My Idea - Skip Chron1, go straight to 2nd Chronicles

[A Gunslinger]

Nah... you need Mhoram, Elana, Lena, and Foamfollower to truly understand the dichotomy between the land and TC. Without the full exploration of these four, we lose too much of what makes TC/The Land great.

[Nerdanel]

I've been thinking that the filming should start from the second chronicles, but it should be made into a quadrilogy instead of a trilogy, like SRD originally wanted to write it.

1. The Wounded Land. From the beginning to the aftermath of the Soothtell. Focus: Covenant and the mystery of the Sunbane.

2. Possible title: Starfare's Gem. Up to Escape from the Elohim. Focus: The gradual transition from the explicit danger (suited to Covenant) to a more insidious one (suited to Linden).

3. The One Tree. Up to the end of The One Tree the book. Focus: Linden forced to take responsibility.

4. White Gold Wielder. Focus: the grand finale with the unstable Covenant.

I think there is too much important material to make a trilogy without severe sacrifices. But if a trilogy had to be made, I think the two middle films should be combined. In that case, a major plotpoint such as the visit the Elohim or the Brathairealm would probably have to be sacrificed or handled in like 15 minutes, which would necessitate rearranging the plot so that the rest of it still makes sense.

This is how I think the first movie should be done:

The movie opens with a prologue narrated by Nassic that gives an overview of the First Chronicles and tells how the mighty white gold wielder Thomas Covenant saved the world from Lord Foul's evil! No complicating details like rape are mentioned and the whole thing sounds like a rather shiny-good fantasy story. Details that are going to be important later, like the Staff of Law, the Lords, and the Haruchai get a mention. Nassic's mental instability can be subtly alluded to. The segment ends with a bit about how Covenant will return when he is needed, which is now.

Then the story moves to the "real world" where we meet Linden. Dr. Berenford asks her to visit Covenant and things go much book-wise from there, except that Linden doesn't go that many times between Haven Farm and town. She hears Joan's scream and investigates immediately. Joan's possession is the first time we really see how dark this movie is going to be. Then the cultist bit happens as per book and Covenant and Linden find themselves in the Land.

In the Land things go mostly book-style again, save for minor points where cut for space or altered for clarity. There's no point in describing it in detail. Most of the film is in Covenant's POV, but when the film switches to Linden's POV her deeper perception is displayed by having special effects overlaid with the normal things, such as sap flowing very quickly in trees under the Sun of Fertility and the dark and twisted form of a Raver in a person.

Most of the movie is very bleak and dark, but the poignant Andelain sequence provides a needed counterweight. It is filmed leisurely and artistically and set to a beautiful, emotional music, a calm eye of the hurricane. We are conveyed all the lost beauty of the Land, which is an important thing. The Dead are there but we don't bother learning to know them individually. It is enough that they seem very nice and remarkable people and that Mhoram and Elena are a reminder of what the Lords were like.

The battle after the Soothtell provides a nice climax.

[I'm Murrin]

That's a good idea, Nerdanel, but I think I'd switch the start around--do the real world bits, then after the ritual cut to Nassic's PoV, and his visions. Stay with Nassic as he climbs up toward the Watch, and switch back to Covenant when they meet.
You miss out on the first look at the Sunbane (and the climb down from KW, but that's less integral), so maybe a glimpse of the blue-rimmed sun through the clouds during Nassic's walk through the rain.

[The Somberlain]

I'd pretty much agree with that. I've thought that the second chronicles would be best for a film for a while, if only because it really would avoid any unfavourable LOTR comparisons (the first chronicles aren't the same, of course, but there are a lot more similarities that'd be picked up on). It'd also mean that when Covenant confesses to Linden about the rape, to the people who don't know the books, it'd be a hugely effective bombshell.

[A Gunslinger]

Nah... you need Mhoram, Elana, Lena, and Foamfollower to truly understand the dichotomy between the land and TC. Without the full exploration of these four, we lose too much of what makes TC/The Land great.

I hate to have to quote myself here, but how do you folks intend to manage the fundemental lacking of not having the four characters listed above install the dichotomy of TC vs. the Land? The depth these characters force upon the reader or viewer is undeniable. The foundation of the philosophy of SRD's tale is built on these characters...perhaps Bannor as well.

[Nerdanel]

I still think that the Nassic First Chronicles wrap-up should start the movie. The several minutes worth of material to cover would stop the plot movement like a wall if it was done in the middle of things. Also, when we have already seen the flashback, the dynamic of the beginning becomes different and more interesting (he is that great hero?). It is also better to start with Covenant, as Covenant would be the most main character main character in the first movie rather than Linden.

I'm thinking something very much like the Lord of the Rings movie prologue, except more biased. (We would figure out that the Real Story wasn't quite so simple and heroic when we get to know Covenant and Foul better.)

I don't think the semi-major characters from the First Chronicles are really that important to the Second Chronicles. I think it's enough to show them as Dead and convey that they were Covenant's friends and really neat people, as well as to use them (Dead and in the prologue) to give some sense of what Lords, Giants, and Haruchai were like. Trying to get deep into someone like Mhoram's personality would take far too much time for far too little gain, and anyway, we don't want to completely spoil the First Chronicles. Someone might want to make a prequel trilogy.

[RunAmok]

Let me see if I get this right. "Not much action in the first chronicles", "semi-major characters"... am I reading this right?

While I admit that much of the first chronicles often delves deeply into the cerebral, the characters and many instances where there is definitely action (hmm... let me see; Trell, Mhoram, Hile Troy, Bannor, Quaan, perhaps LFB and the Celebration of Spring, or Lord Verement's sacrifice in TIW to name a few) are absolutely crucial to understanding the passion for the land that impresses itself into TC.

I am sorry, but there is no way to become introduced to the Land and Covenant's trials within by having the first chronicles as a "prologue".

[TheUnbelievingDLH]

then what would the point be? honestly if you want to make a beloved sierres into a beloved movie then you gotta do it the way the sierres did it. to just thrust it all on in one 5 min. clipshow and expect an audience to have a sore heart for the Land's suffering will not work.

we were introduced to covenant, then the Land with all its health and beauty, and the wicked face of corruption and hate. to skip all that character development and story would murder the story like maiming it.

besides, no one would feel sorry for the Land unless they grew attatched to its health, and with it, grew worryed when it was in danger.

showing it from the top is the only just way to bring out maximum emotion.




without the first chronicles, the second chronicles would be pointless.

imagine having your arm removed from the shoulder to elbow, but they can reattatch your lower arm. what would the point in having that stub of an arm be?