Woo-Yikes!

[lady_schrapnell]

That's a combination of giddy excitement and overwhelming dread, at the news which Younger Daughter shared with me a few minutes ago: there's going to be a film version of Eagle of the Ninth! Here's the link she just emailed me, with a message saying "No mention of Rosemary Sutcliff, though. NICE, GUYS". Y.D. rocks.

Given the fact that there's no mention of a book at all*, much less the author, I'm thinking they'll mess this up bigtime. Also the ..."and his loyal Celtic slave" makes me MUCH less than confident that they'll get Sutcliff's subtle presentations of the personal relationships and cultural clashes and minglings. Not to mention 'a Roman military drama.' Still very useful from my detached, critical perspective... Nope. I'll cry.

If the next bit of news on the subject says Keira Knightly is signed up to play Cottia, I won't just cry, but will throw a major hissy fit, so they'd better take that into account!

*Y.D. has just pointed out to me that it's only a crappy article, so no need to be certain that the film will live down to it.

Comments

[dorianegray.livejournal.com]

I found some slightly better articles: here (http://www.empireonline.com/news/feed.asp?NID=24498), here (http://www.cinematical.com/2009/03/31/eagle-of-the-ninth-recruits-kevin-macdonald-and-jamie-bell/) and here (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1034389/).

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

I see the first one managed to add an 'e' to Sutcliff's surname, though. It's strange how many people seem to do that!

[lady-schrapnell.livejournal.com]

Thank you! All mention the book, and one even points out the fact that the Ninth is no longer believed to have been destroyed in Scotland, so definitely better.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

My guess is that Cottia will be played by Dakota Blue Richards. And she won't be content to be left behind, oh no. She'll stow away in Marcus's saddlepack, tumbling out in a cascade of oculist's instruments and unguents only once they're well clear of the Wall: "Did you really think I was going to miss out on this adventure? I guess you guys don't know me very well."

[lady-schrapnell.livejournal.com]

Snort. Oh dear, though - but no -- except on the other hand -- argh - I don't know! Absobloodylutely inevitable that they'd do that to Cottia (GAH)if it were being done as a children's book --> children's film, but I'm not sure it is? Perhaps it'll be done as adult and bring out a homoerotic longing instead? Pretty much leaving Cottia as the beard for the threesome at the end? Wouldn't require that big a wrench, either, for all I like Cottia as a character!

[hafren.livejournal.com]

Another one here (http://www.hollywood.com/movie/The_Eagle_of_the_Ninth/4574632)

Who's Channing Tatum? Can't even tell if that's male or female!

[lady-schrapnell.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

Well might you ask about Channing Tatum! According to Y.D., he's mostly known as an actor who'll be given lots of taking-his-shirt-off opportunities - not at all for any serious roles. I believe he got a start as a model, for Abercrombie & Fitch especially. Nothing I've heard about him reassures the least bit.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Oh, to have Sutcliff done right . . .

[lady-schrapnell.livejournal.com]

Exactly! It's a book which could make an amazing film, too. There was a BBC (?) version of Blood Feud years ago, which I'd love to get my hands on, to see. That would have been much more challenging, given the terrain covered in the book, but it just might have been very, very good.

(And not co-incidentally, your copy of EotN is -- well, stuck in a post office in Dun Laoghaire until Tuesday morning, thanks to the Easter holiday. It's not accompanied by the other Sutcliffs, for reasons you'll see if you can decipher the note...)

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Ahhhhhh........lovely!

I will be mailing you OAPs early next week.

[lady-schrapnell.livejournal.com]

OAP? Once a Princess? I've ordered it, if so! Really looking forward to it, as soon as I get through a few duty reads!

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Can you cancel the order? I have one left, earmarked for you.

[lady-schrapnell.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm sorry! It's dispatched. If you've written in the copy, hold on to it and I'll get you a US address you could send it to - a friend of ours is coming over next month. I can pass my read one on to somebody here and keep the signed copy with my prized collection. (If not, then somebody else just got lucky enough to have a copy for themselves!)

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

I hadn't written in it, but I can. *g* Let me know what is best for you. (I'd thought also of saving it and mailing it with Twice a Prince when I get my copies of that.)

[lady-schrapnell.livejournal.com]

You are LOVELY.

Will email you.