Lilja's Library

by Hans-Ake Lilja

  In the second episode the story also starts to develop. By now we know the background of the main characters quite well, so the focus can be on the story itself, instead of the characters, like in episode one.

  As there were in the first episode, there are connections to King or his other works here as well (even if the first one is a bit far-fetched though). One character is heard singing the tea-song that Andre Linoge sings in Storm of the Century (unfortunately, I don’t know the exact title). But that isn’t all. In this episode King makes his cameo appearance as well. In Rose Red he portrays a pizza delivery boy and he also has a few lines this time. It’s quite fun!

  Rose Red (Episode 3)

  (Around 1 hour 20 minutes without commercials)

  Here we get to know even more about what has happened in Rose Red before Ellen Rimbauer disappeared, and we learn that all may not be what it seems…These flashbacks are shot in a really nice way, they are not in black-and-white, but they are not as colorful as the scenes from today either. They give us more information about the Rimbauer family, but I want more…

  In episode three we also get to see exactly how possessed Joyce is with the house, and at the end she starts to show her real feelings for the others and her real intentions for the expedition.

  OK, so now it’s time for the grand finale. Unfortunately, I feel King gets away a bit too easy here. I was hoping for a bit more information about the Rimbauer family (even though there is quite a lot in episode three) and why Rose Red really is haunted. There are still some questions that I feel are left unanswered. I won’t go into what they are or who they are about here; I will let you find out for yourself when you see the series.

  Even though the ending provides some surprises I feel that it could have used a bit more…

  Lilja’s final words about Rose Red

  So, to sum up my feelings about Rose Red, I can say that I think it’s a rather great miniseries. Maybe there could be a bit more info about the Rimbauer family in it (to give the viewer a better sense of why Rose Red really is haunted), but hey, you can’t always get everything you want, right?

  I do feel that what we get here is good stuff. It shows that it was made for TV and not for the movie screen, but that’s alright, I think, because the plot is good and most of the actors and actresses do a really great job in portraying their characters.

  So, whatever you do, don’t miss Rose Red on ABC on January 27th, 28th and 31st next year! If you do, you will regret it, take my word for it!

  ****

  Carrie (remake)

  Posted: December 17, 2002

  I have just finished watching the remake of Carrie and I must say that I was surprised. When I first heard about it I felt that it was rather unnecessary to do a remake of one of the better King movies.

  Also, I had heard a lot of bad things about it before I actually saw it. It was supposed to be too long, the special effects weren’t any good and so on. So, it’s safe to say that I really didn’t have very high expectations about it when I saw it.

  So, when I saw it I was actually pleasantly surprised by what I saw. Angela Bettis is really good as Carrie. She really looks tormented when the other kids tease her and she is believable as a girl whom no one likes. Patricia Clarkson is also a good choice for Carrie’s crazy mother. Her portrayal of Carrie’s mother isn’t crazy in the same physical way as in Brian DePalma’s version. Here, Margaret is calmer, but still very intimidating.

  Most of the time this remake is rather similar to the original movie. The biggest exception is that it has gotten a more modern feel. Carrie is searching the Internet, for example. Another difference is the wraparound story. Here we get to be present at a police interrogation with some of the survivors from the prom. This is a way of driving the story along without having to show everything. It actually feels rather effective. This way the remake can have much more of the story in it even though it’s not that much longer (it’s a little more than two hours without the commercials).

  The wraparound story is also used to give the viewer a sense of what’s to come. Here, events are hinted at and then we get to see how it came about and what happened. It’s a rather effective way to tell a story. In fact, King uses it frequently himself.

  Unfortunately, not all is good with this remake. Most of the characters are portrayed well, but not all. I could have done without Jesse Cadotte (who plays Billy Nolan). He is totally over the top and not the least bit believable.

  Another thing that I’m a bit skeptical about is that Carrie is too tough in this version. Here, when she finds out she has special powers, she puts her mother in her place with an attitude that feels a bit wrong. Her mother has controlled Carrie for her entire life and I can’t imagine that an attitude could be changed in a day or two.

