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RE: The Pillars of the Earth - Starz 12th Century Drama Series

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RE: The Pillars of the Earth - Starz 12th Century Drama... - 22/11/2010 1:18:06 PM   
sharkboy


Posts: 6031
Joined: 26/9/2005
From: Belfast
 I thought I'd hold off commenting on this show until I had watched it all.  Now, having viewed the final part last night, I can add my tuppence

While not without its weaknesses, this was a very enjoyable adaptation of Follet's book.  The cast was, with one or two exceptions, great.  The divergence from the book didn't weaken the plot in any way, and the script, while a bit cliché heavy at times, still moved the story along at a nice pace.  High production values paid dividends as it looked great.

Now, those weaknesses I mentioned.  It wasn't without its fat that could be trimmed, both in character arcs and plot lines.  The bad guys in particular relied too heavily on age-old clichés, but thanks to some good casting a lot of this could be forgiven.  Make up was so bad at times it could be distracting - Jack's bright orange skin and Philip's dark hair poking out under his grey wig at the end being two examples - but at least they were pretty accurate in the costume department.

All in all though, this was a very enjoyable bit of television drama, and the closing shot of the cathedral still standing over modern "Kingsbridge" (Ok, Salisbury!) was a very fitting final scene to the show.  Wonder if they'll move to dramatise World Without End now?

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Post #: 61
RE: The Pillars of the Earth - Starz 12th Century Drama... - 22/11/2010 8:32:54 PM   
homersimpson_esq


Posts: 19969
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Springfield
 Salisbury has a spire tho, and the West End is more Wells. [/cathedralpedant]




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Post #: 62
RE: The Pillars of the Earth - Starz 12th Century Drama... - 23/11/2010 10:22:05 AM   
Felix


Posts: 15691
Joined: 29/9/2005
From: Brighton
quote:

ORIGINAL: homersimpson_esq

Salisbury has a spire tho, and the West End is more Wells. [/cathedralpedant]





It was Salisbury though, with a bit of 'manipulation'...

I have to admit that, after really enjoying the first 6 episodes, I was disappointed with the finale. It just seemed to fizzle out. Not helped by the fact they guy played Alfred was one of the worst actors I've ever seen.

The make up was stunningly awful too. I love the fact it was set across a period of 30 odd years, yet all Jack did to age was comb his hair and grow a goatee beard. Aliena didnt age at all between 25ish and 55ish

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Post #: 63
RE: The Pillars of the Earth - Starz 12th Century Drama... - 23/11/2010 11:34:56 AM   
spark1

 

Posts: 5786
Joined: 18/11/2006
that cameo from follett in finale was a bit 'basil exposition'
still i loved this show-looking forward to sequel.

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Post #: 64
RE: The Pillars of the Earth - Starz 12th Century Drama... - 24/11/2010 4:03:03 PM   
Blunderbuss


Posts: 522
Joined: 7/10/2005
From: Like the truth...out there
 On balance I enjoyed Pillars of the Earth, but it was definitely saved by the quality of its villains.  Bishop Waleran, the incestuous Hamleighs, sly monk Remigius and King Stephen were all wonderfully evil, mad and/or corrupt creations and on the whole brilliantly acted.  Finding out how each of them got their eventual comeuppance was one of the primary reasons to keep watching.

Apart from that it was a bit of a mixed bag.  There was some great acting (Rufus Sewell's Tom Builder & Matthew Macfadyen's Prior Phillip, iffy accent aside, were non-bad guy highlights), the production design was fab and the plot suitably convoluted and incident (if not always action) packed.  There was however, some pretty ropey acting on display (Sam Clafin as Richard & Liam Garrigan as Alfred, I'm talking about you two), the central love affair between Aliena and Jack never really sparked to life and the pacing across the series was patchy.  The final double episode especially, lacked real drive towards the end and felt a bit underwhelming.

So not bad but not great either....


