Customer Reviews

Terry Pratchett's Discworld - Soul Music

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I must say, with all the negative reviews that this animation was getting, I was almost afraid to watch it. But my insistance on seeing Death animated persuaded me to buy it anyways, and I'm glad for it. So I will address some of the main negative commentary. First, the quality of animation. Perhaps I've become desensitized to bad animation (thanks to some low-budget Japanese anime) but in my experience, Soul Music's animation is not at all bad. If anyone could stomach Scooby-Doo or Johnny Quest, then this is nothing. The adaptation itself (while I would rather have seen Reaper Man or Mort animated) was exquisite and followed the novel almost exactly. Sometimes the cuts or execution of a particular scene in the novel didn't translate exactly, but for the most part seeing it in action actually clarified aspects of the book. I was particularly impressed by how well things such as Death's house and time travel were handled. And finally, the voice acting was very well done. Christopher Lee as Death was a piece of casting that could not have been done better, not to mention the design overall was done well! Susan, although her character design fluctuated a lot, was also very good. The musical aspect of the story -- going through all the 'stages' of rock music since it started -- was handled surprisingly well also.

The only gripe I had was the fact that the Death of Rats didn't have a rat skull. Nor did he, er, SQUEAK properly. He looked more like a Death of Lizards. And Quoth didn't really look much like a raven, and talked more like a parrot. But otherwise, everything was spot-on.

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!)

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.

"Soul Music" features plenty of Discworld's most popular character: Death, the efficient-but-not-nasty Grim Reaper of Discworld. Full of jokes about "Music With Rocks In" and in-jokes about Discworld, this is a delight for kids and adults alike.

Ysobell and Mort Sto Helit die in a tragic carriage accident, leaving their teenage daughter Susan (Debra Gillett ) at a stodgy girls' academy in Anhk-Morpork. But unknown to Susan, they were also the adopted daughter and son-in-law of Death himself (Christopher Lee). Death is depressed by the loss of Ysobell and Mort, and at the advice of a slightly befuddled wise man, he takes leave of his duties in an effort to forget. His manservant Albert, a talking raven, and the Death Of Rats recruit the unwitting Susan to fill Death's place until he can be found. While Death gets drunk and joins the Klatchian Foreign Legion, Susan struggles to deal with the dead.

Elsewhere on the Disc, a young aspiring bard named Imp Y Celyn (Andy Hockley) leaves his dreary home for Anhk-Morpork, intending to become the greatest musician in the world. After gaining two bandmates (a dwarf named Glod and a troll named Lias Bluestone), earning the displeasure of the Music Guild, and losing his harp, Imp Y Celyn finds a magical guitar that produces amazing music -- by taking over all the musicians on the stage. The music ("Music With Rocks In") soon takes the Disc by storm. At the same time, Susan finds that Imp Y Celyn is supposed to die very shortly -- but something in the magic guitar doesn't want him to die. And, it turns out, neither does she...

The other Discworld production, "Wyrd Sisters," was extremely entertaining, but "Soul Music" surpasses it by having deeper issues in it, as well as the funny ones. Why do humans die? Is it better to die after a human life than an immortal, inhuman one? Interspersed are many old favorites such as the wizard-turned-ape Librarion, Colon and Nobby, Death of Rats, Albert, Binky the horse, Ridcully and his wizards at the Unseen University (Ridcully is the only one who hates Music With Rocks In), and many others. For rock aficionados, there are jokes about Elvis, the Sex Pistols, the Beatles, Buddy Holly, and many, many others.

Christopher Lee mixes the sublime and the funny as Death: he's alternately menacing (the time-travel scene where he menaces Mort), melancholy (the scene where he tries to explain to Susan why he couldn't save her parents), and outrageously funny, like the scenes where he is drunk, driving a motorcycle ("Oh bugger!"), or arguing with a wise man about the infinite ("What did it look like?" "It's blue." "It's black." "It's BLUE." "It's BLACK!" "From the outside, it's blue!"). Debra Gillet does a pretty good job with the difficult role of Susan, who initially seems very cold and unsympathetic, but gradually is revealed to be an ordinary girl with extraordinary abilities. Andy Hockley plays Buddy/Imp Y Celyn as a pleasant young man in the throes of an obsession, developing an unnatural link to his soul-sapping guitar. His two bandmates Lias and Glod are good foils for Imp Y Celyn, with Lias as the voice of straightforward reason and Glod the more cynical, twisted mind, but both of them good at heart. And any parents will sympathize with the frustrated Ridcully, who has to deal with a University full of music-crazed wizards, who are acting like unusually immature teenagers.

The animation is also slightly better than in "Wyrd Sisters." While it still has something of a crude quality, it remains more consistent from one to the next. One thing that may annoy viewers (and the DVD's biggest flaw) is that each part takes the viewer back to the menu rather than proceeding to the next part. Additionally, "recap" snippets and opening credits are present before every part, rather than just the first.

However, technical issues aside, this is a hilarious and touching story about life, death, Death, fate, magic, music, and Music With Rocks In. A must-see.

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.

