Pratchett Predictions (and general chat)

edited June 2010 in General Chat
http://sky1.sky.com/going-postal

So, here comes Going Postal, following Hogfather and The Colour of Magic.

What does everyone think? What will be cut? Will david jason be in it again?

And how about the books? Have you read them all? Whats your favourite?

Should Telltale make new games?

Questions questions questions! Discus discuss discuss! :p

And please be wary of Spoilers, people :)
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Comments

  • edited April 2010
    Could be interesting, although I really need to see the others.

    They really should be doing one on the City Watch though. Guards Guards! springs to mind.
  • TorTor
    edited April 2010
    I've read them all, and enjoyed them immensely. My favourites are probably the books about the Night Watch/City Watch with Samuel Vimes.

    I liked the Hogfather and Colour of Magic movies as well, even though they weren't absolutely loyal to the novels (I never expect that of a movie). Didn't know about the new one, thanks for the heads up.
  • edited April 2010
    I've only just got round to watching the Colour of Magic as I wanted to read the books the films are based on before watching them. Anyway, I did enjoy it and I would also like to see Guards! Guards! made into a film.
  • edited April 2010
    I've only read a couple of Discworld-books, but from those few "Guards! Guards!" is definitely my favorite. Strangely though, because my first contact with Discworld were the adventure games (the first one being loosely based on "Guards! Guards!", the second one on "Reaper Man" and some others), so I always saw Rincewind as the main character of the Discworld. That's why I've started with "Color of Magic", though after a few other books I've learned to love the city watch even more.
  • edited April 2010
    I didn't like the other Sky versions at first, but they grew on me over time. I predict much of the same from this. in my opinion Eric Idle's still the best Rincewind out there
  • edited April 2010
    When I was reading Going Postal, I was thinking "this would translate really well into film". I'm glad they agreed. I think the same of Night Watch too.
    Zonino wrote: »
    They really should be doing one on the City Watch though. Guards Guards! springs to mind.

    Yes.
    JedExodus wrote: »
    in my opinion Eric Idle's still the best Rincewind out there

    Yes.
    Should Telltale make new games?

    Yes.
  • edited April 2010
    I haven't read this book yet! Still looking forward to it, but the trailer seemed a bit off. I'm hoping the actual show/filmy thing is better, or at least up to the quality of The colour of magic.
  • puzzleboxpuzzlebox Telltale Alumni
    edited April 2010
    And how about the books? Have you read them all? Whats your favourite?

    I love the Discworld series! I've read the vast majority of the books, barring a couple of the most recent ones. But I'm useless at compartmentalising characters and events into separate books - it usually all blends into one big mishmash of "history" in my head. On top of that, I'm terrible at remembering things anyway. :o
    Tor wrote: »
    I've read them all, and enjoyed them immensely. My favourites are probably the books about the Night Watch/City Watch with Samuel Vimes.

    If I had to choose, the City Watch books would probably be my favourites too, although I also really like the Tiffany Aching ones.
    JedExodus wrote: »
    I didn't like the other Sky versions at first, but they grew on me over time. I predict much of the same from this. in my opinion Eric Idle's still the best Rincewind out there

    I always had difficulty watching the Sky version of The Colour of Magic, and I think it might be because I'd gotten so used to the idea of Eric Idle as Rincewind.

    The trailer for Going Postal looks pretty good to me though. Does the golem remind anyone else of Kryten from Red Dwarf? :p
  • edited April 2010
    I'm looking forward to Going Postal! Judging what i've seen it looks like they might have really nailed a Pratchett-themed film for once.
    And a Telltale Games discworld season would blow me away, but I doubt it's much of a possibility.
  • edited April 2010
    Haven't bothered watching the trailer yet, but i will.

    I kinda wonder why they chose this book in particular, tho... I mean, the book's cool and all, but i dunno, there's so much stuff in the older, more "fantasy parody" stuff...
    Guards guards, as it's been suggested, seems like a much cooler choice.
  • edited April 2010
    puzzlebox wrote: »
    If I had to choose, the City Watch books would probably be my favourites too

    Sam Vines is just the man, it's a shame he comes across as such a goon in Discworld Noir, Nobby's good in that game though :)
  • edited April 2010
    Wow! Awesome response to the topic!

    First, ive changed the first post too, but please rember to use the spoiler tags when needed guys, just in case...

    I actually prefer the later books, i think Pratchett has grown as a writer. i find the later ones easier to read.

    Actually, guards guards is one of the only 3 i haven't read all the way through! Seen the stage show, read the graphic novel and played the game, but never finished the book :o

    I really like Lewton from Discworld Noir. He had a great back story and i always hoped Terry would do a book on him. I wonder if anyone has the game rights atm?
  • edited April 2010
    I really like Lewton from Discworld Noir. He had a great back story and i always hoped Terry would do a book on him. I wonder if anyone has the game rights atm?

