HBOs Game of Thrones Teaser and Featurette
By
Comeuppance,
Posted on: 2010-09-13 07:26 in Comic and Hero-Villain Culture
We cut off HBO to save a few bucks (and because a few of its shows were irritating). However, this makes me think that I may want to turn it on again. I have loved the book series, and the only way it could be done on screen is with an HBO-type series -- it is far too complex for a movie and too adult for broadcast TV. The casting looks good, and seeing Martin (who has a lot of experience in film and TV) so happy with it makes me pretty hopeful that it will be done right.
I also keep wondering when Dance with Dragons will finally get published. I didn't read the series until a few months ago, but I want more, dammit!
LOCAL MAN! The most famous hero of all. There are more newspaper stories about me than anyone else. "Local Man wins Medal of Honor." "Local Man opens Animal Shelter." "Local Man Charged with..." (Um, forget about that one.)
Guide Links: Earth/Rad Guide, Illusion/Rad Guide, Electric Control
I enjoyed reading the series, here's to hoping this adaptation is at least as good.
I've actually never read the books, but this is making me want to check it out, or at least get the first book and read it before the TV show airs. 
Quote:
Don't.|
Originally Posted by Shadowrush
I've actually never read the books, but this is making me want to check it out, or at least get the first book and read it before the TV show airs.
|
Martin has choked on this series and it resides in limbo. I think it's because he's intimidated by all the attention he got, but whatever the reason, he has the yips big time.
The first book was pretty good.
The second book was probably the best Fantasy novel I've ever read.
The third was disappointing -- repetitive and boring, but some of that is in comparison to the excellence of the 2nd novel.
The fourth book was one of the single worst Fantasy novels I've ever read. The characters were caught in endless loops, the story was simply mired in quicksand, and -- this is the worst part -- it's actually only the first half of the fourth book. Apparently no one was able to tell Martin to rein it in, because it just goes on and on ad nauseum.
The second book is so obviously closely edited to pare it down to its base story -- especially when compared to 3 and 4 -- that it zips, it hums, it zings, it sings. The thing rocks and rolls and charges to the end of the book. Martin later mentioned that the second was too long and his editors made him streamline it. Apparently that editorial control went out the window with the follow-ups because they are sprawling, unfocused and unnecessarily wordy.
The creators of the TV series will very soon have to go beyond Martin's books in order to finish the story. Look at this: the 1st book was published in 1996, the 4th in 2005. He's supposedly been "done" with the second half of book four for 3 years... yet it's still not out. I don't think Martin will live long enough to finish the series.
The Alt Alphabet ~ OPC: Other People's Characters ~ Terrific Screenshots of Cool ~ Superhero Fiction
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Ironik
Don't.
Martin has choked on this series and it resides in limbo. I think it's because he's intimidated by all the attention he got, but whatever the reason, he has the yips big time. The first book was pretty good. The second book was probably the best Fantasy novel I've ever read. The third was disappointing -- repetitive and boring, but some of that is in comparison to the excellence of the 2nd novel. The fourth book was one of the single worst Fantasy novels I've ever read. |
I'm extremely choosy when it comes to fantasy and I've liked them all so far.
He's suffered a bit of book bloat along the way (which seems to be an inevitability these days), but certainly didn't just go completely off the map with it like Robert Jordan, who by the time I gave up was averaging about 100 pages of actual story advancement in an 800 page book.
The Nethergoat Archive: all my memories, all my characters, all my thoughts on CoH...eventually.
My City Was Gone
Quote:
Almost completely disagree with this. |
Originally Posted by Ironik
Don't.
Martin has choked on this series and it resides in limbo. I think it's because he's intimidated by all the attention he got, but whatever the reason, he has the yips big time. The first book was pretty good. The second book was probably the best Fantasy novel I've ever read. The third was disappointing -- repetitive and boring, but some of that is in comparison to the excellence of the 2nd novel. The fourth book was one of the single worst Fantasy novels I've ever read. The characters were caught in endless loops, the story was simply mired in quicksand, and -- this is the worst part -- it's actually only the first half of the fourth book. Apparently no one was able to tell Martin to rein it in, because it just goes on and on ad nauseum. |
Shadow, the one thing I'd say; if you haven't read them yet and are interested in the TV show, I'd almost recommend that you simply enjoy the TV show then go back and read the books if you like them.
Global name: @k26dp
Quote:
Fine advice, and also has the benefit that by the time they wrap the show George may have circumnavigated his writer's block and finished the series (or at least the second half of this last volume...)|
Originally Posted by RosaQuartz
Shadow, the one thing I'd say; if you haven't read them yet and are interested in the TV show, I'd almost recommend that you simply enjoy the TV show then go back and read the books if you like them.
|
=P
The Nethergoat Archive: all my memories, all my characters, all my thoughts on CoH...eventually.
