"The Shannara Chronicles" and "Colony"
Mishihari Lord
First Post
I saw the previews for Shanarra a few days ago and they looked pretty good ... but I just can't get excited about it. I enjoyed reading the Sword of Shannarra as a child when it first came out, but even as a teen, when I was much less picky about books than I am today, they seemed very blah, just the basic Tolkeinesque fantasy you find everywhere without any unique points to distinguish it. Hopefully the show does it a bit better.
Sacrosanct
Legend
The show isn't about the Sword of Shannara, but the next book, the Elfstones (which is one of the best of his books, IMO).
Istbor
Dances with Gnolls
I can see certain points for it being a bit like every other general fantasy story out there. It has it own unique flavors though too.
The way magic is handled for instance to me is very interesting. It is like a living thing, growing, changing, corrupting. The characters get a general high off of using it and that gnawing temptation to KEEP using it. Though, when the moment is past they are exhausted and drained. And in several books it demonstrates how the magic is evolving and some characters fear to use that power, not only because of how it makes them feel but because of unintended consequences as the magic takes up a life of its own.
They portrait that well enough and I will at least watch it.
That sort of thing is hinted at in a Tolkien story but not stressed the same I feel. And not as frequent.
The way magic is handled for instance to me is very interesting. It is like a living thing, growing, changing, corrupting. The characters get a general high off of using it and that gnawing temptation to KEEP using it. Though, when the moment is past they are exhausted and drained. And in several books it demonstrates how the magic is evolving and some characters fear to use that power, not only because of how it makes them feel but because of unintended consequences as the magic takes up a life of its own.
They portrait that well enough and I will at least watch it.
That sort of thing is hinted at in a Tolkien story but not stressed the same I feel. And not as frequent.
Ralif Redhammer
Legend
I'll be curious to check out the Shannara Chronicles. Hopefully it shows up on Hulu.
The books were not great, but I dug them back in the day. I can definitely see it being a good fit for MTV, oddly, with the focus on young protagonists. There’s no lack of source material, but the changes from generation to generation as the tales progress could be a problem, with having to re-sell new main characters again and again.
The books were not great, but I dug them back in the day. I can definitely see it being a good fit for MTV, oddly, with the focus on young protagonists. There’s no lack of source material, but the changes from generation to generation as the tales progress could be a problem, with having to re-sell new main characters again and again.
Ryujin
Legend
I'd have called it more CW than Netflix
Given that it's supposed to be, what, 31st century post-apocalypse stuff, the way they've imagined the world, I don't know that the clothing is all that outre. They already showed The Space Needle and a freighter as wrecks. I'll give it a shot.
Mark CMG
Creative Mountain Games
Regarding Shannara, I think they've done just what they intended to do and it couldn't have happened to a nicer IP. That is to say, they have a certain target audience at MTV (and associates) and this treatment might well be just the way to reach and keep them watching. It's tweeny and twilighty and all of the things that will get it clobbered in reviews by more serious fantasy fans. So, too, if they had to do this with a popular bit of IP from the past, choosing Shannara gets them both name recognition and a bit of Teflon coating since it was always said to be a Tolkien ripoff. No one is ever seriously going to say that a great, original movie or series could have been made from this work.
On a personal note, I only ever read the first book from the Terry Brooks Shannara "chronicles" so this series picks up right where it fits my own knowledge. While it isn't something I am going to sit and watch while glued to the screen, I am going to pop it on while doing other stuff (painting minis, making terrain, etc.) and will definitely enjoy the special effects and such. I'll be able to follow the story, such as it is, closely enough in this manner to get what little I want from it. The references so far hit me just right, since when I did read that first book it was many years ago when it first came out and the memories of it feel just hazy enough, as they would for the characters.
The acting isn't bad though I see a lot of backlash over the various accents. They don't really bother me. I was more taken aback by the treads on the boots. While I know this is meant to be in the future, a post-apocalyptic Earth of the 31st? Century, something about perfectly made boot treads just seemed jarring. I like the other costume stuff and setting work they've done. The CGI F/X flying creatures seem a little weak though the F/X work in scenes with the main villains and/or the druid were very enjoyable.
I hope it lasts at least a couple seasons. Maybe it will even get better.
That is to say, they have a certain target audience at MTV (and associates) and this treatment might well be just the way to reach and keep them watching. It's tweeny and twilighty and all of the things that will get it clobbered in reviews by more serious fantasy fans. So, too, if they had to do this with a popular bit of IP from the past, choosing Shannara gets them both name recognition and a bit of Teflon coating since it was always said to be a Tolkien ripoff. No one is ever seriously going to say that a great, original movie or series could have been made from this work.On a personal note, I only ever read the first book from the Terry Brooks Shannara "chronicles" so this series picks up right where it fits my own knowledge. While it isn't something I am going to sit and watch while glued to the screen, I am going to pop it on while doing other stuff (painting minis, making terrain, etc.) and will definitely enjoy the special effects and such. I'll be able to follow the story, such as it is, closely enough in this manner to get what little I want from it. The references so far hit me just right, since when I did read that first book it was many years ago when it first came out and the memories of it feel just hazy enough, as they would for the characters.
The acting isn't bad though I see a lot of backlash over the various accents. They don't really bother me. I was more taken aback by the treads on the boots. While I know this is meant to be in the future, a post-apocalyptic Earth of the 31st? Century, something about perfectly made boot treads just seemed jarring. I like the other costume stuff and setting work they've done. The CGI F/X flying creatures seem a little weak though the F/X work in scenes with the main villains and/or the druid were very enjoyable.
I hope it lasts at least a couple seasons. Maybe it will even get better.
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