    It seriously needs a rerelease on Steam because there's compatability problems up the arse with it on newer versions of Windows. My mum threw out my copy of Noir for Playstation out years ago, was ripping when I found out when I came back looking around for it. Thing was worth a small fortune and all :(

    Also Lewton was an awesome character the opening phrase of "It was a cold and wet Sektober night" is permanently grained into my mind
  • edited April 2010
    JedExodus wrote: »
    It seriously needs a rerelease on Steam because there's compatability problems up the arse with it on newer versions of Windows. My mum threw out my copy of Noir for Playstation out years ago, was ripping when I found out when I came back looking around for it. Thing was worth a small fortune and all :(

    Also Lewton was an awesome the opening phrase of "It was a cold and wet Sektober night" is permanently grained into my mind

    the first game was on PS1 too right?
  • edited April 2010
    JedExodus wrote: »
    Sam Vines is just the man, it's a shame he comes across as such a goon in Discworld Noir, Nobby's good in that game though :)

    I dunno... they changed the whole tone so much from the novels that i really didn't mind the change in characters.

    Plus, even though we're identifying with him, he's always been a bit of a jerk anyway.
  • edited April 2010
    Fealiks wrote: »
    When I was reading Going Postal, I was thinking "this would translate really well into film". I'm glad they agreed. I think the same of Night Watch too.

    I agree with this 100%. Going Postal was the first Discworld book I read and is still, my favorite (though it was a really hard decision!). I really hope that they do it justice with the film, and looking at the trailers and such, it looks like they will.

    @ZombieAtPlay: Thanks for posting this!
  • edited April 2010
    I'm a huge Discworld Fan (heck, I'm even travelling to the UK this year to go to the Discworld Con, having been to both Australian ones), and yet....

    I don't really like the TV adaptions much. One thing I will say, is they *look* fantastic, and the costumes, sets, and cinematography are true to Discworld, through and through, with great attention to detail.

    But all that pales in comparison to how woeful the casting and script adaption is sometimes. Hogfather had terrible pacing, and what was kept and cut didn't always make huge amounts of sense. The wizards were mostly miscast (esp. Ridcully) but I will say that Death, Susan, and even Albert worked reasonably well.

    The Colour of Magic just cut too much in order to squeeze two books (TCoM and Light Fantastic) into one telemovie, just so it could kind of have an overarching narrative. Of course the biggest obvious problem with this was the main casting - David Jason is too old to play Rincewind now (he would have been great 20 or 30 years ago) and Twoflower is supposed to be Asian, not American. I mean, Sean Astin's a good actor, but he wasn't right for that role. Again, where cuts were made to the story, they had to make severe leaps of logic in order to get the necessary elements put in there.

    The trailers for Going Postal make it look a little better, but then the trailers always looked good. I hope the adaption works.

    The thing is, I've been involved in Discworld on stage many years ago, and even after I stopped actively participating, I've watched every play my old Theatre Company has done since - they just finished up "Unseen Academicals" last week, which was the 20th Discworld/Pratchett play they have performed (I was in the first 8 back in 2000-2003).


    I've also adapted Pyramids into a stage play, so I understand that when you turn a book into another form of media that modifications and cuts have to be made, but it's essential to keep the core of the plot, the best jokes, and ensure the pacing is kept up. Unfortunately the TV adaptions seem to have missed this point, trying to put in details for the fans without actually keeping an eye on the overall picture making sure the right scenes are kept and that the editing allows the pacing of the story to be well-measured.

    Going Postal is the only of the three so far that I've seen as a stage play, and Stephen Briggs' script is reasonably good (although I did help the company do a small bit of rewriting to reduce the number of scenes). So as long as the Mob has managed to use Briggs's adaption as a guideline for what scenes to keep and what to cut, the TV adaption could work, if only to ensure the core plot is there.

    BTW, the best play adaptions are "Lords and Ladies" (hilarious, I was in that one) and I have to say the production of "Making Money" I saw a few years ago was incredibly well done.
  • edited April 2010
    Wow, Molokov, thats so cool!

    How about the animations? What does everyone think of them? I loved Soul Music (I even bought the soundtrack cd!)
  • edited April 2010
    I loved Soul Music (I even bought the soundtrack cd!)

    Wait, there's one :eek: ?

    Even though i haven't watch the already done movies, i'm really wondering how it can work as well.
    I dunno, to me most of thenovels appeal really lies in Pratchett's styles and the WAY he'll tell the jokes and stuff, not so much in the actual jokes or even story (even though they do have their importance as well, of course).
    And since that is sure to be lost in a movie, well... I just dunno.
    Guess i should just watch them and see.
  • edited April 2010
    Wait, there's one :eek: ?

    Actually there's two:

    51KYQ7WKC0L._SS500_.jpg
    51HBHGYYDQL._SS500_.jpg

    Haven't watched them though.
  • edited April 2010
    ^ ^ ^ i love that picture of death :D
    Wait, there's one :eek: ?

