Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #429 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-10-15
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 360 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
After a government-spawned "superflu" wipes out more than 90 per cent of the earth's population, the devastated survivors must decide whether to support or resist the advances of a mysterious stranger from way down South (heh-heh) who wishes to claim this new world order for himself. Although the six-hour length of The Stand makes it nigh-impossible to digest in one sitting, this well-paced adaptation of Stephen King's apocalyptic magnum opus ranks among the best adaptations of the author's work, with strong performances from Gary Sinise, Miguel Ferrer, and especially Jamey Sheridan as a good-old-boy version of Old Scratch. The opening scene, set to the strains of Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper," is one of the most chilling things ever shot for television. Director Mick Garris is no stranger to King's world, having also helmed Sleepwalkers, the recent television remake of The Shining, and the upcoming Desperation. --Andrew Wright

Synopsis
Stephen King's own adaptation of his best-selling allegorical novel is the ultimate saga of good vs. evil. When a deadly man-made virus destroys 99 per cent of the Earth's population, those left alive are haunted by visions and dreams luring them into two camps--good or evil--and eventually to a final conflict.

Synopsis
A deadly virus is unleashed by a military lab, wiping out almost the entire population of Earth. A few terrified individuals set out on a desperate race to find other survivors...

Customer Reviews

Sucker for Stephen King
I really, really loved the book and I really love the film. No book translates exactly to the big screen. We have already cemented the characters, locations etc in our minds. Its sometimes difficult to get your head around someone elses interpretation to film.

The characters are good. I couldnt relate to Harold in the film though. In the book he was an overwieght geek, not a slim guy in a leather jacket, but hey.

Ah hell! If you like Stephen King then you will like this. Its dark, comic, romantic, scary. Something for everyone then! he he ;)

be aware
read the book watched the movie when they first came out.this version is very heavily edited and took a lot of the impact away from the film

Oh come on!

Firstly, as good as Stephen King is at writing, this is by no means his best novel. It's a very overdone and obvious stroyline... epic disease wiping out half the human race, civilisation must reform, good and bad people fight until (low and behold) the good people win.

Even though the novel does go into depth with some characters, the greater storyline doesn't seem to make sense. For instance, the breakout kills most of America, but the rest of the world is never mentioned? Did the disease spread? Are we okay? Should I be in an isolated hospital ward somewhere, clinging to my life?

It's the usual 'all about America' Christian story where the Christians (of course) will prevail in the end. And to hell with those 'evil' folk, hiding away in the (shock! horror!) gamblers paradise, Las Vegas!

There are two sides to Mr. King. His 'I'm gonna think about this' side, where he comes out with novels such as Shawshank, Green Mile etc and then there's his 'quick buck' novels, such as The Stand where he writes whatever he can sell into a screenplay. Write about God, racism, sexuality and homophobia and it's a dead cert. to rile up the American crowds, flocking to the cinemas after viewing a good lynching.

However, after saying this. This adaption of the Stand is oddly addictive. It's extremely tacky, extremely obvious and pretty blnking cringe-worthy at times, but take it with a pinch of salt and it's an easy watch. Well I just bought it anyway.