HBO's Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire)

[Brisco]

Originally Posted by bucksfan2

I am only about 150 pages into the first book and at least it has caught my attention. Now grated there are about 700 more pages to go so there is time for it to pick up.

I am having a couple of difficulties with the book so far. First of all there are so many characters being introduced to the book. I feel like I am constantly flipping back to the Appendix to see who is who. Secondly I don't like how the chapters start with the name of a character. It kind of throws me off. Its nothing major just start the chapter with a number.

Bucksfan:

You will realize that starting the Chapter with a character becomes more and more important as the story and series progress. Martin is a master at point of view/perspective writing so the character at the front lets you know whose perspective the events are being told from. Someone earlier mentioned that he did not know who to root for. That is the true genius of martin. Who you root for WILL change as you progress through the book. Some folks you truly despise at the beginning, you may end up truly loving and rooting for and vice versa.

He is also a horrible tease in that you will hit a point in a character's story line that is critical, and then not get back to it for a few chapters.

Brisco

[medford]

bucksfan, somewhere on this forum, there is almost the exact same disscussion b/w EC and myself regarding the confussing nature (and one I had with my wife as well). Seems like its a pretty common problem, but I think the pay off is having a large world of characters that are well developed. Give it another 200 pages and you'll have trouble picking your favorite.

[MikeThierry]

I actually read somewhere that if Rome was going to run for a third season, they would have extended the issues with Egypt out a bit more and go more into Octavian's reign as Emperor. There would be some good story lines there.

[Kingspoint]

Been watching "Game of Thrones". It's not bad. It's not great. Tolerable is about the best comment I can come up for it.

But, as far as STARZ' "Camelot", that absolutely was a waste of anyone's time and money who had anything to do with that production. I'd be ashamed and embarrassed to put it on my resume. The production is on par with any average soft-porn flick that you can see on the premium channels like HBO, Showtime, etc.

[MikeThierry]

Originally Posted by Kingspoint

Been watching "Game of Thrones". It's not bad. It's not great. Tolerable is about the best comment I can come up for it.

But, as far as STARZ' "Camelot", that absolutely was a waste of anyone's time and money who had anything to do with that production. I'd be ashamed and embarrassed to put it on my resume. The production is on par with any average soft-porn flick that you can see on the premium channels like HBO, Showtime, etc.

If you thought Camelot is average softcore porn, I would like to know your opinion about Spartacus: Blood and Sand. That show makes Camelot and Game of Thrones look like rated PG-13 shows.

[Kingspoint]

Originally Posted by MikeThierry

If you thought Camelot is average softcore porn, I would like to know your opinion about Spartacus: Blood and Sand. That show makes Camelot and Game of Thrones look like rated PG-13 shows.

Where I tried really hard to get through "Camelot" as I watched all of the episodes up through the last two where I fast-forwarded through both of them in hopes there would be something interesting, I couldn't even get through 30 minutes of "Spartacus", never even attempting to watch any more. "The Tudors" was equally as bad.

It's too bad because all of them had great stories to tell. What always bothers me the most is when too many of the actors look like they just stepped off of a beach in Miami or San Diego. All credibility is lost at that point. I did enjoy the series from STARZ, "Pillars of the Earth". They didn't have as many "beach babes" and "strip joint bouncers" on the show to ruin it's credibility, while they were extremely accurate in their historical context (I know they are supposed to follow the books, but I never read them, so I don't know how accurate the author is....I'm guessing the author was pretty accurate and as a result, the show was, too.), where historical information was available. Of course, they had the right to fill in what isn't known at this time, and they didn't go crazy with that freedom.

[MikeThierry]

I'm loving this show, esp. now they are getting into the military aspect of it which is up my ally.

[medford]

Originally Posted by Kingspoint

Where I tried really hard to get through "Camelot" as I watched all of the episodes up through the last two where I fast-forwarded through both of them in hopes there would be something interesting, I couldn't even get through 30 minutes of "Spartacus", never even attempting to watch any more. "The Tudors" was equally as bad.

It's too bad because all of them had great stories to tell. What always bothers me the most is when too many of the actors look like they just stepped off of a beach in Miami or San Diego. All credibility is lost at that point. I did enjoy the series from STARZ, "Pillars of the Earth". They didn't have as many "beach babes" and "strip joint bouncers" on the show to ruin it's credibility, while they were extremely accurate in their historical context (I know they are supposed to follow the books, but I never read them, so I don't know how accurate the author is....I'm guessing the author was pretty accurate and as a result, the show was, too.), where historical information was available. Of course, they had the right to fill in what isn't known at this time, and they didn't go crazy with that freedom.

I highly recommend reading Pillars of the Earth, if you've got the time. One of my favorite books; anytime you can get both Opera and George Bush to list a book amongst their favorite books, you have to figure its worth a read.

The series stayed pretty much along the line of the books, some small differences, but nothing huge or deal breaking so to speak. Naturally there's a lot more depth to the book in both the story and the characters. I assume its fairly accurate to the life/times of that period, though don't for sure. The cathederal that was built in the book/movie is completely fictional, so I'm not sure how much it matters anyways.

[Kingspoint]

Originally Posted by medford

I highly recommend reading Pillars of the Earth, if you've got the time. One of my favorite books; anytime you can get both Opera and George Bush to list a book amongst their favorite books, you have to figure its worth a read.

The series stayed pretty much along the line of the books, some small differences, but nothing huge or deal breaking so to speak. Naturally there's a lot more depth to the book in both the story and the characters. I assume its fairly accurate to the life/times of that period, though don't for sure. The cathederal that was built in the book/movie is completely fictional, so I'm not sure how much it matters anyways.

My girlfriend's dad has "Pillars of the Earth", so I'll borrow it this Summer.

[MikeThierry]

Wow... stuff just got real on the show.

[Kingspoint]

It's really getting better. Sorry to see them lose such a good actor from the series...unless he comes back as some ghost or something.

[cincyinco]

Did that really just happen?

[hebroncougar]

You'd better get used to it! Best books ever written!

[bucksfan2]

Originally Posted by hebroncougar

You'd better get used to it! Best books ever written!

I wouldn't go that far........... but they certainly are enjoyable.

I am almost done with "The Game of Thrones." I swear I need a cliff notes book right besides me to follow everything that is going on.

[medford]

Originally Posted by Kingspoint

It's really getting better. Sorry to see them lose such a good actor from the series...unless he comes back as some ghost or something.

I think I'm 5 episodes thru the show as we waited for my wife to read the first book before begining the show, then have been alternating "the killing" catching up on the 3 seasons prior of "Breaking Bad" prior to season 4, as well as getting thru our DVR'd shows from late April, so I'll only assume where you're at based upon reading the 1st book.

I haven't read book 2 yet, waiting to watch season 1 first, then jumping right into the 2nd book, but I get the sense that there wasn't much left for the guy in this situation going forward, his role had kind of played out, but the series is going to take on life thru 4-5 other main characters.

sucks being vague, but don't want to give anything away.