Javed Afridi's Blog: Adaptation

Stephen King Best Adaptations - The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Even with the first book, Carrie, Stephen King had been translated into movies and so, there are many of his works that have been adapted for the screen... here's looking at some of the best....

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
The Shawshank Redemption on imdb.com
Stars: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, William Sadler, Clancy Brown, Gil Bellows, Mark Rolstion, James Whitmore.
Screenplay: Frank Darabont (adapted from Stephen King's novella 'Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption')
Director: Frank Darabont

Andy Dufresne is a young and successful banker whose life changes drastically when he is convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife and her lover. Set in the 1940's, the film shows how Andy, with the help of his friend Red, the prison entrepreneur, turns out to be a most unconventional prisoner.

Nothing I can say about this film will do it justice... I've read the novella and I saw the film and all I can say is, its a beautiful story... both King's novella and Darabont's screen-rendition of it. Remarkable performances from Robbins and Freeman, impeccable direction from Darabont. Undoubtedly the film that started a new era in King-adaptation.

My favorite exchange in the movie is almost at the end:
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1967 Parole Hearings Man: Ellis Boyd Redding, your files say you've served 40 years of a life sentence. Do you feel you've been rehabilitated?
Red: Rehabilitated? Well, now let me see. You know, I don't have any idea what that means.
1967 Parole Hearings Man: Well, it means that you're ready to rejoin society...
Red: I know what *you* think it means, sonny. To me it's just a made up word. A politician's word, so young fellas like yourself can wear a suit and a tie, and have a job. What do you really want to know? Am I sorry for what I did?
1967 Parole Hearings Man: Well, are you?
Red: There's not a day goes by I don't feel regret. Not because I'm in here, or because you think I should. I look back on the way I was then: a young, stupid kid who committed that terrible crime. I want to talk to him. I want to try and talk some sense to him, tell him the way things are. But I can't. That kid's long gone and this old man is all that's left. I got to live with that. Rehabilitated? It's just a bullshit word. So you go on and stamp your form, sonny, and stop wasting my time. Because to tell you the truth, I don't give a shit.
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Cheers,
Javed Afridi
http://javedafridiblog.blogspot.com

Stephen King Best Adaptations - The Mist (2007)

Even with the first book, Carrie, Stephen King had been translated into movies and so, there are many of his works that have been adapted for the screen... here's looking at some of the best.

The Mist (2007)
The Mist on imdb.com
Stars: Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurie Holden, Andre Braugher, Toby Jones, William Sadler, Jeffrey DeMunn, Alexa Davalos, Frances Sternhagen.
Screenplay: Frank Darabont (adapted from Stephen King's novella 'The Mist')
Director: Frank Darabont

David Drayton, his son Billy, and their neighbor Brent Norton head to the local grocery store to replenish supplies following a freak storm. Once there, they and other local citizens are trapped by a strange mist that has enveloped the town and in which strange creatures are lurking. As the mist takes its toll on the nerves of those trapped in the store, a religious zealot, Mrs. Carmody begins to play on their fears to convince them that this is God’s vengeance for their sins and that a sacrifice must be made and two groups—those for and those against—are aligned. When it is realized that staying in the store may prove fatal, a small group including the Draytons, store employee Ollie Weeks, Amanda Dumfries, Irene Reppler, and Dan Miller attempt to make their escape. They find that what’s “out there” may be worse than what they left behind.

Frank Darabont brings to life yet another masterpiece from the King of fiction. The Mist, as a novella, was one of my earliest reads from Stephen King and after reading it, I had been unable to read anything else for days... that taste was in my mouth and would allow nothing else to get my attention. When I heard about the movie coming out not too long ago, and that it was directed by Frank Darabont, I couldn't wait.

