By
Red on Black (Cardiff) (TOP 500 REVIEWER)
Having never read any of the "Song of Ice and Fire" series of fantasy epic books by George R . R. Martin's (with the fifth about to be released) has not proven a significant problem in following HBOs epic serialisation. Granted approaching the television series did require some care since the pre fanfare on Sky cast it as sort of "Lord of the Rings Lite" not least with the presence of Sean Bean. Happily this is not the case. For one "Game of thrones" is largely free of huge set piece battles, it also requires real patience since it is a series that slowly unfurls it gl ories through multiple plots and all kinds of political skullduggery. This is high fantasy for Machiavelli fans since "Game of thrones" has a "Il Principe" quality to it as rulers struggle to maintain or gain power through a mixture of the methodical exercise of brute force, deceit and downright treachery. Indeed some have suggested that it not so much Gandalf the Grey as James J. Gandolfini from the Sopranos. It is in addition it is beautifully filmed, has incredible sets and you almost shiver with the chill of Winterfell and the ancient Ice Wall. But at the heart of this series is tremendous characterization and intriguing plots which gradually weave together to great effect. And as with most HBO series this is a very liberal sprinkling of sex and violence, thus if you don't like this sort of thing please don't buy it. No review could do justice to all the characters so lets pick out a few. Bean is of course very solid as Ned Stark and so to is Michelle Fairley as his wi fe Catelyn. The emerging star of the Stark family however is the wonderful young actress Maisie Williams as their daughter Ayra who somehow dominates the screen everytime she comes on and grows in importance as the plot line evolves. Their primary enemies are the Lannisters who are a mixed bunch. For the life of me every time Jaime Lannister (Nikolaj Coster Waldau) enters the series I can help but think of "Lieutenant Templeton "Face" Peck" (Dirk Benedict) from the A Team! That said this family contains the two real stars of the series the beautifully twisted and power hungry English actress Lena Headey as Cersei Lannister and the utterly sublime Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister who brings new meaning to the term "poison dwarf". Cersai is the archetypical power behind the throne, cruel and bent of gaining power. She is beautiful but twisted and not in the least anxious about incestuous relationships , murder and deceit if they will seal power. Baddies always have the best lines and a classic is her lecture to Starks daughter which is a lovely piece of sarcastic realpolitik. As she questions "Do you have any notion what happens when a city is sacked, Sansa? No, you wouldn't, would you? All you know of life you learned from singers, and there is such a dearth of good sacking songs." As for Dinklage his part of Tyrion the dwarf is an acting masterclass. He plays the part of this "half man" as a lecturous, whoring, rude, cunning and often hilarious character with such aplomb that he steals every scene and you feel almost guilty for liking him quite so much. His scenes at the prison at Eyrie or with the Mountain Clans of the Vale are some of the best as his survival instinct kicks in and he outmanoeuvres his capturers. Fantastic stuff and other honourable mentions should go Jason Momoa as Khal Drogo the powerful and violent horse lord and his surprisingly resilient wife Daenerys Targaryen played by the lovely Emilla Clarke. "Game of thrones" is m ade up of a predominantly British and Irish cast who demonstrate that our two little islands have talent to spare. It is series which more than lives up to advanced billing and HBO will thankfully be filming a second outing shortly particularly as the ominous threat of "winter coming" and all sorts of viciousness from the other side of the Ice Wall looms large. All in all it's a great series and should secure a prime position on the shelf near the Wire, the West Wing, the Sopranos and your other big box sets. Recommended without hesitation or deviation.
