Stephen King's 'Kingdom Hospital' BBC3 Sunday

TCamen

Stephen King's new series 'Kingdom Hospital' is starting Sunday May 2 on BBC3 @ 10pm-11.20pm

It's a remake of a Danish mini-series by the director of 'Dancer in the Dark' and 'Dogville', Lars von Trier.

It started in America on ABC in March. There's 13 episodes of the series produced so far, but it's performing reasonably well, so it might go for more.

Kooky staff, ghosts & weird goings-on in a haunted hospital. 'ER crossed with The Shining' pops up a lot in reviews, so I'll deffo be taking a look

Karl Hungus

I've heard a lot about it, and overall, it's been pretty bad things I've heard.
And it's apparently been cancelled by ABC already.
I'd honestly urge everyone to see the original first.

And why in gods name did they have to call it "Kingdom Hospital"!? Was "The Kingdom" just so unbeleivably vague that they had to stick 'Hospital' on at the end...? It just sounds utterly terrible.

See the original, tbh.

TCamen

Yeah, lots of the reviews have been negative.
I thought the ratings were decent enough though, but I haven't checked them in a while, so you're prob right. I'll still check it out cos there's nothing else on Sundays @ 10pm

Elmo

When will we every get to see the danish version?

Anyway its a Stephen King Mini Series or TV movie it cann't be good.

Go out and buy his books or rent out the BIG SCREEN version.

TCamen

I enjoyed 'The Shining' + 'Storm of the Century', the more recent of King's mini-series. 'Rose Red' was a bit crap though.
The only thing about his mini-series is that nothing is remotely scary in them. If the plot is any good, however, it doesn't have to be scary

Still though, 'Kingdom Hospital' technically isn't a mini-series. It's based on a mini, but this King remake was aimed to be a longer running series.

Elmo

Doesn't always mean it is bad just because an american TV station doesn't return to it.

There are pleaty of good american shows that did make it after the first season.

TCamen

Doesn't always mean it is bad just because an american TV station doesn't return to it.

I was just correcting you calling it a 'mini-series' or 'TV movie' by saying it was planned as a long-running series i.e that it could run for seasons. 'Kingdom Hospital' is/was a series, not a mini-series, or a TV movie. There is a difference.
I didn't mean that it was a crime that it has been cancelled, nor imply that it's not worth watching i.e 'bad' because ABC cancelled it.
I've stated several times I'm going to watch it.

Anyway, according to TV Tome, 'Kingdom Hospital' is indeed cancelled, so there'll just be 13 episodes, including a 2-hour opener, and a 2-hour finale for BBC3 to screen.

Raoul Duke

Anybody seen the original version? Nearly downloaded it because Lars von Trier is a bit of a nutcase and I figured a tv show by him sould be worth watching and I know it's a bit of a cult classic in Denmark. I didn't get it because I didn't know if it had english subtitles and seeing as how my Danish ain't too hot..........:dunno:

Karl Hungus

Originally posted by TCamen
I enjoyed 'The Shining' + 'Storm of the Century', the more recent of King's mini-series. 'Rose Red' was a bit crap though.
The only thing about his mini-series is that nothing is remotely scary in them. If the plot is any good, however, it doesn't have to be scary

Rose Red a bit crap, eh? You've a knack for understatement, my friend! And you know it's the same director, Craig R. Baxley, who's now doing Kingdom Hospital?
Something that doesn't bode well at all.

I also thought that both The Shining, and Storm Of The Century miniseries' were quite abysmal.

Now, I'm not saying that Stephen King doesn't translate well to the screen, but I find his work is really only good when interperated by a director with true vision, like Stanley Kurbick, or David Cronenberg. But we've already had a Stephen King TV Series in the form of The Dead Zone, and that was quite incredibly bad, especially compared to the utterly fantastic original.

Overall I do think that Stephen King is possible the most over-rated author in Horror, if not in all literature. I used to read a lot of his stuff when I was younger, but I stopped reading his work after I got through The Green Mile, now I really don't think much of him at all.

And you can get the original series of The Kingdom on DVD here.

Karl Hungus

Originally posted by Raoul Duke
Anybody seen the original version? Nearly downloaded it because Lars von Trier is a bit of a nutcase and I figured a tv show by him sould be worth watching and I know it's a bit of a cult classic in Denmark. I didn't get it because I didn't know if it had english subtitles and seeing as how my Danish ain't too hot..........:dunno:

Yes, I've seen it absolutely years ago... It freaked the ****ing **** out of me!!! :eek: It's an extremely unsettling experience to watch it, and the way it's been filmed really adds to the overall effect.

