I saw a rough cut of this several months ago, and despite the missing FX and incomplete sound mix I thought it had a lot of potential. The actors were well cast, the performances were strong, (especially the young actress who plays the lead) and I loved the story and related to its themes.

Having just seen the finished film I’m pleased (relieved) to report all the elements have all come together in the form of the best big budget fantasy picture since, well, Lord of the Rings. Like that trilogy, The Golden Compass manages to transport the audience to an exquisitely realized netherworld that is a wondrous, glittering, epic site to behold. The cinematography, FX, production design are all top notch, and the musical score is one I'll be picking up on CD. The real stars of the show however are the wonderfully realized characters, and my hat goes off to the director(s) for making sure they didn’t get lost in the sauce.

My only regret is that NewLine saw fit to trim the film to the bone in order to insure the shortest possible running time. As a result, there are moments when the pacing feels a bit choppy (sometimes a carefully cut long film will feel shorter than a hastily cut not-so-long film, and I suspect this might have been one of those times). Even so, if you’re looking to get swept away by a BIG holiday fantasy movie that manages to be both smart and entertaining, The Golden Compass comes highly recommended.

A note for those with kids: I can't wait to take my 7 1/2 year-old son to see this, but I'd think twice if he was any younger. The battle scenes get pretty intense... and then there's that business with the device that separates kids from their souls...

I'll be taking my 8 year-old this weekend if we can find the time. The religious brouhaha stokes my interest as well.

there's that business with the device that separates kids from their souls...I hate when that happens! ;)

Qapla'

SSB

What is this "soul" of which you speak?

I heard about the Golden Compass series of books having an antireligious theme. The hype about the movie being antireligious probably will make alot of people see it just for that. I won't be watching this particular movie. I'd rather spend my money on seeing I am legend, even if Will Smith is in it. ;)

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp

surprisingly mixed reviews on rotten tomatoes. I think I have to see this.

I just finished the books, very good stuff. I'm going to try to find time for the movie this holiday season.

Read on the internets that if you play the soundtrack backwards you hear Pat Boone.

According to the Author himself, the books are about opposing "ideological tyranny". Now, Who in the world would be against that?
Oh, and for our head in the sand contingent: When I saw "Chronicles of Narnia", I didn't go out and get baptized the next day.

According to the Author himself, the books are about opposing "ideological tyranny". Now, Who in the world would be against that?

People who profit when the sheeple don't think for themselves.

Supposedly, the more anti-catholic aspects of the books have been heavily toned down for the movie. However, the Catholic Bigwigs still don't want anybody to see the movie because it might lead them back to the books.

I'm sure the films producers were shaking in their boots when they heard the catholic anti-defamation league was upset. The last two books & movie packages I can remember them being outraged about, The Exorcist and The DaVinci Code,still managed to make a few bucks despite the protest.

God (if he exists) forbid anyone should be presented with an opposing viewpoint, and allowed to think for themselves. :)

Catholics protested The Exorcist? I'm no Catholic and never have been, but I would have thought they'd be pleased with that flick, since their priests "win" in the end and "save" the girl. Ah well, some folks are just born complainers.

God (if he exists) forbid anyone should be presented with an opposing viewpoint, and allowed to think for themselves. :)

Amen.

Catholics protested The Exorcist? I'm no Catholic and never have been, but I would have thought they'd be pleased with that flick, since their priests "win" in the end and "save" the girl. Ah well, some folks are just born complainers.

I was a kid in Memphis attending catholic school when The Exorcist hit theaters and was a bestselling book, I can stiil remember a priest warning us at Mass that the school's priest and nuns would be posted at all showings at the Lowes Theater and they would be taking names of anybody in the congregation that purchased a ticket.

Iirc correctly, the consensus was reading the book was really bad, but seeing the movie was a surefire ticket straight to Hell. 'Course, so was having a baloney sandwich on Friday back in those days.

'Course, so was having a baloney sandwich on Friday back in those days.

Good point...look what happened to that rule! :rolleyes:

F91 asked:What is this "soul" of which you speak?
It's that thing you pour into your models as you build them
to make them just right! :)

I'm sure the films producers were shaking in their boots when they heard the catholic anti-defamation league was upset. The last two books & movie packages I can remember them being outraged about, The Exorcist and The DaVinci Code,still managed to make a few bucks despite the protest.

They went ape doo-doo over Scorcese's The Last Temptation of Christ, too. I went to see it with my parents while in NYC, and my dad told a few of the protesters in no uncertain terms what they could do with themselves. The protest didn't seem to have any negative impact on attendance...in fact, there was a huge line to get in.

They went ape doo-doo over Scorcese's The Last Temptation of Christ, too. I went to see it with my parents while in NYC, and my dad told a few of the protesters in no uncertain terms what they could do with themselves. The protest didn't seem to have any negative impact on attendance...in fact, there was a huge line to get in.

Just an aside, but I caught Temptation a year or so ago. Deeply moving, beautiful film - and I'm an atheist. The protestors really shot themselves in the foot with this one, it's possibly the only film about Jesus that had the emotional depth and insight to carry the story to non-believers rather than preach to the choir...and they bent over backwards to suppress it. Brilliant.

I'll go see Golden Compass as soon as I can, and start reading the books after. I haven't been able to make out whether the novels are anti-religious (a charge I hear only from the most strident detractors) or if the books criticize the abuses of power of religious organizations. Two very different charges, which should not be confused.

They went ape doo-doo over Scorcese's The Last Temptation of Christ, too. I went to see it with my parents while in NYC, and my dad told a few of the protesters in no uncertain terms what they could do with themselves. The protest didn't seem to have any negative impact on attendance...in fact, there was a huge line to get in.

