*staaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaares*

[essayel]

They are making a film of The Eagle of the Ninth with some Ben Affleck clone as Marcus Aquila. I REALLY hope they don't do to it what they did to The Dark Is Rising.

For people too young to remember, The Eagle of the Ninth is a fabulous kids' book where a young Roman lad and his British slave have adventures north of Hadrian's wall. I adore it and the subsequent novels. The author, Rosemary Sutcliffe, died some years ago. She's one of my heros - I read her stuff and thought 'I want to write like that'. It always hurts to see things you love mangled.

*calms down and hopes for the best*

Comments

[metallumai.livejournal.com]

Of COURSE they're going to mess it up. Filmmakers always do. I like Rosemary Sutcliffe, love The Dark is Rising series (didn't know they'd made it into a film, though.)I'd stay away from it, if I were you.

But I will now look for Eagle of the North. You're a SOURCE, medear. How's the new Writing? How's Paul?

[essayel.livejournal.com]

http://movies.yahoo.com/photos/movie-stills/gallery/2299/the-eagle-of-the-ninth-stills#photo4

Esca - clean shaven - and look at the Victorian carpet hanging in the back ground!

The Eagle of the Ninth - referring to the Ninth Legion and their lost standard. It's - gorgeous! Very dated, but a lovely piece of work

The new writing - stalled.

Paul's tense still and very unhappy. We've considered selling the house and moving to a much smaller place where we might manage on my wages and what pension he'd get, but he's only just got the heating in, after 13 years of cold, and his workshop organised how he wants it. I'm hoping things will improve with the weather.

*hugs*

[metallumai.livejournal.com]

JAMIE BELL!! My, how he's grown. I remembered his name from "Billy Elliot."

Moving is never any fun, but neither is being miserable. You were talking about looking for a different house when I was there last; hope you find something good, or manage to survive where you are. Teaching steals your soul; I have noticed that since I quit teaching, my headaches and stiff neck have completely disappeared. Paul should be able to create a niche for himself with wood artistry, I'd think; it would take a while, but I'll bet he'd do well. (I knew "Ninth", I just wrote it wrong because 'north of the Wall.' I have since ordered it used from Amazon-- $3.45. Amazon is my friend.)

[ceitfianna]

Oh that was such a good book, I remember loving it when I read it.

Also the clone is in a new movie called Dear John, I think he's a good actor but that's about all I know.

[essayel.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it will be very popular, since I understand that Channing Tatum has a following, but I can't see it bearing much resmblance to the book I loved.

The Hollywoodisation of The Dark is Rising broke my brain just a bit. I don't want the rest of my illusions shattered.

[ceitfianna]

I only saw a preview of The Dark is Rising and that was terrifying. Yeah, Hollywood's not kind to books.

[yakalskovich]

Well, I'll hope for the best. I used to love that book as an older kid when, in the wake of falling in love with 'A Struggle For Rome', I read all the historical novels in the library I could lay hand on.

I'm sure the Nazgul will want to see it, too. We won't get out of the cinema this year!

Especially as we tend to see the movies we liked twice...

[essayel.livejournal.com]

I won't go. I've made up my mind that it will suck. I've seen some photos - Esca, clean shaven, short haired and with pube skimming leather trousers will have his poor little anachronistic brains slashed out - it will be like watching someone nail puppies to a barn door.

[bitchy-brat.livejournal.com]

Eli: Ben Affleck clone? No way I'm an original...

/random

Most times, I have learned that the movies are never as good as the books. Something always gets screwed up. It is inevitable. Not sure if I will go to see it, but eventually I will watch the movie. And read the book, when I get some free time.

[essayel.livejournal.com]

I agree totally that movies are never as good as books. They lack the depth. Sometimes they can be very good - the LOTR trilogy for instance - but they are usually made by people who are passionate about the project and concerned to get it right. Just looking at the photos of costumes and settings I can see that this won't be.

The lead is Eli? The photos don't look like him.

[bitchy-brat.livejournal.com]

yup! Channing Tatum is Eli's pb :D Eli just has less hair.

[essayel.livejournal.com]

That's probably it. This thin lipped grim looking fellow (http://movies.yahoo.com/photos/movie-stills/gallery/2299/the-eagle-of-the-ninth-stills#photo1) doesn't look like pouty Eli and the hair completes the job.

[wulfila.livejournal.com]

Oh, please, please, please don't let them ruin it! I liked the "Eagle of the Ninth" a lot, but one of the sequels, "The Lantern Bearers", and its direct sequel, "Sword at Sunset", which is more of a book for adults, are among my all time favourite novels and I adored the Aquila in those books (a descendant of the original one). I would hate for any of Sutcliff's books to be turned into a less than brillant film (and I do hope they stay away from "Knight's Fee" forever, for a less than perfect Herluin would probably make me weep).

Ahem, yes, I admit that Rosemary Sutcliff was my favourite author when I was a child (and probably still is, to a certain degree). ;)

[hyssop-and-rue.livejournal.com]

The Lantern Bearers with that wonderful flawed hero is by far her best book I think. I read all her books aloud to my daughter and we sat together and sobbed over that one.

Sword at Sunset has the first literary gay couple I ever saw AND they are portrayed very positively [though she follows the trope of having them die]. She must have influenced generations of writers.