[Eyborg]

I was browsing the Internet, and I found out that the Sci-Fi Channel has finally finished the miniseries they were making out of Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea Trilogy, and it's supposed to be shown over there in the US... December 13th I think they said. I'm actually pretty excited about this miniseries, since I love the books (although it's been quite a while since I read them... I need to read them again). I was taking a look at the Sci-Fi Channel website, where you can see some info on the series, plus some pics, and it all looks very interesting. The only thing probably was, that the characters' complexion looked too fair (they were supposed to be quite dark-skinned, except those who were from Kargad (sp?)), and the costumes looked too "happy" in colour. - But, I don't want to judge this series until I see it.
So... anybody heard of this? Any comments?

[NancyBrooke]

Yes, I'm excited for it too. It's been ages since I read Earthsea, but my copies are all tattered and dog-eared. Don't know anything except that it's coming, and what I gleaned from briefly skipping over the Sci-Fi channel site.

[Thuriniel]

I've never read the book ... but from what I've seen of the miniseries preview, it seems like a treat! Thanks for letting us know the exact date!

[Yavanie]

of course watching it will give us something to do until we get our hands on the ROTKEE DVD!!!!

[Eyborg]

You're welcome!
Well, since I'm stuck on a rock in the middle of nowhere I'll probably have to wait until it comes out on video/DVD, and then rent it. But I guess it will be worth it...
BTW I must say that this guy who plays Ged looks really cute!

[NancyBrooke]

[Viv]

I haven't seen it, but after having read this scathing discussion of it by Ursula LeGuin, who was shut out of the pre-production planning and scripting, I don't think I ever will.

These Sci Fi folks are the same ones who cancelled Farscape because they just didn't get it. Why am I not surprised.

[NancyBrooke]

I'll have to check that out. It has been a long time since I read the books, and I didn't see all of the show. That being said, I found it kind of like fan-fiction basically true to the books but with changes. They collapsed the story of two books, at least, into the thing and changed a ring into a "medallion of peace." I found it entertaining, though.

[ghettoelleth]

Well Viv, as one of "those people" I can sadly say, I'm disappointed but not surprised. My heart feels for Ms. LeGuin. Maybe PJ will get his paws on the rights (sometime in 2020 when he finishes Kong and The Hobbit) and do it right.
This kind of hearkens back to the whole "what we're tired of seeing in fanfiction" thread. Sad to think if one of us were to write the atypical heroine, maybe ethnic, no violet eyes, real body, real flaws, and yet beautifully and powerfully written, some a** hole in Hollywood would cast Meg Ryan (whom I love by the way) in the movie version.

[Viv]

It just freaks me out. When I studied theatre in high school and went to district and regional competitions, I saw a lot of really talented actors who had darker skin. In fact, a disproportional number of folks taking home acting awards at the higher levels were minority students. I've always wondered why I've never seen any of them in the movies.

I think in Hollywood it's more important to have a certain look than it is to actually be a good actor.

Or maybe all those ultra-talented actors from high school went on to be lawyers or something. Which is equally as sad.

[RJLCyberPunk]

While I understand Mrs LeGuin frustration too. I was truly captivated by ther header in the article EarthSea in Clorox!
But yes so called minorities and I say so called because Hollywood and TV networks still behaves as if we were in the 1950's and don't realize that relatively speaking African americans, Hispanicsand so on are a minority by an increasingly narrow margin and in fact in some areas of the States are the majority. And in about 30 more years the minorities will be the majority!

[Viv]

RJL, I'm so happy to see you posting on the forum! Welcome! (Have you started one of those Welcome threads in the general discussion area?)



viv (spacellama)

[RJLCyberPunk]

^ thanks for the welcomng mat!
Anyway I recently came across this links at SciFi.com
http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/art-main.html?2004-12/17/11.00.books
and this

http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/art-main.html?2004-12/16/12.00.sfc

It seems that despite all the conmtroversy it still did pretty well raking in 13 million viewers!
But that's probably given the fact that up until now the SciFi channel miniseries have been top notch without missing a beat, I hope that this incident doest not become the rule and its just an exception

[Eyborg]

Well, Nancy here was so kind to tape the series for me and send the tapes to me (thanks again Nancy! *huggles*), and I've watched them all now. And this is my review:
As a whole, I found it very entertaining and in many ways good. The script & acting was mostly very good, except... is it just me, or is Isabella Rossellini a bad actress? I must admit I find her extremely boring (I've seen her before on The Odyssey, and felt the same thing). Her accent irritates me as well...
As for the story itself, I must agree with Nancy that it seemed a lot like some fan fiction to me. They kept a lot of the original plot, but I feel they changed too many things... it made things a bit too confusing, I think. They should have kept the stories separate, like the books. Instead they mixed them all together (like making the dragon appear).
The costumes were fine mostly, except that the priestesses of Atuan should not have been wearing white... didn't they wear black robes? I thought so... And I felt the school of Roke & the students looked too much like something from Harry Potter. Come on, this is not supposed to be Hogwarts! And in the book there were no women! (You know, Ged belonged to an order who didn't like women, and Tenar belonged to an order who didn't like men).
The weakest thing I felt was the special effects. Looked too much like a computer...
But all in all, it was pretty entertaining and fun to watch. Only, they could have made it so much better... But at least it made me want to read the books again, hehe... I plan to do that soon.