The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
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Majimaune
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re: The Golden Compass (2007)
Yes but everyone is different. I define anything at the same or worse the Eragon rubbish. These books didn't cut that, they were a lot better.
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re: The Golden Compass (2007)
So you're saying that you didn't actually think the book was rubbish in the commonly accepted sense of the word -- just that you didn't like it?
That's disappointing. I thought you might actually have some interesting points to make about why you thought the book was so worthless.
So you're saying that you didn't actually think the book was rubbish in the commonly accepted sense of the word -- just that you didn't like it?
That's disappointing. I thought you might actually have some interesting points to make about why you thought the book was so worthless.
Anthony G Williams
Greybeard
re: The Golden Compass (2007)
This is my take on the film, as published on my SFF blog:
The current Christmas fantasy blockbuster, this is based on Northern Lights (known as The Golden Compass outside the UK), the first volume of Philip Pullman's highly successful His Dark Materials trilogy. I read the trilogy a few years ago and, while I wouldn't call myself a fan, thought it worth the fairly considerable time involved (there is a total of nearly 1,300 pages). Although marketed for children, Pullman did not write for this audience - the marketing decision was based on the fact that the principal characters are children - and in fact the tale is rather grim for the young.
For those unfamiliar with the story, a brief background: this is an unusual and complex fantasy, involving a parallel world (of approximately late-Victorian technical development) with people whose souls are housed outside the body, in talking animals called daemons. The story focuses on a 12-year old English girl – Lyra Bellaqua (very well played in the film by 13-year old novice Dakota Blue Richards) – who becomes the focus of interest of the powerful religious Magisterium and its ally, the formidable Mrs Coulter (an excellent performance by Nicole Kidman, with just the right blend of beauty, charm and reasonableness covering evil intent). In this first part, young children keep disappearing and Lyra, with the aid of a truth-divining pocket-watch like device known as the alethiometer (the Golden Compass of the film title), becomes involved in trying to discover what has happened to them. Lyra's journey takes her to an experimental station in the far north, and encounters with giant talking polar bears, who wear armour and live for fighting.
When making a film of a long and complex book (six or seven hours of reading, condensed into a couple of cinematic hours), the film-makers can either cut out many characters and large chunks of the plot, or can try to include all of the key elements but treat them rather briefly. In the case of The Golden Compass, the later course has been selected. The film starts with a long, voice-over infodump to try to get the audience up and running, then (as far as I can recall) remains more or less faithful to the book thereafter, but with each scene cropped in a way which keeps the story moving quickly. This works well enough for those familiar with the plot, for whom it acts as a kind of visual refresher, but may I suspect prove confusing and even irritating to the uninitiated. On the credit side, there are many visually spectacular scenes and the CGI is as good as we have come to expect. The acting is also very good from a strong cast, including the Casino Royale pairing of the rugged Daniel Craig as Lyra's "uncle" Lord Asriel and the beautiful Eva Green as the witch-queen Serafina Pekkala.
The trilogy has attracted controversy because of its anti-religious content, which becomes stronger in the later books. Not surprisingly, the Christian churches have reacted rather badly to the success of the series, although this aspect has been played down in this first film. I presume that films of the other volumes will follow if this one is successful (which so far it seems to be, although less so in the USA).
Overall, a good effort and I will certainly be watching the sequels, if they appear.
This is my take on the film, as published on my SFF blog:
The current Christmas fantasy blockbuster, this is based on Northern Lights (known as The Golden Compass outside the UK), the first volume of Philip Pullman's highly successful His Dark Materials trilogy. I read the trilogy a few years ago and, while I wouldn't call myself a fan, thought it worth the fairly considerable time involved (there is a total of nearly 1,300 pages). Although marketed for children, Pullman did not write for this audience - the marketing decision was based on the fact that the principal characters are children - and in fact the tale is rather grim for the young.
For those unfamiliar with the story, a brief background: this is an unusual and complex fantasy, involving a parallel world (of approximately late-Victorian technical development) with people whose souls are housed outside the body, in talking animals called daemons. The story focuses on a 12-year old English girl – Lyra Bellaqua (very well played in the film by 13-year old novice Dakota Blue Richards) – who becomes the focus of interest of the powerful religious Magisterium and its ally, the formidable Mrs Coulter (an excellent performance by Nicole Kidman, with just the right blend of beauty, charm and reasonableness covering evil intent). In this first part, young children keep disappearing and Lyra, with the aid of a truth-divining pocket-watch like device known as the alethiometer (the Golden Compass of the film title), becomes involved in trying to discover what has happened to them. Lyra's journey takes her to an experimental station in the far north, and encounters with giant talking polar bears, who wear armour and live for fighting.