I have it on DVD here, but I've not had the chance to watch it yet.

flogen

Garth Merengi should sue him for stealing his Darkplace idea

sounds S to the Hizzo I to the Tizzo

Flogen

lodgepole

Originally posted by Elmo
When will we ever get to see the danish version?

It's been on BBC twice to my knowledge. Well i've watched it twice on BBC, it may have been on more. I bought the DVD as well, well worth owning. It also has an insightful, but slightly short, documentary about Von Trier on it.

doh.ie

TCamen wrote: "Still though, 'Kingdom Hospital' technically isn't a mini-series. It's based on a mini, but this King remake was aimed to be a longer running series."

While it isn't a mini-series, I can't help thinking when I watch it that it SHOULD be.

Some of the events between episodes (like 6 and 7) take place so close together, they really should air as a two-hour episode. It's very jarring to come back to it a week later and think, "Oh, it's the *same* day..."

As for the series as a whole, there are a few genuinely spooky moments, but not nearly enough. It's more quirkly/unusual than actually in any way scary.

You can see the effect of King's accident in the Peter Rickman character, but for weeks it wasn't easy to see where it was even all going.

I suspect the original Dutch one is far superior in horror terms. I must check it out. The US version seems to take aspects of the original story and just cloak it with a few quirky characters.

TCamen

Re: Kingdom Hospital, I read this on TV Tome:

The series is set up to play out like a book. The episode you watch picks up right where the last episode left off. Not in the sense of 24 that goes hour by hour, but more to the form of chapter by chapter. King himself was quoted as saying "Remember that Kingdom Hospital is a "novelization for television". Like a novel, it will pay back dividends but you will have to give it a little bit of time."

Not that the idea of a TV novel is new, I guess it all depends on the execution. If indeed it is jarring to watch the show week-on-week, I'm sure we'll find out soon

Either way I'm not ultra-excited about the show, but I'm looking forward to seeing it, just to see if it really is as bad as ppl seem to think/have said.
I mean Tru Calling was crap, but the pilot wasn't a complete waste of time. It was unintentionally hilarious
Thing about Kingdom Hospital, I can imagine it being quite boring, even the cast look boring in the promo pictures, and as for the standard injured writer.... :rolleyes:
I'm very tempted to get the original after all the recommendations now, especially if it's scary.

I initially liked the new interpretation of 'The Dead Zone' for the TV series, but inbetween the regular season 2 episodes + the held-over episodes I just drifted away from it. I don't think I'd be too bothered watching new episodes when they appear either.

Finally, I've never actually read any of King's books, I tried to read The Gunslinger, part 1 of The Dark Tower series, but I didn't like the style of writing at all. I'd never even consider myself a huge fan of his movies, but I'm willing to check out new TV shows, regardless of the over-rated pedigree behind them
I'll deffo be posting a rant on Sunday/Monday if it's a pile of shít

Karl Hungus

Originally posted by TCamen
Finally, I've never actually read any of King's books, I tried to read The Gunslinger, part 1 of The Dark Tower series, but I didn't like the style of writing at all.

Having read quite a lot of his work, you're really not missing that much.
I'd probably say that Salem's Lot is the best of his I've read.

pork99

Originally posted by Lodgepole
It's been on BBC twice to my knowledge. Well i've watched it twice on BBC, it may have been on more. I bought the DVD as well, well worth owning. It also has an insightful, but slightly short, documentary about Von Trier on it.

I believe Lars von Trier made 2 series, the DVD I have is the first series, is the 2nd series available anyone?

Also by Lars von Trier, The Idiots is one of those films you find yourself very disturbed by while at the same time laughing your ass off at it (a bit like Man Bites Dog ). Sheer brilliance.

Anything I see with "Stephen King" on it is a bit of a turn off for me I'm afraid (though that one about the writer kidnapped by his fan wasn't bad)

Karl Hungus

Originally posted by pork99
I believe Lars von Trier made 2 series, the DVD I have is the first series, is the 2nd series available anyone?

No, I don't think so... I tried looking for it myself, but to no avail.

lodgepole

Originally posted by pork99
I believe Lars von Trier made 2 series, the DVD I have is the first series, is the 2nd series available anyone?

The IFI showed both of them in full during their Von Trier season a few months ago. I missed it unfortunately, i've been looking forward to seeing it for a long time.