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Post #: 65
RE: The Pillars of the Earth - Starz 12th Century Drama... - 5/12/2010 9:56:10 PM   
Scorch

 

Posts: 13
Joined: 11/1/2006
Just finished watching the series. Have to say that it was very watchable but totally ridiculous, with some dopey acting and dodgy script. A guilty pleasure I think!

If Hollyoaks were to make a 'dark ages' special they would do something like this.

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Post #: 66
RE: The Pillars of the Earth - Starz 12th Century Drama... - 6/12/2010 7:21:42 PM   
homersimpson_esq


Posts: 19969
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Springfield
quote:

ORIGINAL: Felix

quote:

ORIGINAL: homersimpson_esq

Salisbury has a spire tho, and the West End is more Wells. [/cathedralpedant]





It was Salisbury though, with a bit of 'manipulation'...

I have to admit that, after really enjoying the first 6 episodes, I was disappointed with the finale. It just seemed to fizzle out. Not helped by the fact they guy played Alfred was one of the worst actors I've ever seen.

The make up was stunningly awful too. I love the fact it was set across a period of 30 odd years, yet all Jack did to age was comb his hair and grow a goatee beard. Aliena didnt age at all between 25ish and 55ish


Pretty sure Jack wouldn't be complaining at that...

They waited too long to change actresses for his wee sister too. I worked out that at one point she must have been about 17, and still looked 11...


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Post #: 67
RE: The Pillars of the Earth - Starz 12th Century Drama... - 18/11/2011 3:11:38 PM   
Timon


Posts: 14545
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Bristol
 Can someone please tell me why you can't get this on Blu Ray in the UK

(Or the complete series of The Tudors for that matter....)

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Post #: 68
RE: The Pillars of the Earth - Starz 12th Century Drama... - 19/11/2011 9:22:39 PM   
homersimpson_esq


Posts: 19969
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Springfield
 If it helps, the US Blu is confirmed region free... Region Free Movies

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Post #: 69
RE: The Pillars of the Earth - Starz 12th Century Drama... - 1/3/2012 11:58:44 AM   
Your Funny Uncle


Posts: 11131
Joined: 14/11/2005
From: The Deepest Depths Of Joypad.....
 World Without End has been picked up by Channel 4

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Post #: 70
RE: The Pillars of the Earth - Starz 12th Century Drama... - 30/3/2012 11:25:58 AM   
Timon


Posts: 14545
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Bristol
 Some interesting titbits for World Without End:

World Without End is set 150 years after Pillars of the Earth and chronicles the experiences of the fictional English town of Kingsbridge during the start of the Hundred Years' War and the outbreak of the Black Death. The cast is led by Cynthia Nixon, Miranda Richardson, Ben Chaplin, Peter Firth, Charlotte Riley, and Tom Weston-Jones.

Set in England during the 1300s, the series chronicles the lives of ordinary citizens as the King leads the nation into the Hundred Years' War with France, all while Europe is bracing for the Black Death. Caris (Charlotte Riley), a visionary woman, and her lover Merthin (Tom Weston-Jones) build a community that stands up to the Crown and the church.


Here's the key cast - http://www.world-without-end.tv/key-cast





http://www.world-without-end.tv/pictures/production-images-%E2%80%93-first-impressions-set#/0

Some video diaries if interested - http://www.world-without-end.tv/gallery

_____________________________

"I put no stock in religion. By the word 'religion', I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called 'The Will of God'. Holiness is in right action and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves."

Twitter: @timonsingh

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Post #: 71
RE: The Pillars of the Earth / World Without End - 6/9/2012 10:35:43 AM   
Timon


Posts: 14545
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Bristol
 So the first episode for World Without End is available. Thoughts?

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Twitter: @timonsingh

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Post #: 72
RE: The Pillars of the Earth / World Without End - 6/9/2012 7:19:16 PM   
Your Funny Uncle


Posts: 11131
Joined: 14/11/2005
From: The Deepest Depths Of Joypad.....
 I'm waiting for Channel 4 I think....

