Discworld on TV

[Narkalui]

Any thoughts anyone?

I've seen the cast list for Colour of Magic and although generally it seems ok, I think the casting of the two leads is diabolical: Eric Idle as Rincewind and Bert Kwok as Twoflower would have been MUCH better. I can live with David Jason as Rincewind but Sean 'Lord of the Rings Wrecker' Astin as Twoflower? Please!

 

[Who's Wee Dug]

I was at the Premier for TCOM SKY screening on Monday eve. although I was like quite a few others thought that David Jason was miscast as Rincewind he was not too bad in the actual film,Sean Austin was Ok as well ,Bert Kwok would have been too old to effectively play the part required.

They only showed the 1st half same as they did with the Hogfather,but what there was it really good the effects were as we would say are MAGIC

 

[Urlik]

I was talking to a friend about the casting and we came to the conclusion that Graham Chapman would have been perfect for Rincewind.

Jackie Chan as Twoflower would also be good (with that large innocent smile and the ability to look as if he doesn't understand what is going on around him)

 

[Adasunshine]

From reading the latest Skymag (yes I do this on occasion although I don't really know why...), apparently David Jason has always wished to play Rincewind and thus I hope really put some effort into it... I do think he's a good actor if a little overrated so I'm keen to see what his portrayal of Rincewind is like... the costume looks good though!

Still, the article also said that Terry Pratchett is very involved with theses adaptations, even when casting the actors so I assume David Jason got the Pratchett seal of approval and if it's good enough for the Master then it's good enough for me!

Does anyone know when it's being aired on SkyOne?

xx

 

[HoopyFrood]

I've been seeing quite a few advertisements for this lately (I was in a pub the other day and saw an advert appear on the tv and gave a big gasp, much to the bemusement of my family) and was going to start a thread. I'm another who's a little dubious with David Jason's playing Rincewind -- I really hope he does a good job of it because Rincewind is definitely one of my favourite characters. I like David Jason, he's a good actor, but Rincewind he just ain't...But anyway, judgment will be reserved until I watch The Colour of Magic (hopefully I'll get a chance to this time, I missed Hogfather -- although, seeing as I've actually read The Colour of Magic, whereas I'm still yet to reach the Hogfather, I'll know the plot of this one!)

 

[Who's Wee Dug]

From reading the latest Skymag (yes I do this on occasion although I don't really know why...), apparently David Jason has always wished to play Rincewind and thus I hope really put some effort into it... I do think he's a good actor if a little overrated so I'm keen to see what his portrayal of Rincewind is like... the costume looks good though!

Still, the article also said that Terry Pratchett is very involved with theses adaptations, even when casting the actors so I assume David Jason got the Pratchett seal of approval and if it's good enough for the Master then it's good enough for me!

Does anyone know when it's being aired on SkyOne?

xx

Easter it is billed as being shown I hope both parts, as Monday night only part one was shown. WITH THE DREADED WORDS to be continued

 

[Who's Wee Dug]

I was talking to a friend about the casting and we came to the conclusion that Graham Chapman would have been perfect for Rincewind.

Jackie Chan as Twoflower would also be good (with that large innocent smile and the ability to look as if he doesn't understand what is going on around him)

well Ideally if you want to retain authenticy it would be a Japanese actor and not Chinese.(not that I am being pedantic)

 

[Who's Wee Dug]

I've been seeing quite a few advertisements for this lately (I was in a pub the other day and saw an advert appear on the tv and gave a big gasp, much to the bemusement of my family) and was going to start a thread. I'm another who's a little dubious with David Jason's playing Rincewind -- I really hope he does a good job of it because Rincewind is definitely one of my favourite characters. I like David Jason, he's a good actor, but Rincewind he just ain't...But anyway, judgment will be reserved until I watch The Colour of Magic (hopefully I'll get a chance to this time, I missed Hogfather -- although, seeing as I've actually read The Colour of Magic, whereas I'm still yet to reach the Hogfather, I'll know the plot of this one!)

Well Hoopy you better read Going Postal while you are at it as that is going to be the next one filmed as stated by Pterry in the talk he gave after.

