If thoust be...

[Sweder]

Oops - can's open, worms all over the place . . .
I've been forced into a re-think over my sweeping 'King's films are crap' statement.

I agree that Shawshank, a film repeatedly appearing in 'all time' lists, is a meisterwerk; I got goosebumps when I read the short story (I think it was published in Four Seasons) and Freeman and Robbins were stunning in the lead roles on screen. I didn't originally count it as a King novel but its a fair cop; King was the author, despite sneakily writing as Richard Bachman.

'Stand By Me' was another short story from the book - blimey, two pretty decent films out of the same publication. Perhaps a more accurate appraisal would be there's a lot of cinematic and made-for-TV dross out there based on King's works.

I haven't seen Dolores Clairborne, though I enjoyed the book. I have sat through the following at various times in my life, and on each occasion felt that I've been robbed of my valuable time:

Salem's Lot; The Stand; Pet Cemetary; Carrie (sorry, apart from the heart-stopping shock ending it's pretty poor fare); Dreamcatcher; Firestarter; IT . . .

Another couple of exceptions though.
The Dead Zone starring Christopher Walken was chilling, and I loved The Shining when I saw it on first release.

OK, it's a mixed bag.
I'll get me anorak :o