[spaintv]

Tonight Canada's Movie Network and the USAs Starz! finally premiere the TV adaptaion of the Ken Follet novel THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSa6AhEWebA

About the novel:
The Pillars of the Earth is a historical novel by Ken Follett published in 1989 about the building of a cathedral in Kingsbridge, England. It is set in the middle of the twelfth century, primarily during the time sometimes called the Anarchy, between the time of the sinking of the White Ship and the murder of Thomas Becket.

The book traces the development of Gothic architecture out of the preceding Romanesque architecture and the fortunes of the Kingsbridge priory against the backdrop of actual historical events of the time. Although Kingsbridge is the name of an actual English town, the Kingsbridge in the novel is actually a fictional location representative of a typical market town of the time.

TV Adaptaion starring:
Ian McShane as Waleran
Donald Sutherland as Bartholomew
Rufus Sewell as Tom Builder
Matthew Macfadyen as Prior Philip
Sarah Parish as Regan Hamleigh
David Oakes as William Hamleigh
Robert Bathurst as Percy Hamleigh
Hayley Atwell as Aliena
Sam Claflin as Richard
Eddie Redmayne as Jack
Liam Garrigan as Alfred
Skye Bennett as Martha
Gordon Pinsent as the Archbishop
Natalia Worner as Ellen
Anatole Taubman as Remigius
Goetz Otto as Walter
Jody Halse as Johnny Eightpence
David Bark Jones as Francis



Personally I havent read the novel, but I am looking fwd to this TV adaptaion. Will anyone else be watching at Canada / US Pace?

[nethwen]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSa6AhEWebA

Thank you. This trailer looks awesome.

I won't be able to watch the series on those channels but I hope it is broadcast soon on British TV. Can't wait.

Prior Philip <3

[Shrike]

I'd thoroughly recommend the novel - looking forward to the adaptation - hope it doesn't disappoint!

[lea27]

Originally Posted by nethwen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSa6AhEWebA

Thank you. This trailer looks awesome.

I won't be able to watch the series on those channels but I hope it is broadcast soon on British TV. Can't wait.

Prior Philip <3

Hope this comes to our screens soon,, looks good!

[Vintage06]

Looks very good. whats the premiere date?

[spaintv]

Originally Posted by Vintage06

Looks very good. whats the premiere date?

US and Canada premiere the series tonight with a double length episode.

If you are referring to a UK broadcast date - don't think there is one as yet with no channel having confirmed the purchase of the series. Nonetheless, maybe someone else has an idea about a UK broadcast date - I prefer watching at US / Canada pace hence starting up this thread.

[Triple Sulko]

Originally Posted by spaintv

US and Canada premiere the series tonight with a double length episode.

If you are referring to a UK broadcast date - don't think there is one as yet with no channel having confirmed the purchase of the series. Nonetheless, maybe someone else has an idea about a UK broadcast date - I prefer watching at US / Canada pace hence starting up this thread.

http://www.the-pillars-of-the-earth....=85&Itemid=118

Channel 4 has confirmed purchase. I can't wait for this to air. The above website has loads of stuff to browse - clips, photos, stories of how they made the series, etc. etc.

[Vintage06]

US does me fine thanks

[spaintv]

Cant find a copy as yet at my usual! Anybody found one to "acquire"??

[stud u like]

Originally Posted by spaintv

Cant find a copy as yet at my usual! Anybody found one to "acquire"??

The yanks aren't up yet.

[spaintv]

Originally Posted by stud u like

The yanks aren't up yet.

Yah I know, but now i the Summer most of my shows are available 5-6am. IN the Winter its 3-5am. Guess ill have to wait lol

[stud u like]

Originally Posted by spaintv

Yah I know, but now i the Summer most of my shows are available 5-6am. IN the Winter its 3-5am. Guess ill have to wait lol

I am looking forward to seeing it next week in denver.

[pzboyz]

Glad I saw this thread, looks like it is going to be shown during our long winter nights I think.

[BuddyBontheNet]

I've just downloaded the audio book - didn't know a show was being made - fantastic!

[BuddyBontheNet]

Originally Posted by spaintv

Cant find a copy as yet at my usual! Anybody found one to "acquire"??

Try searching on FilesTube.com.

[spaintv]

Originally Posted by BuddyBontheNet

Try searching on FilesTube.com.

thanks for that. In the end I found one late yesterday. It took much longer than it usually does lol. ILl be watching it sometime today

[jabegy]

The book is magnificent and my all time favourite, I've read it 3 times. I hope this production does it justice. I'll have to watch it when it comes to the UK.

[Shrike]

I've now seen episode one - quite enjoyable all in all, not too far from the book - I noted Ken Follet is listed as an 'adviser' so I suppose that kept it on track

They have gone a bit 'Braveheart' with some of the history though - Princess Matilda would have been eighteen when the white ship sank killing her brother and in her early thirties when Henry I died leaving her to battle Stephen for the crown. Henry I famously died after eating lampreys, but I'm pretty sure at the time all poisons available left obvious signs on the body - so I doubt Walaran really had any hand in it

[KennyT]

Just finished watching ep2, very good. Some of the casting leaves a bit to be desired (Donald Sutherland, for one!) but other than that, I've enjoyed it thus far.

K

[seansnotmyname@]

I enjoyed it, yes they had to do a different pacing, but that's inevitable when it was such a monster of a book.

I only just read the book a few months ago. I like the casting loads, no-one irritates me and makes me cringe, thinking they're wildly inappropriate.

[KennyT]

Up to ep3, now. Bit "Macbethian" but still good stuff!

K

[spaintv]

Finally caught up. Just watched the first 3 back to back and really really enjoyed that. They flew by despite each episode being 55mins long!

Liking the casting. Production values are really good too. At times it felt like I was watching a movie instead of a TV show!

The one thing that confuses me is time. Dunno, at times it feels like not much time has elapsed in the story, when it seems that some considerable time must have elapsed.

Havent read the novel am ashamed to say. The way they sold it to me "Tis the story about the building of a cathedral" didnt appeal to me - but watching this I can see that its much much more than that. Looking fwd to reading the novel soon.

[Rosie Red]

Originally Posted by spaintv

Havent read the novel am ashamed to say. The way they sold it to me "Tis the story about the building of a cathedral" didnt appeal to me -.

Same here, but a friend had bought it for me, so I gave it a go, and I was actually hooked from the first page.

And the sequel is brilliant too.

[Shrike]

If anyone fancies a bit of history from the era BBC2 is starting a series on the Normans tonight:

The Normans

[BuddyBontheNet]

I held off starting to watch this series until my husband could watch it with me. I've only seen the first part and a bit of the second, but I'm sorry to say that I think it was pretty dreadful.

It was full of hammy acting and 'Saturday morning picture show' scenes - I felt like I should be booing or stamping my feet! Ian McShane as Waleran (that wig), Alison Pill as Maud (OMG), Robert Bathurst as Percy Hamleigh (good grief ), Sarah Parish as Regan Hamleigh (I burst out laughing when she burst through the door and in to her knees saying she had news for the king) and Donald Sutherland as Bartholomew (he must be short of cash) - all dreadful. On the other hand Matthew Macfadyen as Prior Philip, Eddie Redmayne as Jack, Natalia Wörner as Ellen and Rufus Sewell as Tom Builder were all pretty good.

Maybe it's the script, but what a load of tosh - the Americans will love it.

Maybe I'll watch it on my own to see if it gets any better!