Pillars of the Earth: The Series

[realmenhatelife]

<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GSa6AhEWebA&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GSa6AhEWebA&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>

Coming to Starz in July. The trailer makes it look like it's a little more focused on the political story and actual historic events than the Kingsbridge story.

If you've never heard of it it basically follows one generation from youth to old age and explores all aspects of medieval life, the centerpiece being the building of a cathedral. It weaves fictional people and places in with real events like civil war and the murder of Thomas Beckett.

[dereckfishboy]

Never heard of it, but it sounds interesting. Just being attached to Starz seals it for me. Between "Party Down" and "Spartacus : Blood and Sand", Starz is really impressing me lately with their original series. I'll definitely give this one a shot as well.

[Furtherman]

Looks good... but..... no dragons. Booooo.

[StanUpshaw]

Was Spartacus any good? I skimmed the first episode and the digital blood and general 300-ness made it look retarded.

[Serpico1103]

Was Spartacus any good? I skimmed the first episode and the digital blood and general 300-ness made it look retarded.
I have been watching it. The effects ruin it. Too over the top for a series, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. Plus more perky tit slave girls than I have ever seen.

[StanUpshaw]

I have been watching it. The effects ruin it. Too over the top for a series, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. Plus more perky tit slave girls than I have ever seen.

That was another thing: Roman slave girls with fucking DD implants. There was so much that turned me off I couldn't even give it a chance.

[Serpico1103]

That was another thing: Roman slave girls with fucking DD implants. There was so much that turned me off I couldn't even give it a chance.
I did see one and it pulled me out of it. But lately they all have been tiny girls with FANTASTIC b/c cups.

[realmenhatelife]

They're changing the story in some wacky ways. Also seem to be using priest and monk interchangeably when they're two completely different things, especially at that time.

[Chimee]

I'm reading the book as I'm watching the show. So far, I am at the exact point where the first episode ended and I'm enjoying the book a lot more than the show. I'm going to have a lot of reading to do in order to keep up with the show.

I'm really not liking all of the changes they've made, especially with everything involving the baby.

[KnoxHarrington]

I picked up the book on my Kindle, I'll be starting it soon. It was only $6.95 in the Kindle edition, which is way cheaper than I've ever seen it in any other format.

[realmenhatelife]

I'm reading the book as I'm watching the show. So far, I am at the exact point where the first episode ended and I'm enjoying the book a lot more than the show. I'm going to have a lot of reading to do in order to keep up with the show.

I'm really not liking all of the changes they've made, especially with everything involving the baby.

The book is better but its so huge and unwieldy I wouldnt fault anyone who has trouble trying to get it into a visual format.

I did think it was funny that they turned Johnny Eightpence into the outlaw that hit Martha, but it makes me wonder if they're doing that to incorporate a little from the second book which describes outlaws, and how they live.

Maude is probably the more pleasant surprise for me. Shes barely in the book and it looks like theyll be developing her more as a character. You dont see anything in the book unless its from the perspective of one of the people who live in Kingsbridge.

I'm most disappointed in what theyre doing with Waleran, throwing in that religious flaggelation which is something he would never do. They make it a point to say he's completely political.

I realize why they left out the whole sequence in which Phillip comes to Kingsbridge and the ensuing election but I wish they hadn't, thats the first scene in the book I really enjoy and it goes a long way to making you like Phillip.

[CaptainBlowhole]

I hope they stay true to the book, which was awesome.

[Rockvillejoe]

I did think it was funny that they turned Johnny Eightpence into the outlaw that hit Martha, but it makes me wonder if they're doing that to incorporate a little from the second book which describes outlaws, and how they live.

It is inconsistent with his "nurturing" character. I guess they have so much plot to cover it's necessary to combine some things, but I spend half my time yelling at the TV, "That's not what happened!", and the other half of my time marvelling at the new plot twists.

For you who have not read the book, you have a fantastic source for a back story on all the characters. For example, how Ellen was raised in a male environment and how she learned her ways of the forest by hunting, drinking, and cursing like one of the boys until she hit puberty and the men looked at her differently, or how Alienna and her father had a very special bond by travelling all over the world prior to the kings death.

"Maude is probably the more pleasant surprise for me. Shes barely in the book and it looks like theyll be developing her more as a character. You dont see anything in the book unless its from the perspective of one of the people who live in Kingsbridge"

I disagree. She is a major plot driver. the incest angle is creepy and unnecessary. I see the guy who adapted the book, (also plays cuthbert whitehead), is a little creepy himself.

