The Mist

Derek Kendzor | November 2, 2007
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Kelly Lee | November 3, 2007
Heh.

See, the cool thing about that story is that Scott and I kinda share that story. You were in the class with Scott when you had to do a storytelling of that book? Yeah, well the next year, when I had the same teacher you did (I was a year behind you guys) We had to do reader's theater stories, and the first one was a copy of another group from the year before's story. And guess which story I did?

The Mist.

So, that's just an odd coincidence. I mean, I went to all the schools that Scott did up till College, where he went to Bradley and I to Western, then he went to Western...but I mean, we both went to Wildrose
Elementary, (He lived the next neighborhood over as me since 5th grade) Thompson Jr High (and the other Jr High was right next to it, so it was a 50/50 chance of him being at the same school as I) and St. Charles. But until 10th grade...we never met.

Unless you count the Mist.

Wow...that was a tangent.

I really like the story though, I always thought of the Blue Goose (to ya'll former St. Charlesians) as the store in the book.

Matthew Preston | November 4, 2007
Mr. Harper is probably the teacher you're trying to think of. "The Mist" was my favorite short story from that class, and I am very much looking forward to the movie! Mr. Harper had blocked out all the inappropriate parts in the copies he gave us, but I outsmarted him... I went to a book store and bought it (Skeleton Crew compilation book I think). When I was reading it in class I thought he was going to get mad at me. Instead he smiled and was thrilled that he inspired a student to buy a book. I read all those short stories in that book, cover to cover. Great memories indeed!

Derek - Coincidentally I am reading through "Into The Wild" now as well. If you get the chance, check out the show "Iconoclasts" on the Sundance channel. There's an episode with Jon Krakauer and Sean Penn... good stuff.

Kelly Lee | November 4, 2007
Ha! Mr. Harper! He had a troll that dressed like him on his desk, yeah?

On another tangent...did any St.C high school alumni here remember Mr. Powers? I worked a year ago with this nephew..and he looked just like him.

Lori Lancaster | November 5, 2007
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Amy Austin | November 5, 2007
Now... my question to you, Derek, is this... why would you do that to yourself??? By rereading the book right before the movie comes out, you're sure to set yourself up for disappointment -- a fond, but hazy memory is the best thing that you could hope to go into the movie with!!!

My own example is LOTR -- I read this when I got the box-set as a gift from my dad when I was 12 (1985)... long enough before the trilogy came out that I had all but forgotten the details of the story. I thought it was great when I read it, but I never revisited it -- with the exception of the animated cinematic versions (which, of course -- like most kids my age -- I enjoyed). I was excited when the Jackson trilogy came out... and even moreso for the fact that I had a fresh slate (but general recollection of major plot) with which to enjoy it as a complete and masterful work in its own right, artistic license and all! (And yes, there was license taken, but it didn't lessen the films any -- especially since I didn't remember enough to nitpick!)

So, really... why would you do it, but to turn yourself into the snobby "not as good as the book" hyper-critic??? I specifically *don't* recommend the re-reading of anything at all before attempting to attend a movie adaptation... you're much more likely to enjoy it that way. Re-read it *after* you see it at the theater/on DVD/cable... whatever... and then you can try to shred it if you really still feel like it after thinking that you at least got your $10 worth at the movies.

Derek Kendzor | November 5, 2007
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Scott Hardie | November 6, 2007
I will write more here when I get time, but I just wanted to mention the timely coincidence that two of the sites I frequent both mentioned this topic today: imdb and avclub

Scott Hardie | December 21, 2007
Way overdue on this: Yeah, Blue Goose for me too, Kelly.

If I do take in both the book and the movie, I prefer the movie first. That way the story gets richer and fuller instead of the other way around. If you like deleted scenes and director's cuts of your favorite movies, reading the original novel afterwards is like, well, discovering the mother lode. I'm still tickled by the silly new side-tangents that I discovered when I read Wonder Boys.

But like so many arts, movie adaptations are better for what they cut out than what they keep in. The most recent Harry Potter movie was picked on by fans for cutting too much material, but I found it to benefit greatly from the momentum gained. A literal scene-for-scene Potter adaptation would probably be insufferable.

Here's hoping Watchmen movie will be a good adaptation; the comic was a favorite of my teenage years and the movie has been in development hell since then. On the upside, director Zack Snyder is said to carry around a copy of the book everywhere he goes, determined to make an accurate adaptation, and even uses it line up shots exactly. On the downside, he's Zack Snyder. Oh well. I was among the few who liked League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, but Alan Moore's comics have a dubious track record in Hollywood, and this one is most special.

Anybody seen The Mist by now and care to report on it?