  Another thing that I don’t like is that Carrie seems to get amnesia some of the time when she uses her powers and other times she remembers everything perfectly. That feels rather unnecessary. Carrie is burning down the school because she is angry.

  Earlier I mentioned the special effects and that they weren’t supposed to be that good. Well, most of them actually are good. There are some, however, that look rather cheesy. I’m thinking particularly of some that occur when Carrie is walking home after the prom…

  On the whole, this remake is a good one. Its biggest problem is that it’s supposed to serve as a backdoor pilot for a potential series. This causes the creators to come up with an ending where Carrie survives, and I’m not sure I buy that. I understand that if there is to be an ongoing series about Carrie she has to be alive, but the way they did it isn’t believable. I won’t reveal what happens, but if you have seen it you know what I’m talking about. I don’t think a person can live through that and still have all of her brain cells left, do you?

  Lilja’s final words about Carrie (remake)

  OK, so should you watch this remake of Carrie? Well, I think you should, and if a series is made from it I think you should see that one as well…not because it will have anything to do with Stephen King (after all, Carrie didn’t live in his version), but because it will be interesting to see what they will do with it. My guess is that it will be something like this: the main character is hunted by the government and has to be on the run to avoid getting caught. She will then pass through city after city using her power, causing trouble and having to leave in a hurry to avoid being caught. Wait, I just remembered that this show already exists, and it’s called The Incredible Hulk.

  ****

  The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer

  Posted: June 25, 2003

  Yesterday I watched the prequel to Rose Red, The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer. Before I saw it I didn’t know what to expect. How can you make a movie out of a diary? Well, one way to do it is like they did with The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer. Most of the time I liked it, but some of the time it’s too slow. I find myself wishing for more action!

  It follows the diary pretty well though, and some of the scenes are pretty hot, especially for TV, and I’m sure that some of the viewers objected to it. Personally, I don’t mind since it’s all in the book, and to be honest, the book is worse by far.

  Overall, the actors and actresses are doing a good job. It was fun to see Brad Greenquist again. Brad played Pascow in Pet Sematary, and here he does the role as John’s business partner, Doug Posey, and I really like him. He has gotten a bit older since Pet Sematary, but he is a good actor that I hope to see more of in the future. He made a good impression on me.

  Steven Brand as John and Lisa Brenner as Ellen are doing a good job, but unfortunately I can’t say the same for Tsidii Leloka as Sukeena. Although she did the role in Rose Red, Tsidii doesn’t pull it off here. Her role is too big and she is a bit too much. I’m sorry to say so, but I don’t like her portrayal of Sukeena that much. I’m not sure if the problem is her or if the role was written that way. Since she did a rather good job in Rose Red, my guess is that the role might be written that way. That feels a bit unfortunate since I
didn’t get that feeling of her when I read the diary.

  The scenes are otherwise well done. You really get the feeling that things take place back in the nineteenth century. You won’t find King in it though. Sometimes he does small cameos in the movies, but not in this one. You will, however, find Ridley Pearson in there.

  There have also been talks about another sequel/prequel, but I certainly hope that they throw those plans in the garbage can. I don’t think it would be possible to do another one…

  Lilja’s final words about The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer

  All in all, I think that The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer is a good TV movie. I didn’t really get the same feeling as when I read the diary, but I did enjoy it nonetheless. So, I think you should check it out when (if) there is a rerun or when it’s out on DVD.

  ****

  Stephen King’s Kingdom Hospital - The Pilot

  Posted: February 18, 2004

  I have just seen the pilot (which has the subtitle Thy Kingdom Come) for Stephen King’s Kingdom Hospital and boy, oh boy, am I happy! This is the best King has ever written for TV! Now, I can hear some of you saying that King didn’t write it, Lars von Trier did, and yes, you’re partly right. Trier did the TV series that King is basing Stephen King’s Kingdom Hospital on, The Kingdom, and even though the two are very similar on several things they are also very different. King has really done what he was supposed to do: he has taken a really good series and turned it into his version of it. I mean, how fun is it to listen to a cover song if it sounds exactly like the original? Pretty meaningless, right? Well, Stephen King’s Kingdom Hospital is far from meaningless, that’s for sure!

