Friends of Fulham

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: The Equalizer on September 21, 2010, 06:49:11 PM

Title: NFR - Recommended TV Viewing
Post by: The Equalizer on September 21, 2010, 06:49:11 PM
A head's up to all you lucky people, particularly those who have read the book:

A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure to read a tome by Ken Follett called 'The Pillars of The Earth'. This epic book was recommended to me by a friend, so I went and read the back cover of it in Waterstones and proceeded not to buy it. It seemed entirely unappealing to me.

The precis goes:

"The Pillars of the Earth" tells the story of Philip, prior of Kingsbridge, a devout and resourceful monk driven to build the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has known; of Tom, the mason who becomes his architect - a man divided in his soul; of the beautiful, elusive Lady Aliena, haunted by a secret shame; and of a struggle between good and evil that will turn church against state, and brother against brother. A spellbinding epic tale of ambition, anarchy, and absolute power set against the sprawling medieval canvas of twelfth-century England, this is Ken Follett's historical masterpiece"

Simply put: not my cup of Darj.

So 4 years later, when I was lacking a good read and bit the bullet and bought it. I've never made a better decision.

Anyway, back to the point, if you've read the book, or if you're not too keen on reading, they have created a TV show. It's produced by the Brothers Scott (Ridders and Tone), and I must say that it is one of the most exceptional pieces of historical drama I've seen. Entirely compelling.

It's not on the box over here until some point this autumn. I just downloaded the whole series from PirateBay.

Keep your eyes peeled for Channel 4 this coming autumn.
Title: Re: NFR - Recommended TV Viewing
Post by: Peabody on September 21, 2010, 08:01:38 PM
Thanks for that, do you know whether it will be on terrestrial ?
Title: Re: NFR - Recommended TV Viewing
Post by: The Equalizer on September 21, 2010, 08:16:32 PM
Quote from: Peabody on September 21, 2010, 08:01:38 PM
Thanks for that, do you know whether it will be on terrestrial ?

Yep, Channel 4. It's got Ian McShane in it and Donald Sutherland. Very good cast.
Title: Re: NFR - Recommended TV Viewing
Post by: The Doctor on September 21, 2010, 08:40:25 PM
Cheers for the heads-up Eq.  As co-incidence would have it, I'm reading it at the moment.  The casting must have been a job and a half.  Hope they've found a prize bar steward to play William Hamleigh.  I'm racing through it in the hope that he gets his comeuppance!

Have you read the sequel?  I think its called World Without End.  Might grab a copy, but slightly suspicious as it has a bit to live up to.

As an aside, anyone who enjoyed "The Pillars of the Earth" might also enjoy "Sarum" and "London" by Edward Rutherford.  Similar sort of thing, but following whole families across generations and weaving the fictional narrative amongst historical events
Title: Re: NFR - Recommended TV Viewing
Post by: WhiteJC on September 21, 2010, 08:41:43 PM
both books very good
Title: Re: NFR - Recommended TV Viewing
Post by: FC Silver Fox on September 21, 2010, 08:52:57 PM
Thanks Eq. I'll look out for the book in the airport bookshop.
Title: Re: NFR - Recommended TV Viewing
Post by: Peabody on September 21, 2010, 09:03:02 PM
Matthew McFadden (Spooks) is Prior Phillip
Title: Re: NFR - Recommended TV Viewing
Post by: The Equalizer on September 26, 2010, 04:15:08 PM
Jon - I've read World Without End. It's probably as good as the first book. Ken Follett's writing another one at the moment.

One of the best things about the show is the casting. It's absolutely spot on with all characters. Matthew MacFadyen does a great job as Prior Phil. The blokey who plays Jack is haunting and very believable. Hayley Atwell is quite simply my new favourite woman in the world, and not just for her performance as Aliena... see below.

And Lovejoy - what a bastard.


