I completely agree. Made a comment a couple of pages back about how all these recent blockbuster movies have our heroes fail to stop millions of people dying. That's not how I would define a hero.

Forgive my ignorance, Teague, but what was your movie?

And that would kill him...

I am perhaps being a touch harsh here, but I suspect that HBO/D&B would not have picked up the show had they read books 4 and 5. The storyline in those just isn't as adaptable to TV. You couldn't really have an entire season treading water, let alone one and a half (the latter half of ADWD does pick up the pace). It's one thing to create a blockbuster show and have it run out of steam 3-4 series in because you hadn't planned that far ahead at first, quite another to go that way deliberately.

I have confidence, though, that D&B can make AFFC and ADWD work. As you say, Phi, by mixing the plotlines/POVs together into chronological order, trimming away some of the detail (Brienne's torturously plodding journey especially), you could get a season out of each.

I've always wanted to try that too, editing together the books into order (GRRM jokily suggests to do this in his infamous Afterword) and seeing how they read. Granted, I think the narrative 'theme' of each would come undone, but perhaps it would be more fun to read?

Lancelot and Guinevere would have been an interesting angle on it. As such, both parties are suppressing their love and affection, rather than the senator 'just because'. I think that would have made Anakin's part of it more interesting certainly, since he's wrestling with his upbringing and the Jedi way more, rather than finding loopholes and relishing the opportunity to be a rebel (an aspect of his personality I find to be at odds with the political views he later espouses). If anything, I would have reversed their positions in the movie, and had her being much more interested in him. Which incidentally, I've seen in various iterations of the Lancelot and Guinevere story (Excalibur and Knights of the Round Table).

Generally though, Anakin needs to show he has qualities beyond looking like a sweet sixteen idol cover, and Padme needs to be shown to develop her feelings because of these qualities.

Love it! Thanks.

I've never heard of that movie, and yet that poster really makes me want to see it. Completely understand how you felt the same way when you saw it.