  As usual with pilots, this is where we get to meet all of the characters and get to know who they are and who they like and dislike. The same happens in Thy Kingdom Come. We are introduced to the characters and learn a bit about each one of them. The thing I dreaded would be hard to translate from the original version to King’s version is the arrogance and hatred that Steg (Stig in the original) has toward his colleagues and patients. In the original he was a Swede who hated the Danish, but here you would have an American hating Americans. Instead, you have a doctor from Boston working in small-town Maine who hates countryfolk. I was worried, but it’s really well done and it worked perfectly! Bruce Davison is really perfect for the role of Steg!

  If you have seen Trier’s The Kingdom you will definitely recognize parts of the intro to the series. You will also recognize the characters even though some are new and others have changed a bit, but you’ll definitely recognize them. King has kept the feeling of Trier’s version and added to it. I get the same crazy and bizarre feeling by watching Stephen King’s Kingdom Hospital as I got when I watched The Kingdom. King has just added his own thoughts and feelings to the mix. Stephen King’s Kingdom Hospital feels really fresh!

  The most gripping part is at the beginning when Peter Rickman (Jack Coleman) gets hit by a van while he is out running on the side of the road. This must be exactly as King experienced his accident and it’s realistically done. You can almost feel your limbs breaking when the van smashes into you. The scene is extremely realistic and well done. Even the dog trying to get into the cooler bag is there…

  The accident transforms Peter and give him telepathic powers and the ability to communicate with the spirits of Kingdom Hospital. This and Peter’s recovery are what the pilot centers around. That, and as I said earlier, letting us get to know all of the characters. If the rest of the series is as good as the pilot, ABC has got a huge success on their hands!

  The cast that has been assembled for Stephen King’s Kingdom Hospital is really amazing. As I have mentioned earlier, Bruce Davison is perfect as Dr. “Steg” Stegman, but Andrew McCarthy (Dr. Hook), Diane Ladd (Sally Druse) and Ed Begley, Jr. (Dr. Jesse James) are all equally perfect for their roles. Two other characters that I’m really happy that King kept in his version are Abel and Christa, who both have Down Syndrome and work in the hospital’s kitchen. They know more than you would think and guide the viewers as to what is happening at the hospital.

  The pilot is seventy-three minutes without the commercials, and after you have seen it you’ll stay clear of anteaters and you are going to walk around doing the Kingdom Hospital handshake. Just make a fist of your hand, put the thumb in your mouth and blow. At the same time you put your pinky in the air…well, you’ll understand what I mean on March 3.

  Lilja’s final words about Stephen King’s Kingdom Hospital – The Pilot

  Personally, I think this is probably the best pilot I have ever seen. It’s clearly the best thing King has written for TV to date. Please do yourself the favor of watching it on March 3. The only thing you will have a problem with is that you have to wait a week to see the next episode. This is TV history in the making, mark my words!

  ****

  Stephen King’s Kingdom Hospital - Death’s Kingdom

  Posted: March 8, 2004

  I have just finished watching episode two of Stephen King’s Kingdom Hospital, Death’s Kingdom. It’s a bit shorter than the pilot, only 40 minutes (without commercials), but just as good.

  In Death’s Kingdom we get deeper into each character and the plot thickens. David Hooman, the guy who hit Peter Rickman while he was out running, is getting a better look at the hospital in this episode. The confrontation between Dr. Stegman and Sally Druse hits full force, Dr. Hook gets to hear what Sally hears and Antubis (the anteater) gets to show his teeth once more.

