The Eagle - at last!

[aleathiel]

Okay, so now that it's finally out in the UK, I have seen The EagleI was going to post about my thoughts and comparisons to the book, but I think getting on with writing fic is more important :) I'm definitely interested in exploring the ways the two differ

Comments

[aleathiel]

I did enjoy it. I wouldn't say that I liked all the changes they made, but at least I could understand why they did most of it like that.

Thanks for the beta offer, I will remember that! :)

[carmarthen]

Welcome to the Fandom That Eats People's Brains. :D

[aleathiel]

AHAHAHAHA I am looking forward to it! :D

[thismaz]

The book was one of those very memorable reads of my childhood and I read it again, recently, with adult eyes, which was quite interesting. I found that my adult mind could not accept RS's portrayal of Esca and his attitude at the beginning of their relationship.
I've seen posts, and watched the 10 minute interview programme on Film 4, and I get the impression they are quite different stories.
All of which is a very long-winded way of saying that I would be interested to read your thoughts, exploring the ways the two differ.

[aleathiel]

Yes, I re-read it too recently, having loved it as a child. The relationship between Esca and Marcus in the film is much more volatile than in the book. The film swiftly glosses over Marcus's recovery and therefore doesn't allow time for much friendship to develop, although clearly enough that Marcus trusts Esca enough to take him north (although in the film he doesn't free him at this point). While I don't think that the film did a particularly complex and subtle version of the relationships between the Romans and the Britons, and equally between Marcus and Esca, it did at least allow Esca his own voice, and his own anger, which the book doesn't entirely.

I am very interested in exploring the changes that the film has made to the book, possibly in writing fic that tries to see how they could both be true - I think book!Esca must have had a lot going on his mind that we didn't see, for example.

[thismaz]

While I don't think that the film did a particularly complex and subtle version of the relationships between the Romans and the Britons, and equally between Marcus and Esca
I am not sure the book did, either *g* RS's admiration for the Romans was very evident. But, since that was an admiration shared by most children of my generation, at least, I think it was a good pitch.

it did at least allow Esca his own voice, and his own anger, which the book doesn't entirely.
That is encouraging. Thank you. It was Esca's instant devotion (born of gratitude for his life? He did, after all, have a knife and was planning to fight for his freedom if it turned out he had been bought by anyone other than Marcus) and willingness to be a slave, when he had been born free, that grated on me slightly. But we have no idea how long he was a slave before Marcus bought him, so...

But, thanks again for the reassurance that he has a voice in the film. I will probably wait until it comes out on DVD, but I think I am looking forward to seeing it a bit more,

[silvan_lady]

I haven't read the book so I have a question - would it be better to read the book first or just go and see the film with an open mind? (IF I can find the time and someone to go with!)

[aleathiel]

Um, go see the film and read the book after? In that the film was (in my boyfriend's words) "something I accept you dragging me to" - but isn't fantastic. It's something like 90% the same as the book, but naturally you get more subtlty in the book and a somewhat different ending. Also the characters yell at each other less in the book.

In terms of the plot, it's a kids book and whether you have or haven't read the book isn't going to make much difference to whether you can guess the rather predictable shape of the storyline, but that's not really what it's about.