Northern Lights as a film 2007: The Golden Compass

[Shippou-Sensei]

ha!

 

[Paris Garters]

I reckon it's gonna be shite.
Such amazing potential, but there's no way that Weitz is going to be able to produce anything that has any kind of gravitas or that can do justice to the depth and intricate storytelling of the book.
It'll be a CGI-filled stripped-down wash-out.
I'd love to be wrong though.

Agreed to all of that

 

[Charlie Drake]

They could well cock it all up, leave really good/essential bits out etc, but I'm waiting for this like a kid waits for Xmas. Massive fan of the books. There isn't actually any concrete plans for adapting books 2 & 3 as yet, but if film makes a few bob they probably will do.

Here's official site: www.goldencompassmovie.com

Here's a very good fan site that has a lot of info on the film:

www.bridgetothestars.net

 

[Maltin]

The official site listed above has some behind the scenes footage which was featured on a upcoming film trailers thread recently (albeit via a YouTube link).

The official trailer is now online (also on official site).

I've not read the books, so don't know how well it looks as if it captures them, but it looks pretty impressive.

 

[Thora]

Oooh, I'm excited now! The little girl playing Lyra looks ok actually, poor actress has a stupid name though - Dakota Blue??

I got halfway through the third book then lost it

 

[sojourner]

I got halfway through the third book then lost it

What, the book, or interest?


I'd forgotten about this thread - it's made me happy

 

[Thora]

The actual book

 

[Emerald Toucan]

The trailer looks great, I'm really excited about this.

I think the books are great, I've read them twice and I've got the unabridged version on CD which I've listened to on a couple of long journeys in the car.

Fingers crossed.

 

[sojourner]

The actual book

Have you still not read it all then? I'd have gone straight out and got another copy - couldn't stop halfway through!


Ooooo I've just watched the trailer - all exciiiiited now!!!

 

[Bazza]

Soj, don't want to ruin your excitement BUT, apparently, all religious connotations will be omitted from the film series.

I don't see how they'll get round that....well, maybe some special effects.

 

[sojourner]

Soj, don't want to ruin your excitement BUT, apparently, all religious connotations will be omitted from the film series.

I don't see how they'll get round that....well, maybe some special effects.

bazza


Have a quick look who started the thread and what she said

 

[Bazza]

Done.

I have more comments now but I will leave them for now (for fear of looking more silly)

 

[sojourner]

Done.

I have more comments now but I will leave them for now (for fear of looking more silly)

I'm really excited cos I really hope it will be ace - but I do fear it will be a horrible abortion of the story...a story which is one of the best I have ever read, and with a vast amount of references to many subversive ideas


No go on, what comments?

 

[Bazza]

Why the flip aren't they making the rest of the trilogy.

The Subtle Knife was my favourite...Will was a good character and I loved the way they moved from world to world.

When the money rolls in, I expect they will.

(I got the impression that they wouldn't make more films from the post you directed me too)

 

[sojourner]

Why the flip aren't they making the rest of the trilogy.

The Subtle Knife was my favourite...Will was a good character and I loved the way they moved from world to world.

When the money rolls in, I expect they will.

(I got the impression that they wouldn't make more films from the post you directed me too)

Hmmm

Dunno - perhaps it is a money making exercise...do the sequel when this one sells a million. Maybe it's cos the director can't manipulate the next 2 stories in quite the same way as it's possible to do with the first? The deeper and heavier ideas are unavoidable in TSK and TAS

 

[Bazza]

Hmmm

Dunno - perhaps it is a money making exercise...do the sequel when this one sells a million. Maybe it's cos the director can't manipulate the next 2 stories in quite the same way as it's possible to do with the first? The deeper and heavier ideas are unavoidable in TSK and TAS

Well, they better bear in mind that in a few years the Lyra actress is going to look like a woman!!

Agreed though, particularly the third one - they'd have to cut a lot out.

I wish I saw the theatre adaption in London. Used puppets and was meant to be superb.

 

[sojourner]

Yeh, I heard about the puppet adaptation - sounded a lot truer to the story than the film!

Well, we shall see. We'll probably all be back here soon with a bruising critique

 

[Bazza]

We're both weed smokers though! We'll probably be swept away by the visuals...

 

[May Kasahara]

I wish I saw the theatre adaption in London. Used puppets and was meant to be superb.

