Danny

Last week you guys let me down.  You voted the wrong way, and you should be ashamed of yourselves.  This week though, you’ll get a chance to redeem yourselves, so think carefully before you vote, lest you incur my wrath.  Or something.

Pat informs me that there are currently six Stephen King books/short stories currently being made into movies, including “Bag of Bones”, “Cell”, “From a Buick” and a remake of “Creepshow”.  Which is why this week, we’re matching up our favourite Stephen King movie adaptations.

I have selected “The Shining”, because it’s clearly the best Stephen King movie there is.  I almost picked “IT” because of the emotional scarring that it caused to my little sister, but, really, it’s not that great of a movie.  Pat has gone with the significantly less awesome “Stand by Me”, which is alright, I guess, but it’s no “Shining”.

And so, because we love bullet-pointed lists so much here, I give you my top reasons that “The Shining” beats “Stand by Me”:

1. It’s a horror film.  “Stand by Me’ is a coming of age adventure-drama, otherwise known as a snoozefest.
2. The kid in “The Shining” is called Danny, just like me.  When you are a kid watching a horror movie in which ghosts are trying to make a father kill his son, it’s made all the more terrifying when your name is the same as the kid’s.
3. Jack Nicholson.  If you have the chance to see a movie with Jack, vs. a movie without him, go see the one with him in it, unless that movie also stars:
   • Diane Keaton
   • Glenn Close or
   • (surprisingly) Morgan Freeman
4. Corey Feldman.  If you have the chance to see a movie with Corey vs. a movie without him, go see the one without him, unless that movie also stars:
   • Jason Patric
   • Sean Astin or
   • Zach Galligan
5. This part of the shining is one of the most widely recognized/parodied moments in movie history.  Why?  I don’t know, but my theory is this: crazy people are funny.

It’s been a while since I last saw either movie, although I’m pretty sure I actually own “The Shining” on DVD somewhere.  Perhaps my assessment of the movie’s scariness is a little off given this trailer sent to me by our own Sarah Linn.  Looks like I’ve got it all wrong then.  “The Shining” is a beautiful tale about a father and his son, while “Stand by Me” is nothing more that a cautionary tale about not poking dead bodies with sticks.

ppemberton

Wait – that’s your entire argument? That “The Shining” has a kid named Danny and “Stand By Me” has a kid named Corey?

Please.

As good as “The Shining” was – and it was a great movie -- “Stand By Me” was even better. From Richard Dreyfuss’s gentle narration to Rob “Meathead” Reiner’s inspiring direction to the wonderful soundtrack, this movie just nailed it. And it probably stayed more true to King’s novella, “The Body,” than “The Shining” did to its source – always a key to success in King adaptations.

Since I won’t argue against “The Shining”  (and if you haven’t seen the documentary on the making of the movie, check it out – it’s awesome.), I’m going to note why “Stand By Me” rules. So here we go:

1. It gave new life to a great old song.

The Ben E. King single has been covered by everyone from Muhammad Ali and Otis Redding to Marvin Gaye and John Lennon. But it was almost forgotten until it was brought back – and made a hit all over again -- by this flick.

2. The story about Lard Ass.

I absolutely love the scene where the overweight kid purposely pukes during the annual pie eating contest, causing a puke fest. It made you think even the sorriest losers could come out on top. (My favorite line: “And the women’s auxiliary barfed all over the Benevolent Order of Antelope.”)

3. Kiefer Sutherland.

As Ace Merrill (a reoccurring character in King novels), Sutherland was a perfect bully. According to IMDB.com, Sutherland, in an effort to stay in character, actually picked on the other kids on the set in between takes. Now that’s dedication.

4. Leeches!

When the boys jump in a muddy pond, it’s all fun and games – until leeches start sucking their blood. Then Gordie finds one in the most precarious location.

5. The dog chase.

A junkyard dog named Chopper has a reputation for biting, well . . . a sensitive place. Thus creating a very tense scene when two of the boys find themselves in Chopper’s path.

6. The actors.

From the moment Jerry O’Connell’s character asks, “You guys want to see a dead body?” you’re transfixed by these kids. And, yes – Corey Feldman was great.

7. It’s timeless.

King has always been good about capturing those commonalities we have, particularly relating to growing up in America. It doesn’t matter that the movie was set in 1959, you could somehow relate.