[Boboff]

From bitter experience I find that I can't watch a film if i have read the book, simply becuase I am a far better director than anyone, without the need for actors or cameras etc, and the film in my head is always so much different to the one on screen

[Ballbag]

Agreed, but they can be done well...... sometimes.


I just hope they don't c*ck up His Dark Materials, the first fillum (irish for film, not sure why I drifted into an irish accent there), is out this Christmas time, the same dudes (minus Peter Jackson) who did the Lord of the Rings are doing it, so it bodes well. As long as they stick to the book as much as the can, then it'll be a beauty.

[Boboff]

well I hope your right as I have just spent £15 on Amazon, didn't realise it was 3 books !

[Ballbag]

On my recommendation? Crikey, Richard and Judy eat yor heart out.


I think you'll like it Boboff..... it's proper adventure stuff.

[Boboff]

Cool, I wait with baited breath ( smells of maggots !)

[Zoot]

I've tried really hard to like Terry Pratchett - I think he writes brilliantly funny one-liners, but I just don't like his stories.

I love Pratchett to, I just love the randomness of the things that are going on, and the quirkyness of it all. However, I find his stories really difficult to read, dunno why, maybe it's the language he uses. Sometimes I have to read a paragraph 3 or 4 times just to get it sunk in.
I have the same problem with Tolkien.

[Yudster]

Thats what I mean - its bad story-writing. Great gags, no narrative. Tolkien's stuff was just slow and dull. One of the only times that the films have been better than the books, simply because they are shorter and actually keep moving. Still didn't like them much though.

[foot-loose]

Thats what I mean - its bad story-writing. Great gags, no narrative. Tolkien's stuff was just slow and dull. One of the only times that the films have been better than the books, simply because they are shorter and actually keep moving. Still didn't like them much though.

**sits up and gets ready for an argument**

No no - the films were good but the books were sooo much better!!!

There was so much in them - more than could ever get put in a film! And (dare I say it) better than the Harry Potter books!

**runs away and hides**

[Ballbag]

Thats what I mean - its bad story-writing. Great gags, no narrative. Tolkien's stuff was just slow and dull. One of the only times that the films have been better than the books, simply because they are shorter and actually keep moving. Still didn't like them much though.

**sits up and gets ready for an argument**

No no - the films were good but the books were sooo much better!!!

There was so much in them - more than could ever get put in a film! And (dare I say it) better than the Harry Potter books!

**runs away and hides**

*goes and finds foot-loose, shakes him about and says "are you a man or a mouse, stand up for yourself man" ...... slap... slap..... slap *


I agree, the Potter books are good, not a patch on the lord of the rings though. The lord of the rings films are good, very good indeed, but a book is more enjoyable always in my eyes. Finally the Potter films are RUUUUUUBBISH.

[Yudster]

I'm not sure JK Rowling and JRR Tolkien are all that comparable. It would be like trying to compare a tomato with a radish - both contribute to a salad, but in such different ways. And I'm sorry, but Tolkien is awful. You know how when you are watching a really bad film or TV programme, and you keep noticing the continuity errors and the technical mistakes from scene to scene? I find reading Tolkien is like that. And its easy to concentrate on the mistakes, because for sure the story isn't going anywhere quickly enough to need your attention!

[Zoot]

It would be like trying to compare a tomato with a radish - both contribute to a salad, but in such different ways.

Thank you Yudy, that is my new Sig!

[Yudster]

Today shall be known as Charlalottie's Hating Tuesday. Get it all off your chest, Char.

[Yudster]

No, that's Topher, isn't it?

[DemonHorse]

The thing is though, I'm normally quite a cheerful person, you just seem to be bringing up all the things I hate such as Lord of the Rings and Twiglets and such. I also hate Sundays before anyone brings that up and makes me sound even more grumpier. I actually feel like that Smurf that hated everything.

Why sundays?

[Zoot]

Tell me why you don't like sundays, Tell me why you don't like sundays. tell me why you don't like sundays...

[Ballbag]

Just very boring and depressing because you know you have to get up the next day and instead of putting cheerful programmes on the television they have Time Team or Antiques Roadshow on instead. I had to sit through Songs of Praise last Sunday through dinner.

Don't dis the road show....... great television.

[foot-loose]

**gets ready for a quote-a-thon**

*goes and finds foot-loose, shakes him about and says "are you a man or a mouse, stand up for yourself man" ...... slap... slap..... slap *

Ooouch - no need!

