Northern Lights as a film 2007: The Golden Compass

[Reno]

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

Sure I can see that, but why as a childless adult male should I enjoy this because it's subversive literature for children. I prefer subversive literature for adults. As I said, it's good for what it is, but in the end this kind of fantasy stuff just isn't my cup of tea.

 

[sojourner]

Sure I can see that, but why as a childless adult male should I enjoy this because it's subversive literature for children. I prefer subversive literature for adults. As I said, it's good for what it is, but in the end this kind of fantasy stuff just isn't my cup of tea.

I don't see as it makes any difference tbh - it can be read on all levels, that's just one of them. I like that fact that it speaks a different language to kids from what they get all the time at school and in the media. And that's one of the great things about it.

I don't read fantasy myself, don't like it as a genre in general. I have read enough though, to realise that HDM goes way beyond your average fantasy novel.

 

[May Kasahara]

Ooh! Kate Bush has recorded a new song for this film

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7094467.stm

 

[Idaho]

I thought the books were ok. Good enough to finish, perhaps no more than that. Wasn't ever bothered to work out what the devil the end battle bit was all about.

However it might actually be better as a film.

 

[Shippou-Sensei]

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.

whenever i read stuff like this i see a mental image of someone who gets up in the morning and slam ther testicals between a copy of crime and punishment and war and peace...

literature for hard people

 

[Reno]

I thought the books were ok. Good enough to finish, perhaps no more than that. Wasn't ever bothered to work out what the devil the end battle bit was all about.

However it might actually be better as a film.

...isn't there some sort of controversy that for the film they've removed all references to religion and Catholisicm in particular as not to offend Midwestern sensibilities. Its criticial stance on organised religion was the only aspect of he whole enterprise that had me intrigued.

 

[madzone]

I don't get the subversive message from the books

 

[Reno]

whenever i read stuff like this i see a mental image of someone who gets up in the morning and slam ther testicals between a copy of crime and punishment and war and peace...

literature for hard people

It's not that, I just personally don't really like this particular kind of literary kids fantasy (Potter, Lemony Snickett, the whole lot) I simply find it boring to read, though I'm happy to watch the films.

I probably was grumpy and overstated my case when I wrote this, I'm much more mellow today.

I'm more of a Moomintroll man myself when it comes to childrens book series.

 

[PursuedByBears]

I don't get the subversive message from the books

Depends whether you think killing God is subversive or not. Seems fine to me.

 

[madzone]

Depends whether you think killing God is subversive or not. Seems fine to me.

I read all of them but don't remember anything about killing god. I didn't get it at the time and I don't get it now. My 12 yr old is reading tham atm but I'm going to read them again in prep for seeing the film - maybe I'll get it this time

 

[May Kasahara]

I think there's quite a lot that's subversive about those books, in a small or subtle way. Lyra's parenting has been abysmally poor, yet she is strong and capable and quite happy to look after herself; reaching sexual maturity is seen as crucial to the development of all sorts of things. Those are quite different models of thought to the ones routinely paraded through our media.

Mind you, I would say that, I loved these books

 

[madzone]

Maybe it's because I was quite ill when I read them. I'll be interested to see if I find them different second time round

 

[PursuedByBears]

I read all of them but don't remember anything about killing god. I didn't get it at the time and I don't get it now. My 12 yr old is reading tham atm but I'm going to read them again in prep for seeing the film - maybe I'll get it this time

It's mostly in the third book. Lord Asriel goes to war against The Authority, who is a very very old angel who's been passing himself off as God since the dawn of time, being worshipped by the Magisterium in Lyra's world, by the Church in our world etc. Lyra and Will are the new Adam and Eve who defeat death (the Land of the Dead is no longer a prison for all eternity) and Lord Asriel destroys the Kingdom of Heaven and starts to build the Republic of Heaven i.e. heaven on earth instead of a mythical reward in the hereafter.

