The Golden Compass

[Pheebs]

Taken from the series of books by Phillip Pullman (Northern Lights), I thought it was a highly enjoyable filum!

Bearing in mind I haven't read the books for donkeys though, I may feel slightly disappointed when I get the opportunity to read them again when I realise they missed out loads of stuff!

Acting wise, the girl was a plank. I cringed whenever she said the word "ain't" *shudder*. The little boy wasn't too brilliant either buuuut hell, they're kids, they've a lot to learn (though saying that, considering the sixth sense lil boy and I will probably beg to differ)! Nicole Kidman and Mister James Bond were brilliant - which is hardly surprising!

Special effects were coooooool - I loved the daemons! Superb!

All in all, a well balanced out film me thinks. Great for families and just good entertainment!

I know so many people will slate me for saying it was a good film as I get the general impression that many forumee's expect more from wonder films like such. I'm just a sucker for candy floss films and light entertainment.

Not at all disappointed - will look forward to the next one!

[Will]

I preferred these books than Harry Potter - so hopefully I'll prefer this film to the Harry Potter ones too. I really hope they haven't ****ed up a good trilogy.

[Haly]

I'm hoping to go see it in the week :) Not expecting much, as long as it entertains me for a couple of hours, I'll be happy :)

[Feek]

I'm quite looking forward to it, I'll watch it before I read the book.

[Pheebs]

If I was the film producer and director for The Golden Compass I would be well proud of myself. I don't see how else they could have done it - it's really lovely :)

Looking forward to the next Narnia one now too :D

[Aitch]

I have read & loved the books (currently re-reading and on the last book, cue tears again when I get to the end :'(). I was encouraged by the trailers and hearing that Philip Pullman was very happy with it. We watched this at the weekend and I really enjoyed it. It is pretty action packed and fast paced and left me wanting more when it ended. I loved the daemons (I reaaallly want mine!), the witches and the bears. Generally I couldn't fault the casting which is always tough with adaptions from well-loved books although I was less keen on Nicole Kidman as Miss Coulter - the appropriately horrid golden monkey did balance this out though.

I can't wait for the next one!

[Haly]

Just saw this. Really enjoyed it :) I haven't read the books yet and I only know Northern Lights from a play on Radio 4 years ago, but as a film, it was good fun. :)
Some great ideas there which inspires me to want to read the books sometime :D As I've heard great things about them and I have enjoyed other books by Pullman.

Looking forward to the next one :D

[Goose]

*expecting to be flamed to death*

I though it was pretty average. There was no real drama, everything seemed to be rushed through. As with Haly, I may read the books at some point now though.

[leowyatt]

Well finally got round to seeing this tonight after re-reading the first book on holiday this week. Honest opinion the writer should have been taken outside and given 50 lashes for messing with the story.

Parts were completely changed, others occured before they should have and other bits were added for no apparent reason :huh: I suppose if I hadn't read the books again/before I'd have thought it was excellent but on the whole I'd say it was passible.

[Del Lardo]

The problem was that the books were such a thinly veilled attack on the Catholic church that they couldn't have got away with the original story.

I found the film to be a massive disapointment though I recently watched it at home in 720p and did enjoy the special effects and how detailed they were. Main problem for me was that it was too short. Harry Potter has proved that kids will sit in a cinema for 2.5 hours and the extra 30 minutes would have made a HUGE difference IMO.

[leowyatt]

It's not just the extra length, just tell the correct god damn story!! :angry:

What I mean is if they take the film as it is now and change the bits they changed back to how they are done in the book I don't see how that would cause problems with the church.

[Haly]

I've read the book since watching the film and it is definitely much better.
I still quite like the film though.

[Kell_ee001]

I liked everything but the end tbh, which ruined it for me :(

[Snuggle Ferret]

I'm glad it was while since I'd read the books, but that aside, I really enjoyed the film. The ending was made so for the sequel :-)

I am now going to re-read the books.

[Dymetrie]

Me and my brother (I've read all the books, he hasn't) watched it a few weeks ago and whilst neither of us didn't like it, neither of us were overly impressed.

I thought it was very fragmented from the original story, put in the 'ooooo' bits and left out some of the better story bits (like the bit when Lyra used the alethiometer to determine which pine birch was Seraffina's... Speaking of which, I didn't see no twigs being used as broomsticks by the witches!) which made me feel it wasn't quite as fluid as the book.

(refrains from the foolish name change and the dumbing down so that the alethiometer was only referred to as such on a handful of occassions)

The ending was made so for the sequel :-)

I disagree completely. The novel has an excellent ending and, in my opinion, one which is a much better set-up for the sequel. I fear that the 'feel good factor' was brought in for the end of the film so that it ended on a nice 'yay, all is good' story rather than a 'OMFG!' story.

[Haly]

I thought the very understated Stardust was a much, much better movie on all levels.

Oooh I agree entirely there. That was a brilliant film :)

[Kell_ee001]

Oooh I agree entirely there. That was a brilliant film :)

I agree too :)