The Gunslinger

This book was OK. It didn't knock me over and certainly didn't meet the hype surrounding this series. The book reads almost as a prologue. There are alot of references to people and events that have not been introduced to the story. I'm sure they will be revealed as the series progresses. I don't believe this would make a very good movie; the dialogue was bland and the action sequences failed to get the heart racing. It might translate to Hollywood better if merged with the next book.


"In the first book of this brilliant series, Stephen King introduces readers to one of his most enigmatic heroes, Roland of Gilead, The Last Gunslinger. He is a haunting figure, a loner on a spellbinding journey into good and evil. In his desolate world, which frighteningly mirrors our own, Roland pursues The Man in Black, encounters an alluring woman named Alice, and begins a friendship with the Kid from Earth called Jake. Both grippingly realistic and eerily dreamlike, The Gunslinger leaves readers eagerly awaiting the next chapter." ~ Book Jacket





DRAMATIS PERSONAE


Hugh Jackman as Roland Deschain- Roland is the hero of the Dark Tower series. He is his world's last-and perhaps greatest-gunslinger. His quest is to find the Dark Tower, the nexus of the time/space continuum. King stated that one of his inspirations for the series was the movie The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. I think it safe to say he pictured Roland as Blondie, the character played by Clint Eastwood, so we need an actor that looks somewhat like Eastwood and can play the quiet, tough guy. Jackman has the look and his protrayal of Wolverine was downright Eastwood-esque. I've not seen Austrailia yet, but I hear his character is very similar to Eastwood in it as well.


Jackson Bond as Jake Chambers- Jack is a blue-eyed, blond haired, eleven-year-old sixth grader. Jake died in New York, 1977, and was transported to Mid-World. Roland met him in the Way Station of the Mohaine Desert, where Jake was staying alone. A bond between the two develops and they become traveling companions. Jake is very perceptive for someone his age; this also makes him quite mature. However, the role wouldn't be very difficult to portray. I would lean towards an unknown actor here, but Jackson Bond would also do the job well.


Crispin Glover as the Man in Black- The man-in-black is the person whom Roland is chasing throughout the book. Not much is known about the character, except that he is evil. He is a sorceror and has the ability to bring people back from the dead. He is portrayed as someone insane. He is power-hungry and giggles in inappropriate places. Who better to play someone creepy and insane than Crispin Glover?


Marg Helgenberger as Alice- Alice owns Sheb's honky-tonk, located in the town of Tull. She has straw-colored hair and "may have been pretty once, perhaps beautiful, but that time has passed." She is lean, but with a lumpy face and has a scar that corkscrews around across her forehead, which she attempts to cover with makeup. This, however, only draws attention to what she hopes to hide. Because of her deep concern with her appearance and her ownership of a western saloon, I pictured her as a washed-up prostitute. Helgenberger could easily play a woman who is past her prime, but doing her best to fight the signs of age.

Micheal Rooker as Cort- Cort is Roland's teacher/drill sergeant. Like his father Fardo, Cort taught generations of boys to be gunslingers. He is described as a squat man with bowed legs, covered in scars. Despite his round, bulging belly, he is well-musled and hard. He is bald and has only one eye. Micheal Rooker has played his share of tough guys and he could easily pull off the griseled gunslinger instructor.


Kelly LeBrock as Sylvia Pittston- Sylvia is the preacher in the town of Tull. She's described as huge, possibly topping 300 lbs. She has messy brown hair held by a hairpin as big as a meat skewer, and has creamy, unmarked skin. Roland feels an unnatural lust for her. I would cast Kelly LeBrock in this role. While she has gained alot of weight since her Weird Science days, she still isn't as big as Sylvia. She would probably need a fat suit. However, if the makeup is done properly, she would be able to portray the 'sexiness' that hits Roland whenever he sees her.


Chris Rankin as Brown- Brown lives with a raven called Zoltan just beyond the town of Tull. He is a surprisingly young man, with strawberry hair down to his waist. He spends most of his time farming corn and anything else he can make grow so close to the desert. Chris Rankin has natural red hair and is of the right age. He's best known for his protrayal of Percy Weasley in the Harry Potter movies. ß