I was quite happy hiding - now Yudsters gonna eat me!

I'm not sure JK Rowling and JRR Tolkien are all that comparable. It would be like trying to compare a tomato with a radish - both contribute to a salad, but in such different ways.

Agreed.

And I'm sorry, but Tolkien is awful.

Disagreed.

You know how when you are watching a really bad film or TV programme, and you keep noticing the continuity errors and the technical mistakes from scene to scene? I find reading Tolkien is like that. And its easy to concentrate on the mistakes, because for sure the story isn't going anywhere quickly enough to need your attention!

What sort of errors do you mean?

Its ages since I read the books, but I would imagine that I would have noticed them!

Get it all off your chest, Char.

Apparently Veet Hair Removal is good!

I also hate Sundays before anyone brings that up and makes me sound even more grumpier.

Why sundays?

Seconded

EDIT - never mind - the conversation has moved onto the roadshow now!

The non hairy chest woman is right Baggy - the roadshow is pretty crap!

[Ballbag]

*Get's ready for "quote-a-thon II, quote harder" *

I am dissing. It's awful. Another reason why Sundays are rubbish, hollyoaks omnibus. Lord, give me strength.

There is more to Sunday's than TV, walks in the parks, a trip to the zoo, watching TV, reading books or even visiting friends.

Ooouch - no need!

I was quite happy hiding - now Yudsters gonna eat me.

Sorry, didn't mean to snap.

Yudster wrote:
And I'm sorry, but Tolkien is awful.

Disagreed.

Twas voted the top book in the big read, I think Foot-man's right there Yudyud.

Yudster wrote:
Get it all off your chest, Char.

Apparently Veet Hair Removal is good!

So is an over enthusiastic naked BBQ.

The non hairy chest woman is right Baggy - the roadshow is pretty crap!

Disagreed.

[Zoot]

I hate Sundays too. You're not alone. It's when it's about 3.30, when you can smell a roast in the air but you've already eaten too much, there is tons of washing up to be done, it's raining outside, there's nothing on telly except maybe Big with Tom Hanks or a carry on film, and you know you have work in the morning...

[Yudster]

I don't do quote-a-thons. So -

Foot loose - no, I'm not going to eat you, I can't even remember why you think I am going to. Are you a Twiglet?

Charlalottie - I love Sundays, but you have my sympathy for the Songs of Praise incident. Shouldn't happen to anyone.

Baggie - agreed, there are many good things about Sunday.

Foot loose again - if you think I am going to go through the slow torture of reading The Lord of the Rings again, just to point out all the errors to you, you are mistaken - suffice to say I mentioned every one of them to Mr Yudster as I read, which he didn't enjoy because they are his favourite books.

Baggie - re Tolkien - there is a difference between popular and good. Much has been written and said over the years by many literary figures regarding the inadequacies of Tolkien as a writer. But you can't argue with the popularity of his product, and I wouldn't attempt to do so.

[Yudster]

I bet a lot of the people who said it was their favourite book haven't read it, just seen the TV series or the movie - neither of which had much to do with Jane Austen although the TV series was good in its own right.

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

Thats what I mean - its bad story-writing. Great gags, no narrative. Tolkien's stuff was just slow and dull. One of the only times that the films have been better than the books, simply because they are shorter and actually keep moving. Still didn't like them much though.

The point of Pratchetts books are they are normal stories in an abnormal world. Read Night Watch or Monstrous Regiment and if you don't like them you never will. I will admit I can't now read the early Pratchett books after the later ones. He is a far better writer now than when he started.

Lord of the Flies left me very empty. I will agree with Boboff in that I like Lee Child but I still consider Grisham and the like as "fluff" rather than serious reading. That sounds really pathetic but hopefully it makes sense.

The Day of the Jackel is superb though.

[foot-loose]

Ive not read any of Pratchetts books yet but they are on the list. I saw The Hogfather at Christmas and although I enjoyed it, I did find it a bit odd.

[DemonHorse]

The Day of the Jackel is superb though.

and one of the examples where the film almost equals the book... and by film I don't mean that one with Bruce Willis, Richard Gere, and a pre-real-fame Jack Black. I'm talking about the one made in 1973 and made with a plot much closer to the original.

[Gaspode_The_Wonder_Dog]

hmm I am with the people who say the film never lives up to the book. In particular there have been no decent John Grisham ones.