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The Dark Tower not worth it
Whats in with Justin
Dark Tower movie
Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey star in "The Dark Tower." - photo by Studio photo

“The Dark Tower” is based on Stephen King’s popular, best-selling series and it’s a misfire, both literally and figuratively.

Whether it stays true to the books is one thing; it just doesn’t make for a very exciting or interesting movie.

It stars Idris Elba as the Gunslinger a.k.a. Roland Deschain who exists in an alternate dimension and is brought to Earth by 11-year-old Jake Chambers (Tom Taylor), a deeply troubled kid who draws images of a dark tower that protects both the Gunslinger’s world and the fate of Earth from annihilation.

Matthew McConaughey stars as Walter o’Dim a.k.a. the Man in Black, an evil sorcerer who is bent on destroying the Dark Tower and raining chaos down on both worlds.

While trying to complete their mission, Jake also teaches Roland about the ways of Earth, including at one point when Roland is injured and wants no treatment for his injuries. It’s a very little bright spot in an otherwise dismal film.

Elba and McConaughey do what they can, but they end up giving ho-hum performances in this supernatural western amidst a dull story and even duller special effects. McConaughey specifically displays either one of two emotions: Dry or hamming it up. There are some scenes that look like he took this role only for a paycheck.

As I said before, this movie is based on a series of King’s books, but I’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who thinks this is going to be a great series of movies. My belief is that this is going to be a costly dud that probably won’t spawn a new franchise.

Grade: C
Rated PG-13 for thematic material including sequences of gun violence and action.

Hall is a syndicated columnist in South Georgia.

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