Ken Follett's World Without End

When a mini-series or regular film is based upon a book source, there are invariably changes that are made in order to take into consideration the difference in mediums. Even THE GODFATHER movie was not exactly like the book; and there is yet to be a movie or mini-series based upon THE LAST DAYS OF POMPEII or SHE which remotely resemble their book sources. In the DVD Special Features section, even Ken Follett and more than one actor acknowledged the difference between the two in this case, and no one objected. Certainly Follett has more of a right than anyone. Yet, he emphatically endorsed the screenplay.Now to the mini-series itself: Cynthia Nixon (of SEX & THE CITY fame), who as Petranilla got top billing was like a cross between Lucretia Borgia, Lady Macbeth, and Lady deWinter - and she played the role deliciously. Her son Godwyn (Rupert Evans - THE PALACE, FINGERSMITH, SONS & LOVERS, HELLBOY, etc.) is a priest whose desire to be Prior and ultimately Bishop leads him down a path of sadistic unbridled palpable evil. His ambition needs no explanation. It is what it is. Those who would like to see all the evil-doers in this story on a pyschiatrist's couch in order to explain their behavior might just as well put half the world on one. While the quote is not precise, it is true enough: "Abolute power corrupts absolutely." The tyranny of the Church and that of Imperial power is exposed for what it is/was. Only the Black Death (realistically and emotionally presented to the hilt) was able to derail the iron fisted control of both sacred and secular authority.Charlotte Riley as Caris, a student of the medical arts, was the key heroin of the film. But, what was more important was the revelation of the Church's fear of this type of "physician" and the lengths it would go to in order to suppress it. The general populace, which benefited from this "new" medicine, was far more understanding and sympathetic than the powers that be who felt threatened that all of this would supplant the idea of divine intervention and healing. Since many medical ideas came from Islam, they were also branded as the work of the "infidel" even by those who were healed or helped by it. Caris is caught between a developing love for a youthful "builder" and the predatory incestuous feelings of her own cousin - Godwyn - who harbors his dark secret while branding any woman he can as a "whore".Critics of this mini-series, who keep pounding its book source as though it were the Bible, overlook the magnificent costumes that heralded in a New Age. The difference between what was worn in THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH compared to WORLD WITHOUT END was noted and indicated a fashion change that took place 200 years later. The church of Kingsbridge, now complete and in full Gothic regalia thanks in part to CGE, stood as a potent back drop to the civic activity that took place literally on its door step. The armour and weaponry was effectively realistic even though some purists might disagree.In the end what we have, without giving too much away, is an excellent story, superbly acted by a host of gifted and well-known actors, set in the Middle Ages of mid-14th century England and France. Evil exists on all levels, from the lowest peasant to the King himself. It's merely a matter of degree and kind. But, like it or not, it does unfortunately reflect human nature. And I would hardly call proper behavior by some "goodie two shoes". There are those who are good and those who are bad. What we see in this mini-series is a slice of Medieval life that lays bare the horror of endless war, plague, rape, incest, ambition run amok, faith, faith denied, class warfare, love of all kinds, overbearing superstition, heroics, revenge - in short, all those things that make up the fabric of humankind in all its incarnations. And is all that really so different than what we have today? In addition to the above named actors, kudos to Miranda Richardson as Mother Cecilia, Peter Firth as Sir Roland, Tim Weston-Jones as Merthin the Builder, Oliver Jackson-Cohen (his brother) as a merciless Everyman Warrior who knows how to play the game, the actor who played Edward III (and is now in DaVinci's Demons), the actress who played his mother Queen Isabella, and the characters Gwenda, Wulfric, and Thomas.As for any complaint as to how the "Most Evil" were dispatched, I can assure the reader of this review that their demise fit all the characters in the most appropriate, satisfying, and ironic way.

Great series that shows a little of life when the church is too powerful.

