Cheap Terry Pratchett's Discworld - Soul Music (DVD) (Jean Flynn (II)) Price

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Customer Reviews of Terry Pratchett's Discworld - Soul Music

Soul Music Rocks!!
As a Terry Pratchett fan, I eagerly awaited the arrival of "Soul Music" and I wasn't disappointed! The story was true to the book, and very entertaining. Mainly it's a story of Death's attempts to forget,and his granddaughter's attempt to fill his shoes. While Susan is filling in for death, she meets a boy whose death is averted by music. She than tries to figure out the how and why, and what to do next.Sounds confusing, but my husband, who doesn't follow the discworld, could keep up with it. I only have two complaints that keep it from receiving a perfect score. One, they used the same animators that did "Wyrd Sisters" so the animation seemed almost from the 1970's (someone compared it to the animation for Fat Albert!)and dated, and two, it was not a seamless story. The DVD version was broken into episodes . I found it distracting to get into the story and to have that episode end, and then have to go to the menu to choose the next one. The extras;howerver, were fabulous. They include an interview with Terry Pratchett, a copy of the pilot (which seemed to be based on the beginning of Reaper Man), a story board break down of one of the scenes, and more. If you like Terry Pratchett, or even writers such as Douglas Adams, this is a fabulous disc!! (pardon the pun, I couldn't help myself!)

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HALLLOOO, ANKH-MORPORK!
Soul Music is one of my favourite Discworld books ever (it's a comedy fantasy series that takes place on a flat planet) and I must say that this animated version was pretty decent. The story of Soul Music, basically, is that Death, while trying to "FORGET", runs off, leaving his grand-daughter Susan (don't ask) to do his job--whether she wants to or not! Meanwhile, a young bard named Imp goes to the city and joins up with a dwarf named Glod and a troll named Lias to start a music band. He finds a strange guitar in a mysterious wandering shop. It seems to play of itself...

Imp is destined to die on stage during the band's first gig, but Susan--as Death--doesn't WANT him to die! (He's a cute teenage boy, she's a teenage girl...) Before _she_ can save him, though, something _else_ does...

...and _rock and roll_ breaks loose in a _medieval_ society! This causes about as much chaos as you might expect, and the rock-fan wizards among other things, are just about the FUNNIEST thing you could think of. This story--the original book, especially--pokes fun at just about _every_ rock or pop cliche of the genre you can think of. Examples include a song called "Pathway to Paradise", the Dean with his leather robe that says "BORN TO RUNE" and a _new_ twist on the idea of a rock star "redecorating his hotel room." The musical jokes are HILARIOUS, but you will only get them if you know about rock history! Those of you whose knowledge only goes as far back as Britney Spears and 98 Degrees--you won't get it. (Me, I wasn't born in the '50s or '60s, but I have good _taste_, see. ;))

However, "Soul Music" also has its serious side: The story with Death, Susan, and Mort and Ysabell is very tragic and parts of it will have you sniffling. The frailty of human life and the inability to change your fate are big themes here, and they give the comedy a solid emotional underpinning; they save it from being mere fluff. And Imp the bard is now living fast; will he die young? Wait and see...

Did I mention that he renames himself "Buddy"? Um, not the best omen...

Now, for the animated version: It wasn't perfect; I really did not like the way they did the wizards, a lot of the best jokes from the book weren't included--but to balance that, you get to actually HEAR "Music With Rocks In" _songs_...something the book could only TELL you about, in words. They are really catchy and sound just like real, legitimate songs off the radio (BETTER than many, actually...) and...yes, there IS a soundtrack album! Hard to find, but worth it. :) (My favourites are the _extremely_ catchy "Cover Girl", the early-Beatles-esque "She Won't Change Her Mind" and the rather dark "The Messenger", among others.)

In short, if you like fantasy, if you like to laugh, and if you like rock and roll, buy this DVD! You'll be glad you did.

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Long Live Music With Rocks In!
While this is not a PERFECT rendition of "Soul Music"--one of my very favourite Discworld books, ever--it's still pretty fun. First, to get it out of the way--the bad news. Some of the best running gags, such as the rock-fan wizards and the punk/garage band that kept changing its name, are shortened down considerably for time purposes. I didn't like the way they drew the wizards. And well, this really couldn't be helped, but things that were supposed to be just _feelings_ in the book, were translated into rather cheesy special effects. (Like the "energy" coming out of Imp's guitar and coursing through his body, for example.) But I guess that's the only way you CAN let the audience know what's going on, in a visual medium. It seemed more realistic/less cheesy in print, though. I should also mention that since this is probably my VERY favourite Discworld novel, I was judging it a little more closely than I might have otherwise. Other people might react differently.

Now, the GOOD! This cartoon miniseries does stay pretty dang close to the actual plot of the book--using original dialogue whenever it can, even. It includes the types of details and scenes that MOST movies-based-off-of-books would have clipped out. Susan and Imp the bard are especially well-drawn, I thought, and DEATH is, of course, just the way he should be. Also, the Music With Rocks In songs are _catchy_!

Overall, this video is an enjoyable time. It'll make people who _aren't_ familiar with Discworld yet want to learn more--and those of us who are already fans of those hilariously funny fantasy books should enjoy the chance to _see_ one of them on the screen.