The first book (and probably the film) is mostly about armoured bears though

 

[sojourner]

I think there's quite a lot that's subversive about those books, in a small or subtle way. Lyra's parenting has been abysmally poor, yet she is strong and capable and quite happy to look after herself; reaching sexual maturity is seen as crucial to the development of all sorts of things. Those are quite different models of thought to the ones routinely paraded through our media.

Yep, excellent points May


madz - deffo give em another go. I think they're right up there in the greatest books of all time category, honestly

 

[PursuedByBears]

I think they're right up there in the greatest books of all time category, honestly

The National Theatre's version of the trilogy was bloody brilliant as well, saw both plays in one day over about seven hours

 

[May Kasahara]

I was so gutted not to see that

Dominic Cooper was a couple of years below me at school He was a thoroughly nice boy, but very accident-prone!

 

[Paris Garters]

Oh God, I'm going to have to go to see it, I can't help myself.
I only hope I get carried away enough by the armoured bears to prevent me shaking with rage at what they've inevitably done to the story, or there'll be popcorn all over the place...

 

[sojourner]

Oh God, I'm going to have to go to see it, I can't help myself.
I only hope I get carried away enough by the armoured bears to prevent me shaking with rage at what they've inevitably done to the story, or there'll be popcorn all over the place...

If you're going to eat popcorn whilst watching that film, then I will personally box your ears

 

[Strumpet]

I am STUPID excited to see this film. LOVE the books. Amazing story. Beautiful characters. Gorgeously descriptive.
I hope it is good *crosses fingers* and if so they then make the others!

 

[sojourner]

I am STUPID excited to see this film. LOVE the books. Amazing story. Beautiful characters. Gorgeously descriptive.
I hope it is good *crosses fingers* and if so they then make the others!

I'm looking forward to it, but I'm afraid I might be sorely disappointed with it

 

[Strumpet]

Nooooooooooooo....SSHHH
*puts fingers in ears*

Hope none of us are.....

 

[madzone]

I'm looking forward to it, but I'm afraid I might be sorely disappointed with it

I have to say I'm not convinced by Lyra - too blonde and neat and tidy

 

[Paris Garters]

If you're going to eat popcorn whilst watching that film, then I will personally box your ears

What???!!! The pictures without popcorn? What's the point?

I promise I'll eat it quietly...or do you just feel it's somehow inappropriate?

 

[catinthehat]

One of the things I liked best about the books is the way they fired up the imagination - armoured bears and so on. So you have really strong images in your head which will not match what you end up seeing in the film, which is always an odd feeling to me. I have never had as many "what Im reading at the moment" related dreams as when I did when I read these books.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

I'm reading the first of these books at the moment. It's quite difficult reading, IMO...

The trailer looks quite lush, though - although perhaps they're trying to make it too similar to LOTR?

 

[Maurice Picarda]

Tenner says this is going to be a good movie.

I'd take that.

 

[laptop]

I'd take that.

It's a good movie. Pay up.

Soundtrack is a bit thin.

Lyra is, contrary to the trailers, perfect.

I was left wondering whether Pullman had started the rumours about toning down the atheist side for some underhand purpose (like talking to the funders, not us - or successfully creating a buzz).

Pint for the first person to identify the scene where I was thinking "yay, let's burn churches!"

 

[sojourner]

Oooo you've been to see it already?

We're going this Friday, all prepared to slag it off

 

[kyser_soze]

That's at least one good reliable review from an Urbanite - in fairness it's been getting them everywhere, and I think those whiny atheists should STFU about the anti-church bits being toned down or left out...you only pick up on that stuff as a more mature reader I reckon, and from what I've read the film seems to straddle the twin tasks of being a good kids movie AND a decent version of the book...

Why did that rename it tho? Anything to do with a certain brand of weed, or because 'Golden Compass' goes better with 'Subtle Knife' and 'Amber Spyglass'?

 

[sojourner]

Why did that rename it tho? Anything to do with a certain brand of weed, or because 'Golden Compass' goes better with 'Subtle Knife' and 'Amber Spyglass'?

Renamed cos that's what the book was called in Amerikay, I believe