The Langoliers (1995)
The Langoliers (1995)
In the 1990's there was this trend of adapting Stephen King's works to television mini-series, with books like It, The Tommyknockers, The Shining, The Stand, and several others being made into television miniseries. One of those made for television films was The Langoliers from 1995, which was directed by Tom Holland, and aired on ABC on May 14th and 15th of 1995. The Langoliers is based on the novella of the same name that was featured in Stephen King's collection Four Past Midnight, and was aired in two hour and a half segments. Tom Holland also did the teleplay for the film.
The Langoliers stars David Morse as Captain Brian Engle, Kate Maberly as Dina Catherine Bellman (a blind girl with telepathic powers), Patricia Wettig as Laurel Stevenson, Dean Stockwell as Bob Jenkins, Mark Lindsay Chapman as Nick Hopewell, Kimber Riddle as Bethany Simms, Christopher Collet as Albert Kaussner, Frankie Faison as Don Gaffney, and Bronson Pinchot as Craig Toomy. There is also a cameo by Stephen King. Bronson Pinchot, who might be most recognizable from his role in the television show Perfect Strangers, is does a great job at playing the loony Craig Toomy, and I like that the way the story is constructed, and the way that Pinchot plays him, he is simultaneously a reviled and pitied character. Yes, he is clearly a "bad guy", however as his back story is unveiled we come to learn that it his abusive father is a part of why he is the way he is, and then of course I think the guy has some serious mental health issues going, but Pinchot plays it so well, he feels actually crazy. Overall, the cast is pretty decent, it is definitely a made for television production, no doubt about that, but I found myself caring about most of the characters, and identifying with some of them. I have read some reviews criticizing the characters for being really cardboard and flat, and though yes, I can see where they are coming from, I honestly really liked the characters and the cast.
The Langoliers received mixed reviews from the critics, and holds a very average rating on film review sites like Rotten Tomatoes. Many of the critics cited the film for having flat characters, over acting by Pinchot, and the the special effects. I feel like the special effects must be discussed: First of all, it was 1995, and this was a three hour miniseries for network television, so the CGI effects were not the best that money could buy, as the budget is much smaller than a big Hollywood film. Yes, there are limitations in the special effects, and I think the look of the Langoliers and some of the other effects are scarier than the actual story. So that being said, the effects look bad, however there is something sort of charming about the effects, and though they might be hard to forgive for a big budget theatrical release, for made for television effects of the time, they are more forgivable. When I watch The Langoliers now, I get this nostalgic feeling for the 1990's, as this film is totally a product of the 1990's, and you see it in the characters, the special effects, the clothes, and even the way that it was shot, especially that final shot in the film, it is something that is straight out of 1990's television, and sure these things are a bit hokey and cheesy now, but it does create this nostalgic feeling for me. I have always enjoyed The Langoliers, I loved the novella, and I also enjoyed the miniseries, and of course I always get excited when I find Stephen King playing a cameo in a film!
This is Maine Movie Monday, so enough with the critic of the film, and let's talk about the Maine connections in the film. The Langoliers was shot almost entirely on location at the Bangor International Airport in Bangor Maine, which I'm sure most of you know is where Stephen King has a home. I like that this film was actually filmed in Maine, rather than finding another location to stand in for the location. A large portion of the film takes place at the Bangor International Airport, and on a plane. There were additional exterior shots filmed at the LAX airport in Los Angeles as well.
Like I said, I have always really enjoyed the Langoliers, I thought it was a great fun film, and it felt much like watching a very long episode of The Twilight Zone, and as my roommate watched it with me for their first time, it reminded them of a couple of episodes of Doctor Who. So if you are into that style of science-fiction/mystery/horror, and enjoy made for television miniseries films, then I do recommend The Langoliers. If low budget and dated effects bother you, and you expect something a bit shorter, then maybe give this one a pass, but I still recommend checking it out. You can find this film pretty easy, and often times it comes packaged together with other Stephen King miniseries films on DVD collections, and those collections honestly should be a part of your film collections.
The Langoliers stars David Morse as Captain Brian Engle, Kate Maberly as Dina Catherine Bellman (a blind girl with telepathic powers), Patricia Wettig as Laurel Stevenson, Dean Stockwell as Bob Jenkins, Mark Lindsay Chapman as Nick Hopewell, Kimber Riddle as Bethany Simms, Christopher Collet as Albert Kaussner, Frankie Faison as Don Gaffney, and Bronson Pinchot as Craig Toomy. There is also a cameo by Stephen King. Bronson Pinchot, who might be most recognizable from his role in the television show Perfect Strangers, is does a great job at playing the loony Craig Toomy, and I like that the way the story is constructed, and the way that Pinchot plays him, he is simultaneously a reviled and pitied character. Yes, he is clearly a "bad guy", however as his back story is unveiled we come to learn that it his abusive father is a part of why he is the way he is, and then of course I think the guy has some serious mental health issues going, but Pinchot plays it so well, he feels actually crazy. Overall, the cast is pretty decent, it is definitely a made for television production, no doubt about that, but I found myself caring about most of the characters, and identifying with some of them. I have read some reviews criticizing the characters for being really cardboard and flat, and though yes, I can see where they are coming from, I honestly really liked the characters and the cast.
The Langoliers received mixed reviews from the critics, and holds a very average rating on film review sites like Rotten Tomatoes. Many of the critics cited the film for having flat characters, over acting by Pinchot, and the the special effects. I feel like the special effects must be discussed: First of all, it was 1995, and this was a three hour miniseries for network television, so the CGI effects were not the best that money could buy, as the budget is much smaller than a big Hollywood film. Yes, there are limitations in the special effects, and I think the look of the Langoliers and some of the other effects are scarier than the actual story. So that being said, the effects look bad, however there is something sort of charming about the effects, and though they might be hard to forgive for a big budget theatrical release, for made for television effects of the time, they are more forgivable. When I watch The Langoliers now, I get this nostalgic feeling for the 1990's, as this film is totally a product of the 1990's, and you see it in the characters, the special effects, the clothes, and even the way that it was shot, especially that final shot in the film, it is something that is straight out of 1990's television, and sure these things are a bit hokey and cheesy now, but it does create this nostalgic feeling for me. I have always enjoyed The Langoliers, I loved the novella, and I also enjoyed the miniseries, and of course I always get excited when I find Stephen King playing a cameo in a film!
This is Maine Movie Monday, so enough with the critic of the film, and let's talk about the Maine connections in the film. The Langoliers was shot almost entirely on location at the Bangor International Airport in Bangor Maine, which I'm sure most of you know is where Stephen King has a home. I like that this film was actually filmed in Maine, rather than finding another location to stand in for the location. A large portion of the film takes place at the Bangor International Airport, and on a plane. There were additional exterior shots filmed at the LAX airport in Los Angeles as well.
Like I said, I have always really enjoyed the Langoliers, I thought it was a great fun film, and it felt much like watching a very long episode of The Twilight Zone, and as my roommate watched it with me for their first time, it reminded them of a couple of episodes of Doctor Who. So if you are into that style of science-fiction/mystery/horror, and enjoy made for television miniseries films, then I do recommend The Langoliers. If low budget and dated effects bother you, and you expect something a bit shorter, then maybe give this one a pass, but I still recommend checking it out. You can find this film pretty easy, and often times it comes packaged together with other Stephen King miniseries films on DVD collections, and those collections honestly should be a part of your film collections.
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