If there was any Discworld novel that desperately needed to be translated to screen, it was "Soul Music." Terry Pratchett is a great writer, but it is nearly impossible to convey the experience of a rock concert (or rather, a Music With Rocks In concert) using words alone. You need to hear and see it for yourself in order to get the full effect.

Now, at last, you can. When Buddy, Cliff and Glod explode onto the music scene, you can feel it happening. The loud music, the screaming fans, and the hip swinging "elvish" rock star - it's all there, larger than life and adds so much to the story. I had read the original book a number of times (I've read all the discworld books a number of times - I'm that sad), but I truly felt like I was experiencing the story anew. Keith Hopwood and the folks at Pluto music did a FANTASTIC job with the music - creating songs that remind you of great artists like the Beatles and Hendrix without completely imitating them. ("Good Lovin'" - an homage to the Blues Brothers, had me grinning and tapping my feet). You won't be able to get enough of the musical numbers - and it's a darn shame that they don't play their music for long enough.

Animation-wise, "Soul Music" is nothing special, but that's a small quibble. If you've seen the other Discworld film, "Wyrd Sisters," you'll know what to expect. This film is more concerned with story and character than the visual "wow" factor. However, the artists still manage to do a great job. Bird's-eye views of the city, long, empty trails leading off into the distance, and crowded concert halls all manage to convey a great sense of scope and space. The animation isn't Disney or even Dreamworks quality, but you won't find yourself caring.

Now we come to the voice work. I'm sorry there's no way to sugar-coat this. It's a mixed bag. The voices range from perfect to merely good to ear-numbingly bad. The main characters are voiced pretty well. I liked listening to Buddy and Cliff, and Susan was nice to listen to as well. Christopher Lee, once again, does a FANTASTIC job as Death. And the wizards' voices, frankly, are AWFUL. They sound like young men making their voices squeaky to sound like old men. And, unfortunately, you'll be hearing them a lot. Especially the Dean. Ugh. Keep some cotton swabs handy in case your ears start bleeding. Ridcully's voice is very well done, though - deep and booming, just as he's portrayed in the books.

Don't let the spotty voice work stop you from nabbing this video (even if I had to dock the movie 1 star because of it). Christopher Lee and the excellent rock concert scenes made this a must-buy, especially if you're a Pratchett fan.

Greetings fellow Diskworld fans and first timers, if you only own one DVD this needs to be the one. My wife and I are very big Pratchett Fans and this DVD goes well with our collection of Diskworld items. Having read the book 'Soul music' cover to cover many times I was hoping the animated version would stay close to home, and for the most part it does this very well. There are just a few little things that did not make it to the DVD but all in all this DVD is Great! I will be watching it years from now! It stays VERY close to the book, and it leaves you praying for the next installment of animated features. I was very happy to hear the voice of Death was the same for 'Wyrd Sisters'. This disk also contains a great interview with Terry Pratchett himself.

This is the animated version of the discworld book 'soul music'. It will make more sense if you've read the book (not that discworld ever makes sense, it's just internally consistant, and consistantly inconsistant). But if you've read the book you'll spot the things they had to leave out for space: like all the blues brothers jokes (no 'we're on a mission for Glod')

The animations not bad and the sound track is pretty good too. But if you're hoping that the animated Susan resembles the girl with the great figure on the cover of the Harper Priam published version of the book, you'll be disappointed. On the other hand, I now get the joke about Buddy looking Elvish.

It was fun to watch but having read the book several times it seemed a little short for all the things they had to leave out.

Now, I wasn't expecting a whole lot, since I never considered Soul Music a great Discworld book; it's one of the handful that are based far too clumsily on real-world stories. But this disc is terrible.

The animation is crude, and has consistency problems (e.g., in the back room at the Drum, crates disappear between one shot and the next; throughout the movie, the black streak in Susan's hair moves from one side of her head to the other--funny how the book never mentioned that she was followed around by a fairy hairdresser).

The producers made some strange editing choices. They cut some funny throwaway lines; the largest I noticed was the late-night diner scene, based on the fried chicken scene in The Blues Brothers (as if they wanted to avoid being too derivative), but then they made the concerts be *more* derivative than the book (the Band keeps coming up with costumes patterned on various 60s bands), and added a scene based on John Lennon's "bigger than Jesus" comment (admittedly, very funny, but also very derivative). Oh, and they cut all the great bits about conflict with the Watch in the various towns, and most of the scenes with the other bands, which are essential to the book; they show how Music With Rocks In is spreading. And they cut out most of the explanation about how the Music is the heart of creation, leaving us with incomprehensible mysticism.

Finally, the DVD implementation is pathetic; they left the credits at the start and end of each episode in place, which means what could be a smooth movie instead gets chopped up into 24-minute chunks. Oh, and the start of each episode includes a recap of the previous one, which is (a) not necessary when you've got the whole disc in front of you and (b) done so badly that it's useless if you don't. And there are no chapter boundaries within the episodes, which means that, if you skip forward, you're going to the start of the next episode; you can't skip from scene to scene as you can on most discs.

if you're a Discworld fan you'll bear with the not-so-spectacular animation and enjoy it. This is entertaining and definitely a must have if you can't get enough of the Discworld. Everyone else, you've been warned - this is not the best way to get introduced to the spectacularly witty and hilarious Discworld - go read the books first :)