The Golden Compass

[Trooper110]

For someone who's read 'His Dark Materials' series by Phillip Pullman as they came out, in hardback, I was quite excited that Peter Jackson was directing a movie based off the first film in it, 'The Golden Compass'. However, after just arriving home from seeing it, I'd advise no one to see it, I personally wouldn't even waste the bandwidth to download it illegally off a torrent site. I don't know if it was Jackson, or New Line Cinema who was responsible for this tragedy of a movie, but I won't be seeing the other two movies even if they make the trilogy, and frankly, after seeing this, I'd be surprised if they waste the money on another 2 movies. Large sections of the plot are missing, and it has the feel of skipping from action sequence to action sequence, with none of the slower parts that explain why something is happening. Other parts left out help explain why something happens later, and leaves you confused if you don't know the book. I went with my brother, mother, and my friend, the only one who hadn't read it being my friend. He thought it was too rushed and they didn't explain enough, the rest of us knew what was happening but the omitances and plot changes annoyed us to no end. The crowning kill off in my opinion, however, was reaching the end and finding that they left the entire ending of the book out!

The characters were very well cast and the actor's all did an excellent job, and the CGI was great, but the movie really contained none of the story, or really any story at all. So in my opinion, just stay away, completely.

[Rand{CLR}]

Peter didn't direct it. Chris Weitz did.

-Rand

[LIMEY]

The writer of the books has dark intentions, I wont be seeing it anyways

[Trooper110]

wth, why was I under the impression that Peter Jackson was directing it? Quick, someone explain this to me :(

[linemanstud]

I saw it and at least enjoyed it a little. I have not read the books, and that probably made it slightly better for me. There was really very little about the movie that I didn't understand, and considering how much you say they left out, I think they did an OK job patching it together. Of course I was disappointed because the hype put it on par with LOTR though.

[CrazyFinn]

I almost want to see it because of Mr Bond;)

[FieryDragon]

I almost want to see it because of Mr Bond;)

He's barely in it. i saw it and thought it was good but only b/c I wanted to see the polar bears fight. I applauded that scene very much. Other than that, it wasn't a big deal but I will be a victim of the series b/c I'm always at the movies and I see everything!

[lady-MGS]

I think they changed a lot of things as to try and not make waves as far as religion goes. I know that around here theres been a lot of controversy because of the movie supposedly promoting atheism.

I was surprised to see they were playing it at the movie theater here and I for one want to see it because of the controversy.

[Trooper110]

Don't bother seeing the movie, go buy the trilogy and read it, much more worth it.

[linemanstud]

The religious argument isn't that it promotes atheism, but that the Majesterium is a direct parallel to the Catholic church in the books, so many Catholic groups are protesting it. Really in the movie there isn't much that is any more controversial than harry potter or lord of the rings.

p.s. the polar bear fight was in fact awesome. our whole theater cheered because of it.