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Originally Posted by MattH.
Weitz’s direction works in fits and starts, but the film as a whole doesn’t have the smooth transition from sequence to sequence that would have made it a more enjoyable entertainment. There’s not a great sense of danger, for example, when Lyra and Iorek Byrnison have to cross a thin ice bridge over a deep cavernous canyon. One wonders what someone like Steven Spielberg would have done with the sequence. Weitz handles it in rather rudimentary fashion. A battle between ice bears doesn’t hold as much excitement as it should either, obviously done digitally from start to finish. Better are some late film revelations that would make the next films in the series much more interesting with stakes for Lyra much higher. Given the disappointing reception the film found in America (though it was a smash internationally), it's unknown whether we'll see the other two stories in the trilogy.
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Weitz's original version of the movie was heavily recut by New Line. Essentially, NL found the original ending to be too dark so they cut it to appeal to broader audiences. But they couldn't leave it at that. They liked some of the more action packed sequences that would've led to the film's finale, but having cut the finale proper, they just sprinkled these odd pieces throughout the film. So it's no surprise the film lacks flow. Certain scenes that were supposed to lead to others are randomly plopped in. For example, the ice bridge scene was supposed to come towards the end and was supposed to be a pretty big character moment. With no reference to what she was really crossing over to, it loses its purpose.
It would appear that other countires will be getting an "extended edition" of the film on DVD. With the possibility of sequels in doubt, hopefully this extended version finds its way to American shores.