The Golden Compass

**Bijo** · 12-24-2007, 18:42

Anyone seen this movie? I was planning on seeing it and would like to know from you people if it's any good.

**Mikeus Caesar** · 12-24-2007, 23:33

I'm afraid i'm suffering a case of 'iamlegendivitus' - the film just doesn't compare to the book. The fact it's called 'The Golden Compass' as opposed to 'Northern Lights' because stupid Americans might not get it just says everything.

**KukriKhan** · 12-25-2007, 04:55

As a stupid American, I recommend a view.

trailer. I think you might like the concept of animal representation of humanity.

edit seeing the trailer requires Quicktime be installed on your machine.

**FactionHeir** · 12-25-2007, 11:53

It was alright. A decent light-hearted movie which wasn't too interesting yet also not boring.
Since I have not read the books, I found some oarts of the movie quite confusing, as it did not explain some of the concepts presented.
One or two scenes seemed drawn out, but the rest played out at a good pace.

**Tart** · 12-25-2007, 18:56

Originally Posted by FactionHeir

Since I have not read the books, I found some parts of the movie quite confusing, as it did not explain some of the concepts presented.

Have to agree with you there. I knew nothing about the books before seeing the film and so found a few concepts a bit confusing or badly-explained. Overall it's not a bad film, perhaps something that will be better after a few viewings or good if you're familiar with the books.

I got a bit bored half way through, though. It seemed to desperately want to be the next LOTR but I felt it lacked a bit of heart, the strong foundations of Tolkien's world. Still, Dakota whatsherface acted very well in the lead role and having read up on the series a bit now since I've seen it it's made me want to buy the books.

**mrdun** · 12-25-2007, 23:41

For a media student i is supposed to be good. As a media student myslef, i'll ive it a look. At a laer date of course, I just got Ancient Rome triple DVD boxset for crimbo

**mrdun** · 12-25-2007, 23:44

Originally Posted by Tart

it's made me want to buy the books.

I always try to read the book after a film, apart from Harry POtter whose films came out way after !!

I find it gives me depth, I can accurately obtain a picture inside my mind etc. I do have imagination but i would say it is a little exaggerated meaning in the film I am constantly dissapointed lol.

**econ21** · 12-26-2007, 00:12

This is what I posted in the Movie Review Thread:

Originally Posted by econ21

I saw the Golden Compass yesterday and enjoyed it a lot. I was a huge fan of the Northern Lights and this film adaption of that book did not disappoint. The acting was uniformly good - especially Lyra, the main character - and the film was generally very faithful to the original story. Most of the fantasy elements were done well - the daemons, the armored bears, the witches, etc.

If I had one complaint, it was that the film raced ahead at quite a pace, so I don't think it caught some of the atmosphere of the book - for example, the fear of the Gobblers or the horror of Bolvanger. An unfavorable comparison might be with the Fellowship of the Ring, which I felt took more time to soak the viewer into the world of Middle Earth - starting with the Shire - and gradually lead them into the thrilling story.

Like the Lord of the Rings films, there were some cuts or deviations from the original that rankled a little. The anti-clerical agenda of the book was completely masked. The shocking end of the book was postponed, so we got a sacharine feel good ending instead. And a few of the darker elements of the beginning seemed to be lost - it's been a long while since I read the book, but I swear the college Master was in on the attempted poisoning and also that there was a severed child in Azreal's photos of the Northern Lights.

I'd definitely recommend the film.

However, if possible, read the book first. (I would always say read a book before seeing a film - it gives your imagination fuller reign and the sense of discovery may be necessary to make the greater effort of reading pay off.) At least the first in the series - the Northern Lights - as it is a masterpiece IMO. It rivals The Hobbit as a beautifully executed story with an amazingly imaginative world.

The other two books don't match the standard of the first, but are worth persisting with. As they will (hopefully) be covered in later films, reading those books in advance is not required.

If you just see the film, you may just regard it as another fantasy "romp", when it the book is much more than that.