My general apathy with A Song of Ice and Fire is probably one of the most puzzling things about me. How can I not like a fantasy series that's all about treachery, violence, betrayal, political machinations, battles and gritty realism? A lot of people promised I'd be hooked after A Game of Thrones, but for the life of me I can't get into it. Yet all the same... good golly am I looking forward to the upcoming series.
Entertainment Weekly has just-short-of-a-dozen pictures from the film. I'm deliberating over whether posting it over at Conan Movie Blog, since it's tangentially related as another Jason Momoa project, but he doesn't appear in the pictures. While there's no sign of Khal Momo, the contrast between these and the ones for "Conan" is utterly staggering. All the characters look great, the costumes have incredible verisimilitude, the sets are fantastic, even the quality of the film - it looks great. The only problems I've noticed from commentators are Daenerys' and Cersei's eyebrows not matching their hair. Man, if only my problems with the "Conan" film could be so trivial...
I normally try to refrain from silly base proclamations, but I'm going to say right now that A Game of Thrones is going to absolutely wipe the floor with "Conan." Hell, the fact that it actually features characters from the source material already has it won, anything else is just a bonus. Still, given the quality of previous HBO productions, the actors and crew, and compare that to the quality of previous Lionsgate productions, actors and crew... yeah, this is a bit of a one-horse race.
See this, Lionsgate? This is how you do a goddamn fantasy series. This is what "Conan" should be looking like, not a sub-Hercules: the Legendary Journeys riff.
Looks good to me.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree, all the hype surrounding Martin's books really left me sort of flat after reading the first one.. I still intend to read the series.. but I refuse steadfastly to pick up any more of them until the-mountain-that-writes gets finished with them.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I'm looking forward to the TV series.. and I hope that since it now gives him less than 4 years to finish "A Dance with Dragons" I might see it on shelves before I turn 30.
This program also gives an illustrative how to guide of re-using any odd bits laying around from other movies in order to cut down on your own costs.. though Legend of the Seeker did something similar with left overs from Eregon, Narnia and Lord of the Rings... It still sometimes managed to feel just as cheap and hokey as Hercules.. but I imagine that was more to having Ted Raimi in every other episode...
Count me as another fellow who just can't get into Martin's books. I have nothing against them, as such, but they certainly don't enthrall me. On the other hand, I might try to watch the series to see if it's any good.
ReplyDeleteLooks good to me.
ReplyDeleteMe too.
I have to agree, all the hype surrounding Martin's books really left me sort of flat after reading the first one.. I still intend to read the series.. but I refuse steadfastly to pick up any more of them until the-mountain-that-writes gets finished with them.
I get the vague impression Gregor's implied to be a Conan-ish sort of character - or rather, a caricature of Conan as "the damnedest bastard who ever lived." Of course, there are any number of historical characters he could be based on, too.
This program also gives an illustrative how to guide of re-using any odd bits laying around from other movies in order to cut down on your own costs.. though Legend of the Seeker did something similar with left overs from Eregon, Narnia and Lord of the Rings... It still sometimes managed to feel just as cheap and hokey as Hercules.. but I imagine that was more to having Ted Raimi in every other episode...
Why does Terry freaking Brooks get a tv adaptation before Howard? Moellan hardly counts.
Count me as another fellow who just can't get into Martin's books. I have nothing against them, as such, but they certainly don't enthrall me. On the other hand, I might try to watch the series to see if it's any good.
Huh, guess I'm not completely crazy. It's hard for me to articulate exactly what I find wrong with them, just that there are many legions of niggles that overwhelm and undermine, like the Worms of the Earth bringing down stately Roman architecture...
Terry Brooks was supposed to be getting two different movie adaptions, one for "Elfstones of Shannara" and one for "Magic Kingdom for sale--SOLD!". But according to what Brooks has posted on his website, due to the failure of movies like Golden Compass the studios have let the options lapse.
ReplyDeleteTerry Goodkind got the TV show, and it was really more than he deserved.
As for why they get a tv show and Howard doesn't... thats a good question but one I'm certainly ill equipped to answer..
