The Dark Tower

The Man in Black fled across the desert and Jethro, lacking a map, got lost in the process of following him. But he didn't have it as bad as most critics who climbed The Dark Tower. This is the cinematic realization of Stephen King's epic fantasy novels. I think 95 minutes is too short a realization.

So what did Jethro learn from this? There's a Dark Tower in the land of Mid-World that holds up all the worlds of the multiverse together. Walter Padick (Matthew McConaughey), the evil Man in Black, wants to destroy the Tower so he and his fellow demons can destroy the universe. But he needs a child with immense psychic energy to bring down the Tower. Roland Deschain (Idris Elba) is the last of the knightly order of Gunslingers tasked with defending the Tower. Walter killed the other Gunslingers, including Roland's father. So Roland wants revenge.

Everybody got that?

Jake Chambers (Tom Taylor) sees this epic battle of good and evil in his dreams. Jake also has special psychic powers and Walter knows it. He sends some demons over to fetch him but he escapes. Jake finds his way to Mid-World and meets Roland. Roland has some misgivings but lets Jake tag along. He'll soon have to choose between vengeance and nobility when Walter closes in on Jake.

The three main characters are pretty well-defined in their roles. Roland is a heroic knight who lost his way, Walter is evil incarnate and delightfully smug and Jake is the kid at the center of it all. The screenplay makes them and their situations basically defined and comprehensible. I'm sure there was much more depth in the books but that's what we have here. (I mean, why does it have to be a psychic kid who has to bring down the Tower? The why is never explained.) There are a few funny moments from Roland's first encounters with Jake's Earth. That's a good thing.

The creature designs were pretty nifty when you can make them out. It's one of those movies that goes for dark cinematography and quick editing on action scenes. One cut to black was so abrupt I thought the projector stopped for a bit! The sound design was suitably creepy and the visual effects were adequate. The makeup work for Walter's minions was also good.

The Dark Tower is an acceptable dark fantasy film but it could've been better. An hour longer or several movies longer or a TV show like Game of Thrones. But 95 minutes is short not sweet. But at least it's not dreadfully incomprehensible or boring like Warcraft. Its greatest sin, if any, was that it was basic. Hopefully, someone does better the next time they set Roland and Walter and the others into motion.