  There has been some speculation on whether or not Antubis and Oy from King’s The Dark Tower series are one and the same. King has now stated that this isn’t the case. There has also been some critique about Antubis, that he looks like Alf or one of the Muppets…well, each of us can think what he/she wants, but personally I never saw either Oy or Alf with fangs like Antubis’s…maybe one of the Muppets has fangs…seriously though, I don’t have a problem with Antubis. I look forward to see what his role in this will be. You do get a hint in Death’s Kingdom, but nothing solid.

  What also strikes me while watching Death’s Kingdom is how nicely done this series is. I mentioned this in my review of the pilot as well, but it gets more notable the more I see of it. It looks really fresh and the characters all feel so strange and odd, in a good way.

  Lilja’s final words about Stephen King’s Kingdom Hospital - Death’s Kingdom

  So, if you missed the pilot, jump in this week. There will be a short “last time on Kingdom Hospital” segment that’ll bring you up to speed. If you did watch last week, well, then I don’t have to tell you to tune in this week as well.

  ****

  ’Salem’s Lot (remake)

  Posted: June 1, 2004

  I have just finished two episodes of the new version of ’Salem’s Lot and I’m torn. Some of it was good and some of it was not so good. Some of the story was very true to the book and some was changed for no apparent reason, which made me pretty angry…but let’s take things in their right order and start with part one.

  Part 1

  The basic story is the same as the book, but they have done quite a lot of changes…and a lot of them aren’t good. In the beginning they have added to the story by letting Ben find Father Callahan and going after him. I won’t spoil it for you by revealing what happens but…it’s very wrong!

  The other issues they have changed in part one are small, but oh so important for the plot. They have turned the shy and somewhat lonely boy Mark into somewhat of a bully, which is totally wrong. The romantic and funny scene where Ben and Susan meet is gone—it’s the scene where she is reading his book and he jokes about how she treats the book. As with Mark they have also changed the personality of Straker. In the book he is rather sophisticated and laid back, here he is more cocky and blunt.

  One change they have made to the basic plot is that Ben has much bigger problems in this version. I guess that it’s not a big problem, but I don’t see why they would change it. I mean, it doesn’t really change the rea
son he is there, it’s just bigger without interfering with the story…and this is the worst kind of change. Changes that are done for no particular reason other than they feel they want to do it different or whatever. Not a smart move when you’re dealing with King fans.

  How about the actors and actresses then? Well, some are good, some are bad and one is perfect. One of the good ones is Rob Lowe, who does a good job portraying the haunted Ben Mears. And, after all, it’s not his fault that they have screwed up his character’s background. Donald Sutherland and Rutger Hauer do their best, but unfortunately, they don’t reach all the way. Sutherland as Straker is just too much and Hauer as Barlow is just too little.

  The perfect one is James Crowell as Father Callahan. If they ever do a movie version of The Dark Tower I hope they will bring him back as Callahan. He is just as I imagined him when I read Wolves of the Calla.

  Unfortunately, too many of the actors and actresses are too young. Andre Braugher, Samantha Mathis and most of the co-stars are way too young, if you ask me. The movie itself looks very fresh and that is a good thing, but it seems that they wanted to make the characters fresh as well. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work. The characters in the book aren’t all young and good looking…

  Oh, and then they go ahead and let Sandy’s husband blackmail Dr. Cody. It’s a really, really bad change that robs us of one of the strongest scenes from the book (and the original miniseries). Yes, you got it, the-shotgun-in-the-mouth scene.

  Part 2

  Part two is better than part one. Many more things happen and we get to see all of the vampires. The special effects are well done. What’s not so good is that now the vampires are smart. In the book they are more like zombies, but here they are the same as before they became vampires—they just have longer teeth. Two scenes show this failure in screenwriting very well. One is where Mike Ryerson visits Matt Burke and they start talking to each other about Mike’s scars. What is that all about? The other scene is when Ben is talking to Susan and she tries to convince him that it’s so much better to be a vampire than a living being. These two scenes are perfect examples of how a script should not be written!