HBO to make George R.R. Martin' SoI&F into a series...

[Ranger REG]

*blink, blink*

So, just to be clear, you're suggesting that the Sci-Fi channel is too focused on science fiction? Its stated purpose is for sci-fi material.

Oh, really? :\

I didn't noticed that SCI-FI Original Mini-Series Legend of Earthsea is based on a sci-fi novel.

 

[RigaMortus2]

The children are a problem, since the actors will age much faster than the characters.

They can use CGI children

 

[Remus Lupin]

The Red Wedding

Well, I just got to this chapter last night. I knew it was coming though, but you're right it did scream "ambush" from the get go.

I have to admit, even knowing what was coming, it was shocking. I hadn't realized just how complete a betrayal it was until I reached the end of the chapter.

God I hate Walder Frey.

 

[IcedEarth81]

Martin shocks you with just how brutal his world is. He has often said that he wanted his readers to understand that he is playing for keeps, and he accomplishes that. I've never gotten the feeling that certain characters are safe, even though you figure Jon, Dany, Bran, Arya, etc aren't going to get it you still don't know. To me, this is one of the best parts of that series. When you pick up a book in this series you have to wonder who is going to live and die, and you don't really know. Not to throw stones at WoT but I've never had that feeling in those books. The one major character Jordan killed off didn't really die and will be back soon.

I'm kind of mixed in my feelings about this. On one hand I like this series so much I would really like to see it in live action format. It would be great to see some of these great moments like the Red Wedding, the Battle of Blackwater, the sack of Winterfell, etc. On the other hand it is going to be difficult. There are so many characters, so many houses, and so much going on which will make it tough on the audience. Also, the whole story is told from first person POV, in which one of the key elements is seeing the world through the various biased viewpoints. We initially see some characters as purely evil and later learn that not everything is as it seems and our initial judgement of them was because that was what the POV character saw and thought. I do hope it happens and if anyone can pull this off it is HBO, but I also have reservations as well. One thing I hope is that the SoIaF fanboys are more mature than the LoTR fanboys were and gives this thing a fair shot. So many of the true hardcore Tolkien fanatics didn't even give the movies a chance before blasting them. People are still bitching about no Tom in Fellowship.

 

[Remus Lupin]

I think the thing that upset me most (strangely) was Dacey Mormount's death. There's just something about the fact that she was out of her armor and dancing that just made the whole thing more horrible to me. Plus, it was her invitation to one of the Frey's to dance that started the whole denoument.

For a split second, I actually thought she'd escape, even though it was clear that everyone in the hall was doomed.

 

[Fast Learner]

Also, the whole story is told from first person POV, in which one of the key elements is seeing the world through the various biased viewpoints. We initially see some characters as purely evil and later learn that not everything is as it seems and our initial judgement of them was because that was what the POV character saw and thought.

Deadwood did a great job with this with the Al Swearengen character, who comes across as just entirely nasty for the entire first season, but who we see other sides of -- that he can even be good, despite remaining brutal -- in the second. Good precedent on HBO, and I certainly think it could work the same way with Martin's characters if written well.

 

[RaceBannon42]

Deadwood did a great job with this with the Al Swearengen character, who comes across as just entirely nasty for the entire first season, but who we see other sides of -- that he can even be good, despite remaining brutal -- in the second. Good precedent on HBO, and I certainly think it could work the same way with Martin's characters if written well.

Yep. I've even remarked to others that Al got the Jamie Lannister treatment.

As for the Martin Fanboys... The response at the ASOIAF board has been pretty positive. More than anything most of us are happy for George. Sure there are worries, but even if it turns out to suck, it won't diminsh the books in any way.

 

[IcedEarth81]

Sure there are worries, but even if it turns out to suck, it won't diminsh the books in any way.

I think that is what bothered me the most about the hardcore Tolkienites attitude toward the LoTR movies. Like 'em or dislike 'em, they didn't hurt Tolkien's books in way, form, or fashion, but rather they brought interest from people who had never read or heard of the books and renewed interest in those that hadn't read the work in years. Nearly 50 years after LoTR was published there was all this exposure and this feeling of newness. If this series does materialize it will bring some attention to Martin's work, and invariably some people will pick up the books that might not have otherwise.

 

[Ranger REG]

I think that is what bothered me the most about the hardcore Tolkienites attitude toward the LoTR movies. Like 'em or dislike 'em, they didn't hurt Tolkien's books in way, form, or fashion, but rather they brought interest from people who had never read or heard of the books and renewed interest in those that hadn't read the work in years. Nearly 50 years after LoTR was published there was all this exposure and this feeling of newness. If this series does materialize it will bring some attention to Martin's work, and invariably some people will pick up the books that might not have otherwise.

Still, it has to be done right to captivate the viewing audience as much as the literary audience. We're lucky that PJ did LOTR right, despite Tolkien Purists' criticisms. Had the Beatles done it, it would have about as disastrous as Bloodrayne.

 

[horacethegrey]

I think that is what bothered me the most about the hardcore Tolkienites attitude toward the LoTR movies. Like 'em or dislike 'em, they didn't hurt Tolkien's books in way, form, or fashion, but rather they brought interest from people who had never read or heard of the books and renewed interest in those that hadn't read the work in years. Nearly 50 years after LoTR was published there was all this exposure and this feeling of newness. If this series does materialize it will bring some attention to Martin's work, and invariably some people will pick up the books that might not have otherwise.

See, this is why I'm not a member of any messageboard devoted exclusively to all things Tolkien. In most cases you're bound to find a number Tolkien purists who hold the movies in contempt and worship the books as some sort of sacred text. And anytime you try to defend the movies to these people they just respond with so called intellectual arguments but are really just snobbery in disguise. It's bloody fanboy elitism at it's worst, and I hate that.

So, as for the concerns to whether the ASOIAF series will remain faithful to the books, I don't think fans need to worry. HBO has done daring progamming before, and are willing to do stuff that conventional TV would never even dream of doing. It's safe to say that they're the only ones capable of translating the brutality and harshness of Martin's world.