Wednesday, August 10, 2011

GAME OF THRONES on HBO

A Game of Thrones is the first book in A Song of Ice and Fire, a series of epic fantasy novels by American author George R. R. Martin.

Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens.

The Dothraki, an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; Viserys Targaryen, a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister, Daenarys, to win back his throne; and a determined woman undertakes the most treacherous of journeys. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

First of all, this adaptation is superb if not perfect of course. There are some modifications or additions but not deviations, so far they stay true to the books. I think the modifications was for the cinematic value because this is a new series which has a limited budget which also affects the fight scences ( i hope they give us more on season two coz season one has such a high rating). I hope also that they add more episodes, well this is a specialty TV it has lesser episodes than Network TV.

As for the characters...

Sean Bean as Ned Stark is very effective like when that important moment happens (no spoiler), the effect is profound, The starks children are good except for Bran (but thats just me), most of the children are hard on the jaw line but Bran is kind of soft for me. Kit Hartington for John Snow is not who i imagined while reading the books ( but Kit is hot...so its ok haha). Their mother Catelyn, i imagined her as beautiful, loving but strong (i didnt say the actress is ugly but i prefer a more distinct beauty, anyway she's been fought over by two strong man, make it three).

The Lannisters is spot on specially Peter Drinklage as Tyrion Lannister, Peter could have won an emmy for that role. I have a hard time accepting the actor cast as King Robert Baratheon, im not really digging him (sorry).

Emilia Clarke is a fine choice for Daenarys Targaryen, she may not be that young for the role but Daenerys is one of the characters whose development and maturity is very fast. If they'd go for a young actor, she may not be a believable queen material.

And I like Jason Momoa for Khal Drogo, very hot and very strong indeed. He's born to be Khal Drogo ( i just wish Khal Drogo is.... ok no spoilers... sigh)

Overall, the casting is superb. I like how the dialogues came out from the books, the attention to details and they stay true to the books ( they better do because if they dont, they will ruin a very good book). This is one of the book adaptation that you have almost nothing to complain ( just improve on the CGI coz this is fantasy genre), more like Lord of the Rings.

Im attaching the trailer...enjoy!