tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post4039601625404549450..comments2023-12-12T16:30:15.159+00:00Comments on Floor to Ceiling Books: Reasons Why Malazan Could Never Be A TV SeriesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-61763672995066017342016-01-03T19:39:01.530+00:002016-01-03T19:39:01.530+00:00The books are the story. there's no need for a...The books are the story. there's no need for an adaptation.Shamushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02425340105986634717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-16306312278822643812015-04-12T02:27:59.794+01:002015-04-12T02:27:59.794+01:00Technology isn't an issue, it's just the c...Technology isn't an issue, it's just the cost of it that would be exorbitant. Same issue with animation (see the Dragonlance feature length film).<br />The issue is so much of the series is internal dialogue. That doesn't translate easily to film.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-7820779328772792732014-12-01T10:22:28.484+00:002014-12-01T10:22:28.484+00:00The best medium for a Malazan adaptation is an ani...The best medium for a Malazan adaptation is an anime series. In fact, it already has a lot of anime characteristics.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-33767731303593058492011-06-27T08:28:45.540+01:002011-06-27T08:28:45.540+01:00This is something which my friends and I have disc...This is something which my friends and I have discussed on occasion (what series would make good movies/tv/etc), and it was actually surprising how unanimous opinion on Malazan was. It's too broad in scope to fit a live action series for the reasons you've listed above, and far too complex to reasonably condense into movie format - with one or two notable exceptions. There are a few relatively isolated storylines which could be made into fantastic movies, the most notable of which is the Chain of Dogs. <br /><br />It can be taken in isolation from the rest of the storylines in that book, as it doesn't really interweave with Kalam, Fiddler, Mappo and Icarium, Duiker and Felisin, or any of the other players in the novel. There would be a few other minor modifications needed (Kulp could be removed and Duiker could have a different reason to be missing early on - or better yet, be there from the start, there would need to be a different reason for the arrival of the Trygalle Trade Guild, or a different means for the goods to arrive, those sorts of things), but they would be relatively minor details to quibble over in the big picture of the story, and its ending could prove to be one of those moments which manages to bridge the gap in the minds of moviegoers of fantasy as simple escapism into something compelling.<br /><br />That being said, for the entire series as a whole, as Scott said, consensus was that it could make an excellent animated series - easier to digest in the 30 minute timeslot, seasons are composed of a much larger number of episodes (counts of which are more flexible), and the difficulty with CG and other aspects of race/how to depict Ascendants and Gods/etc become much more minor due to the flexibility which the format of animation allows. That being said, there's still quite the learning curve for new viewers, and the problem of which venue/channel would be willing to tackle a series of this magnitude in that sort of format, so it's likely a pipedream.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-6166728966860827802011-06-26T18:16:04.048+01:002011-06-26T18:16:04.048+01:00I think most of these are reasons why it would be ...I think most of these are reasons why it would be *difficult* to make MBotF into a quality TV series, but not reasons why it shouldn't be done.<br /><br />Personally, I would love to see it as a TV series, and I think it could be done with very little quality lost (nothing can be quite as good as the imagination, alas).<br /><br />But not now. As someone said, the technology just isn't there to make it possible budget-wise. But it is catching up rapidly, and who knows where we'll be in another few years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-82700246811424616912011-06-25T20:07:51.779+01:002011-06-25T20:07:51.779+01:00Scott: Great idea. the anime format too would be v...Scott: Great idea. the anime format too would be very nice knowing there are anime that run for dozens of episodes (people who know what shonen is will get what i'm talking about).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-43287004810161359702011-06-24T12:31:12.426+01:002011-06-24T12:31:12.426+01:00Well, to me it seems most of your arguments are mo...Well, to me it seems most of your arguments are more or less personal :) I happen to agree with quite a few of them at least a little bit but that doesn't mean I wouldn't like to see a Malazan TV series or a film. And like Steven Erikson himself said many times he wouldn't mind seeing it on screen, probably big instead od small :) but still.