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Post by joyceinva on Aug 17, 2010 11:46:34 GMT
In retropspect, it could just be the hardness of Tom Builders life that drew Rufus to the part. He made it clear in several interviews that he went after the part, that originally he was being considered for another.
The contrast between the hardness of his life and his faith, not just in God but in those around him, and the joy he seemed to take in his life was well portrayed. Like I said yesterday, Rufus gave a fabulous performance as Tom.
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Post by spice on Aug 17, 2010 15:36:09 GMT
NUMBAT,
Thank you for clearing up the differences between the book and the mini series. I wish the screen writer(s) had followed the book's version of Tom's death. I only had read parts of the book to get an idea of the story line. It seems to me that in the book Tom was a more important character, while in the series, it seems to focus on the younger generation. That is just an impression I have now. And I agree with you regarding Ruf's performance....... he is the best actor alive today, one of the best actors of all time. What a joy he is to watch !!
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Post by kygal on Aug 18, 2010 0:15:50 GMT
Yes, thanks for letting us know those lines from the book. I certainly, as most of us did, knew Toms fate going into this mini. I was not prepared how I would feel after this episode. I think there were just so many emotional scenes leading up to the end. I should not be this upset over a fictional character! Of course all this is due to Rufus and his wonderful performance. But... I think I may have liked how the book handled this better. I hope Tom is remembered in the next episode but I do not want or can take another extremely sad episode. Ready for the bad guys and girls to get theirs!
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Post by joyceinva on Aug 18, 2010 11:57:40 GMT
Spice said yesterday: "in the book Tom was a more important character, while in the series, it seems to focus on the younger generation."
Bingo!!! Yes, that is the problem with the majority of movies and TV shows today, they are aimed at the 18-35 demographic. It's like they can't imagine that there are people out there who would find a 40+ male wildly attractive. As if Rufus isn't way more attractive (and waaay more talented) than whats-his-name who plays Jack. (ok, I'm still a tad bitter.)
I know people were half kidding, when talking about the Tom/Ellen scenes that the potential Jack/Alianna scenes would probably be more explicit. But I swear, to me, it's like the people who make these movies act like teenagers when it comes to sex. "Ewww, middle-age people having sex, ewww"
Oh well, will continue watching and if certain people don't die nasty, horrible deaths then I will be disappointed.
Oh - and if POTE has awakened a general interest in this time period in you, I recommend the Brother Cadfael books by Ellis Peters. They are set duing the period of the Anarchy and several of the books show how the unsettled political situation affected the lot of the common man.
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Post by reformeddruid on Aug 18, 2010 16:25:44 GMT
Unless they change that too, you will be disappointed in the William story line. It really pissed me off in the book that he lived a nice long life. Maybe not happy, but then how happy could someone like him ever be anyway. Every one else who deserved to get it, got it. I am kind of anxious to see what happens to them all since they have changed the story so much.
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Post by numbat on Aug 19, 2010 0:52:51 GMT
If William doesn't eventually get what's coming to him......... I've heard that the final episode is a 2 hour, edge of your seat, affair. Surely they will kill him off to give us something to cheer about ( and that nasty scheming piece of work Bigod). I know what happens in the book, but who's to know how they handle it in the show!!!
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Post by kygal on Aug 21, 2010 12:39:35 GMT
The only thing I will say right now about episode 6 was it was lacking something!
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Post by greeneyedlady on Aug 21, 2010 16:49:40 GMT
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Post by reformeddruid on Aug 22, 2010 16:15:59 GMT
The town was almost completely burned in the book they had to rebuild everything and a lot of people died. It was also the start of some of the bad guys justice. If the town didn't burn and Philip takes the blame entire, then how are they going to give us a fitting end to this story?
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Post by peach on Aug 22, 2010 20:55:33 GMT
I have to say I've enjoyed most of what's been on the telly but not all. Most convincing for me were the scenes with Tom and Jontan, very real and hearfelt. As someone stated earlier the emphasis is with the younger characters, certainly not key for the most part in the book. I'm finding it a bit static, with only 1 hour eps every week it's hard to keep the pace and continuity. And yes Tom had a much larger role in the book. Still they spared no expense and the sets and most of ther perfs are terrific. Redmayne is a joy to watch. Bottom line for me, I liked the book best. And of course Rufus gives a sterling performance, as usual.
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Post by rueful on Aug 22, 2010 21:21:48 GMT
(Hi, Peach, nice to see you!)
Going back to episode 5, it was both cruel and kind of the director/writer to give us so many great Tom scenes before taking him away. But it gave Rufus the chance to do what he does best--show us the full range of emotions with the most subtle use of his eyes and mouth. He was particularly amazing in the scene where Jack tells him he burned the church. I've watched that scene several times just to see the emotions flicker across his face. He was also great in the scenes with Jonathan.
Like most of you, I'm sorry the producers of the series have decided to emphasize the court intrigue and warring over the simpler human stories of Tom, Philip, and Jack. Sorry, but not surprised. It's how they sell stories these days. It would have taken a bold producer to say, "We don't need any battle scenes." (On the other hand, maybe they know what audiences want. On another board, I saw a commenter who was sorry about all the nudity because he/she had hoped their 12 year old could have watched. No mention of all the blood spurting everywhere.)
But I'm still really enjoying the show overall and can't wait to see how it concludes this week. It's been engrossing, the acting has uniformly been great, and I'm so glad Rufus was involved in it.
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Post by numbat on Aug 23, 2010 6:03:55 GMT
So last week they stabbed us in the heart, and this week they laughed while they twisted the knife: Philip: He was my friend. He gave us this cathedral. We planned and argued and dreamed. It seems impossible that he is gone. <on the verge of breaking down> He......... And stamped on our chests: Jonathon: He wanted to tell me something Philip: Who? J: Tom Builder. But he went away P: What do you think heaven's like? J: High up P: What else? Who do you think is there? J: My Ma. Did Tom Builder go to see her? P: Yes. Yes he did. J: He knew her? P: Tom Builder had a secret. He didn't think i suspected, but his daughter Martha confirmed it to me after he went away. J: What secret? P: Tom loved your mother very, very much and he went to tell her what a wonderful boy you are. And he went to build her a beautiful home, and there will be a room in that home for you one day. Although you probably won't need it for a very long time.... now.... go to bed now. Thank god next week is the last episode...... That's not to say i'm not enjoying the series as i am very much. And as rueful said, it is a fantastic project which will be seen by a lot of people all around the world over the next year or so, and it's wonderful that Rufus has had the chance to play such a prominant role in it, but i'm still sad about Tom. But how exciting is next week going to be??? How really awful are William and Waleran, how much do we want things to work out for Aliena and Jack and their little red-headed baby, what about poor Philip and that smug b*****d Remigius? ?? But Tom would have loved that cathedral in France........ <teeny tiny sob>
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Post by kygal on Aug 23, 2010 11:26:02 GMT
Looking forward to see how they wrap it all up in the last 2 hours. Overall I have enjoyed it. I do miss Tom...its just not the same. Was glad he was remembered a couple of times in epi 6...sniff, sniff.
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Post by wichiwoman on Aug 23, 2010 12:21:55 GMT
I'll be glad when this series is over too but for different reasons. Epi 6 was "OK", nothing more. I loved the book so much and am disappointed with the series with all it's deviations from the book. I know it's difficult to adapt a book to TV but I just don't like the new twists to the story. I thought I was pumped up to see the book come to life AND see Rufus on screen again. Since epi 3, I've just been watching it for Rufus. I'm not sure I want to spend the money for the DVD.
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Post by rueful on Aug 23, 2010 13:10:21 GMT
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