By
Daniella Obraztsov (Kansas City, MO) (REAL NAME)
IF YOU'VE NEVER READ GAME OF THRONES.....Should you watch the sho w or read the book first? (no real spoilers)First - just to note (in case you didn't know), Game of Thrones is based on a book series called "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R.R. Martin. There are five so far (the first written in 1996, the most recent written in 2011), and he's planning to write at least two more (at the time of this review - 1/4/12). "A Game of Thrones" is the first installment of the series. HBO decided they liked the name "Game of Thrones" rather than "A Song of Ice and Fire" (I can see why) and so that's the name of the whole series. Each season is based on one novel. So the first season was based on "A Game of Thrones" and the second season will be based on the second book, "A Clash of Kings," and so on...the second season will air in April, 2012.Anyway, back to the original question. Show or book first?This is a really difficult question. For most books turned into show/movie, you'll want to read the book first, because it is usually superior to the adaptation. However, we are talking about HBO here, so be prepared for a VERY good show. Are there differences from the book? Yes, but in general it stays true to the storyline and all differences are done artistically and were approved by the author, George R.R. Martin.NUMBER OF CHARACTERS - There are a LOT of characters in this story. Because the show has to be condensed somewhat from a 800 page novel to 10 hours of airtime, it can get really confusing to know who is who while watching the show. It can get confusing in the book as well, but things are usually more detailed for you in the book so it is easier to reference. However, it always help to put a face to a name, so that's a plus for the show. But once again, sometimes there will be a really long part in the book that will be eliminated entirely from the show, and the absence can throw you off a little. The book definitely has more backstory, and you'll probably be able to more accurately identify characters when w atching the show after.NEW SCENES FOR THE SHOW - Since we can't just look into the minds of the characters as in the book, there are a lot of invented scenes between characters in the show. This isn't a bad thing, but it's just to give you more of an idea of who these people are and what is going on in their minds. There is also a (sort-of) made-up character for the show, the prostitute Ros. At first I thought she was added in there for just eye candy or something and found that sort of annoying, but ultimately I think she is just an outlet for us to get into the minds of characters since it's a show and not a book. Also, her interactions with Greyjoy display (in my opinion) his disgusting personality, and since he's a much more important character in book 2 than 1 (his personality and backstory are almost non-existent in Book 1, they just hint at it), Ros was a way to kind of ease his character into the second season.DIFFERENCES - Like I said, the show is generally true to the book. However, if you read the book first, you may get super annoyed with some of the differences when watching the show. One of the major differences is ages. Everyone is a lot older in the show (the children, especially), and people are generally a lot different and better looking. That's not really an issue though, or else the show would seem odd and creepy. An example is Dany, a 13 year old in the book, is in frequent nude and sex scenes. In the show, I think they say she is 15 or 16 (but the actress is actually 24). It would also seem silly if Robb (14ish in the book) was actually 14 in the show, with him playing the type of role he has. My major gripe was a few storyline differences that I didn't think were necessary at all for the show, but I'm a nitpicker. An example is the major absence of direwolves in the show. They're there, but are much more prevalent in the book! I love the direwolves and think they are very symbolic, and wish HBO did more with them. Maybe in the next season.DO YOU LIKE TO READ? - That's probably the best way to decide. The book is BIG. Around 800 pages. It's similar in size to a Harry Potter book, and in my opinion, even more captivating. But it's a LOT of material, and you have to really pay attention due to the number of characters and intertwining story lines. If reading isn't your strong suit, the show may be better at breaking it down for you.YOU CAN'T GO WRONGIf you are an HBO fan, you know that HBO doesn't produce garbage. This show is a masterpiece - one of my favorite shows in a long, long time. It reminds me of a mix of Lord of the Rings and the Sopranos, with it's edgy, unforgiving attitude and a splash, but not too much, of fantasy. People aren't casting spells with wands like Harry Potter or anything. The fantasy aspect is very, very subtle. Actually, way more subtle than I expected. It's very reminiscent of medieval times. The acting is superb and like most HBO shows, there aren't a lot of big n ames. The scenery and the show itself is drop dead gorgeous, however, maybe due to budget constraints - the show feels quite a bit "smaller" than the book. Feasts, castles, celebrations, cities....all seem smaller in the show.I think all changes in the show were done very well and nothing butchered the book. In some ways, it is even better than the book, and I think aids it in really bringing it to life. Plus, Martin was along for the ride of the writing and making of the show, so you know he wouldn't let them deviate too much from the heart of the story.My two major recommendations are:#1 - watch show, read book, re-watch show: this is better if it's hard for you to get into books or just really want to see it first. Then you can read the book, and think, "Hmm...I never remember seeing this person," and low and behold, when you watch it the second time around, that character IS there. It really puts the pieces together. However, prepare to be confused. This is normal. The s how has many, many major characters, and it can be really difficult to keep track. I know several people who only watched the show and didn't read the book who can't point out Varys. If you read the book, you damn well know who that is! The show and the book alike both start out a little bit slow....but trust me, they both quickly turn into something quite thrilling and action-packed. Just wait until Season 2.#2 - read the book, then watch the show: the only downside to this is that you may sometimes be disappointed if things don't live up to your idea of the books standards. You might find yourself saying things like, "WHAT! That's not how they consummated!" and nitpick. However, you'll understand MUCH more of of what is happening in the show with your book knowledge.Also, this book was right up HBO's lane. HBO likes to make gritty, real, intense and often unforgivingly brutal shows. There aren't any good or bad guys, and when you think you found one....well, take a closer look. Sick of fantasy books where things are too black and white (too good vs. evilish) or where the big characters are never killed off no matter how many deadly situations they are in? Sick of books just not being REAL? Well, Game of Thrones, the book and the movie, are a fantasy lover's dream. Whether or book or show first, watch and read them both to really appreciate the art of Game of Thrones and the Song of Ice and Fire and series.
