Which movie: Mistborn: Final Empire, or Alloy of Law?

[Arcanist Lupus]

I think there's pros and cons to both of them. I was curious to see what you guys felt.

I added WoA and HoA as well, just 'cause.

[CrazyRioter]

I picked alloy of law cause I think it would be easier to make into a movie cause it's shorter and has more action scenes

[Arcanist Lupus]

I picked alloy of law cause I think it would be easier to make into a movie cause it's shorter and has more action scenes

On the other hand, Mistborn has better explication for the magic system.

[Deus Ex Biotica]

Alloy of Law would need some editing to explain the magic system, and would end up giving some odd spoilers to people who saw the movie, and then went back and read the books in order.

That said, it has faster, more fight-heavy pacing, fewer characters, villain POVs, and is just generally much shorter and simpler than The Final Empire (let alone the other books from the trilogy). In short, it would actually be possible to convert Alloy Of Law into a movie while keeping it intact, which I just do not think could happen with, frankly, any other Brandon Sanderson book.

-- Deus Ex Biotica

P.S. Although, I must admit there is absolutely no chance that the movie would let Wax end up with Steris. Ah, well, such is the price we pay.

[CrazyRioter]

and sadly the jokes about balls would get cut.

[Arcanist Lupus]

As would the conversation with Harmony. Getting the religious fanatics up in arms about a minor detail in the movie probably not a good idea.

My conclusion so far is that AoL would make a better movie, but Mistborn should come first. Which is a rather irritating conclusion.

Edited November 22, 2011 by Sir_Read-a-Lot

[EHyde]

I voted for Final Empire, because I think for Alloy of Law to work on its own apart from the previous trilogy, you'd have to cut out or gloss over a lot of the stuff that made it particularly awesome, and it would end up coming across just as a fairly standard mystery in an unusual setting.

Though Final Empire and the rest of the original trilogy would lose an awful lot if made into movies. What I'd really like to see is the trilogy as a tv series, followed by AoL as a movie or special.

[Arcanist Lupus]

I voted for Final Empire, because I think for Alloy of Law to work on its own apart from the previous trilogy, you'd have to cut out or gloss over a lot of the stuff that made it particularly awesome, and it would end up coming across just as a fairly standard mystery in an unusual setting.

Though Final Empire and the rest of the original trilogy would lose an awful lot if made into movies. What I'd really like to see is the trilogy as a tv series, followed by AoL as a movie or special.

That is the best idea I've heard all day.

[CrazyRioter]

That is the best idea I've heard all day.

I agree.

[Deus Ex Biotica]

Honestly, almost any novel is better as a TV series than a movie. I think 13 episodes could do Final Empire justice, while 20-24 would open space for more heist stuff, and development of Breeze, Ham, Clubs, and Dox.

[name_here]

The main problem I see with adapting The Final Empire is that Vin spends most of her time sitting in a corner and narrating. With her tendency to hide her emotions as much as possible, I worry that she'd just come off as bland and lead most of the newcomers to ask, "Why are we following this girl again? Can't Kelsier be the the main character? He does all the cool stuff anyway."

Frankly, for most of part one her most visible external character trait is her capacity to channel the powers of Extra-Man, able to stand still for long periods of time without saying anything. Sure, she's got a lot more character than that, but much of it is established purely by narration because she would never actually display it.

[Deus Ex Biotica]

I'm not sure I agree with that. Even early on, she says lots of telling things like "Kelsier was your brother? Did he beat you much?" and the like. I think that characterizing her through dialogue is entirely possible.

That said, in 2.5 hours or less, her development would still feel too rushed and lack nuance, methinks. That, or everyone except Vin would lose all character focus.

[Arcanist Lupus]

The biggest danger with a Mistborn movie that I see is having the focus turn to Kelsier. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, (although it limits the potential of any sequels), but I don't want to see it happen. Especially as I feel that any Kelsier-centered Mistborn movie would turn into, or be viewed as, an Inception copy. (Supernatural thief? check. Dead wife? check. organizing/managing sidekick? check. Young girl with no experience with the magic system? check.)

[Deus Ex Biotica]

Kel dies 2/3 of the way in, though, and there's not much of a way to keep the plot intact but change that detail. So, I think the risk is less having him take over than it is never getting to develop him at all.

It's not easy being Obi Wan.