Come to think of it... - Edit 1
Before modification by Theon_Mavidante at 04/06/2011 05:18:57 AM
Maybe the idea of a bunch of Aes Sedai walking in skirts right into the midst of a battle in order to provoke their enemies to attack them and therefore skirt one of the three oaths may not be unrealistic -- that point is debatable -- but it's highly cinematic, and I think it's a perfect illustration of my question.
If anything, I'd probably have to disagree about RJ not showing the chaos of the battlefield all that well. Certainly I believe his depictions of battle pale before those of, say, George R. R. Martin, but I wouldn't say he shies away from the horror entirely. It's hard for me to recall every detail, and I have to thank you for helping to refresh my memory, but Dumai's Wells was not the only scene in which terrible atrocities occurred.
The recent raid on the White Tower is another perfect example -- Egwene blasted To'Raken who were carrying her own people away as prisoners because she determined that it was "more merciful." I agree that none of the battles ever really gave you the flying organs and human meat grinder element that was injected into the story when we saw what offensive channeling could do for the first time, though.
Still, every time I see something that should only really be possible in Hollywood, I'm surprised once again by an element of stark realism. Personally, I think there should have been casualties among the Aes Sedai that went charging into the melee wearing only their dresses and skirts. Women are typically weak with fire and air, and if they had to put their lives in danger to fight, that means they couldn't use shields of air to protect them. Sure, there may be weaves that prevent bloodstains, but without showing them emerge bloodied and bruised, we're seeing a perfect example of glorious battle instead of terrible, tragic war.
I don't know. It strikes me as highly cinematic in some situations, and then in others we see elements that are just unbelievably grim. Dumai's Wells is a perfect example -- the first Asha'man through the gate takes a spear to the gut and falls over dead, illustrating that even the strongest channelers can die like any other man. Another solid example of this is when Aviendha and Mat are killed instantly by one of Rhavin's ward -- and then we see a castle fall on Mat's head!
I'd have to read over the wound that Gawyn took from the Undying, but I greatly appreciate that example.
So, given the information, would we call it highly cinematic, or just a little cinematic?
If anything, I'd probably have to disagree about RJ not showing the chaos of the battlefield all that well. Certainly I believe his depictions of battle pale before those of, say, George R. R. Martin, but I wouldn't say he shies away from the horror entirely. It's hard for me to recall every detail, and I have to thank you for helping to refresh my memory, but Dumai's Wells was not the only scene in which terrible atrocities occurred.
The recent raid on the White Tower is another perfect example -- Egwene blasted To'Raken who were carrying her own people away as prisoners because she determined that it was "more merciful." I agree that none of the battles ever really gave you the flying organs and human meat grinder element that was injected into the story when we saw what offensive channeling could do for the first time, though.
Still, every time I see something that should only really be possible in Hollywood, I'm surprised once again by an element of stark realism. Personally, I think there should have been casualties among the Aes Sedai that went charging into the melee wearing only their dresses and skirts. Women are typically weak with fire and air, and if they had to put their lives in danger to fight, that means they couldn't use shields of air to protect them. Sure, there may be weaves that prevent bloodstains, but without showing them emerge bloodied and bruised, we're seeing a perfect example of glorious battle instead of terrible, tragic war.
I don't know. It strikes me as highly cinematic in some situations, and then in others we see elements that are just unbelievably grim. Dumai's Wells is a perfect example -- the first Asha'man through the gate takes a spear to the gut and falls over dead, illustrating that even the strongest channelers can die like any other man. Another solid example of this is when Aviendha and Mat are killed instantly by one of Rhavin's ward -- and then we see a castle fall on Mat's head!
I'd have to read over the wound that Gawyn took from the Undying, but I greatly appreciate that example.
So, given the information, would we call it highly cinematic, or just a little cinematic?