I am looking forward to seeing this set, as I just finished reading the first novel in the series, in a week no less, and I found the story to be both simple, yet complex at the same moments. For instance, Eddard Stark, who is one of the leading roles, has a sincere sense of honor that he lives by. His actions are easily determined based on his surroundings, but at the same time, what we as a culture would perceive to be as the otcome of the protagonist's scenarios never fails to surprise, leaving you fully expecting one action and the resulting outcome, only to be truely surprised in the end. If you haven't read the book, I would not read these oter r eviews, as they have significant spoilers that you may rather find out from watching or reading the stories instead. I am afraid that if you know the ultimate outcome, without understanding what transpired to reach that end, you may find yourself disappointed, with a sense of granduer that you knew what was going to happen... Seeing the end of this novel before delving into its depths is a waste of a great story and, from what I have seen in the previews, a very well drafted, cast, and represented classic tale.
By
WTDK "If at first the idea is not absurd, the... (My Little Blue Window, USA) (TOP 50 REVIEWER) (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE)
Set in the imaginary Seven Kingdoms protected by an eight hundred foot wall where the Night Watch monitors the wild north for ancient, deadly creatures called the White Walkers, "Game of Thrones" nicely captures the feel of George R. R. Martin's popular fantasy series of novels. Lord Stark (Sean Bean) finds himself pulled unwillingly into the court intrigue of King Robert (Mark Addy)who Stark helped put into power after the Mad King Targaryen executed Stark's grandfather along with thousands of innocent women and children. The King insists that Stark take on the role of Hand of the King to administer and protect the Seven Kingdoms from, among other things, the heir apparent to the throne Viserys Targaryen (Harry Lloyd)who pimps out his own sister (Emilia Clarke)for troops from Khal Drogo (Jason Momoa star of the forthcoming "Conan The Barbarian"). Stark finds himself at odds with the Queen's (Lena Headey)wealthy family including her brutal brother Jaime Lannister(Nikolaj Coster-Waldau who, interestingly enough, appeared in the film "Night Watch")cunning Tyrion (Peter Dinklage)who must survive by his wits because he is a dwarf in a world of warriors.Series developers David Benioff (novelist and screenwriter of "The Kite Runner" and "Wolverine")and D.B. Weiss manage to stay true to what made Martin's marvelously detailed novels so popular with readers while making the show visually appealing to viewers. The series does have a convoluted plot so if you miss an episode it's wise to try and catch up by actually watching what you've missed.I'm hoping that the show continues to develop in popularity so it doesn't face the same fate of "Rome", "Carnivale" and "Deadwood" all three shows that were rich in character development, plot and visually stunning shows that HBO cancelled without allowing them to fully develop. The ten e pisodes of the first season are filled with enough twists and turns for a 24 episode normal TV show.The strong performances from Bean, Dinklage, Headey and others in the case make their characters rich, appealing, appalling and sympathetic at turns. The stylish direction and visually rich production design only add to the appeal of the series which has just begun to develop more of the fantasy elements towards the end of the first season.I can recommend "Game of Thrones" based on viewing the HBO series and although I have no idea what special features HBO has for the Blu-ray or DVD set yet, even without those extras, this show is essential viewing.
![Game of Thrones The Complete First Season [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51r8n8Zp5XL.jpg._SL300_.jpg)
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