(http://wearethequeens.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/48cdb3e56b002.jpg)
Title: Re: NFR - Recommended TV Viewing
Post by: fulhamwannabe on September 26, 2010, 04:20:58 PM
i read brown's "da vinci code" and "angels and demons",donald sutherland is one of my favourite actors,therefore i must like the book then,,,,,,,,,,,,thanks for that equaliser  :045:
Title: Re: NFR - Recommended TV Viewing
Post by: Lighthouse on September 26, 2010, 04:25:47 PM
Having read both books because of a recommendation by a friend of my Sisters one day and a day later, the same recommendation on here. I shall look forward to the tv when it comes on.

The two books are very 'soap opera' and not quite my cup of meths but I did finish them so I can imagine how the tv could be filmed.
Title: Re: NFR - Recommended TV Viewing
Post by: finnster01 on September 26, 2010, 04:29:51 PM
Quote from: The Equalizer on September 26, 2010, 04:15:08 PM
Jon - I've read World Without End. It's probably as good as the first book. Ken Follett's writing another one at the moment.

One of the best things about the show is the casting. It's absolutely spot on with all characters. Matthew MacFadyen does a great job as Prior Phil. The blokey who plays Jack is haunting and very believable. Hayley Atwell is quite simply my new favourite woman in the world, and not just for her performance as Aliena... see below.

And Lovejoy - what a bastard.


(http://wearethequeens.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/48cdb3e56b002.jpg)
Those books may be very good, but I doubt they are as good as those charlies.


Title: Re: NFR - Recommended TV Viewing
Post by: Peabody on September 26, 2010, 04:42:41 PM
I have read both books and because there is a span of several generations between them, they work as two separate stories. I prefer World without End.
Title: Re: NFR - Recommended TV Viewing
Post by: The Doctor on September 26, 2010, 05:45:18 PM
Cheers all.  I'll get myself a copy of "World Without End" as soon as I'm done with "Pillars".  Cannot wait for the series to begin - although they're going to have to have a major rewrite to give Aliena more scenes.  That lass is lovely  :004:
Title: Re: NFR - Recommended TV Viewing
Post by: os5889 on September 26, 2010, 06:01:03 PM
Quote from: finnster01 on September 26, 2010, 04:29:51 PM
Quote from: The Equalizer on September 26, 2010, 04:15:08 PM
Jon - I've read World Without End. It's probably as good as the first book. Ken Follett's writing another one at the moment.

One of the best things about the show is the casting. It's absolutely spot on with all characters. Matthew MacFadyen does a great job as Prior Phil. The blokey who plays Jack is haunting and very believable. Hayley Atwell is quite simply my new favourite woman in the world, and not just for her performance as Aliena... see below.

And Lovejoy - what a bastard.


(http://wearethequeens.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/48cdb3e56b002.jpg)
Those books may be very good, but I doubt they are as good as those charlies.


:005: :005: :005: :005:
Title: Re: NFR - Recommended TV Viewing
Post by: The Doctor on October 11, 2010, 10:08:49 AM
A quick update - Channel 4 have finally announced the schedule for the series.  The first episode will air this Saturday (16th Oct) at 9pm.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-pillars-of-the-earth/episode-guide/series-1/episode-1 (http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-pillars-of-the-earth/episode-guide/series-1/episode-1)

With any luck, it'll be repeated at some point during the week as some of us will probably still be in the pub at that time!

Eq, are all the episodes 2 hrs long or just the opening one?
Title: Re: NFR - Recommended TV Viewing
Post by: Logicalman on October 11, 2010, 10:32:31 AM
Thanks for the heads-up Eq, just found it on PB, pulling the 720 HD (3.9GB)  rather than the XVid (11GB) version though.
Title: Re: NFR - Recommended TV Viewing
Post by: The Equalizer on October 11, 2010, 01:17:43 PM
Quote from: The Doctor on October 11, 2010, 10:08:49 AM
A quick update - Channel 4 have finally announced the schedule for the series.  The first episode will air this Saturday (16th Oct) at 9pm.

