[Keith Mascarenhas]

First reviews are now up on rottentomatoes and on other places. First impressions are somewhat mixed as was to be expected. People seem to like the gorgeous visuals and the acting but many seem to be put off by the shoddy editing. Indeed the movie is less than two hours long!

[Johnny Angell]

I just read Ebert's review and he gave it 4 stars and also left no doubt that the religious theme Has been watered down or removed:

Quote:

Pullman's evil force, called the Magisterium in the books, represents organized religion, and his series is about no less than the death of God, who he depicts as an aged, spent force. This version by New Line Cinema and writer-director Chris Weitz ("About a Boy") leaves aside religion and God, and presents the Magisterium as sort of a Soviet dictatorship or Big Brother. The books have been attacked by American Christians over questions of religion; their popularity in the U.K. may represent more confident believers whose response to other beliefs is to respond, rather than suppress.

[Jose Martinez]

I have a feeling the box office will be lower than expected this weekend. The theater was nearly empty when I saw this today.

As for the film itself, it lacked that certain "WOW" factor that will make it a film to recommend. It's good but not that great. It did feel butchered. Kind of felt like the Weinsteins had their hands on it.

[Adam_S]

I've thought the film had oscar potential because of the ending in the book, ever since Weiz revealed they're butchering the end of a self contained story I've had a huge suspicion this is going to bomb with audiences. Sort of like ending Fellowship of the Ring just before the orcs attack in the mines of moria. your comment on the Weinstein's is apt, I could imagine many a studio exec advising Peter Jackson that you have to end the movie before Gandalf dies otherwise audiences will leave the movie upset and sad if he dies in the ending (thos emotions would mean it would bomb)

[Robert Crawford]

This thread is now designated the Official Discussion Thread for "The Golden Compass". Please, post all comments, links to outside reviews, film and box office discussion items to this thread.

All HTF member film reviews of "The Golden Compass" should be posted to the Official Review Thread.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.


Crawdaddy

[Jose Martinez]

8.8 million on a Friday is not a good sign. That's Eragon territory

[Patrick Sun]

While it's more entertaining than Eragon (by virtue of the lead performance by Dakota Blue Richards), it suffers many of the same deficiencies, and limps to a finish.

Hated the almost night-time "battle" at the training school on ice. Visually, just incredibly dull and tiresome to watch.

Would have liked more screen time from the main actors (Kidman, Green, and Craig). It was ridiculous to flash a quick bit to explain what was going on with Azrael at the end. The screenplay by Weitz was not adequate to balance the 3 main subplots in the 3rd act, and just limps and sputters in mid-reel to its "ending" that comes across like a grocery list of plotpoints for the sequel that will never be made (because it won't do enough box office business to warrant a cinematic return to this multi-verse trilogy).

[Adam Lenhardt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnny Angell

I just read Ebert's review and he gave it 4 stars and also left no doubt that the religious theme Has been watered down or removed

With respect to Mr. Ebert, he's wrong — at least so far as the subtext being murkier than in the book. True, the movie never uses the word "Catholic" but none of the Catholic names — Magisterium, General Oblation Board — have been changed. The representative of the Magisterium wears a black cloak with a white collar. The emblem of the Magisterium is an "M" overlaid on top of a cross. The word "heresy" is thrown around freely by the Magisterium minister as he tries to convince the scholars at Jordan College to turn Lord Azrael down. When Mrs. Collier explains the "dangers" of Dust, it's a point-by-point retelling of the temptation of Adam and Eve, minus the specific naked people and snake. I haven't read the book a while, but I don't remember any religious subtext they left out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam_S

I've thought the film had oscar potential because of the ending in the book, ever since Weiz revealed they're butchering the end of a self contained story I've had a huge suspicion this is going to bomb with audiences.

I'm not sure how many people know the ending was chopped off, especially since there was plenty of footage of Azrael with the Northern Lights behind him in the trailers.
If the fails at the box office, it's going to be for the same reason the book failed here relative to the United Kingdom: Religion. America is a very religious country and if I was a strict Christian there was certainly plenty in the film that would make me feel uncomfortable about bringing my children along to it. The anti-Christian outry is the only buzz this movie has right now. It's just not the same caliber of phenomenon as Harry Potter.

Quote:

Sort of like ending Fellowship of the Ring just before the orcs attack in the mines of moria.

Not an apt comparison. Other than {SPOILER - highlight} Roger's murder and Lyra's crossing into our world{/SPOILER} there is nothing missing. The film remains pretty self-contained. It would be a more apples-to-apples comparison to say it's like ending Fellowship of the Ring just before Boromir's betrayal. The film still contains some very dark subject matter. For people who've read the book, the ending feels very ominous. For people who haven't, it's cautiously optimistic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick Sun

While it's more entertaining than Eragon (by virtue of the lead performance by Dakota Blue Richards), it suffers many of the same deficiencies, and limps to a finish.

Dakota Blue Richards was amazing wasn't she? Other than having darker hair than I imagined while reading, she pulls off all facets of the character incredibly well. She internalizes both the natural, instinctual sense of snooty superiority of Mrs. Kidman while possessing a wild open children's smile that melts your heart. Probably the best case of casting for a lead actor for a children's movie ever. She fits the part like a glove.

Quote:

Would have liked more screen time from the main actors (Kidman, Green, and Craig). It was ridiculous to flash a quick bit to explain what was going on with Azrael at the end.

Was there a flash to Azrael at the end? Was it after the credits? The print in my theater faded from Lee Scoresby's airship heading toward the Aurora Borealis to the "Directed by" credit.

Quote:

The screenplay by Weitz was not adequate to balance the 3 main subplots in the 3rd act, and just limps and sputters in mid-reel to its "ending" that comes across like a grocery list of plotpoints for the sequel that will never be made (because it won't do enough box office business to warrant a cinematic return to this multi-verse trilogy).

It's interesting that the film faltered in the third act for you. I definitely agree with the "grocery list of plotpoints" complaint, but for me the first two thirds were the culprit, with their endless exposition. (How many times did someone explain alethiometer was? 3? 4?) As the movie chugged along, the plot stepped aside for character moments more and more. I thought everything after Lyra met Lee was gold.

(And incidentally, the episodic nature of the tale in largely inherited from the book too. Since Lyra and Pan change supporting casts frequently, it's hard to build a cohesive whole on screen.)

[Patrick Sun]

By "flash" I was referring to Coulter's quick recount of what happened to Azra