My City Was Gone
I just finished A Game of Thrones recently and I've started on A Clash of Kings. So far I'm loving these books.
It's funny, I always pictured Peter Dinklage playing Tyrion Lannister in my head, and when I saw that he was in fact going to portray Tyrion, my head exploded.
@Demobot
Also on Steam
Quote:
Well, he's 62, overweight and some have mentioned he has health problems, so... not a time for holding one's breath, I'd say. If he keels over tomorrow, there's probably enough for a 5th book, but there wouldn't be a proper end to the series.
|
Originally Posted by Nethergoat
Fine advice, and also has the benefit that by the time they wrap the show George may have circumnavigated his writer's block and finished the series (or at least the second half of this last volume...)
=P |
The Alt Alphabet ~ OPC: Other People's Characters ~ Terrific Screenshots of Cool ~ Superhero Fiction
I had the pleasure of sitting in at a writer's panel to which George R.R. Martin was a part. One of the things he said about how he writes a novel rang so true to me that when looking back on his works, makes a whole lot of sense when there are issues like some of the meanderings that happened in book 3 (though I'll agree it wasn't as bad as Jordan at all).
Basically, he said that there were two types of writers, one is like an architect. He lays out plans, designs blue prints, and makes adjustments prior to even laying his foundation and putting up walls. Others, like him, aren't planners, but planters. Throwing seeds out to land wherever they may and dealing with the weeds as they come. Sometimes you end up with some plants that choke out others, so you have to decide which to cut down later.
Basically, he doesn't plan out his books, or what happens to the characters, but lets the book come alive as he writes. That's a pretty difficult skill to master, and while he can be masterful, unless his editors take the hard line with him, it can be a bit irritating when its evident that he has no clue what he's doing. Especially when it comes down to continuing this particular series.
when i first heard about the series getting made, and after flipping through the Song of Fire and Ice RPG, i thought it was time to at least grab the first three books of the series and give them a read through. after getting through the first one and most of the second, i am looking a lot less forward to the miniseries, and might just give it a pass altogether. it's not that the writing is bad, it isn't. but dear gawds is A Game of Thrones just utterly gorram depressing. worse, far too many of the characters i like either get offed or they don't get enough 'screentime' to make up for having to put with characters i generally despise. it doesn't get much better in the second book, and after a while i just had to walk away.
i might go back and finish up the three i picked up eventually, but i dont know now if i really want to see what an onscreen adaptation of the series is going to be like.
Quote:
It's the new fad in modern fantasy, dark, gory and depressing. If you don't like it you should definatly NOT read the brilliant, dark, gory and depressing First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie or his even more brilliant, dark, gory and drepressing stand alone Best Served Cold. |
Originally Posted by Veritech
when i first heard about the series getting made, and after flipping through the Song of Fire and Ice RPG, i thought it was time to at least grab the first three books of the series and give them a read through. after getting through the first one and most of the second, i am looking a lot less forward to the miniseries, and might just give it a pass altogether. it's not that the writing is bad, it isn't. but dear gawds is A Game of Thrones just utterly gorram depressing. worse, far too many of the characters i like either get offed or they don't get enough 'screentime' to make up for having to put with characters i generally despise. it doesn't get much better in the second book, and after a while i just had to walk away.
i might go back and finish up the three i picked up eventually, but i dont know now if i really want to see what an onscreen adaptation of the series is going to be like. |
@True Metal
Co-leader of Callous Crew SG. Based on Union server.
Quote:
Well, I know what I'm going to read next. Thanks for the referral.|
Originally Posted by TrueMetal
It's the new fad in modern fantasy, dark, gory and depressing. If you don't like it you should definatly NOT read the brilliant, dark, gory and depressing First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie or his even more brilliant, dark, gory and drepressing stand alone Best Served Cold.
|
I really like Sean Bean as an actor so I'm disappointed at how much screen time he won't be getting if this series is a hit and continues for more seasons.
I'm more interested in the next book than the HBO series. Seriously, your fans have been waiting forever for it.
"They've got us surrounded again, the poor bastards." - General Creighton W. Abrams
HBO has released a new teaser trailer and a behind-the-scenes featurette for their upcoming fantasy series "Game of Thrones".
Here's a link where I embedded them both.
I don't normally post news on TV series on my site, but I do sometimes make exceptions. I'm really looking forward to this.