I'd recomend both Breaking the Waves and Dancer in the Dark by Von Trier as well, both excellent English language films.

ixoy

Originally posted by Lodgepole
I'd recomend both Breaking the Waves and Dancer in the Dark by Von Trier as well, both excellent English language films.

I'd second the recommendation with the proviso that they're both deeply depressing movies to watch. You will not be uplifted by them remotely...

TCamen

Well after watching the pilot tonight, I can see where the negative reviews came from.
King tried waaaay too hard to give us all these kooky characters, but he forgot that we actually need at least one likeable character in the mix too. None of the ones in the pilot were interesting, and the artist's wife was woeful.
The main problem I thought it suffered from was it felt seriously padded. So much of the pilot was boring. The one bit I liked was the scene with the psychic lady in the elevator. It was nicely done, with no stupid CGI to ruin the tension. Shame it wasn't all a bit more focused on the mystery of the hospital.

Watching the promo for next week, it really does look like a mini-series about a spooky hospital that's been stretched out with other plots involving characters that aren't remotely interesting.

I'll definitely check out the original mini-series now.

mike65

I've not seen it or even read this thread I'm just here to to say-

DIE STEPHEN KING DIE!

That is all....

Mike.

TCamen

Well that's added to the thread lots :rolleyes:

mike65

I need anger management and the chance to blow up ABC for commissioning a stupid US remake of something unique. If anyone sees the BBC3 screened version and thinks its good then for Gods sake find the origional which is on DVD...

Mike.

alleepally

Originally posted by TCamen
Well after watching the pilot tonight, I can see where the negative reviews came from.

Watched it tonight as well. I got a bit bored after about 1/2 hour. 15 minutes later it had me hooked and I'll definitely be watching it next week.

alleepally

Originally posted by mike65
I need anger management and the chance to blow up ABC for commissioning a stupid US remake of something unique. If anyone sees the BBC3 screened version and thinks its good then for Gods sake find the origional which is on DVD...

Mike.

Goosefraba, Goosefraba....

That is all (to coin your phrase )

TCamen

The promo for next week focuses a lot more on the mystery of the old Kingdom, so I'll check it out next Sunday at least.

I just think the pilot didn't have enough of weird goings-on, and too many scenes with annoying characters, particularly the artist's wife.

nlgbbbblth

I remember going to see the original Kingdom in the IFC some years ago - interval halfway through

good stuff though - is the dvd around the shops here or will it be a play order?

lodgepole

Originally posted by nlgbbbblth
I remember going to see the original Kingdom in the IFC some years ago - interval halfway through

good stuff though - is the dvd around the shops here or will it be a play order?

Tower should have it in their foreign section. You may get it priced more competitively online though...

Go Figure!

Well I thought the first episode was dreadful. I almost fell asleep half way through. It confirms in my mind why I hate Stephen King drama's. They are just far to weird and obscure for my liking. I am not surprised it is getting such dreadful ratings in the United States. I shall not be watching it again!:(

doh.ie

Do wait until ep3/4 before deciding not to follow it completely, though.

I know someone who tuned out after #1, but I kept going and am glad I didn't just leave it early on.

I accept it is poorly balanced, and there are way wackier things to come than the anteater-type creature which I thought somewhat stupid in the first, but there's a better sense after a few more episodes that it's all going somewhere.

Then, stupidly, it all slows down and goes *nowhere* until all picks up again around ep 8/9.

Not finished yet in the US, so it's one of those I'll kind of spare judgement on until the final episode. They probably didn't know it was going to be canned when they started production, so there's a fair chance it'll cliffhang, too, I reckon.

Its biggest flaw, though, is simply that it isn't scary... at all. Had it been, it might have been worth tuning in for the fright.

So far, at best, it's a big of an intriging mystery. I'm just not sure that many BBC3 viewers will stick around. (Even fewer are likely to on TV3 - it's on their in the summer...)

TCamen

Well the second episode certainly showed a lot more promise than the pilot. It still wasn't brilliant, but it had a better flow, ignoring a lot of the more annoying characters, and focusing a lot more on the mystery of 'the kingdom'. Definitely a step in the right direction.

monkeymagic

Stephen King needs to learn the difference between weird and just plain crap. Then again he's used his horror tricks so many times they're all cliched now so you know exactly what is going to happen and it loses the element of surprise, which of coruse horror relies on entirely.

