The Golden Compass

[Winnow]

I might be being a little harsh, but I thought this movie blew.

I fell asleep four nights in a row trying to watch it. Nicole Kidman's makeup in this movie makes her look like The Cat in The Hat from the Dr Seuss book. Take a good look at her face during a closeup. There was a decent polarbear fight but that's about it.

The movie doesn't have a staisfactory ending either and basically is almost like a pause where you expect the movie to continue, not end.

5/10

[Drolgin Steingrinder]

I'm on the fence about this one. I definitely felt that there was a ton of stuff left out that worked so much better in the books (and the ending point is just odd - if you're going to make a film of a book, why don't you include the ending instead of cutting it off earlier?). It seems as if the producers have pussied out by removing the emphasis on religion and by oversimplifying the characters - examples:

[Show]

The Master of Jordan college was the one to attempt the poisoning of Lord Asriel in the books. In the film this is changed, why? Because audiences are deemed unable to handle complex characters, people who aren't unequivocally 'good' or 'evil'?

Lord Asriel's killing of Roger was left out at the end - Pullman's plot twist that brilliantly shows how ruthless and fanatical he is gone. The way Daniel Craig played him was more of a nice uncle instead of the cold and callous man he is in the books.

Ragnar Sturluson (and why was his name changed from the book?) was made into a simpleton and a buffoon, way too easily duped. The magnificence of Lyra's con was made everyday and normal - predictable, even.

There are casting abberations as well. Nicole Kidman was an obvious choice, but almost too obvious. I didn't see Mrs. Coulter the bitch, I just saw Nicole Kidman (and I can't stand her). Using Ian McKellen as a voice for the armored bear seemed an odd choice, too - way too old and not powerful enough for Iorek. Dakota Blue Richards (awesome name) was excellent as Lyra though, and Sam Elliott was a good choice as Lee Scoresby, if a little old.

In all, I was mostly disappointed by the omissions. The setting was fantastic though, from steampunk Oxford and London to the gyptians' marshland and the polar land of the Armored Bears. I think there's a chance that once the full series have been made (if it will happen, looks like the movie isn't doing too great at the box office) it will make a lot more sense.

6/10, mostly for the original storyline and the setting.

[Fairweather Pure]

It tanked at the box office, making 28 Million of it's 170 million cost. That's less than half of what they were expecting. This was New Line's 9th box office failure this year, with a mere 2 semi successful flicks. New Line Cinema's money situation is growing pretty dire right now. There was even a rumor of bankruptcy due to so many terrible openers this year.

I've already read that the ending is very open, as if there will be a sequel to pick directly up where this left off ala LotR, but unfortuantely I do not see that sequal being made. Knowing that makes me want to see this movie even less.

Also, Kidman's flops have outnumbered her hits by a disturbing margin over the past decade, calling into question her viability as a leading lady.

[Aslanna]

I'm not sure I'd consider this a "Kidman flop" more than anyone else in the movie. While her character isn't minor it's not exactly major either (imo!). I'd say the kid character (Lyra) was more a 'leading lady" than Kidman.

From having read a few reviews it sounds like the book wasn't exactly childrens fare yet that's what they tried turning the movie into. Anyway, I watched it and thought it was fairly lame. There were definite touches that either mimicked (or downright stole) the LotR formula that worked for them in those movies. The thing is Golden Compass isn't those movies and we've seen it already so it didn't really work. At least not for me.

While I didn't necessarily hate it I wasn't really bowled over by it either.

4.5/10

[Fairweather Pure]

I'm not sure I'd consider this a "Kidman flop" more than anyone else in the movie. While her character isn't minor it's not exactly major either (imo!). I'd say the kid character (Lyra) was more a 'leading lady" than Kidman.

Oh, I completely agree. The studio should shoulder the blame before ever pinning it on a particualr actor/actress. There definately seems to be more finger pointing than usual when it comes to this movie though. I believe it's because it was such a huge loss overall. Btw, it did fairly well in overseas market, making about 55 million there. Still not enough to save this film from flop status or warrent a sequel.

[Lalanae]

I read the book (only the first one) and was pretty bored during the movie. It was pretty to look at, but was missing its edge. It kind of plodded along to me.

[rhyae]

The book bored me, looks like I'll skip the movie.

[Bubba Grizz]

Could this have anything to do with the emails that went around stating that the books this movie is based off of is about killing God? It is one of the reasons I didn't go see this. Not because I am overly religous but rather I don't like getting preached to from neither the pro nor anti God factions.

[Fash]

Could this have anything to do with the emails that went around stating that the books this movie is based off of is about killing God? It is one of the reasons I didn't go see this. Not because I am overly religous but rather I don't like getting preached to from neither the pro nor anti God factions.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp

Claim: The 2007 film The Golden Compass is based on a series of books with anti-religious themes.

Status: True.

[Neziroth]

My girlfriend took me to see this (she even treated woohoo!)

She said it was the "Anti-Narnia" which I guess Narnia was pretty pro-God? I haven't read or seen it.

Anyhow, the movie itself was kinda boring to me, I found myself wanted it to be over... even the polar bear fight wasn't impressive to me.

I won't go see the sequel.

Polar bear fighting is cruel.

P.S. Girlfriend didn't like it either.

[Sheryl]

i wanted to finish the series of books before i watched this, so i just got around to it. once i got about halfway through the third book i was pretty irritated. the final wrap up of the story felt way too dramatic considering the kids were like 13 years old. i can't really say much more without ruining the ending.

i thought the movie was just alright. they definitely changed the nature of many of the characters, and i was also irritated that they ended the movie well before the actual end of the book. i can see why though, the book didn't exactly end with happy fun times.

[Canelek]

I saw this recently and rather enjoyed it. Are there going to be subsequent films?

[Tyek]

doubtful, it bombed at the box office.