The discs come in a plastic snap cases. The discs play fine.This series is good, better than Camelot. If you like this sort of stuff I recommend The Tudors, which is excellent. And The Pillars of the Earth is very good. Reign is okay too. Two current series that are very good are The Vikings and The Last Kingdom.If the above don’t sound interesting you might like a couple of space race shows. I spent a month on a space race binge. First I read Space by James A. Michener. Then I watched two movies, The Right Stuff (1983) and Apollo 13 (1995), and then two great series, From Earth to the Moon (1998) and The Astronauts Wives Club (2015). They’re a great combination.If the above shows don’t sound interesting here are a few of the series I really enjoyed watching more than once. I love good miniseries like Band of Brothers (2001), Frank Herbert’s Dune (2000), Into the West (2005), Lonesome Dove (1989), Pride and Prejudice (1995), Taken (2002) and The 10th Kingdom (2000) because they have beginnings, middles and endings, like a good novel.Other shows I’ve really enjoyed include Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009), Breaking Bad (2008-2013), Cowboy Bebop (1998), Downton Abbey (2010-2015), Firefly (2002), Game of Thrones (2011-2019), The IT Crowd (2006-2013), Jericho (2006-2008), Lost (2004-2010), Merlin (2008-2012), Rome (2005-2007), Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (2011), Spartacus: Blood and Sand (2010), Stargate: SG-1 (1997-2007), Stargate: Atlantis (2004-2009), Star Trek The Original Series (1966-1969) and Star Trek Voyager (1995-2001). I didn’t list any contemporary series I’m following that don’t have an end date yet, not conducive to binge watching from beginning to finish, or the hundreds of other fantasy and science fiction shows I’ve watched.If you like reading try some of my favorite fantasy and sci-fi authors: Richard Adams, Palo Bacigulupi, Suzanne Collins, Abe Evergreen, Diana Gabaldon, Hugh Howey, George Martin, Brandon Sanderson, John Scalzi, and Andy Weir.

We saw the movie before we read the book,.... so were not at all disappointed at the differences,.... Yes, the movie takes some different directions from the book,..... but those are acceptable,.... The Movie can stand FINE, on it's own,..... our biggest complaint was that the movie could have been hours longer (the book was about a thousand, or at least 800 pages),... the movie easily could have been longer,.....we're long time (37 and 43 years) Medieval reenactors,... as such,... we subconsciously tend to evaluate mostly clothes and props (and for my husband, weapons, and armor) We don't set out to do that,.... we can easily over-look small things,... but in some movies the discrepancies just scream out so loud, we can't ignore them,..... not so in this movie,.... it beautifully flowed, without jarring. red flags,..... ( We also viewed the 'Jamestown' series during the same few days,.... ONE of the two,... blatantly had the faked textile chainmail, coifs (head-coverings that are worn with or without a helm(et) by fighters,... whichever series that was in,... had largely been corrected toward the end of the movie(s) Thank goodness,.... many folks wouldn't even notice,..... but we're so accustomed to being around the real thing, that the fake stands out like Neon . Doesn't matter which movie,.... it doesn't effect the whole,..... Both were excellent.

2e partie et conclusion de cette série.

It’s good to know that you can still find a good story with no drug dealers or car chasers

I thoroughly enjoyed the series

Film sicuramente da vedere, anche se, come sempre il libro è molto più bello, questa versione filmata mi è piaciuta molto. I personaggi sono ben caratterizzati e le vicende non diventano mai noiose,Lo consiglio.

Alors bien sûr ce n'est pas aussi bien que Les Piliers de la Terre mais c'est quand même très réussi, tant au niveau des décors, que du jeu des acteurs et que du scénario. Il faut savoir que le scénario ne respecte pas parfaitement l’œuvre de Ken Follett mais cette adaptation a beaucoup plu à Ken Follett justement qui en parle avec enthousiasme dans les bonus du BD. Une formidable ville médiévale a été reconstruite en Hongrie pour les besoins du film, des décors grandioses qui laissent sans voix tellement ils ont l'air vrais. Des costumes magnifiques également car comme c'est précisé dans les bonus, l'histoire se passe 200 ans après Les Piliers de la Terre, les marchands sont devenus riches et la mode a évolué. Des acteurs qui ma foi jouent très bien, ce qui gène certains commentateurs c'est surtout qu'ils ne se comportent pas comme ils l'attendaient après les avoir imaginés lors de leur lecture du roman. Pour moi un achat à conseiller donc, 23€ pour 8h de film c'est quand même pas cher payé et c'est un très bon moment à passer.