Yeah, I was really gutted that I couldn't get to see that - by the time I heard about it, it was fully booked Someone I went to school with played Will in that and was apparently absolutely incredible (Dominic Cooper, fact fans).

I especially wish I'd managed to see that because I know that there is no way this film will even remotely touch the greatness of the books, and yet I'll probably see it anyway. Having seen the official teaser, it just looks like another CGI-splattered blockbuster, with effects straight from the house of blah.

 

[sojourner]

We're both weed smokers though! We'll probably be swept away by the visuals...

Nahhh, I might like me weed, but I'm not easily impressed by visuals - the cerebral gets my vote every time!

 

[perplexis]

...

I especially wish I'd managed to see that because I know that there is no way this film will even remotely touch the greatness of the books, and yet I'll probably see it anyway. Having seen the official teaser, it just looks like another CGI-splattered blockbuster, with effects straight from the house of blah.

I just watched the trailer. Bland bollocks.
It's going to be an abomination.
Quite aside from the fact that I hate Kidman and Craig and don't think they are actors of any merit, and that Weitz is a shitty director, the prospect of a watered-down version of a brilliant story fills me with sadness.
It'll be as bad of LOTR, maybe worse, because this is a better story.

 

[perplexis]

Oh yeah, and WTF??? is with it being called The Golden Compass?
What was wrong with Northern Lights, FFS!

 

[sojourner]

Oh yeah, and WTF??? is with it being called The Golden Compass?
What was wrong with Northern Lights, FFS!

I think that was what it was called in the American release of the book

 

[Idaho]

Why do people want books made into films? Why are films considered the apex form of any art? So that all other media must naturally aspire to being squashed into a 2 hour film that will sell to US audiences?

Rubbish I say.

read the first book - thought it was alright.

 

[perplexis]

I think that was what it was called in the American release of the book

Yeah, that figures.
But why, dammit, why?
Does US English not have "Northern Lights"? Does it mean some dubious sexual act? Is it racist? Is it the name of something else entirely and it infringed copyrights?
Wikipedia says it's because the alethiometer resembles a compass in the picture on the cover. That is truly lame!

 

[sojourner]

Yeah, that figures.
But why, dammit, why?
Does US English not have "Northern Lights"? Does it mean some dubious sexual act? Is it racist? Is it the name of something else entirely and it infringed copyrights?
Wikipedia says it's because the alethiometer resembles a compass in the picture on the cover. That is truly lame!

Yeh, it's the alethiometer

And I agree, it is lame! I still don't understand why meself...especially as it's not actually a compass anyway


e2a - here's an explanation by the man himself http://www.bridgetothestars.net/index.php?p=FAQ#4

 

[Reno]

Why do people want books made into films? Why are films considered the apex form of any art? So that all other media must naturally aspire to being squashed into a 2 hour film that will sell to US audiences?

Rubbish I say.

read the first book - thought it was alright.

Why do people get so irate when books get turned into films ? Some very good films have been based on books. The book will still be there afterwards and many more people will read it because of the film.

I tried to read this by the way, but couldn't get through it. I suppose it's good for what it is, but then again I thought it was just another overhyped kids book.

 

[sojourner]

I thought it was just another overhyped kids book.

Then you've obviously read so little as to miss some of the massive influences in there, Blake, Milton etc

 

[Reno]

Then you've obviously read so little as to miss some of the massive influences in there, Blake, Milton etc

Why would being influenced by Blake and Milton automatically bestow greatness on Philip Pullman. I agree with what he has to say and think it's good reading for children, but as an adult I didn't find His Dark Materials that challenging or interesting. It's a step up from Harry Potter, but I don't get this craze for adults reading childrens literature.

 

[sojourner]

Why would being influenced by Blake and Milton automatically bestow greatness on Philip Pullman. I agree with what he has to say and think it's good reading for children, but as an adult I didn't find His Dark Materials that challenging or interesting. It's a step up from Harry Potter, but I don't get this craze for adults reading childrens literature.

It's the way he weaves their ideas and characters from their writings that bestows the greatness. I was constantly surprised by tons of references that just were seemingly snuck into the text, no fanfare or owt. The writing itself was massively clever, and could be read on all levels. My daughter read them first, and at that age didn't pick up on any of that stuff...she's rereading them now at the age of 16 (along with Paradise Lost) and is starting to be pleasantly startled by what she's picking up on


Apart from anything - they are INCREDIBLY subversive books for kids to read, couldn't you see that? Totally different to Harry Potter.