So, just before you doubt my opinion:
Frank Darabont wrote the screenplay to Shawshank Redemption and the Green Mile, and directed those films as well. They both kick some mighty fine ass.
Still, going in, I doubted this film. The trailer sucked all sorts of cock and I wasn't really buying brandonh83's claims of "one of the best of the year." Still, since I pretty much follow whatever the hell brandonh83 says, I went ahead and viewed it, with the added benefit of the girl going with us.
First of all, the movie is not only shot well, but paced amazingly as well. We don't see the crap in the mist until we need to see it. There are some amazing shots before we actually enter the grocery store where the majority of the film takes place. Plus, there's a bonus Dark Tower reference at the very beginning that might poke at the possibility that a Dark Tower movie series may be on its way.
Second of all, the acting, while not spectacular, was exactly what it needed to be. It was pretty realistic. There were some bad lines of dialogue, but they were in character for the people who said them. Cursing is all over the place in this film, but at the same time, if I was in a grocery store with crazy Christian fuckers and some multidimensional bugs and animals outside, I would be saying the same curse words over and over again as well.
By the way, speaking of the creatures and the Christian loonies, THIS FILM IS FUCKING PACED BRILLIANTLY. We end up seeing a lot of what is attacking the store, but at the same time, the revelation of these things are paced to where we don't really find out what they are until we need to. At the same time, and in reference to the Christian loonies, Darabont pays exquisite attention to detail whenever he is placing items for foreshadowing and, in some cases, to show how hypocritical these Christian loonies are.
Third, THE ENDING. It's an emotional trainwreck. I won't spoil anything, but evidently it's different than the novella, but at the same time, got a thumbs up from Stephen King. We know King's track record with taking liberties with his material: this was his main problem with Kubrick's The Shining. Needless to say, the ending is almost emotionally painful to watch after the events that lead up to it.
Worth a watch? Yes. One of the best of the year? Yes. Best of the year? Well, no, but it's in my top five right now, and surprisingly so at that. It's definitely worth watching.
I give it 4 1/2 stars out of 5, or a 9/10.