As for the artist, if we're supposed to believe he's well respected and highly admired (bit of an ego trip for King isn't it?) then the paintings he's working on should probably look more 'good' and less 'laughable, amateurish, junk.'

Pigman II

Being a big Von Trier fan myself I decided to watch episode 1 of KH tonight just out of curiosity.

All I feel like offering is to back up what other people here have been saying - ie do yourself a favour buy/rent 'Riget' instead and forget about this piss-poor imitation.

TCamen

Well the 3rd episode pretty much squandered any good momentum it picked up in episode 2. Really really dodgy on all fronts, esp. the Scrubs-esque random dance numbers. It doesn't make me wonder why these ppl are spontaneously breaking into song/dance, the question is more like "wtf is this crap I'm wasting my time watching".
Oh, and if that awful, totally non-scary, non-interesting guy is the Big Bad, mission accomplished, he's BAD

Note to Stephen King: Having a character read one of your books on your own TV show goes SO far above and beyond 'in-joke', it's just plain sad.

alleepally

Glad I forget about ep 2 and didn't bother after that. sounds like it's a pile of old cack.

TCamen

Yeah it's very obvious why it lost half its audience in the US inside 2 weeks, and is now cancelled. They've even pulled the final few eps on ABC now, they were gonna show the series to the end, but now the last eps are being held over until during the summer. I'm sure BBC2/3 will show it all the way through for anyone that's still watching :rolleyes:

Karl Hungus

Christ, I managed to catch tonight's episode on BBC2... It's just plain ****! In fact, it worse than I could have imagined! I'm going to watch the original Kingdom again.

What the ****ing hell was with the stupid CGI Aardvark!!?!?!?!?!?

koneko

Originally posted by Karl Hungus
Overall I do think that Stephen King is possible the most over-rated author in Horror, if not in all literature.

Indeed! He wrote a few good novels early on his career, and has been hammering out the same old tired cliches since then.

Maybe I'm just bitter because I finally saw Dreamcatcher last week. My stomach turned it was so bad.

ixoy

And once more Family Guy has something to say:

Stephen King: Okay, my 300th novel is about this New England family...who...who are attacked by a demonic desk lamp! Oooh!
Editor: You're not even trying anymore are you?
Stephen King [waving lamp around]: Ooooh!
Editor: Ok, I'll take it.

Karl Hungus

Well, I just got through watching The Kingdom on DVD last night, and I have to say I'm really rather dissapointed...

Don't get me wrong, it's every bit the disturbing horrific ****ing masterpeice I thought it was years ago, the thing is, when I first saw it, they must've shown both series back-to-back, so now I'm left without a second mini-series to watch! :mad:

So I feel really annoyed now that I've only half the story, and that I'm missing out on

Judith breast-feeding the giant baby!

That honestly freaked the ****ing **** out of me! And I hope I didn't imagine it at the time.

I'm also wondering how the American version is going to handle

the part where Udo Kier's head pops out! :eek: And the whole giant baby altogether.

Play.com don't seem to have any release date for the second series of The Kingdom, and didn't seem to have it previously. So, if anyone knows if it'll be out soon?

Torlac

tv3 have picked it up and are showing it starting friday night at 9:D

jill_valentine

Maybe it was something to do with the serious levels of alcohol involved, but I actually liked what I've seen of KH. Now, I loved the original as well, but I also quite like this. Aesthetically, its very different to any of the other King stuff I've seen, though that is largely borrowed from Von Triers' style. But I quite liked the stoned out pace, and dreamy wierdness. I didn't find the aardvark completely laughable because of its creepy voice...

Dr. Loon

Originally posted by koneko
Indeed! He wrote a few good novels early on his career, and has been hammering out the same old tired cliches since then.

Maybe I'm just bitter because I finally saw Dreamcatcher last week. My stomach turned it was so bad.

I'm sorry, but obviously you're either a Stephen King fan or you're not, but that statement is crap. Why would so many film makers want to make so many of his films.

Anyway, I would say 90% of his novels are excellent, while 90% of the film version are absolute shíte.

What about these books;

The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger
The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three
The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands Novel
The Dark Tower IV: Wizard & Glass Novel
The Dark Tower V: Wolves of The Calla Novel
The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah Novel
The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower

Tommyknockers
The Shining
Thinner
Apt Pupil
Carrie
Children Of The Corn
The Dark Half
Cujo
Dolores Claiborne
From a Buick 8
The Green Mile
It
Insomnia
Salems Lot
Needfull Things
Misery
Pet Semetary
The Running Man

and my favourite The Stand.
Indeed some of his more recent novels are pure crap. He's lost the touch a bit, but he's one of the most prolific horror writers of the century.