I'm most disappointed in what theyre doing with Waleran, throwing in that religious flaggelation which is something he would never do. They make it a point to say he's completely political.

once again, blame it on the screenwriter/adapation fellow. I agree. It's like they think they need to creep it up for ratings.

I realize why they left out the whole sequence in which Phillip comes to Kingsbridge and the ensuing election but I wish they hadn't, thats the first scene in the book I really enjoy and it goes a long way to making you like Phillip.[/QUOTE]

Philip is perfect, Maude is great but better looking than in the book. Percy is great, William Hamleigh is growing on me, but I expected somebody that looks like New Orleans Saints' Jeremy Shockey, not the Saints place kicker, Alienna has got the tits, but they should have gone for someone prettier like a young looking Emma Samms, Remigious is creepy enough, but too young, Tom Builder and Jack are fantastic, but Tom should have a longer beard, Martha is too old, Alfred is too smart, Otto Blackface looks like leslie west, a total mistake, and king steven has no french accent, not does he look like they way they characterized him in the book. And he has far far too much of a role in the TV adaptation.

On the plus side, my brother who has never read the book finds the TV story easy to follow and compelling. So those of us who think it would be too confusing are apparently mistaken. Perhaps its because we know the story and are haveing sensory overload when an event is shown.

It's very cool to see the story come alive. Kingsbridge looks fantastic as do the castles and quarry. A great TV event for me at least.

[realmenhatelife]

You're right about William Hamleigh, I always pictured him as a Jeremy Shockey.

Are you mixing up Queen Maude and Lady Hamleigh? The incest thing is so wacky and out of left field, but thats probably why they cast a much better looking actress for William's mother. You wouldn't let a repulsively ugly pox covered woman give you a handy in the bathtub.

The time compression is my biggest problem. I see how you need it because otherwise you need two actors for Jack, but its causing little problems here and there. Like what the hell was Johnny Eightpence climbing scaffolding holding baby Jonathan for? He's supposed to be a good nurse. Without the time compression Jonathan is a toddler and can climb it on his own. And Phillip decides he needs a market before he lures people to the building site to work for penance, when logically the market doesn't happen until people start showing up at the cathedral to work on holy days. Aliena becomes a succesful wooler like the weekend after her assualt, I think you're so happy for her success and the Kingsbridge market because they take so long to get going, and have so many obstacles.

I did not know Cuthbert was the guy who adapted it, wonder how he got the name Whitehead with all that black hair.

I do think the books ending will fit better into this format though, I always through the shift at the end of the book was a little jarring.

[CountryBob]

I cant get Al Swearagen out of my head when Ian McShane is on screen. "White CockSukka" - Mr. Woo....

[Rockvillejoe]

"You're right about William Hamleigh, I always pictured him as a Jeremy Shockey."

Are you mixing up Queen Maude and Lady Hamleigh?

I definitely am. My bad. Maude looked fantastic in her chain mail. By the way, i heard her speak on the "making of pillars", she sounds like she is from the USA.

"The incest thing is so wacky and out of left field, but thats probably why they cast a much better looking actress for William's mother. You wouldn't let a repulsively ugly pox covered woman give you a handy in the bathtub."

the whole thing is just weird and unnecessary. but in real life that is one good looking woman. they uglied her up big time for the role.

"The time compression is my biggest problem. I see how you need it because otherwise you need two actors for Jack, but its causing little problems here and there."

that's a great point.

" Like what the hell was Johnny Eightpence climbing scaffolding holding baby Jonathan for? once again, inconsistent with his character. "

i knows he's a bit retarded, but it just struck me as wrong too. and some of the more momentous scenes in the book, i.e. when the villagers appear en masse to help build the cathedral, did not get the proper amount of drama it deserved. I also was disappointed on how they almost glossed over Prior philip helping alienna out by buying her wool. the lack of a sense of urgency or possibly doom if he did not step in and save her was vacant. but, at least they included it in the story.


"I did not know Cuthbert was the guy who adapted it, wonder how he got the name Whitehead with all that black hair. "

once again, another great point! "poetic license" i presume.

"I do think the books ending will fit better into this format though, I always through the shift at the end of the book was a little jarring."

