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Game of Thrones - Season 2 - George RR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire - Sundays on HBO
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Nizz
Member
Most of the snobbery I've seen is related to his prose, although I think his relatively poor prose almost makes his worlds more visceral, and more real than novel's that are more skillfully written.
And a Game of Thrones is pretty much low fantasy.
I don't really think ASOIAF has poor prose at all. The prose is actually quite stunning in certain sections, and you can tell that those are the sections he spent the most time working on. It's just that there are certain chapters where you can tell he churned out one draft and called it a wrap.
If you want to see poor prose, read The Hunger Games series.
If you want to see poor prose, read The Hunger Games series.
Hari Seldon
Member
I love LOTR and ASOIAF. The goals for both novels are entirely different. Tolkien set out to create a world for his languages to exist in, and based it around ancient fairy tales. It has the fairy tale vibe to it. So it isn't going to have modern day character tropes in it, it is going to have fairy tale character tropes.
Martin set out to create a fantasy setting based on the reality of the time period around the medieval period. That is a much different goal than creating a fairy tale setting. The characters are more real, because he is not trying to create fairy tale characters.
You may prefer one to the other, I definitely like both. I will say Martin's work stands out because we have had decades of Tolkien imitators and no one who has really tried to do what Martin has done. I will also say that it takes a master writer to do what Tolkien did, and very few have come close. CS Lewis, the dude who wrote The Long Ships, maybe some others, but not many.
Martin set out to create a fantasy setting based on the reality of the time period around the medieval period. That is a much different goal than creating a fairy tale setting. The characters are more real, because he is not trying to create fairy tale characters.
You may prefer one to the other, I definitely like both. I will say Martin's work stands out because we have had decades of Tolkien imitators and no one who has really tried to do what Martin has done. I will also say that it takes a master writer to do what Tolkien did, and very few have come close. CS Lewis, the dude who wrote The Long Ships, maybe some others, but not many.
I'm definitely happy that there are no orcs or elves in the series. Tolkien did those races very well, and the imitators just don't stack up.
Blizzard and Bethesda can get away with ripping off the setting since they're creating videogames, but fiction writers should strive to do something different.
Blizzard and Bethesda can get away with ripping off the setting since they're creating videogames, but fiction writers should strive to do something different.
Cornballer
Member
- Vancouver Sun: Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin enthralled by the TV series magic *spoilers*
I just finished watching all three parts and there are some spoilers from later books but mostly about whether or not certain characters are still around in later books. There was what I think might be a major spoiler from ASoS but I quickly hit mute and didn't listen to it so I'm not sure. I stopped right before he started reading the chapter from TWoW. I kinda want to check out the three writers he mentioned that he liked since I don't usually read a lot; Daniel Abraham, Patrick Rothfuss and Joe Abercrombie.
It was also fun to hear his thoughts on the Marvel movies and how he thought Thor and Spidey 3 both sucked but he liked Spidey 1/2, Cap and Iron Man 1/2 and that he was really looking forward to the Avengers. It was funny that he was upset Ant Man and the Wasp weren't in it.
BenjaminBirdie
Banned
Joe Abercrombie? More like GO Abercrombie!! You won't be disappointed.
Did you ever finish ASOS, BenjaminBirdie?
Joe Abercrombie's The First Law trilogy is a really good, fun read. The other authors are worth checking out too.
Daniel Abraham is still the best out of these three. (Though I don't really care for The Dragon's Path...)
BenjaminBirdie
Banned
From that GRRM interview, Neil Marshall will be directing the final episode.
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"The Descent" is probably one of my favorite horror movies of the past decade, so it'll be interesting to see what a director with a background in horror does with GoT. Hopefully brings that same Peter Jackson magic.
Hopefully he does the Battle of Blackwater justice
"The Descent" is probably one of my favorite horror movies of the past decade, so it'll be interesting to see what a director with a background in horror does with GoT. Hopefully brings that same Peter Jackson magic.
Of everything I'm interested in this season, most of all I want to see how they handle the battle scenes in it. It's going to be a good litmus test to see how the rest of the series can possibly handle it, considering budgetary restrictions. Battles keep getting bigger and bigger in the series, so this is going to be very illuminating indeed. I'm skeptical.
inb4 Socreges "omfg you spoiled that there are BATTLES, asshole!"
inb4 Socreges "omfg you spoiled that there are BATTLES, asshole!"
bengraven
Member
That's actually going to be episode 9.
Battersea Power Station
Member
This is kind of an off-topic flashback to the season 1 thread, on this page:
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=426820&page=84
There was a short discussion on the sword-fighting choreography used in the show and I don't think I was able to explain why it wasn't satisfying to me. I just came across this great video, though, about Star Wars battles:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=J0mUVY9fLlw
It does a great job of showing how movies get it wrong.