 

[Urlik]

well Ideally if you want to retain authenticy it would be a Japanese actor and not Chinese.(not that I am being pedantic)

there are elements of Chinese and Japanese in the Aurient
Hung Hung is more of a Chinese name and the descriptions of the food and market stalls in Interesting Times have a very Chinese flavour

but Twoflower does have a lot of the classic Japanese tourist stereotype about him

 

[Who's Wee Dug]

True! as is the old greeting I believe in Chinese (Ahh Glasshopper). may you live in interesting times ahh!so sorry that was hard to resist.

but in the COM while Discworld was in it's infancy it was a typical sterotyped Japanese persona.

 

[Pyan]

Well Hoopy you better read Going Postal while you are at it as that is going to be the next one filmed as stated by Pterry in the talk he gave after.

Shame...I'd have liked to see one of the the Guards books done next.

 

[Narkalui]

Yeah me too! Paul Whitehouse and Mel Smith as Nobby and Colon would be great! The actor they had as Nobby in Hogfather looked too young and not weird enough...

 

[Urlik]

True! as is the old greeting I believe in Chinese (Ahh Glasshopper). may you live in interesting times ahh!so sorry that was hard to resist.

but in the COM while Discworld was in it's infancy it was a typical sterotyped Japanese persona.

unfortunately, I think we do live in interesting times
but that's another topic for another forum

as the Discworld's Aurient has always been an amalgum of Japanese and Chinese, it wouldn't hurt to have a Chinese actor playing Twoflower.

and trust me to forget about the red army of IT when stating my case for a Chinese influence of the Aurient

after a bit of thought, seeing as Graham Chapman can't play Rincewind, no matter how good he would have been, I was thinking that Steve Coogan could probably play the part exceedingly well

 

[Joel007]

I'm not sure how much acting ability is required to play Rincewind since his job is to move quickly while looking alternately miserable and terrified.

 

[Who's Wee Dug]

It would have been more in keeping on the lines of the book to have someone oriential in looks, but that is only nitpicking they keep quite close to the book which is good.

Must reread it again soon to totally refresh myself for I am sure I will have forgotten some things.

 

[Ice fyre]

I'm a bit dubious. I wasnt too enamored with the Hogfather adaptation (wrong book IMO) as I dont get SKY I wont be seeing this for a while and after the disapointment I felt at the Hogfather I'm not going to be going out of my way to find this on DVD.

Hope you all enjoyed it though

 

[Urlik]

I'm not sure how much acting ability is required to play Rincewind since his job is to move quickly while looking alternately miserable and terrified.

and if you watch Graham Chapman in Monty Python's Life of Brian, he does that very well
he also had the perfect voice for saying things like "it's going to go horribly wrong" which may not be a Rincewind quote, but certainly could be

Steve Coogan is a fantastic character actor and could easily play Rincewind and also has the lean physique of a natural coward good at running away over long distances

I'm still dubious about how good this will be
my expectations aren't that high after Hogfather, so I may be pleasantly surprised.
I'll still watch it when it is on

 

[HoopyFrood]

I can't say I ever pictured Twoflower as the 'typical' Chinese/Japanese tourist...I think it's because I read the copy with the awesome Josh Kirby illustrations in which Twoflower was a little fellow in bright clothing and literally had four eyes and I think that image stuck in my head while I was reading.

Plus, I never really 'see' characters when reading, anyway, except for the very, very loose details (I think I think in verbs -- tend to 'see' movement and a little of the setting instead ) so I guess I shouldn't keep harping on about characters looking like I imagine them -- as long as the actors do a good job and the films recreate the magic of Discworld, then I'll be happy.

 

[Montero]

I think it's because I read the copy with the awesome Josh Kirby illustrations in which Twoflower was a little fellow in bright clothing and literally had four eyes and I think that image stuck in my head while I was reading.

Read/heard an interview either with Pterry or Josh Kirby where Terry catches up with Kirby and says something to the effect "Josh, like the picture, but you wear glasses, don't you?"
"Yes"
"And what did they call you at school?"

Later editions has Twoflower in spectacles, with only two eyes.

 

[Marky Lazer]

The official website is now online! Shiny and all flashy: Sky one - The Colour of magic