When making a film of a long and complex book (six or seven hours of reading, condensed into a couple of cinematic hours), the film-makers can either cut out many characters and large chunks of the plot, or can try to include all of the key elements but treat them rather briefly. In the case of The Golden Compass, the later course has been selected. The film starts with a long, voice-over infodump to try to get the audience up and running, then (as far as I can recall) remains more or less faithful to the book thereafter, but with each scene cropped in a way which keeps the story moving quickly. This works well enough for those familiar with the plot, for whom it acts as a kind of visual refresher, but may I suspect prove confusing and even irritating to the uninitiated. On the credit side, there are many visually spectacular scenes and the CGI is as good as we have come to expect. The acting is also very good from a strong cast, including the Casino Royale pairing of the rugged Daniel Craig as Lyra's "uncle" Lord Asriel and the beautiful Eva Green as the witch-queen Serafina Pekkala.
The trilogy has attracted controversy because of its anti-religious content, which becomes stronger in the later books. Not surprisingly, the Christian churches have reacted rather badly to the success of the series, although this aspect has been played down in this first film. I presume that films of the other volumes will follow if this one is successful (which so far it seems to be, although less so in the USA).
Overall, a good effort and I will certainly be watching the sequels, if they appear.
Mary Hoffman
Writer
re: The Golden Compass (2007)
I have posted a link to my review of the Golden Compass but started a new thread for it on my home page, because it's in my online magazine. The thread is called Armadillo - Golden Compass Review so I hope you find it if interested.
Mary
I have posted a link to my review of the Golden Compass but started a new thread for it on my home page, because it's in my online magazine. The thread is called Armadillo - Golden Compass Review so I hope you find it if interested.
Mary
clovis-man
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re: The Golden Compass (2007)
I felt that the reviewer was more perturbed with the "unbelievable" nature of the story as portrayed on film than he was confused. Of course there's a problem with this: It is fantasy after all. So what's not to believe? But then there's the other aspect known as "willing suspension of disbelief". The reviewer just didn't buy it. And there's the rub.
I haven't read the books, but finally got around to seeing the movie today. I have to say that I agree with the review. The characters seemed to be cardboard cut-outs, no matter how nicely portrayed. Of course Sam Elliot just played himself with a jack rabbit sidekick. But even the Gyptian ship bothered me. Okay, it was a sidewheeler with sails, but what was the real power source? If it had the neat little balls of flux that drove the airships, why do you need sails? If it was steam powered, why would you need sails?
And you just knew at the beginning, when Lyra told her friend that she would come to rescue him if he ever needed it that, sooner or later, he would dang well need it. But I'm being churlish here.
I'm actually wondering if I should just shut up and read the book(s).
Jim
I felt that the reviewer was more perturbed with the "unbelievable" nature of the story as portrayed on film than he was confused. Of course there's a problem with this: It is fantasy after all. So what's not to believe? But then there's the other aspect known as "willing suspension of disbelief". The reviewer just didn't buy it. And there's the rub.
I haven't read the books, but finally got around to seeing the movie today. I have to say that I agree with the review. The characters seemed to be cardboard cut-outs, no matter how nicely portrayed. Of course Sam Elliot just played himself with a jack rabbit sidekick. But even the Gyptian ship bothered me. Okay, it was a sidewheeler with sails, but what was the real power source? If it had the neat little balls of flux that drove the airships, why do you need sails? If it was steam powered, why would you need sails?
And you just knew at the beginning, when Lyra told her friend that she would come to rescue him if he ever needed it that, sooner or later, he would dang well need it. But I'm being churlish here.
I'm actually wondering if I should just shut up and read the book(s).
Jim
Thadlerian
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re: The Golden Compass (2007)
Read the books, but there's no need to shut up
Read the books, but there's no need to shut up
Majimaune
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re: The Golden Compass (2007)
OK finally seen it.
I thought they did the characters very very well, close to the book. The story was done pretty well as well.
There were a few people who I would have liked to see more of in the film. Christopher Lee, I would presume he will have more of a part in the ones to come cause all he had was one line. I would have liked to see the Master of Jordan a bit more as well as Farder Corram
I didn't like how it was Lyra doing the voice over at the start, seeing as she doesn't know all that stuff and its not her telling the story, its being told by someone else.
I wish they had gotten the bears right with how Iorek was exiled. That annoyed me lots. I wish they could have ended it better as well, like in the book how Lyra goes into the new world and Asriel is out of it.
OK finally seen it.
I thought they did the characters very very well, close to the book. The story was done pretty well as well.
There were a few people who I would have liked to see more of in the film. Christopher Lee, I would presume he will have more of a part in the ones to come cause all he had was one line. I would have liked to see the Master of Jordan a bit more as well as Farder Corram
I didn't like how it was Lyra doing the voice over at the start, seeing as she doesn't know all that stuff and its not her telling the story, its being told by someone else.