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Post #: 73
RE: The Pillars of the Earth / World Without End - 6/9/2012 7:23:53 PM   
homersimpson_esq


Posts: 19969
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Springfield
 Oh sweet, when does this start properly? I was meaning to rewatch PotE, and this seems a good time.

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Post #: 74
RE: The Pillars of the Earth - Starz 12th Century Drama... - 12/9/2012 2:51:45 PM   
spark1

 

Posts: 5786
Joined: 18/11/2006
more4 reruns 'pillars' from this saturday.
is it a run up to c4 showing 'world' in oct?

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Post #: 75
RE: The Pillars of the Earth - Starz 12th Century Drama... - 12/1/2013 12:34:26 PM   
spark1

 

Posts: 5786
Joined: 18/11/2006
time to get medieval again.

and ken follet has a show 8pm on more4 tonite.

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Post #: 76
RE: The Pillars of the Earth - Starz 12th Century Drama... - 13/1/2013 9:13:25 PM   
Mister Coe

 

Posts: 576
Joined: 20/10/2012
So, recorded 'World Without End' last night, loved 'Pillars...' but I've been reading bad reports about this new show. I've got so much stuff that I'm trying to get around to watching, has anyone seen this?

I'm working such ridiculous hours right now that I can't afford to waste time on something that might turn out to be a big bag of crap.

Is it as bad as reports are saying?

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Post #: 77
RE: The Pillars of the Earth - Starz 12th Century Drama... - 14/1/2013 12:26:51 AM   
gtrekker


Posts: 40
Joined: 12/1/2013
Well I 'acquired' the first episode when it started, and I found it to have similar themes as that of Pillar's opening episode. Although chances are if you liked the first one you might like this worth a look I guess.

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Post #: 78
RE: The Pillars of the Earth - Starz 12th Century Drama... - 14/1/2013 10:30:31 AM   
spark1

 

Posts: 5786
Joined: 18/11/2006
it hit the ground running for a opening ep. brilliant.

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Post #: 79
RE: The Pillars of the Earth - Starz 12th Century Drama... - 14/1/2013 12:34:40 PM   
Timon


Posts: 14545
Joined: 30/9/2005
From: Bristol
 Well, I saw the whole thing a few months ago and I really enjoyed it. In fact, give it a few years and I reckon Oliver Jackson-Cohen, the villainous Ralph, could be a Bond contender.



_____________________________

"I put no stock in religion. By the word 'religion', I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called 'The Will of God'. Holiness is in right action and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves."

Twitter: @timonsingh

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Post #: 80
RE: The Pillars of the Earth - Starz 12th Century Drama... - 14/1/2013 1:00:23 PM   
spark1

 

Posts: 5786
Joined: 18/11/2006
and the follet more4 doc gives you history on key plot point in 'world'.

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Post #: 81
RE: The Pillars of the Earth - Starz 12th Century Drama... - 21/1/2013 4:20:02 PM   
blackduck


Posts: 1559
Joined: 1/10/2005
Just watched the first episode, very good but all the plot points and character arcs seem awfully similar to Pillars of the Earth

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Post #: 82
RE: The Pillars of the Earth - Starz 12th Century Drama... - 21/1/2013 4:31:07 PM   
Professor Moriarty

 

Posts: 8566
Joined: 6/10/2005
From: the waters of Casablanca
 IMO it was pretty awful, with a plot that could have been scribbled on the back of a cigarette packet after closing time. But I didn't really get on with Pillars either, so I'm probably not the opinion to listen to.

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Post #: 83
RE: The Pillars of the Earth - Starz 12th Century Drama... - 24/1/2013 1:39:12 PM   
spark1

 

Posts: 5786
Joined: 18/11/2006

quote:

ORIGINAL: blackduck

Just watched the first episode, very good but all the plot points and character arcs seem awfully similar to Pillars of the Earth


that makes for a good drinking game during 'world...' viewing.

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Post #: 84
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