I tried reading Martin's books and I thought the first one was basically alright - not outstanding but decent - but then I thought about my Wheel of Time loving college roommate and I just had to draw a line in the sand and commit to not reading sprawling fantasy series that aren't finished. Years later, I feel fully justified in my decision.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard for me to articulate exactly what I find wrong with them, just that there are many legions of niggles that overwhelm and undermine, like the Worms of the Earth bringing down stately Roman architecture...
ReplyDeleteI probably could articulate my dissatisfaction about the books, but I'm not sure it matters. Experience has taught me that Martin's books lie on a geekish fault line and exerting any effort to explain why they don't appeal to you is a sure way to summon his legions of devoted fans to try and convince you why you should like them, despite your prior judgment.
according to some people George R R Martin based his series on the war of the roses, Stark-York, Lannister-Lancaster, and the history of the Tudors, other people think is based on the historical fiction series by french Maurice Druon, The accursed kings, too
ReplyDeleteby the way what do you think about history oriented tv series like The Tudors or Rome?
Francisco
Terry Brooks was supposed to be getting two different movie adaptions, one for "Elfstones of Shannara" and one for "Magic Kingdom for sale--SOLD!". But according to what Brooks has posted on his website, due to the failure of movies like Golden Compass the studios have let the options lapse.
ReplyDeleteI guess the studios didn't realise that part of the reason Golden Compass failed was because it utterly gutted the story of any bite. While I find Pullman's rhetoric exceedingly tiresome at times, he has a great following for the books, and to water down the books of all the things that made them stand out in the first place is no better than what they did to The Last Airbender.
I tried reading Martin's books and I thought the first one was basically alright - not outstanding but decent - but then I thought about my Wheel of Time loving college roommate and I just had to draw a line in the sand and commit to not reading sprawling fantasy series that aren't finished. Years later, I feel fully justified in my decision.
I agree, it's getting a bit ridiculous now. He's gone from a book every two years (Game of Thrones to Clash of Kings to Storm of Sword) to every five (Storm of Swords to Feast for Crows). I'm not one of those guys who thinks an author "owes" me anything, but at the same time...
Still, I'm not as bothered about unfinished stories. Sure, I'm itching to know what Howard had in mind for Almuric and the Tombalku and Yaralet fragments, but it doesn't haunt me. Indeed, never finishing A Dream of Spring could result in fans making up their own ending to the story, which is at least as fun.
I probably could articulate my dissatisfaction about the books, but I'm not sure it matters. Experience has taught me that Martin's books lie on a geekish fault line and exerting any effort to explain why they don't appeal to you is a sure way to summon his legions of devoted fans to try and convince you why you should like them, despite your prior judgment.
Kinda like Howard fans, amirite? Eh? Eh?
Nah, I'm not so deluded as to think every right-thinking person in the universe must like Howard, though I admit disappointment and occassional anathema. Still, I see what you mean, some GRRM fans I've seen are rabid. I can sympathize.
according to some people George R R Martin based his series on the war of the roses, Stark-York, Lannister-Lancaster, and the history of the Tudors, other people think is based on the historical fiction series by french Maurice Druon, The accursed kings, too
The Stark-York Lannister-Lancaster thing leapt out at me immediately. Others come to mind: the Targaryens-Normans, Tyrion-Richard III, etc. Even the map is vaguely reminiscent of England on a continental scale: notice the wall is rather near where Hadrian's Wall would be on England?
by the way what do you think about history oriented tv series like The Tudors or Rome?
Haven't seen The Tudors. Rome I'm heavily ambivalent to: I love the stuff with Vorenus & Titus, but the political machinations get grating sometimes. I guess I only like political machinations when there's someone I can get behind.
The Tudors has been a surprising audience success in Spain, I have seen the first season and is cery interesting plenty of political and religious struggles, some people say the series about A song of ice and fire could be very similar to The Tudors, with Rome I'm opposite with you, Vorenus and Titus adventures are a bit boring for me but the political and historical figures are very interesting
ReplyDeletea question for the people here, are interesting enough, some mature or realistic fantasies, a bit like A song of ice and fire, like The first law by Joe Abercrombie, Prince of nothing by Scott R Bakker, Malaz by Steven Erikson or Drenai by David Gemmell?
Francisco