I have been eagerly anticipating the opportunity to write a glowing fan-boy review of The Dark Tower. After collecting my thoughts and carefully considering the film, I'm left with a "meh" type feeling in my gut. I left the theater feeling disappointed, but hopeful that I would have an epiphany about the film as I reflected on it. I sit here writing, absent revelation.
The Dark Tower has always been an enigma. The work spanned a lifetime. Studios and Directors have promised to breathe life into the series time and again, only to disappoint. I was excited that the film would finally hit the big screen. The trailers looked appetizing. Enough to whet the appetite of any sci-fi/horror fan. A mysterious gunslinger, a dark villain, a boy hero and a symbolic tower. The stuff that promises allegories and life lessons. Depth derived from characters developed with the unique storytelling fabric of a master. Two hours does not lend itself to this epic sort of storytelling. Even with Ron Howard at the helm as producer.
The pared down tale unites a gifted youth (whose gifts are misunderstood as psychological problems) with an aging battle scarred hero who has lost his focus. Both have suffered deep losses, parallel losses, that create a reluctant bond. Alone, their weaknesses hold them back. Together, they have the ability to save the world. Or worlds. At its core, a simple story of an unlikely bond. An almost hackneyed version of a much richer story. To the point of disappointment.
The film never gives the characters must chance to evolve. The tension is superficial and the relationship development predictable. It was almost Hallmark-ish in its delivery. The dialogue was great. If woven into a better narrative arc, this film had great potential. The pacing also seemed off at times, although there were decent action sequences. The blend of fantasy and science fiction was good, with a decent blend of landscapes. There were some attempts at humor that completely fell flat. I think at least one was an attempt at humor involving a Chinese restaurant...but it felt like a missed opportunity.
The problem was not in the casting. I am a fan of both Idris Elba (the Gunslinger) and Matthew McConoughey (the Man in Black). They both held up their part. The acting was spot on. They had to work within the script. As I mentioned earlier, the dialogue was spot on. The delivery was good as well. Both existed in a script that was flat, slow at times and predictable. The relationships were very important in this story, and they seemed to be forgotten for the sake of hitting the storytelling benchmarks. I'm not sure what would have fixed this film, but definitely better pacing and greater attention to the characters would have made this film much better. I think I am being fair with a 6.5/10 rating. Worth waiting for on video, if you are a fan of the series.
Photos and video courtesy of Sony Entertainment.