Now, just think how many of those aboce went to film. Quite a few good films now that I think of it.
Statements like overrated are just plain stupid in this case.

I haven't even checked out Kingdom Hospital because most film/book tv/book adaptations are pure shíte.

</rant over>

eth0_

I liked this show for the first two episodes but it's just so slow! The guy in the coma is so boring, the psychic lady is irritating to say the least, and there are just too many threads within the main story, like the vendetta against Stegman.

I now dislike all the characters except Dr Hook, but i'll probably keep watching if only to see how it ends.

jill_valentine

His books all suffer the same problem. The ending. The ending of nearly every one of his books is desperately underwhelming and drags the underbelly out of what had been a really good story. The alcoholic/ surly characters sacrifice themselves for the greater good, or the woman triumphs against those damn abusive men, or the emotionally damaged character finds god or an equivilent. His books, even his best ones, are damn near unfilmable, usually, because movies/ films etc don't have time to meander around a little with the characters like his books do.

On the other hand, his short stories are tremendous...

ixoy

Originally posted by Dr. Loon
I'm sorry, but obviously you're either a Stephen King fan or you're not, but that statement is crap. Why would so many film makers want to make so many of his films.

What about these books;

The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger
The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three
The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands Novel
The Dark Tower IV: Wizard & Glass Novel
The Dark Tower V: Wolves of The Calla Novel
The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah Novel
The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower

What about them? 1-3 are enjoyable, but Volume 4 had lots of crap in it, particularly a blatantly unimaginative Wizard of Oz rip-off. And how can you even list Volumes VI and VII to comment on? Volume VI is only out two days and Volume VII isn't released! How do you know that are examples of good work?!?!! :rolleyes:

Apt Pupil
Children Of The Corn
The Running Man

Well Apt Pupil is more a novella than a novel, as is the Running Man arguably. They were released more as collections than anything else. And Children of the Corn is a short story, not a book.

Indeed some of his more recent novels are pure crap. He's lost the touch a bit, but he's one of the most prolific horror writers of the century.

Profilic has nothing to do with being good!

Now, just think how many of those aboce went to film. Quite a few good films now that I think of it. Statements like overrated are just plain stupid in this case.

They were made into films, an important think you seem to imply, yet you then say:

I haven't even checked out Kingdom Hospital because most film/book tv/book adaptations are pure shíte.

So backup a second. Is it a good thing this profilic author has so many movie or TV adaptations if they're nearly all awful? Is it a good thing that he's profilic? It's not to say the man has no talent - he has - but he's become a bit of a hack in the last few years, producing dire works like "Rose Madder".

Once more with Family Guy, summating his recent stuff perfectly:

Editor: So what do you got for me?

King: Uh... (looks around the room)... A group of people in the woods are attacked by a .... uhh...
(Grabs a lamp from the desk) A LAMP MONSTER!!! OOOOOOO!!!!!

Editor: You're not even trying anymore.

King (still waving the lamp): OOOOO!

Editor: (sigh) When can I have it?

Dr. Loon

Originally posted by ixoy
What about them? 1-3 are enjoyable, but Volume 4 had lots of crap in it, particularly a blatantly unimaginative Wizard of Oz rip-off. And how can you even list Volumes VI and VII to comment on? Volume VI is only out two days and Volume VII isn't released! How do you know that are examples of good work?!?!! :rolleyes:

Wahey!! Relax. I copied and pasted The Dark Tower Series from a web-site cos I couldn't of been arséd typing them out.

The Wizard of Oz piece wasn't a rip off, it's exactly what it was supposed to be. Something all the characters knew about and identified with. Most people would cop on to that quite easily.

Well Apt Pupil is more a novella than a novel, as is the Running Man arguably. They were released more as collections than anything else. And Children of the Corn is a short story, not a book.

Let's not get into the semantics of novel/novella and short story here. Any point you had here?

Profilic has nothing to do with being good!

True, I'll take back that point.

They were made into films, an important think you seem to imply, yet you then say:

I haven't even checked out Kingdom Hospital because most film/book tv/book adaptations are pure shíte.

You'll note I've highlighted MOST, because I mean MOST adaptations of ANY authors books are pretty bad. Not all, and out of the list I made of novels/novellas and short stories quite a few I would deem good IMO.

