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Post by Kainguru on Jan 8, 2016 7:42:24 GMT -8
Am I just getting old or does the new MTV adaptation of the Gemstones of Shannara suck rancid donkey balls? The opening sequence, fantastic - just how I imagined the Four Lands would look. Then it went down from there, the actors were pretty . . . vacant. Actually they were lackluster, uninspired, insipid eye-candy appealing to an audience within the narrow range of being equally vacant, lackluster and insipid. There were only two decent actors in the lot, and both were badly cast. The character of Allanon has gone from a manipulative mystic who never reveals the true extent of his power or his intentions to a grumbling thug who threatens compliance with his overt physicality and dour looks of contempt - basically Crixus from Spartacus if he could read. No surprise there as it's the same actor . . . but I don't think he's a bad actor, I actually think it is the directing that is stopping him from being 'Allanon' despite Manu Bennett's best efforts. Too obsessed with getting the cast half naked as often as possible, this-is-not-erotic . . . more pervert creepy. Given the majority of the cast are physically undeveloped for their ages (if you see what I'm getting at without spelling it out). MTV is trying to challenge Game of Thrones - they have a good story but they've really fucked it up by bringing in production values inspired by their other plastic brands of generic titillation. Game of Thrones works because it's grim, dark and gritty not because it has tits . . . Aaron
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Post by Arcona on Jan 15, 2016 5:19:29 GMT -8
I actually disagree.
I dont really remember the books as I was a kid when I read them and I cant say they made a huge impression. I still have sword of shannara in my book case but unlike other books I read at that age (Elric of Melimbone, Bram Stoker's dracula, Earth Sea by Leguine and Foundation by Aasimov) it just didnt stick with me.
So, I take this series indeed as a bandwagoner of the Fantasy genre turned series due to GOT success.
But I found the first double episode to be ok. None of the actors super stood out and all that but I watched it and enjoyed it. I didnt catch any hints of 'promise of nudity but no nudity' with the intent to get teen boys to watch (sure, the elf girl is bathing in the waterfall) because its pretty clear there wont be any of that.
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Post by Kainguru on Jan 15, 2016 13:17:07 GMT -8
I don't believe the younger actors are particularly 'strong' - they're eye candy. There are many young actors who could have done a much better job with the material if you are going to cast 'weak' actors you need a good director to bring out the best in them, but that direction is lacking as can seen in the sub-par performances of the more established older members of the cast. Teen fantasy has been done better in the past - with new actors - because it had talented directors and producers . . . Such as the old ITV Robin of Sherwood. Being teen TV doesn't excuse it from being quality TV - sure sex sells but so does a decently directed story. The success of GOT is as much to do with its production as it is its source material and very little to do with the tits and tackle it has on display. Spartacus was also well produced, and successful as a result. The Tudors was a gritty as it was 'sexy' with a good, young, cast. MTV have got the balance wrong . . . It's a series not a pop video. Aaron
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