Katrina1968 Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 Donald Sutherland, one of my favorite historical actors is in this movie. I cant wait see it! Its to be in 8 installments. http://www.the-pillars-of-the-earth.tv/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather Posted July 9, 2010 Share Posted July 9, 2010 Donald Sutherland, one of my favorite historical actors is in this movie. I cant wait see it! Its to be in 8 installments. http://www.the-pillars-of-the-earth.tv/ Thanks for that info Iv'e read the book and loved it can't wait now to see it on channel 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueK Posted July 9, 2010 Share Posted July 9, 2010 Oh wow, I had no idea this had been filmed. I shall have to avidly watch the TV guides to see when it will be shown. Can't wait!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted July 9, 2010 Share Posted July 9, 2010 I've never read the books, but it looks rather good - excellent cast! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian Posted July 9, 2010 Share Posted July 9, 2010 Fantastic! Can't wait for this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidsmum Posted October 12, 2010 Share Posted October 12, 2010 Just a heads up that the series is starting on Saturday 9pm C4, I'll definitely be tuning in:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsa Orlong Posted October 13, 2010 Share Posted October 13, 2010 I watched the first five episodes but haven't been back to watch the rest yet - I thought it was a pretty poor adaptation of a somewhat overrated novel. I think my main problem with the mini-series is its pacing. It seems they were intent on rushing through the first two or three hundred pages of the book to get to what they considered 'the good stuff'. Unfortunately, that means that quite major events are brushed over, or happen with little explanation, or aren't shown at all, and characters' motivations have flown out the window to be replaced by jarring shifts in the story. The first episode is especially guilty of this. Characters travel here, there and everywhere, and make life-changing decisions that aren't explained at all. As a result, they seemed to me to talk at each other because the script required it, rather than talking to each other because of the feelings between them. Having read the book, it's difficult to say how this adaptation will come across to someone coming to it fresh. It could feel quite bewildering, I imagine. The timeline of the story has been significantly compressed to fit the mini-series format, which is understandable but I thought it threw up quite a few additional problems. For instance, Alfred was supposed to be about 14 at this stage but looks like he's at least ten years older than that. Jack is also much older than he should be at the start. For someone who hasn't read the novel that shouldn't be a problem, though. I don't think any of my issues with it are the actors' fault, or the production qualities, which are first class. It'll be interesting to see what other people think of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison10 Posted October 13, 2010 Share Posted October 13, 2010 I may try this, but I do need to read the books too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidsmum Posted October 17, 2010 Share Posted October 17, 2010 Well I stuck with this for about an hour & then had to turn it off it was so dire. I think they did a real hatchet job on the book & have to agree with Karsa that it would be very confusing to anyone who hadn't read the book you didn't get to know any of the characters very well & they just kind of threw the story at you. I was so dissapointed because I'd really been looking forward to watching it as I enjoyed the book so much needless to say I wont be tuning in next week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsa Orlong Posted October 18, 2010 Share Posted October 18, 2010 I didn't bother rewatching it, but have just been reading The Guardian's blog about it and a couple of parts amused me: This is a big, high-powered cast, dumped into a grotty, sparsely populated world. The court of King Stephen is not only tatty, it's half-empty, like the upstairs room of a pub on a Tuesday night. We also see Waleran immolating himself in the hope of suppressing sexual desire. Immolating himself?? Blimey, he came out of that well http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2010/oct/16/pillars-of-the-earth-episode-one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueK Posted October 18, 2010 Share Posted October 18, 2010 (edited) I watched this too and found it a bit soul-less really. It's got a jolly good cast but they all seemed to be "acting by numbers". When I saw Donald Sutherland still look quite pristine while lounging in a jail/dungeon - I felt a bit cheated. I might tune in to see the next episode - haven't decided yet. There are also some glaring inaccuracies, date-wise which I felt was a bit off. I much preferred the Cadfael series which takes place in the same period of history. Edited October 18, 2010 by SueK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Books do furnish a room Posted October 18, 2010 Share Posted October 18, 2010 I lost interest after about an hour and a half and went to bed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 I think if you haven't read the book, you would be utterly confused. I have read it, and even then I was a little bewildered! I think they tried to introduce too many charactors too quickly, so you didn't have time to develop much empathy with anyone. They have also chopped and changed the order of the story a little it seems. Perhaps it would have come across better if they had made it in more parts, so giving more time to concentrate on one charactor? But I guess that budgetary constraints these days mean that's not possible? Still, I have to say I wasn't initially looking forward to the idea of Ian McShane as Waleran. (he didn't fit the mental image I had built up from the book) but I thought he played the part really well. I will still watch next week, and hope the series is suffering from "first episode" syndrome. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison10 Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 I don't think I will be bothering with this series, I will just read the books when I can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 I'd be interested to see this, but Saturday nights are not a good viewing time for me as I'm usually down the pub! I'll await the inevitable DVD box set! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueK Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 Has anyone been following this series? I missed parts II and III so don't think I could re-join it now. Is it worth getting the DVD? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidsmum Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 Has anyone been following this series? I missed parts II and III so don't think I could re-join it now. Is it worth getting the DVD? In my opinion no, I'd save your money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsa Orlong Posted November 3, 2010 Share Posted November 3, 2010 Yes, I'd say if you want to see it try and rent it rather than buy it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GerryLuvzBookz Posted November 17, 2010 Share Posted November 17, 2010 (edited) Learned that one of my favorite novels PILLARS OF THE EARTH was adapted into a miniseries - looks incredible! Has anyone else seen this? Apparently the DVD releases next week 11/23. Thought I'd share, for any of my fellow Pillars fans out there. Edited November 18, 2010 by Chrissy merged with existing thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian Posted November 26, 2010 Share Posted November 26, 2010 Blimey, what happened?! Did the writers get to the last episode and realise that there was vast ammounts of the original story they hadn't used? So they just chucked it all in in any order they fancied and changed the ending a bit! Particularily didn't like William Hamleigh's hanging - Oh dear, my head just accidently just slipped into this noose! disappointing Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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