's a pathetic attempt.

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

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ScepticSep 9, 2017

An abomination.This crap just uses a famous series name to get your cash.It has almost nothing to do with the 8 novel series.If the title of the movie was Boring,Generic Tripe-The Movie,nobody would even realise it was 'related' to StephenAn abomination.This crap just uses a famous series name to get your cash.It has almost nothing to do with the 8 novel series.If the title of the movie was Boring,Generic Tripe-The Movie,nobody would even realise it was 'related' to Stephen Kings work.Stay away.… Expand

4 of 7 users found this helpful43

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2

vreynauldAug 6, 2017

Absolute garbage. Let me set the stage: My wife is a huge fan of the books while I had read the first three and fell out of favor with the series. Going in, we had two completely different schools of thought on what to expect. We BOTH walkedAbsolute garbage. Let me set the stage: My wife is a huge fan of the books while I had read the first three and fell out of favor with the series. Going in, we had two completely different schools of thought on what to expect. We BOTH walked out disappointed and annoyed. My wife was annoyed that, even though she understood it was after book 7, they fundamentally changed the structure and the world so much that it, in her words, "felt like a cheap young adult movie about Jake and not enough about the Roland or Randall Flagg". For me, I walked out feeling more confused than when I went in because the movie runs at a break neck pace, barely takes time to explain anything, and blows from action scene to action scene. Jake, good. Flashbacks! Roland, good! Man in Black, bad! Cross dimensional conflict, oh no!

Idris Elba is literally the only good thing about the movie, a fact on which both of us agreed. It's a shame his talent is wasted on such bad writing, a poorly designed plot, lousy cinematography, and poor CGI. McConaughey was AWFUL, almost a caricature of an actor playing a role. So, so bad. It became quite apparent that this movie was stuck in development hell - to use software terminology - for all 10 years of its supposed creation, especially with a running time as short as made-for-TV movies. If this is the best they can do, no one will mourn when the franchise is left to die. It's just a shame that Idris Elba is still chasing after his own summer blockbuster franchise. Here's hoping he at least gets a fair shake to play Bond after Daniel Craig.

After walking out of the theater following this mess I felt less annoyed about spending money to see Valarian the weekend before.… Expand

3 of 6 users found this helpful33

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1

cterryr2Oct 11, 2017

This movie should have been great. Had plenty of meat on the bones to pick from but no. I couldn't find any reason to care about any of the characters. The antagonist was so boring I thought it was a beer commercial. All the charactors wereThis movie should have been great. Had plenty of meat on the bones to pick from but no. I couldn't find any reason to care about any of the characters. The antagonist was so boring I thought it was a beer commercial. All the charactors were boring and were like stick figures. What was their origin? Why do they do what they do? Who wrote the screen play as it sucked? Who directed as this sucked. This movie went no where and came from no where and I cant think of any reason to watch it. It was really bad. Only think missing was Nicholas Cage! What a waste of production money and time. I would be so mad if I were Stephen King! He deserves better. Avoid at all costs.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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EflkinSep 23, 2017

After all the hype, after Stephen King insisting on his input, etc. to make sure this was done right, it was totally done wrong and very rushed. Very disappointing.

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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imthenoobNov 15, 2017

The story is all over the place and would only make sense to someone really familiar with the books. It's way too short and edits are all over the place. The performances were good but even the cast can't save this piece of junk. They shouldThe story is all over the place and would only make sense to someone really familiar with the books. It's way too short and edits are all over the place. The performances were good but even the cast can't save this piece of junk. They should have simply adapted the first book and it would have been so much better.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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Jerry7777777Mar 27, 2018

Just a rancid adaptation of the source material. It's as if the creators set out with the explicit goal of making this as different from the original tales as they possibly could. The characters, the story, etc... and it's gotten the scoreJust a rancid adaptation of the source material. It's as if the creators set out with the explicit goal of making this as different from the original tales as they possibly could. The characters, the story, etc... and it's gotten the score it deserved on all the review sites. Mis-cast, bad original story. Ultimately it's a great IP that has been sacrificed on the alter of political correctness.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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2

PugnaciousOct 11, 2017

Oh boy... Now I'm feeling miserable giving Blade Runner 2049 6/10 the other day. Watching The Dark Tower really gives me perspective. It's among most forgettable, almost unwatchable movies like The Great Wall. It looks like an episode of aOh boy... Now I'm feeling miserable giving Blade Runner 2049 6/10 the other day. Watching The Dark Tower really gives me perspective. It's among most forgettable, almost unwatchable movies like The Great Wall. It looks like an episode of a third-rate TV show for kids. The one that you can watch at 6.30AM if you have insomnia. And I am not even King fan. Everyone rambles about how original book series is a masterpiece, but I'm pretty sure it is just as incoherent, as you can get with King. The only virtue of the movie is that story makes sense. It's naive and stupid story, worse than almost anything you can watch or read, but it is story nonetheless.… Expand

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3

LivingTribunalMay 20, 2018

It was not bad as I thought, but I still don't this film. I'm not even sure if the director has read the books. The Dark Tower was one of my favorite series and I was hoping to see the next film if the film went well, but whatever.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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2

AthanasiosTJan 14, 2018

It clearly is a movie BASED ON the Dark Tower books (it says so at the ending titles). I knew it and didn't expect anything else from it. As a first sneak peek of Stephen King's multiverse, it was ok. I enjoyed the visualization of some partsIt clearly is a movie BASED ON the Dark Tower books (it says so at the ending titles). I knew it and didn't expect anything else from it. As a first sneak peek of Stephen King's multiverse, it was ok. I enjoyed the visualization of some parts of the books, but I missed the story. The actors were a bit flat and soulless and the shooting was a bit too much. Oversimplified and mediocre.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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3

MaxPayneIsGodAug 23, 2020

With a source material as epic as The Dark Tower books this movie can be summed up in one word.
Disappointing.
This is exactly the opposite of how these books should have been translated to a movie should. The script is an abortion, itsWith a source material as epic as The Dark Tower books this movie can be summed up in one word.
Disappointing.
This is exactly the opposite of how these books should have been translated to a movie should. The script is an abortion, its nonsensical, it slightly touches on plot points and characters from the novels.
I know its supposed to be "like a sequel" but god its just so awful.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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2

otdriverJul 30, 2018

Maybe I would have thought it was good if I hadn't read the entire 7 volume series first. There is just no way you can possibly do the story justice in one movie. I would liked to have seen a series of 5 to 7 movies. That might have done theMaybe I would have thought it was good if I hadn't read the entire 7 volume series first. There is just no way you can possibly do the story justice in one movie. I would liked to have seen a series of 5 to 7 movies. That might have done the story some justice.… Expand

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