Darabont does a very good job yet again, fast paced, suspenseful and does not deviate much from the original story that King penned. Thomas Jane is convincing as Drayton, Toby Jones shines out as Ollie, Gay-Harden is scary as the preachy Mrs. Carmody. The effects are brilliant and so are the camera angles. It is not yet another creature movie or end-of-the-world movie, this has KING/DARABONT stamped all over it... fresh, riveting and nerve-wracking.

Some memorable quotes from the film:
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Amanda Dunfrey: You don't have much faith in humanity, do you?
Dan Miller: None, whatsoever.
Amanda Dunfrey: I can't accept that. People are basically good; decent. My god, David, we're a civilized society.
David Drayton: Sure, as long as the machines are working and you can dial 911. But you take those things away, you throw people in the dark, you scare the shit out of them - no more rules.
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Ollie: I killed her.
David Drayton: Thank you Ollie.
Ollie: I killed her. I wouldn't have done that if there had been any other way.
David Drayton: That's why I said thank you.
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Cheers,
Javed Afridi
http://javedafridiblog.blogspot.com

Stephen King Best Adaptations - The Green Mile (1999)

Even with the first book, Carrie, Stephen King had been translated into movies and so, there are many of his works that have been adapted for the screen... here's looking at some of the best.

The Green Mile (1999)
The Green Mile on imdb.com
Stars: Tom Hanks, Michael Clarke Duncan, David Morse, Bonnie Hunt, James Cromwell, Michael Jeter, Graham Greene, Doug Hutchinson, Sam Rockwell, Barry Pepper, Jeffrey DeMunn, Patricia Clarkson, Harry Dean Stanton... and a mouse called Mr. Jingles.
Screenplay: Frank Darabont (adapted from Stephen King's The Green Mile)
Director: Frank Darabont

At Cold Mountain Penitentiary, along the lonely stretch of cells known as the Green Mile, killers as depraved as the psychopathic "Billy the Kid" Wharton and the possessed Eduard Delacroix await death strapped in "Old Sparky". Here guards as decent as Paul Edgecombe and as sadistic as Percy Wetmore watch over them. But good or evil, innocent or guilty, none have ever seen the brutal likes of the new prisoner, John Coffey, sentenced to death for raping and murdering two young girls. Is Coffey a devil in human form? Or is he a far different kind of being?

Having proven his worth at adapting King with the 94 hit 'The Shawshank Redemption", Darabont made this an instant success with him at the helm and Hanks, Morse, Clarke-Duncan, Pepper and Rockwell leading the cast... the film went on to get four Oscar Nominations:
Best Picture
Best Supporting Actor - Michael Clarke Duncan
Best Screenplay (Adapted) - Frank Darabont
Best Sound

Good movie, well paced with excellent direction, impeccable performances from the entire cast (including Mr. Jingles!)... I could watch this movie for the 4578th time without getting bored... Amazing film!

Best exchange of the film:
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Paul Edgecomb: What do you want me to do John? You want me to let you run out of here, see how far you can get?

John Coffey: Why would you do such a foolish thing?
Paul Edgecomb: On the day of my judgment, when I stand before God, and He asks me why did I kill one of his true miracles, what am I gonna say? That it was my job? My job?
John Coffey: You tell God the Father it was a kindness you done. I know you hurtin' and worryin', I can feel it on you, but you oughta quit on it now. Because I want it over and done. I do. I'm tired, boss. Tired of bein' on the road, lonely as a sparrow in the rain. Tired of not ever having me a buddy to be with, or tell me where we's coming from or going to, or why. Mostly I'm tired of people being ugly to each other. I'm tired of all the pain I feel and hear in the world everyday. There's too much of it. It's like pieces of glass in my head all the time. Can you understand?
Paul Edgecomb: Yes, John. I think I can.
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Cheers,
Javed Afridi
http://javedafridiblog.blogspot.com

Bag of Bones Miniseries Coming Soon....

Stephen King Fans... watch the trailer of Stephen King's latest adaptation "Bag of Bones"... looks good.... Pierce Brosnan as Mike Noonan, Melissa George as Mattie Devore ... good choices!