Discworld TV/Film adaptations, ranked

[Molokov]

This article presents an interesting list of how good the adaptations have been:

https://screenrant.com/terry-pratchett-tv-show-adaptations-ranked-worst-best/

I think I probably agree with their ordering, apart from the fact that I've not seen Truckers or the Johnny TV adaptations.

If the filmed version of National Theatre's live 'Nation' would count, I'd slot it in at 9.5. It was not very good.

 

[=Tamar]

I more or less agree with their ordering as well.

Johnny and the Bomb and Johnny and the Dead are listed on Youtube.
There is also a listing for an amateur audiobook of Only You Can Save Mankind.

 

[RathDarkblade]

I wonder where Amazing Maurice will fit. But yes, I too more or less agree too.

I must admit to having a soft spot for the Cosgrove Hall offerings (yes, even Wyrd Sisters), because they were the first on-screen treatments of Discworld I'd seen.

Here's something odd about the Wyrd Sisters comic: if you close your eyes and listen to it, rather than watch it, it becomes an excellent talking book.

 

[Mixa]

Wow! I didn't know there were so many adaptations!

I think I agree with Neil Gaiman:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1361829665527066624

Mx

 

[RathDarkblade]

Mixa, the Cosgrove Hall adaptations (in case you're interested) are very hard to find now. I think I first saw them on VHS, which should tell you how old they are (mid-90s, IIRC).

I now have a copy on DVD. 'Cos I'm sometimes a completionist

 

[=Tamar]

The animations show up on Youtube occasionally. Search for the title and "Cosgrove Hall".

 

[RathDarkblade]

Ah! Here (one of the threads on this forum! ) is a taste of what the Cosgrove Hall films are like.

 

[Quatermass]

Mixa, the Cosgrove Hall adaptations (in case you're interested) are very hard to find now. I think I first saw them on VHS, which should tell you how old they are (mid-90s, IIRC).

I now have a copy on DVD. 'Cos I'm sometimes a completionist

Hey, RathDarkblade, how did you get your copy? I was lucky to get an imported copy in a store in Brisbane (German, but thankfully with English audio and subtitles), but where did you get yours?

 

[RathDarkblade]

The Cosgrove Hall ones? I was passing by a store in the Melbourne CBD one day and found them completely by chance. Of course, this was years and years ago.

Sorry.

 

[Molokov]

I got my DVDs from amazon.co.uk back in the mid 00's when it was cheaper to send things across the world. They are, therefore, UK DVDs rather than Australian ones, but region coding on DVDs was never a thing I put up with.

I think my Wyrd Sisters one is on loan to someone and I can't remember who, all I know is it's not on my shelf...

 

[Ghost]

I'm especially fond of my boxset it looks so good on the bookshelf

 

[Tonyblack]

I'm very fond of the joke in Soul Music (I don't know if Terry wrote it, but it sounds a lot like him).

After concert in Quirm (I think), one of the band says that they are "more popular than cheeses". At with point they have to make a hasty exit. This is a reference to the Beatles (while touring in the USA) that they "were more popular than Jesus".

 

[RathDarkblade]

I'm not sure whether to laugh, groan, or thwap my forehead. So ... I'll laugh, groan, and thwap my forehead alternately.

Yes, I've heard of the "more popular than Jesus" comment and how it stirred up controversy. Personally, I think the people who were offended by that remark deserve to be offended.

If Jesus -- just for the sake of argument -- survived in any shape or form, I doubt he would care. He'd probably look down from his cloud, roll his eyes, and say: "Don't make me come down there, people!"

 

[Penfold]

I'm very fond of the joke in Soul Music (I don't know if Terry wrote it, but it sounds a lot like him).

After concert in Quirm (I think), one of the band says that they are "more popular than cheeses". At with point they have to make a hasty exit. This is a reference to the Beatles (while touring in the USA) that they "were more popular than Jesus".

If Terry didn't add it, then he was probably kicking himself for missing the opportunity.

 

[=Tamar]

As I recall, pTerry didn't, and yes, he said he wished he had thought of it.

 

[Clem Peppermint]

Hi all! I just wanted to see what everyone's thoughts was on the film adaptation of Colour of Magic with Sean Astin and Tim Curry. I stumbled across it one day when looking for more info about the book, and I felt that it super accurately represented the story and its characters. Let me know what you think!

 

[Penfold]

I enjoyed it for what it was, although I think David Jason was probably miscast as Rincewind. (He was a very decent Albert in the Hogfather adaptation, though, and I watch this one at least once a year.)

 

[Clem Peppermint]

I enjoyed it for what it was, although I think David Jason was probably miscast as Rincewind. (He was a very decent Albert in the Hogfather adaptation, though, and I watch this one at least once a year.)

I completely agree! Although was quite convincing, I felt that he seemed a little bit old to play Rincewind.. in my mind or what I've seen, at least! I've never seen or read Hogfather, maybe I should put it on my list Thanks for the reply!

 

[RathDarkblade]

Let's see ... *flexes fingers*

- Tim Curry steals every scene he's in, as the power-hungry wizard Ymper Trymon.

- The superb Jeremy Irons plays the Patrician, Havelock Vetinari ... and does it very well. It's too bad he doesn't have more screen time.

- Sean Astin does quite well as Twoflower. I was surprised at first that they didn't choose a Japanese-American actor, but it makes sense, as they might have been accused of racism (i.e. "How dare you suggest that Japanese people can only be stupid tourists?!" etc., which completely misses the point. But people who make such accusations are rarely known for their brains).

- Yes, David Jason is a little too old for Rincewind. Rincewind is young and agile, whereas David ... well, he was young and agile when I first saw him in "Open All Hours", a 70s show, where he played very well against the fantastic and much lamented Ronnie Barker. Nevertheless, "Open All Hours" was 50 years ago. Don't get me wrong, though - David's a versatile and very good actor - but he must be pushing 70 now, so he's a bit old for Rincewind. (On the other hand, you need a name draw to get people who never read the books to watch the show. So ...) *shrug*

- And finally, the legendary Christopher Lee lends his voice to DEATH (just as he did in "Hogfather", and in the animated Cosgrove Hill features). Apart from these films, he also played Saruman in the "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" films, and has an acting career stretching back to the 1950s. Before becoming an actor, Christopher fought in World War 2 - and as well as being an actor, he also recorded music with several heavy metal bands, as well as The Tolkien Ensemble (who took it upon themselves to record every song mentioned in the Tolkien books). He is well-known for his deep, commanding and authoritative voice, which meant that he was often given villain acting roles.

Ask anyone, and they'll agree: Christopher Lee was a goddamn legend. I was very sorry to hear of his passing in 2015. But, at least we have his films to remember him by. (He also played Count Dooku in three Star Wars films, among many, many other roles).

 

[Clem Peppermint]

Wow, this is wonderful! I absolutely adore Christopher Lee and Sean Astin both in LOTR and the series, and I really feel that they were perfect for their roles Thanks for the super insightful reply!