game of Thrones is the title of the first book in an unfinished fantasy series by George RR Martin, titled A song of fire and ice. game of Thrones is also a recently released game on 360 and PS3, a board game, a card game, a tabletop RPG, a graphic novel, the subject of several iOS and Google Play apps, and an upcoming Facebook game. It’s also one of the most popular IPs right now, thanks in no small part to the hit HBO show currently airing its second season, as well as the Emmy and Globe Award-winning DVD/Blu-ray release of the first season. Gold, available now.
I’ll be honest. I am a supporter of the principle that the book is always better than the movie. Only in cases where the book was written first, that is. If it says “The novelization based on the movie” on the cover, then it’s on. I’m smug like that. Even when I know the book is better, because it’s always better, every once in a while I’m drawn to seeing a film adaptation. Maybe it’s because a friend, or a naive reviewer, says something like “as good as the book”. Sometimes it’s because I’m such a fan of the source material that I have to watch it being torn apart with my own eyes.
Either way, whenever I see a movie based on a book I’ve read, I always have one of three reactions: 1) Pleasantly surprised (ie. Fight Club, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile). 2) Decidedly indifferent (train sightingby stephen king That,). 3) Desperate, a made-up word that combines despair and horror (Breakfast of Champions, everything else Stephen King let be made into a movie that isn’t listed here yet). In all cases, whether surprised, indifferent, or discouraged, I still think the book is superior to the movie in every way. until game of Thrones namely. Now my view of the world has been shattered.
To HBO’s credit, the show stays very faithful to the source material, differing only in the most minute details. Much of the dialogue is straight from the novel, and in hindsight the pacing of the book is almost ideal for writing a screenplay. This may be due to Martin’s earlier work as a television writer, most notably for the mid-’80s revival of The twilight zone. From the start, the show seems to focus on Eddard Stark, the Lord of Winterfell, and the Warden of the North. Early in the series, he is called upon by his old friend Robert Baratheon, who has become King of the Seven Kingdoms, to help him rule as the king’s chief adviser, the Hand. Over the course of 10 episodes, we’re introduced to a myriad of nobles, charlatans, knaves, and scoundrels, but by the end of the first season it’s apparent that the show’s only real stars are the intrigue, court machinations, and the things that go wrong. people will do as they pursue power. Of course, while people are playing their game, the shadow of a greater threat looms. Winter is coming.
It’s hard to deny that the show is outstanding, as evidenced by the aforementioned Emmy and Golden Globe Awards for Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Drama Series on Television, respectively. The cast is excellent and includes Peter Dinklage, who also won an Emmy for his portrayal of Tyrion Lannister, and Sean Bean as Eddard ‘Ned’ Stark. Bean is probably best known for his portrayal of Boromir in the Peter Jackson film. Lord of the Rings trilogy (Pleasantly surprised at that, if you’re in the know.)
The cinematography is also excellent and adds a visual element that is missing from the books. Martin’s writing is largely focused on characters, and flowery descriptions of environments are few and far between. Shot largely in Northern Ireland and Malta, the sets and secondary shots are beautiful, bringing the forts and castles to life in a way that Martin himself does not.
Although jokingly described as “The sopranos in Middle-earth” by series co-creator David Benioff, the description is quite apt. Like Tolkien’s trilogy, game of Thrones it would have to be considered “high fantasy” due to the presence of mythical creatures and mystical/magical elements. However, these things play more into the background of Martin’s books, as well as the show, with game of Thrones leaning more towards the Middle Ages than Middle Earth. The sopranos the comparison is a little more apt. Like, and many other HBO shows, game of Thrones he is decidedly adult. Nudity and gratuitous violence abound throughout the series and are the only real source of complaint voiced by critics of the show. However, if you are looking for a show that has all the backstabbing and violence of The sopranosall the sex of californicationand as many people covered in dirt as old thing, you should probably come over to Slackers and order the first season of Game of Thrones on Blu-ray or DVD today. Even if you’re not looking for a new show to watch, you still need to watch this one. I can hardly believe I’m saying this, but it really is as good as the book.