So backup a second. Is it a good thing this profilic author has so many movie or TV adaptations if they're nearly all awful? Is it a good thing that he's profilic? It's not to say the man has no talent - he has - but he's become a bit of a hack in the last few years, producing dire works like "Rose Madder".

It's obviously a good thing that so many directors were/are interested in doing film adaptations of his books. It would seem to me that these people liked his work enough to want to transfer it to film. I agree though, that his most recent works are lacking somewhat.

You seem to be putting across the impression that you dislike his works, yet you also seem to know alot about them indicating you're a fan. I'd imagine it's only really a fan that would read through the Dark Tower series and know the release dates of the next installments. I'm sure you'll also know that he's admitted alot of the film adaptations have been awful!?

My point was Angelwhore AKA Karl Hungus saying he's one of the most overrated authors is a bit ridiculous, and Koneko saying a "few good novels" is quite simply stupid IMO.

ixoy

Originally posted by Dr. Loon
You'll note I've highlighted MOST, because I mean MOST adaptations of ANY authors books are pretty bad. Not all, and out of the list I made of novels/novellas and short stories quite a few I would deem good IMO.

FWIW, he's had more moviers made from his works than any other author I believe. Somewhere I think around eighty (about half of which are Children of the Corn movies...).

It's obviously a good thing that so many directors were/are interested in doing film adaptations of his books. It would seem to me that these people liked his work enough to want to transfer it to film. I agree though, that his most recent works are lacking somewhat.

Is it that or is it based purely on his popularity? I mean by saying "Stephen King's Lamp Monster" the name alone can generate extra interest where otherwise there might be none. As you'll know that, when the short stories are adapted, they often bear very little resemblance to the original. "The Lawnmower Man" has only a tenuous link to the original short story - they just hoped to use Stephen King's name to sell their product. It's almost a franchise operaiton.

You seem to be putting across the impression that you dislike his works, yet you also seem to know alot about them indicating you're a fan. I'd imagine it's only really a fan that would read through the Dark Tower series and know the release dates of the next installments. I'm sure you'll also know that he's admitted alot of the film adaptations have been awful!?

Well I used to enjoy the fact that many of his novels tie in together (e.g. 'The Body' links to 'IT' links to 'Insomina' links to the Dark Tower series). The Dark Tower was, and still is, the ultimate culmination of this and the whole R.F. evil thing. However, I disliked nearly anything he's written in the last decade. Maybe time to put the pen down?

My point was Angelwhore AKA Karl Hungus saying he's one of the most overrated authors is a bit ridiculous, and Koneko saying a "few good novels" is quite simply stupid IMO. [/B]

I think though that the fact he's still touted as a great, is erroneous. He produced a few very good novels alright (I think "Misery" is the best still or maybe "The Stand: Uncut Edition") but he, like the Simpsons, is now producing very poor fare that's tarnishing his name in my head and making me very unreceptive to his works. The only work of his I may continue to read are the Dark Tower series, just to see what Roland of Gilead discovers...

jill_valentine

I think he's said he plans to retire when he concludes the Dark Tower stuff anyway...

Dr. Loon

Originally posted by ixoy
FWIW,

What's FWIW?

Is it that or is it based purely on his popularity? I mean by saying "Stephen King's Lamp Monster" the name alone can generate extra interest where otherwise there might be none. As you'll know that, when the short stories are adapted, they often bear very little resemblance to the original. "The Lawnmower Man" has only a tenuous link to the original short story - they just hoped to use Stephen King's name to sell their product. It's almost a franchise operaiton.

This is very true... can't disagree with ya.

Well I used to enjoy the fact that many of his novels tie in together (e.g. 'The Body' links to 'IT' links to 'Insomina' links to the Dark Tower series). The Dark Tower was, and still is, the ultimate culmination of this and the whole R.F. evil thing. However, I disliked nearly anything he's written in the last decade. Maybe time to put the pen down?

I agree here also, and I'm glad to hear he's going to retire after the DT series is complete.

but he, like the Simpsons, is now producing very poor fare that's tarnishing his name in my head and making me very unreceptive to his works. The only work of his I may continue to read are the Dark Tower series, just to see what Roland of Gilead discovers...

Again, I agree here. The last few novels I read were terrible. So much so that I can't remember all of them, except Dreamcatcher and Black house. I am quite looking forward to findout out the conclusion of the DT series.