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Music-Terry-Pratchetts-Discworld-Soundtrack/dp/B00002R0SY

    Yup. I only ever saw it once in an HMV and immediately bought it. Its got full length versions of all the songs, plus some of the instrumentals. Its effing brilliant! :D

    Pratchetts jokes are mostly in his description of things imo, which cant be done in a film without a narrator.
    Movie versions are never as good as the books they're based on. I always try to see them with the mindset of 'alternate universe version', but i'm used to alternate universes from all the graphic novels i read :p
  • edited April 2010
    niiice

    gotta get my greasy paws on those
  • edited April 2010
    The cartoon series done by Cosgrove-Hall are very very good. The voices are all brilliant (Christopher Lee as Death, of course) and most of the character design is good - a few are a bit odd, but mostly they work.

    I too have them both on VHS (originally) and DVD (bought from Amazon UK at a later date) and the Soul Music soundtrack CD.

    They didn't grate on me as much the live-action adaptions did. I should clarify my earlier statements - I think the main faults with the Mob Films productions is with the adapter/director Vadim Jeam - he is obviously a good Discworld fan (which is great for someone making the adaption) but his skills as a director (and casting director) leave a lot to be desired.
  • edited May 2010
    Isn't that CD amazing??? Especially Soni bod da (or however you spell it :p)
  • edited May 2010
    Sioni Bod Da. Translates to "Johnny Be Good" :)
  • edited May 2010
    Oh really? i did not know that. :)
  • edited May 2010
    Oh really? i did not know that. :)

    Then you probably need to read the Annotated Pratchett File at http://www.lspace.org/books/apf/index.html
  • edited May 2010
    Molokov wrote: »
    Then you probably need to read the Annotated Pratchett File at http://www.lspace.org/books/apf/index.html

    Those pages are great. I always waste hours on there after reading a pratchett book.
  • edited May 2010
    Thats my weekend reading sorted! thanks guys :)
  • edited May 2010
    Molokov wrote: »
    Then you probably need to read the Annotated Pratchett File at http://www.lspace.org/books/apf/index.html

    That is amazing. I know what my summer will consist of now.
  • edited May 2010
    Saw a trailer on sky one!! Coming soon!! *Squee*
  • edited May 2010
    Saw a trailer on sky one!! Coming soon!! *Squee*

    I would have thought we would have heard a date by now.
  • edited May 2010
    The Colour of Magic could of been better if a little more time was spent on it, ..and if Eric Idle was Rincewind, sadly playing the games for soo long I can't actually see anyone else as the character anymore so having David Jason there was a little awkward. Also, YAY, I have Soul Music! :D
  • edited May 2010
    I'd agree that Eric Idle's delivery in the Discworld games worked well for the character of Rincewind, but only because that character was a humorous adventure game protagonist (whose chief concern is delivering wry wit and observational humor) rather than the novels depiction of the character (which is cheeky to a point, but frankly a lot more cynical) .

    By that I mean; I cant see Eric Idle using that same delivery to breath life into the Rincewind of the novels. He was too cheeky, too camp to play a character who spends most of his time alternating between sulking and fleeing. Rincewind in the books is absolutely miserable through most of his journeys. If Eric played the part, I'd look for some cheek, but he needs more despair!
  • edited May 2010
    As with David Jason, Eric Idle would be a good choice for Rincewind... about 30 years ago. Both of them are just too old for the character now. (He's supposed to be 30ish in the early books, not 50-60).
  • edited May 2010
    Molokov wrote: »
    As with David Jason, Eric Idle would be a good choice for Rincewind... about 30 years ago. Both of them are just too old for the character now. (He's supposed to be 30ish in the early books, not 50-60).

    Yeah I thought David Jason seemed a bit old but figured it was just me.

    Martin Freeman might have done a decent job.
  • edited May 2010
    30th of may! Mark it in your diaries! :D
  • edited May 2010
    I'll record it, move it to my long term storage hard drive and then watch it sometime after I've read the book (got about 15 more to read before getting to Going Postal).
  • edited May 2010
    I have not read the books, but I have thought about doing it for a long time.
    But so far I have many other things to read, but its definitely on my to-do list :)

    And I will also play the Adventure games of Discworld, along with my other adventure games I need to get a hold of.
  • edited May 2010
    I've read them all up to Nightwatch... I don't get much chance to read these days, what with a toddler.. unfortunately.
    I haven't finished 5th Elephante or whatever it's called, I got bored. Which is unusual, usually I can't put a Pratchett book down. Go figure.
    I definitely think his later stuff is better though. Much better pacing, much better story and a fair bit of more subtle almost satirical humour which is a joy to read. That said, Reaper man is still my fave lol. I don't know why, I just adore death ok?

    I enjoyed the movies (and the animations as well) but yes, there was a lot of miscasting. My husband has already had his complain about how the female lead in Going Postal isn't chain smoking hahah.
    I found the twoflower miscast to be the worst though, everything else I could just about forgive but damnit, making him an american tourist instead of japanese was just stupid.

    I never finished Discworld Noir... I finished 1&2 but never noir... which is a shame because as a huge noir fan, it's the sort of thing that appeals to me. Too bad I can't get it running in xp. Like so many of my games -_-
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