Over done

Rating: 10/10 (1 July 2007)

This movie was frustrating.
Stephen King has moments in his writing, and his movies, that are pure genius. The first half of this movie was evidence of that. The plot of 1408 was terrific. (at least the set up) The actors were good. Cusack was excellent. Some of the scenes and situations were brilliant.. (SPOILER) the clock and the song, the chocolates on the pillow, the ghosts jumping out of the window, seeing himself in the apartment, the whole first scene with Samuel L. Jackson, were fantastic. I was actually scared...on the edge of my seat, too scared to eat my popcorn, scared. Then, frustratingly, the whole thing fell apart.
Why must King. and whoever makes his books into movies, loose restraint and resort to wallowing in a total mess of nonsense? This happens repeatedly. It happened with Rose Red. (again, good plot, interesting back story with the website and book, etc, good first half, and then....crap.) This movie needed an editor...someone to say, "Wait. Let's get back on track here." We don't need to blow up the room again." Someone to campaign for the allure of subtleness.
I wish someone would take this movie and redo the second half. Someone with the talents of Hitchcock or the person who did the first "Haunting" movie. It is too good a story to waste.