Pillars of the Earth

[Sky]

Anyone else going to watch this? My fiancee is a historical fiction buff and is really looking forward to it. I am too, once she mentioned Ian McShane is involved.

Then she sent me an article about it today...it's on Starz, which we don't get, she neglected to tell me that. I'll leave off the Time-Warner rant on why we don't get Encore, Starz or Cinemax. She's not going to be happy, but I know a few people here are McShane fans and might be interested in this mini series.

[HaemishM]

I had planned on putting it on the Tivo.

[JWIV]

Directv seems to be getting an early preview of the first two episodes, so I have it recording now.  I really enjoyed the series, so I'm looking forward to it.

[dd0029]

If it's on Starz, I would imagine they will do the same thing they did with their other series and Netflix.  For Spartacus and Party Down, the new episodes go up on Watch Instantly about an hour after they air.

[Tarami]

Nothing? Come on guys, this was good. It's not Deadwood but certainly worthwhile. Aliena and Jack were annoying as fuck but they were that in the book aswell.

[Ard]

Yeah, the first two are on netflix now.  It's on my "too watch as soon as I get time" list, but I haven't gotten to it yet.

[Bandit]

HBO Canada has picked it up.  I watched the first episode.  My first thought was a lower-budget "Tudors" with more swordplay.  Acting was a mixed-bag, Donald Sutherland commands respect for any role he takes on (with the exception of a HORRIBLE fight scene), but some of the minor actors were noticeably shitty. It was just good enough for me to watch a few more episodes - more of a wait-and-see situation.

[Mrbloodworth]

What a great show, watched all three last night. The pace of this thing is break neck!

[Sky]

I'm enjoying it, but the fiancee keeps talking about all the stuff from the book that didn't make it. Different medium necessitates different interpretation, whatever. I do wish they'd spend more time on Tom's building ideas, but I'm a stone whore.

[Xanthippe]

I've been watching The Tudors, and then saw this on Netflix as well, so got the first two episodes (I guess the third came out?).  Watched the first episode.  I sure am glad that I read the book, because it's damned dense, and I would not have a clue about what was going on.

[Aez]

I'll finish it but the acting is way too corny. 

[Samwise]

Started watching this on Netflix.  It is dense as hell (I haven't read the book), but I think I like that about it.  Lots of stuff happening and the intertwining relationships of the different characters don't feel contrived.  I do wish the bad guys weren't all such despicable bastards; I prefer a few more shades of gray in my villains.

[Sky]

My favorite actress is the lady who killed her husband and fucks her son. She's such a counterpart to McShane.

Fiancee is enjoying it despite having read the book (you know "I wish they had expounded on this or that"). She gets mad at me though, she was saying how she liked the (rushed) bit about buying the wool futures, and I said 'yeah, that shit just led to goldman sachs fucking our pensions'. 

[Threash]

My favorite actress is the lady who killed her husband and fucks her son. She's such a counterpart to McShane.

I love how she tried to give the priest a handjob when he told her that they weren't partners, she served him.

[Sky]

I was sad to see her kill off her husband, the three of them (the son being the 3rd) in the same scene was always hilarious, the husband's only reason for existence being his name. So medieval.

[Mrbloodworth]

  

[Sky]

Yeah, I think they kind of underplayed how serious that was. But they've also overplayed how much of a douche Tom's older son is, I hate when they just keep throwing that at you without adding some shades of grey.

[Tarami]

Yeah, this was a humbling experience past my initial assessment. What absolute horseshit this series turned into. Fuck. There's no obscenity vile enough to express my disappointment.

[Samwise]

It's not as good as it started out, but I'm still enjoying it.  There are only two or three more episodes, right?

[Threash]

It's not as good as it started out, but I'm still enjoying it.  There are only two or three more episodes, right?

No it ended last night.  Are we to assume Alienas brother, who fought against Maud, killed her brother, and carried out the deception with the kid is going to keep his title and his castle now that her son is in power? I doubt that guy would get to keep his head.

[Samwise]

Ah, Netflix is slightly behind -- I only just saw episode 6.       I shouldn't get too excited about the next couple of episodes, then?

[Tarami]

Let's just say you can stop halfway through the double-episode finale (i.e. effectively skip the entire last episode.) No ending is better than that ending. Just think up the most schlocky, weak, feelgood ending you can and save yourself the time.

Worse is, I'm now afraid of re-reading the book, because it was a long time ago and if it's actually like this, I might very well ruin the good memory I have of it.

[Mrbloodworth]

I thought it was a good ending. I was quite happy to see those that got it in the end, get it.

[Samwise]

LOL, yeah, that was pretty schlocky.  But it was satisfying to have a happy ending after the world of shit that every protagonist had to wade through to get there.

[Strazos]

That's actually a line from the book. Having watched the first two episodes, I can see how they're going to save lots of time (the book takes place over 40 years or so). They changed some things up, but they held very true to the book in other parts, so I'll live. Even really small lines or details they seemed to pick up on, which I am a fan of.

The acting is not top-notch, and some of the changes are a bit lulz (Regan actually attractive besides the marks on her face? lol), but it's a hell of a lot better than a lot of other adaptations.

[shiznitz]

I read the book in 1998ish and my wife just finished it.  She kept pointing out the disparities but I thought it was well done.  I liked the casting, for the most part.

[WayAbvPar]

I have this in my Netflix instant viewing queue. I have heard varying reviews on it, including one that made it sound like The Tudors (which was just a period soap/soft core porn) was a better bet. Is it worth my precious time?

[Tarami]

I think Tudors is pretty ridiculous (soap/softcore porn is a pretty correct assessment) but it's still better than Pillars of the Earth. PotE is just plain ridiculous and without the porn.

[Sky]

There were some moments, but it wasn't worth watching imo.

Tudors was better, but not in the same league as Deadwood. Tudors got really stupid in the last season when the douchey guy playing Henry refused to put on weight or wear a fat suit, so he showed Henry's age with a slight limp and some stupid gruff way of talking. Worst actor in the entire series, with Anne Boleyn probably the second worst (but at least she was nekkid a lot). We were hoping for a spin off with Mary (who was great), or even one about Brandon (who had solid character growth unlike Henry). Great supporting cast, mediocre dialog, great costuming and sets.

[Mrbloodworth]

I'm about to disown you guys. 

This series was great. So was Tutors.

[shiznitz]

I missed the Tudors S4 is out on Netflix. Added!

[Sky]

I'm about to disown you guys. 

This series was great. So was Tutors.

Did we really learn anything, though?

[Mrbloodworth]

I'm about to disown you guys. 

This series was great. So was Tutors.

Did we really learn anything, though?

Is that a requirement?

[Tebonas]

Well, if not the Tutors sort of failed! 

[Chimpy]

Ahhh thank you Bloodworth for your uncanny ability to not get jokes on you.