A great adaptation (Hogfather (DVD))

Member Name: Donnabroom

Product:	Hogfather (DVD)
Date:	08/05/09 (64 review reads)
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The Hogfather:
Being a huge Terry Pratchett fan I was thrilled when they announced that there was going to be some dramatisations of his books. They had been tried in the past but, in opinion, they didn't work well. Now with new fancy effects and much bigger budgets they had a better chance of portraying that Pratchett magic.

The Hogfather first came out as a two part drama, (each part approximately one and a half hours long), on Sky One over the Christmas period of 2006. I watched it with glee, seeing the magical story come to life before my eyes; finally something to do justice to the great Terry Pratchett who is arguably the best comic-fantasy author of all time.
The story of the Hogfather is all the about the magical Discworld holiday, Hogswatch. It's a lot like our Christmas but with a big, jolly fat hog-man and people celebrate by eating pork-products and giving gifts. Anyway a bad man, Mr Teatime, (pronounced Tee-Er-Tar-May), wants to "kill" the Hogfather and other anthropomorphic personifications of human belief, (think the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy etc), by making people not believe. Little does Teatime know that greater powers than he want the same thing. Neither of them count on an unlikely hero saving the day!

As I said this "film" was commissioned by Sky One and they certainly threw plenty of money at it. The sets are magnificent depicting the Discworld, (the fictional reality where the Hogfather and most of Pratchett's books are set), almost exactly the way I saw it in my head. I was worried about what it would come out like and I was very pleased with the results and I think most Pratchett fans will be too.
The casting is great. British favourite David Jason is cast as Albert, a lovely man who is the assistant to Death, (Death is quite nice himself on the Discworld). David Jason suits this role perfectly and is likeable and believable. Death is really played by a man in a big cloak and a mask but the voice is done by Ian Richardson who captures his monotone, indifferent manner very well. The most wonderful characterisation comes from Marc Warren, (of Hustle fame), as Teatime. His acting is amazing and he really makes the character disturbing and deeply creepy. I really love what he did with the character. The only small doubt I had with regards to the casting was Michelle Dockery as Susan, she seemed too pretty and too polite but once I'd watched it I was pleased as she did the character justice and brought out Susan's sensible, bossy side.

I think most Pratchett fans will be quite happy with the way the Hogfather turned out and will relish the chance to see such a great story on the small screen. Non-fans maybe won't get it as much as fans but I think it is an enjoyable Christmassy film in it's own right. I think there is something in it for all ages and I am sure it will be a Christmas favourite for years to come.

Summary: A great adaptation