"A Game of Thrones" Cast
HBO has released the cast list for their adaptation of George R.R. Martin's book, "A Game of Thrones." The amazing part is that I actually like all of the casting. Astounding.
If you've no idea what I'm on about, I envy you. That's because you've yet to read what is probably the single greatest piece of epic fantasy ever written. George R.R. Martin has written for for television, pulp mags, and other outlets dating back to the The Outer Limits. He is very possibly the most talented fiction writer ever to set pen to paper. After reading his books, you'll find it difficult to read any other author, at least within the field of fiction, as their faults in style, pacing, and characterization will be glaringly obvious.
Let me put this another way: I recommend Martin to people who've never read epic fantasy and have no interest in the genre, simply because he is that good at telling engrossing stories. I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of authors who are talented enough to have generated in me feelings of genuine hatred or love for a character; Martin is one of those authors, (Ken Follett is another who possesses this capability).
But possibly Martin's most endearing quality is that he's not formulaic. Happy endings are far from guaranteed. For example, he will (and frequently does) kill off major characters in the blink of an eye. There are no movie-esque "last minute rescues," and he doesn't shy away from writing exceedingly violent, brutal scenes that will make you wince. Consequently, his books have a very "real world" feeling to them, (again, his work is much like Follett in this capacity).
But enough of my gushing; if you've not read A Song of Ice and Fire, go pick up the first volume, "A Game of Thrones," either at your local bookseller or on Mobipocket. Enjoy.
To HBO: Do NOT fuck this up...
If you've no idea what I'm on about, I envy you. That's because you've yet to read what is probably the single greatest piece of epic fantasy ever written. George R.R. Martin has written for for television, pulp mags, and other outlets dating back to the The Outer Limits. He is very possibly the most talented fiction writer ever to set pen to paper. After reading his books, you'll find it difficult to read any other author, at least within the field of fiction, as their faults in style, pacing, and characterization will be glaringly obvious.
Let me put this another way: I recommend Martin to people who've never read epic fantasy and have no interest in the genre, simply because he is that good at telling engrossing stories. I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of authors who are talented enough to have generated in me feelings of genuine hatred or love for a character; Martin is one of those authors, (Ken Follett is another who possesses this capability).
But possibly Martin's most endearing quality is that he's not formulaic. Happy endings are far from guaranteed. For example, he will (and frequently does) kill off major characters in the blink of an eye. There are no movie-esque "last minute rescues," and he doesn't shy away from writing exceedingly violent, brutal scenes that will make you wince. Consequently, his books have a very "real world" feeling to them, (again, his work is much like Follett in this capacity).
But enough of my gushing; if you've not read A Song of Ice and Fire, go pick up the first volume, "A Game of Thrones," either at your local bookseller or on Mobipocket. Enjoy.
To HBO: Do NOT fuck this up...
posted by Jar(egg)head at 08:27
3 Comments:
This is the thing that has always puzzled me about Whorellywood. There are numerous fantastic books out there that would go well as a movie or a series of movies. I think LOTR has shown that people will go see a good story put to cellulose even over multiple films, yet they keep trotting out remakes and sequels to bad movies. Now don't get me wrong,I like a good explosion just like any other red blooded American should, but could you please squeeze a plausible storyline and believable characters behind them?
SciFi and Fantasy is more than just space age gadgets and flying dragons, the reason the original Star Wars and LOTR did so well is that the characters were so compelling. Use FX to enhance the story, not hide it.
Nothing puzzling about it, really; the majority of Hollywood's audience is the unlettered masses. A very high percentage of Americans never voluntarily read a book. Consequently, they don't know what a good story looks like. They think a movie based upon children's robot toys is "compelling."
That's one reason we have HBO: Deadwood, Rome, and now Martin's masterpiece. HBO films stuff that's far more interesting than what you see on the silver screen nowadays.
I'm voting for Zombieland for best picture of 2009.
It has deep pathos.
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