I'm sure the Scott brothers wanted to have a stronger tie-in with historical facts, hence the political "anarchy" storyline. i can't wait to see what they have in store next. it's almost like going to a live concert and getting a different version of a song. like an unplugged version of "the grunge song" by zeppelin.

I have read the book over the years 5 or 6 times, I am sure when the Pillars DVD comes out it will be put next to the godfathers/sopranos DVDs to be watched on a regular basis, despite its flaws.

[Rockvillejoe]

I cant get Al Swearagen out of my head when Ian McShane is on screen. "White CockSukka" - Mr. Woo....

that is hilarious. and prior philip was in "MI 5" now he's an 11th century monk

[extracheese]

Pillars of The Earth by Ken Follet, is one of the greatest novels
of the last 25 years.
I know nothing of the mini-series, and wouldnt defile the memory and experience
of reading the novel, by watching it.

Read the book.

[realmenhatelife]

Pillars of The Earth by Ken Follet, is one of the greatest novels
of the last 25 years.
I know nothing of the mini-series, and wouldnt defile the memory and experience
of reading the novel, by watching it.

Read the book.

I do both. I would certainly say its one of the most enjoyable novels I've ever read. What did you think of World Without End?

[extracheese]

Oddly enough, im afraid to read it. I know it can't live up to the original
and while its long, i just dont want to be dissapointed. So i have not yet read
"World without End".
Is it good?

[Chimee]

I think that Ian McShane is absolutely brilliant in the television series, but all of the departures from the book are really starting to annoy me, especially the stuff with Jack.

[realmenhatelife]

Oddly enough, im afraid to read it. I know it can't live up to the original
and while its long, i just dont want to be dissapointed. So i have not yet read
"World without End".
Is it good?

Well, its similarly structured. If you enjoy one I think you'd enjoy the other, but I connected more with the characters in Pillars. It's removed enough, taking place a few hundred years later, that it isn't exactly going to desecrate the original even if you dont like it. It has some of the same flaws, it does a thing or two better.

[realmenhatelife]

I think that Ian McShane is absolutely brilliant in the television series, but all of the departures from the book are really starting to annoy me, especially the stuff with Jack.

Its starting to form these big logic gaps. Like Jack had no reason to go with Philip, Regan Hamliegh gains nothing and actually risks the earldom by killing her husband

[Rockvillejoe]

Its starting to form these big logic gaps. Like Jack had no reason to go with Philip, Regan Hamliegh gains nothing and actually risks the earldom by killing her husband

I suggest that the gaps are not as wide open for the casual mini series viewer.

We who have read the book have an enormous amount of back story ingrained in our brains. As a result the suspension of disbelief is harder to achieve.

I am truly enjoying the mini series, the characters, (who have now been inserted in my memory banks as the actual characters in the book), and the new plot twists.

This ain't the bible. Have some fun with it. The book and movie can easily co-exist in my world.

World without end was in many ways better than the Pillars. Especially it's plot with the usual treachery, etc.. But no one beats William Hamleigh as the biggest piece of shit ever known to mankind. Sir Ralph was evil to be sure, but could not even hold Sir Williams' iron jock strap.

Caris is a more dykish Alienna, and Merthin is interchangeable with Jack. No difference. I get the stories mixed up. Did Jack go to middle east to bring back the weeping maddona or was that merthin?

Regardless, it's all compelling, fun, summer reading.

I do think Ian Mcshanes Walerian Bigod is more ruthless than the books' version. His actions are a bit too over the top, but it is television. The cathedral, surroundings are incredibly true to the book. I am with waleran Bigod when he looks up at the cathedral under construction and marvels at its majestic heights. The show deserves an emmy for at least the setting apect.

[realmenhatelife]

I dont get all bent out of shape about it, its just interesting to me how you solve some problems and wind up creating many others.

I just had the same conversation about Jack/Merthin yesterday, we were having trouble remembering which was which. Jack goes to Spain and lives with Muslims, Merthin goes to Italy.

They also indicated right at the beginning that Remigius has been caught in an act of sodomy, and I couldn't remember if that happened in Pillars or if it was something similar that happened with basically the same character in World.

I hope they do a World miniseries though. The plague stuff and secret affairs of the church are really interesting to me.

[realmenhatelife]

They did make a World Without End miniseries, but it was for one of the off movie channels like Reelz or something like that. It is now available for Streaming on Netflix. I only watched the first episode, I totally forgot most of this book.