The Dark Tower (2017)

[paramitch]

It's weird... I was so excited about this movie at first, because of the hinted

Spoiler

AU aspect and that it's directly implied to be a different cycle for Roland. I was delighted they jettisoned Susannah and Eddie, since I loathed Susannah as a character (who was even more simplistically and insultingly drawn than King's usual awful female characters).

And then I thought the original trailer for DT was one of the most beautiful I've seen in a long time, so I was really excited for it. Then I found out it was, like, 95 minutes (and heard the rumors) and got depressed over what I'd probably see.

However, in the end... I liked it. It won't change the world, and it felt small, like a little fairy tale and not like an epic, but I was okay with that. I loved Jake's relationship with Roland, and adored Idris as Roland -- he's charismatic, beautiful in motion, and fascinating to watch. The way Roland's abilities were handled really did make gunslinging look and feel like a superpower, and I loved the echoes of history and nobility to the gunslingers that we got around the edges.

I thought McConaughey was okay -- he didn't blow me away, but I thought he was fine. I thought it was a decent little movie. It needed to be bigger and darker and more epic, but I was expecting an unwatchable train wreck, so was relieved it was honestly a nifty little diversion.

Also, the moment when Roland shoots the guy stealing Jake in that impossible far-away shot (while reciting his creed) is just a genuinely gorgeous, stirring moment.