I wish they had gotten the bears right with how Iorek was exiled. That annoyed me lots. I wish they could have ended it better as well, like in the book how Lyra goes into the new world and Asriel is out of it.
Thadlerian
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re: The Golden Compass (2007)
I've posted my opinions on the movie in this thread: http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/42702-golden-compass-spoilers-book-and-movie-discussion.html. For some reason, it refused to get off the ground and erupt into fiery discourse.
Summed up: I think this movie is severely flawed, but not more than to be expected from a Hollywood blockbuster type adaption like this. The center of my criticism is that it waters down ideas and characters.
I've posted my opinions on the movie in this thread: http://www.sffchronicles.co.uk/forum/42702-golden-compass-spoilers-book-and-movie-discussion.html. For some reason, it refused to get off the ground and erupt into fiery discourse.
Summed up: I think this movie is severely flawed, but not more than to be expected from a Hollywood blockbuster type adaption like this. The center of my criticism is that it waters down ideas and characters.
re: The Golden Compass (2007)
Overall I liked the movie for what it covered but too much was left out. Anyone knowing nothing about the books wouldn't have thought there was much to this story at all and that's dissapointing.
That will occur in the second movie, apparently it was cut short due to continuity reasons.
Overall I liked the movie for what it covered but too much was left out. Anyone knowing nothing about the books wouldn't have thought there was much to this story at all and that's dissapointing.
Mary Hoffman
Writer
re: The Golden Compass (2007)
SPOILER
I disagree; I think it was bexcause they didn't want to end the first film on such a downer. And how would Roger's death have squared with what they have shownb us so far of Asriel? i.e. virtually nothing. He's just a cosy uncle who goes off ill-equipped on an expedition to the Northern wastes and is captured.
Mary
SPOILER
I disagree; I think it was bexcause they didn't want to end the first film on such a downer. And how would Roger's death have squared with what they have shownb us so far of Asriel? i.e. virtually nothing. He's just a cosy uncle who goes off ill-equipped on an expedition to the Northern wastes and is captured.
Mary
Majimaune
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re: The Golden Compass (2007)
I think you are right. Though I'm not too sure about the cosy part.
Thadlerian
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re: The Golden Compass (2007)
Come on, you saw that scene where he was captured in the mountains, going all "Can't we sort this out like gentlemen?" That is one of the scenes that truly define this movie: Fluff in the place of the book's harshness.
Come on, you saw that scene where he was captured in the mountains, going all "Can't we sort this out like gentlemen?" That is one of the scenes that truly define this movie: Fluff in the place of the book's harshness.
re: The Golden Compass (2007)
You are so right, Mary. Going by the way Lord Asriel was portrayed up to that point -- really, by everything that's been said or not said during the movie -- for anyone who hadn't read the book that action would have looked like it was tacked on at the end for cheap shock value. There was simply no context for it to make sense.
You are so right, Mary. Going by the way Lord Asriel was portrayed up to that point -- really, by everything that's been said or not said during the movie -- for anyone who hadn't read the book that action would have looked like it was tacked on at the end for cheap shock value. There was simply no context for it to make sense.
Connavar
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re: The Golden Compass (2007)
Why am i not surprised.
I didnt wanna see in the cinema cause i knew Craig was a such star that they would never make him as cold and as harsh as the real Asriel. Somehow i knew they would make it more fluffy to appeal to the mainstream fans. Like people wouldnt think its referershing to see a YA fantasy that was harsher than usual.
I will rent this in dvd.
Overall it sounds like the kind of movie i expected of the current hollywood.
Was it even 3 hrs long as you expect of a fantasy movie these days?
Why am i not surprised.
I didnt wanna see in the cinema cause i knew Craig was a such star that they would never make him as cold and as harsh as the real Asriel. Somehow i knew they would make it more fluffy to appeal to the mainstream fans. Like people wouldnt think its referershing to see a YA fantasy that was harsher than usual.
I will rent this in dvd.
Overall it sounds like the kind of movie i expected of the current hollywood.
Was it even 3 hrs long as you expect of a fantasy movie these days?
F'Lessan Amused
Science fiction fantasy
re: The Golden Compass (2007)
nope connaver...just a tad over 2 hours...it flew by but felt there was something missing at the end...
nope connaver...just a tad over 2 hours...it flew by but felt there was something missing at the end...
Majimaune
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re: The Golden Compass (2007)
OK I didn't like that I wonder how they will turn him so he
will end up dying with Coulter in the final film.
Thats because it was missing stuff.
F'Lessan Amused
Science fiction fantasy
re: The Golden Compass (2007)
maji i knew that...but from the perspective of my sis who never read the books, and am directly quoting "is that it? shouldnt there be more? i heard there was more! grr"
maji i knew that...but from the perspective of my sis who never read the books, and am directly quoting "is that it? shouldnt there be more? i heard there was more! grr"
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