A couple of points though:
1. That Darth Maul fight is probably an extreme example, but a lot of those "techniques" are common throughout all movie fights.
2. Like I said in the S1 thread, this is just a tiny nit-pick, and I'm only bringing it up because it stands out to me among the great production values of the show.
It doesn't decrease my enjoyment of GoT and I'm not hating on it or anyone involved. I'm just posting the video for those curious about what exactly is fishy about movie sword fighting.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=426820&page=84
There was a short discussion on the sword-fighting choreography used in the show and I don't think I was able to explain why it wasn't satisfying to me. I just came across this great video, though, about Star Wars battles:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=J0mUVY9fLlw
It does a great job of showing how movies get it wrong.
A couple of points though:
1. That Darth Maul fight is probably an extreme example, but a lot of those "techniques" are common throughout all movie fights.
2. Like I said in the S1 thread, this is just a tiny nit-pick, and I'm only bringing it up because it stands out to me among the great production values of the show.
It doesn't decrease my enjoyment of GoT and I'm not hating on it or anyone involved. I'm just posting the video for those curious about what exactly is fishy about movie sword fighting.
Cornballer
Member
- "You Win or You Die" special from HBO (22 minutes, youtube)
This is the special that is going to air on HBO this Sunday.
This is the special that is going to air on HBO this Sunday.
Pai Pai Master
Banned
I've got DirecTV, if I sign up for HBO now I can cancel it as soon as this season is over, right?
Cornballer
Member
I don't think that's a problem. Ask them if they'll give you free HBO for a while. DirecTV sometimes has good offers, and you might be able to get a few months.
Cornballer
Member
- Irish Indepedent: Liam saddles up for fantasy role
- WSJ Review: The Games People Play (combo Mad Men / GoT review)
- WSJ Review: The Games People Play (combo Mad Men / GoT review)
I am pretty much at the same point. Got the first 4 books at Christmas.
Part of me wishes that I hadn't read the books yet because of the tv show. I think watching season 1 without knowing anything added an extra layer of excitement the book readers missed out on. Of course after reading book 1 I couldn't stop reading and I wasn't going to wait 5 years.
pr0cs
Member
I don't know, AFFC:ADWD:
Blackwater is probably one of the biggest besides what happens later in book 4/5 and the war with Mance at the wall, that is assuming the TV series even gets that far, I still think Blackwater is a bigger battle than the battle at the wall due to the pyro special effects
HBO, Showtime, etc. is typically billed month to month unless you commit to a longer deal.. which may lower the price although it's hard to say. Some folks were mentioning at least one provider offering 3 free months of HBO or something right now. I signed up in advance of GOT Season 1 and they've kept me hooked since I got both HBO and Showtime as well for $20 a month.
Cornballer
Member
The No Book Spoilers version of the thread is up. Please be good GAFfers and read the rules before you post over there. It's not a relevant thread for most of the people that are posting here, but I did want to inform a few of the non-book readers that were asking for a thread. Thanks for your help.
My two fave shows on television right now. Good read, thanks.
Cornballer
Member
A few tidbits from James Hibberd on the screeners:
EW said:
Captain Blood
Member
The wait for this show is rough.... Seven Devils just pops in my head randomly throughout the day.
Cornballer
Member
Lactose_Intolerant
Member
This is funny and true. THe problem is that half the time people are actors, not sword fighters.
Cornballer
Member
Anton Sugar
Member
Liam is such a baws.
Also, Melisandre is played by Carice van Houten, who co-starred with Sean Bean in the medieval horror film, Black Death (one of my favs!).
Also, Melisandre is played by Carice van Houten, who co-starred with Sean Bean in the medieval horror film, Black Death (one of my favs!).
PhoenixDark
Banned
WAT
It's OK, he already knows the trick to get food.
The Elite
BOSS
Yup. Pretty much what I was thinking.
pr0cs
Member
To be honest he closest matches the mental image I had of Davos when I was reading the books. Uncanny really.
BannedEpisode
Member
Mmmmm Ygritte....
The Elite
BOSS
She looks pretty much like I imagined she would.
The Lamonster
Member
Huh?
Funky Papa
FUNK-Y-PPA-4
Of all the crazy shit Game of Thrones has pulled so far, Margaery's dress has to be the most deranged.
Cornballer
Member
I mean it is big, but <Season 3/Season 4 possible spoilers>
The Battle at the Wall is just ridiculous. It has all sorts of mythical creatures, giants, mammoths, shadowcats, walruses, just a huge number of people, the stairs on the walls collapsing.
Blackwater with any fidelity, then there is no hope for that battle
Cornballer
Member
A few more photos via WiC.net:
BannedEpisode
Member
Lactose_Intolerant
Member
Lord Commander Mormont looks twice as big as everyone with his coat and armor on. Everyone else is wearing raggedy clothing.
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