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-pillars-of-the-earth/episode-guide/series-1/episode-1 (http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-pillars-of-the-earth/episode-guide/series-1/episode-1)

With any luck, it'll be repeated at some point during the week as some of us will probably still be in the pub at that time!

Eq, are all the episodes 2 hrs long or just the opening one?

I downloaded them as 8 x 1hr episodes, so I didn't get the benefit of a double-bill, I had the benefit of a quadruple-bill for two nights!
Title: Re: NFR - Recommended TV Viewing
Post by: Peabody on October 11, 2010, 06:43:24 PM
Would you believe  it, I am going on a weeks holiday for a week and will not only miss the Spurs game but also this as well. Luckily I have a Humax box, so will record it. I am looking forward to this programme.
Title: Re: NFR - Recommended TV Viewing
Post by: ron on October 12, 2010, 12:06:31 AM
"...... haunted by a secret shame; and of a struggle between good and evil that will turn church against state, and brother against brother. A spellbinding epic tale of ambition, anarchy, and absolute power........"

....sounds like an ordinary day at FIFA to me..... :dft008:

....but seriously it does sound interesting. I'll watch out for it.
Title: Re: NFR - Recommended TV Viewing
Post by: PaulUMD on October 12, 2010, 04:08:48 AM
The series ran on Starz in the States back in the summer.  It was phenomenal.  As previously said, the casting was great...don't forget Rufus Sewell as Tom, probably the best performance of many.  They keep the same actors even though many years pass during the story, so you just have to suspend any disbelief.  It didn't bother me, in fact I think I preferred that to new actors or ridiculous aging makeup.

Though for those of you who read the book first, be prepared for a bit of editing and skipping parts of to the storyline. 
Title: Re: NFR - Recommended TV Viewing
Post by: Logicalman on October 12, 2010, 11:02:12 AM
I mentioned this to the trouble last evening and lo and behold, she pointed to the book on our bookshelf!! Seems she bought it some time back but hasn't got down to reading it yet.

Dilemma - read the book or watch the series first  :002:  :023:  :dft005:
Title: Re: NFR - Recommended TV Viewing
Post by: fulhamwannabe on October 12, 2010, 11:16:20 AM
Quote from: PaulUMD on October 12, 2010, 04:08:48 AM
They keep the same actors even though many years pass during the story, so you just have to suspend any disbelief.  It didn't bother me, in fact I think I preferred that to new actors or ridiculous aging makeup.
...just like ff coppola did in "el padrino" the godfather i think!
Title: Re: NFR - Recommended TV Viewing
Post by: Lighthouse on October 12, 2010, 11:57:17 AM
Some of the smaller characters in the TV series have a larger slice of time than in the book. Also an ugly,boil ridden character has turned into a slight blemmish ridden but pretty enough one. The Book and the TV have to be looked at as two different beasts. The TV is at best only going to be the highlights of the book. So I will watch the TV and enjoy it. But will try not to compare it to the book. The book will always be better if I do.

A bit like Gormenghast when the BBC did it. Very good but not a patch on the book.
Title: Re: NFR - Recommended TV Viewing
Post by: The Equalizer on October 12, 2010, 12:40:04 PM
Quote from: Lighthouse on October 12, 2010, 11:57:17 AM
Some of the smaller characters in the TV series have a larger slice of time than in the book. Also an ugly,boil ridden character has turned into a slight blemmish ridden but pretty enough one. The Book and the TV have to be looked at as two different beasts. The TV is at best only going to be the highlights of the book. So I will watch the TV and enjoy it. But will try not to compare it to the book. The book will always be better if I do.

A bit like Gormenghast when the BBC did it. Very good but not a patch on the book.

Nailed. At the end of the day that have to squeeze an 1,200 page book that spans 60 years into 8 hours of viewing. I was quite disappointed that there wasn't all that much about the actual technicalities of building the cathedral. But I was hugely impressed with Hayley Atwell's talent.  :54: