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Post by Marty on Mar 2, 2013 14:16:57 GMT
With A Game of Thrones exciting our TV screens and The Hobbit romping along the cinema screens I wondered what other fantasy novel / series would translate well into film/TV? What would you like to see converted to the screen? What about those that already have been?
I know they've done TV series of (or at least of the first book of) Terry Goodkind's The Sword of Truth - called Legend of the Seeker - and (the first two books of) Ursula Le Guin's Legend of Earthsea. If you've seen either of these, what did you think of them? I know the latter was butchered to the ire of Le Guin.
Are there any other works of fantasy that have been translated that you'd like to discuss?
Personally, I'd love to see Trudi Canavan's Black Magician series on screen. I really enjoyed the books but, most importantly, I feel it could easily by transplanted to the screen.
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Pex
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Post by Pex on Mar 3, 2013 8:13:42 GMT
I really enjoyed A Game of Thrones series and The Hobbit: The Unexpected Journey as well. I watched some of Legend of the Seeker, probably last two thirds. I can't really say if they did the book any justice, since I haven't read the book, but I enjoyed the series - lots of action and lots of fun. I haven't read Legend of Earthsea either, but I kinda remember watching one episode of the show, a boy that does some magic and makes raiders fall of the cliff? Is that it? I don't remember enough about the series.
I haven't read Black Magician series, so I can't comment about it.
As for the books I would've liked brought on the screen, well, let's start with the obvious - RAS books. I believe a winning combination would be having TV series rather than movies, and having maybe one season per Trilogy. Why, well I believe that single book is to short for one season of series, since you'd expect at least 10 episodes, so one trilogy would be just fine and can be pushed to 15-20 episodes if required. At the same time, I don't believe RAS books are popular enough to go on the big screen. No one would take the risk with the box office, which means if it ever happened, it would be low budget attempt and you know what that means.
Another series I would like to see turned into a movies is Robin Hobb's books, but I do have to wonder how would that work with everything being written from the 1st person view.
I'll give it some more thoughts and see If I can think of something else.
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Post by Marty on Mar 3, 2013 23:21:38 GMT
RAS would be a good one to do as a series (or series of series!), as you say. To be honest, most of the books/series I can think of would be better suited to a series as opposed to film. So long as they have film-quality effects that is!
I was impressed with Discworld novels that were turned into live action mini-series: The Colour of Magic (technically The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic merged together), Hogfather and Going Postal. I'd love to see more of them done.
On a side note, they're apparently making a TV series called The Watch, based on the Ankh Morpork City Watch. Something to look forward to possibly.
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Lan
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Post by Lan on Mar 4, 2013 5:08:27 GMT
I greatly enjoyed The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings movies. Loved the books too. I've seen the Legend of the Seeker and read the Sword of Truth books and have to say I was not very impressed with what they did with the show. Ah, also Eragon by Christopher Paolini wasn't too bad when they made it into a movie, though it had poor accuracy in my opinion. I haven't read the Game of Thrones series, but I like the series so far. I've seen a couple Dungeons and Dragon movies, and some of the Dungeons and Dragons tv show, but I never really got into any of them, though Wrath of the Dragon God was pretty good.
I also think RAS would be a great series to do, but I think it would be difficult to find a black actor who could pass for an elf, and a white actor going black face doesn't seem like a great idea. That among other things I think would make it a bit difficult for the RAS books to make it to the silver screen, some mentioned already by Pex. I would be terrified if they tried doing a tv series of it though, after seeing the Seeker. I'm a little relieved though, they haven't been made into a movie though, in case the result was disappointing.
I've read the Fitz books by Robin Hobb and have to say that I think they could pull it off with a movie of those. I don't think anything about Elminster would make a good movie. Too much magic involved. The thought of a guy waggling his fingers and shouting gibberish on the big screen seems somewhat laughable.
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Post by Marty on Mar 4, 2013 12:59:42 GMT
The D&D movies were laughable, to be honest. Although I have to admit to liking the first (indeed, I have it on DVD). Bruce Payne's acting was some of the worst baddie acting I've ever seen!
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Pippadoc
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Post by Pippadoc on Mar 5, 2013 20:33:29 GMT
Definitely agree with the suggestions of Trudi Canavan's Black Magician Trilogy and the Fitz books by Robin Hobb.
I'd love to see The Banned and The Banished series by James Clemens be adapted. I think it'd only be likely as a TV series.
I also think a lot of Bernard Cornwell's work has potential to adapt well, probably as a TV series like Sharpe. I think The Warlord Chronicles is probably the best option (and my favourite series), I guess it's not really fantasy but then again the first season of A Game of Thrones could almost be a medieval setting rather than fantasy.
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Billy
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Post by Billy on Mar 8, 2013 9:54:12 GMT
I enjoyed all the fantasy books to films I've seen, including the two Dungeons and Dragons movies  What can I say, I like to be entertained. We also watched the cartoon version of the Dragonlance trilogy. That would be a good series, I think, but the cartoon wasn't so great. I'm loving the Game of Thrones series. I am really happy with how that has worked out. I have only read the Bernard Cornwall books that were about King Arthur and it was a while ago so I can't really remember them. I generally find that if I go to watch a movie I have read the book of previously then if I go with low expectations then I'm not disappointed. I was very nervous with LotR, but when it came out I was pleased. As for RAS books I agree they would make a good set of series, although I can't imagine anyone ever wanting to make the series.  |
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Marilynda
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Post by Marilynda on Mar 9, 2013 3:19:25 GMT
@flame I didn't realize any Discworld books had been done on film. Tell me more. I'd like to see them. Terry Pratchett has given me some of the best laughs of my entire reading career! I've even read some of his "young adult" books and enjoyed them. I was devastated when I heard about his Alzheimer's. Tragic.
Years and years ago a woman named Mary Stewart wrote a four part series about King Arthur. It has remained my favorite telling of that story and I would like to see it made into a series, although I would hate to see it badly done. She had a wonderful touch for making the magical seem "normal" and I liked her character development. Has anyone else heard of her?
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Post by Marty on Mar 9, 2013 12:27:00 GMT
They were actually done for TV as 4 hour mini-series (I think they were about 4 hours, at least with adverts).
They did Hogfather first (in 2006). It starred David Jason as Albert (Death's sidekick) and Marc Warren cast brilliantly as Teatime (he really nailed the part).
Next, they did Colour of Magic (technically CoM and Light Fantastic combined), in 2008. David Jason starred again, this time as the inept Rincewind. Sean Astin (Samwise from LOTR) played the part of Twoflower. Other notable actors were Christopher Lee as the voice of Death, Jeremy Irons as Vetinari and Tim Curry as Trymon (he wizard who keeps trying to assassinate the Archchancellor).
The last one they did was Going Postal (2010). Notable actors included David Suchet (Poirot) as Reacher Gilt, Charles Dance taking over the roll of Vetinari, and Andrew Sachs (Manuel from Fawlty Towers) as Tolliver Groat.
Terry Pratchett himself appeared in all three, doing the old Alfred Hitchcock "extra" bit.
All three were quite good and I'd recommend them to Discworld fans. Hopefully they'll do some more.
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wizbangentity
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Post by wizbangentity on Mar 9, 2013 20:07:54 GMT
I'm more into Marvel and DC story lines. The one I'd most like to see in movie form is ''Retrun of the Dark Knight'' In this story line all the super hero's have been forced into retirement and society is tearing it's self apart. Bruce Wayne is an old grey haired man, but still in great shape and he eventually returns as the Batman. He's later joined by a young girl who becomes the new Robin and she makes a pretty damn good Robin.
The Joker actually gets killed in this story but not before killing hundreds of people first. The Green Arrow character has lost an arm because of something that happened between him and Superman, so he joins Batman because he knows that Batman and Superman are going to end up going at it. Superman gets involved and Batman, Robin and the Green Arrow team up to kick the crap out of Superman It's a great story!
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Post by Marty on Mar 9, 2013 22:13:42 GMT
*sigh*
And which fantasy book or series of books is that supposed to be from, wiz? This topic is about these being turned into film/tv series, or about those that already have, not stuff made up on the hop.
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Pex
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Post by Pex on Mar 10, 2013 1:52:11 GMT
They were actually done for TV as 4 hour mini-series (I think they were about 4 hours, at least with adverts). They did Hogfather first (in 2006). It starred David Jason as Albert (Death's sidekick) and Marc Warren cast brilliantly as Teatime (he really nailed the part). Next, they did Colour of Magic (technically CoM and Light Fantastic combined), in 2008. David Jason starred again, this time as the inept Rincewind. Sean Astin (Samwise from LOTR) played the part of Twoflower. Other notable actors were Christopher Lee as the voice of Death, Jeremy Irons as Vetinari and Tim Curry as Trymon (he wizard who keeps trying to assassinate the Archchancellor). The last one they did was Going Postal (2010). Notable actors included David Suchet (Poirot) as Reacher Gilt, Charles Dance taking over the roll of Vetinari, and Andrew Sachs (Manuel from Fawlty Towers) as Tolliver Groat. Terry Pratchett himself appeared in all three, doing the old Alfred Hitchcock "extra" bit. All three were quite good and I'd recommend them to Discworld fans. Hopefully they'll do some more. Are you sure David Jason was Albert? I should probably google it, but I'm too lazy  On another note, Marc Warren reminded me too much of Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka, only a murderous version. I think Billy pointed it out first and I totally agreed. Tim Curry always does great comedy villains, imo and I liked the whole movie very much.
As for Going Postal, I had trouble with David Suchet in the role of Gilt - I can't help thinking of him as anyone else but Poirot. I don't have same issues with David Jason, on the other hand. Charles Dance is always great (I love him as Tywin Lannister). Another great movie all in all. Although I haven't read a single Terry Pratchett book, I liked all those shows. |
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Billy
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Post by Billy on Mar 10, 2013 9:57:33 GMT
But I don't think we saw Colour of Magic, did we?
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Pex
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Post by Pex on Mar 11, 2013 8:57:16 GMT
Yes we did. Remember Sean Austin as a tourist and that chest following him around? Tim Curry was assassinating other magicians and taking their shoes, hats, cloaks? Little worlds (on back of turtles) hatching in the end?
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Billy
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Post by Billy on Mar 13, 2013 23:16:18 GMT
Oh yeah, I remember.  |
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me!"
What can I say, I like to be entertained. We also watched the cartoon version of the Dragonlance trilogy. That would be a good series, I think, but the cartoon wasn't so great. I'm loving the Game of Thrones series. I am really happy with how that has worked out. I have only read the Bernard Cornwall books that were about King Arthur and it was a while ago so I can't really remember them. I generally find that if I go to watch a movie I have read the book of previously then if I go with low expectations then I'm not disappointed. I was very nervous with LotR, but when it came out I was pleased. As for RAS books I agree they would make a good set of series, although I can't imagine anyone ever wanting to make the series. 
On another note, Marc Warren reminded me too much of Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka, only a murderous version. I think Billy pointed it out first and I totally agreed.