<br /><br />I must admit I used to share the opinion that some of the books should be just books but after some of the films and series I changed it. The series doesn't need to follow the books blindly or at all sometimes. It could be just situated in the same setting (and we all know there's enough things happening here on the fringes of the main story for a dozen more novels or TV series). TV and film are a totally different narrative mediums than books and that difference should be a good thing...we should embrace the diversity instead of moaning how this or that doesn't fit what it said on pages 5 through 75 or that they added new characters (e.g. The Hobbit...that news still rankles a bit though :P ). To be perfectly honest watching something that is completely true to the printed version would bore me half to death...Shhhh, I know what happens next ;)<br /><br />but that's just my opinion :) <br /><br />VinsVinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15415635006140238971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-90663329832089205282011-06-24T05:51:26.295+01:002011-06-24T05:51:26.295+01:00You are bang on Amanda! Having just finished GotM,...You are bang on Amanda! Having just finished GotM, it would be mind boggling how a producer would even go about adapting such a meaty piece into bite sized chunks. Perhaps a five part film, like a three part LOTR or six part Stat Wars? Dunno...a big part of me feels that this series should stay in written form glowing on our shelves. <br /><br />I have alot of respect for SE and what he (and IE) have done with this. Plus, they're both from Winnipeg (where I grew up) so you know it's good :)<br /><br />Book, not TV!<br /><br />DarrenDarren T. Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13107155992789108596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-20733211474447388482011-06-23T18:46:15.021+01:002011-06-23T18:46:15.021+01:00Ha... I was thinking about this the other day. I t...Ha... I was thinking about this the other day. I think the series, on the whole, is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too broad scoped and complex for it to ever work on TV. That's fine with me, though. I like it better in my head rather than on a screen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-22661203561500876612011-06-23T18:38:21.612+01:002011-06-23T18:38:21.612+01:00Oh, and to add China Mieville I think said it best...Oh, and to add China Mieville I think said it best at his signing here in Toronto: (paraphrasing)<br /><br />"There is some ludicrous common held notion that if your book is very good and behaves itself, it will grow up to be movie or a tv show. Why can't a book just be a book?"GunMetalBluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10374362891687088611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-78452738056148675782011-06-23T18:36:18.996+01:002011-06-23T18:36:18.996+01:00I would, however, go on to say that there is a par...I would, however, go on to say that there is a part of me that feels this series is very special to me. It came along at a very needed time in my life (the breakup of a previous long relationship, this would be back when MoI had only just hit paperback) and I disappeared into it. It's currently the gold that sits on my shelf. My favourite completed series and I will be doing a full series re-read later this summer. <br /><br />I guess my point is that it's almost like the source material has become so sacrosanct to me that I would be EVEN pickier with how it might be represented in another media, and most likely would wish it not to be made. In other words, I think you're totally right Amanda. One of the best fantasy series that should stay as books...and safely tucked away inside my head. A pure treasure.GunMetalBluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10374362891687088611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-11893430924709474502011-06-23T18:16:09.603+01:002011-06-23T18:16:09.603+01:00You are right, no question. The longer the series,...You are right, no question. The longer the series, the more unlikely it could - or would - be done justice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-42774568815191598062011-06-23T17:39:32.455+01:002011-06-23T17:39:32.455+01:00I could see it as an epic adult Animated series.I could see it as an epic adult Animated series.GunMetalBluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10374362891687088611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-27251495532466188522011-06-23T16:15:49.592+01:002011-06-23T16:15:49.592+01:00I believe the screenplay mostly featured the Phoen...I believe the screenplay mostly featured the Phoenix Inn regulars during the Malazan takeover attempt, so the resulting novel is (I imagine) quite a different animal.<br /><br />Erikson once said (on the forums, I believe) that he knew exactly how to adapt the books for the big screen, but until someone sat and wrote him a check, he was keeping his lips sealed.Salt-Man Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07042401821387954296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-56511699279068445662011-06-23T16:14:14.484+01:002011-06-23T16:14:14.484+01:00I think it would be difficult and probably a stret...I think it would be difficult and probably a stretch with today's tech. Maybe in another 10 years or so special effects will catch up with what would be needed.<br />As an example, in The Game of Thrones miniseries, they kind of skipped over the battle parts. I'm sure this was a cost thing and in GoT wasn't that big a deal. Skipping over the battle parts in Malazan would be bad--very bad.Steve Halterhttp://www.stevenhalter.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8463395374040679379.post-82742493429091026612011-06-23T15:44:51.771+01:002011-06-23T15:44:51.771+01:00I read somewhere that Erikson had originally writt...I read somewhere that Erikson had originally written a screenplay for Gardens of the Moon before turning it into a novel. If he wrote the screenplay, then I'd definitely want to watch the film.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com