A brick had been thrown through the plate glass at the theater where I went to see it.

One of the funniest comments I've heard from a religious type related to The Golden Compass is that the author of the books does a very good job (read - sinister) of "disguising" his true agenda. Funny - when C.S. Lewis did the same thing with The Chronicles of Narnia - it was merely considered subtext.

I remember my very-catholic friends being deeply offended by the concept of Jesus Christ, Superstar. They went to see it so they could responsibley declare it evil, and absolutely loved it. :lol:

They went ape doo-doo over Scorcese's The Last Temptation of Christ, too. I went to see it with my parents while in NYC, and my dad told a few of the protesters in no uncertain terms what they could do with themselves. The protest didn't seem to have any negative impact on attendance...in fact, there was a huge line to get in.I saw The Last Temptation of Christ when it was still in theaters. One of the two friends who accompanied me was a "born again" Christian who, to his credit, wanted to see the film before deciding whether he should be for or against it. In fact, he even entered into a discussion with some of the protestors and voiced this opionion when they expressed their "shock and dismay" that a Christian would support the film by purchasing a ticket. When we left the theater after the showing, he went back to the protesters we'd been talking to earlier and told them, "You shouldn't be protesting it because it's anti-Christian (which it isn't), you should be protesting it because it's not a good movie." :p

I saw The Last Temptation of Christ when it was still in theaters. One of the two friends who accompanied me was a "born again" Christian who, to his credit, wanted to see the film before deciding whether he should be for or against it. In fact, he even entered into a discussion with some of the protestors and voiced this opionion when they expressed their "shock and dismay" that a Christian would support the film by purchasing a ticket. When we left the theater after the showing, he went back to the protesters we'd been talking to earlier and told them, "You shouldn't be protesting it because it's anti-Christian (which it isn't), you should be protesting it because it's not a good movie." :p

Sort of agree actually. Love Harvey Keitel but I had a hard time getting around Judas Iscariot with a Brooklyn accent. Harry Dean Stanton was cool though.

Just got back from the Kennesaw cineplex showing Golden Compass.

Odd crowd. Theater was comfortably filled, but there were only 1 or 2 kids. All adults.

It's an odd prickley sort of movie that requires your attention or don't bother.

And if rejecting the dogma of a given authority upsets you, then it's probably not your cuppa.

I'm not sure it's anti religious. Everyone in this universe wears their soul on the outside. It just happens to take the form of an animal. Kids' souls are fluid; not static like adults. Oh and they call their souls "demons". Unpleasant people tend to have unpleasant souls-er demons (insects and such).

Mothers aren't always good, and witches aren't always bad. Polar bears can make poor life decisions.

Loved the art direction. The CGI was present in every scene, but didn't interfere. Wonderful vehicles and buildings.

I'll see it again and take my kids next time. They were worried it would be too infantile. It's not.

Philip,

I like the exorcist too. The story behind it scared the crap out out of me when I was young. I have spoken about the film with a baptist pastor as well as a catholic priest who agree with my view. To a believing a christian, the movie makes you fear evil as you need to.

I can't say that I ever went to a catholic school as I grew up. But, I can say that the only moral threads my family could cling to during WWII in Nazi Germany was the church while Hitler was killing jews, burning books, and telling christians not to go to church. That's why I love the USA so much. You can be a christian, a jew, a muslim, a mormon, a buddhist, a hindu, a mason, an atheist, a satanist, a witch, a scientologist, or whatever and still be a citizen.

Roland

One of the funniest comments I've heard from a religious type related to The Golden Compass is that the author of the books does a very good job (read - sinister) of "disguising" his true agenda. Funny - when C.S. Lewis did the same thing with The Chronicles of Narnia - it was merely considered subtext.

I know nothing of these Compass books and so cannot comment. But I've read a lot of Lewis' stuff - agree with some, disagree with more - and while Lewis used allegory, I believe he made no pretense of hiding any agenda (if that word applies) of what Narnia was actually about. In fact, he was pretty up front about his purpose, in interviews. Unlike Tolkien, who denied vehemently that the Rings books were Christianesque allegory like Lewis' books (and I believe Tolkien meant it; they were just fantasies devoid of intentional religious imagery, Christianesque or otherwise).

or if the books criticize the abuses of power of religious organizations. Two very different charges, which should not be confused.

If that's what it's really about, I say more power to 'em!

Full Disclosure: I'm a Biblical fundamentalist with no desire nor patience whatsoever for any form of church membership, ritual, ecclesiarchial BS, etc. We're quite rare.

That's why I love the USA so much. You can be a christian, a jew, a muslim, a mormon, a buddhist, a hindu, a mason, an atheist, a satanist, a witch, a scientologist, or whatever and still be a citizen.

Roland

That's true of most Western societies - including Germany. But if you're running for President of the US and your preferred holy book doesn't start with the first chapter of Genesis - you're gonna' have problems.

Just got back from the Kennesaw cineplex showing Golden Compass.

Odd crowd. Theater was comfortably filled, but there were only 1 or 2 kids. All adults.

It's an odd prickley sort of movie that requires your attention or don't bother.

And if rejecting the dogma of a given authority upsets you, then it's probably not your cuppa.

I'm not sure it's anti religious. Everyone in this universe wears their soul on the outside. It just happens to take the form of an animal. Kids' souls are fluid; not static like adults. Oh and they call their souls "demons". Unpleasant people tend to have unpleasant souls-er demons (insects and such).

Mothers aren't always good, and witches aren't always bad. Polar bears can make poor life decisions.

Loved the art direction. The CGI was present in every scene, but didn't interfere. Wonderful vehicles and buildings.

I'll see it again and take my kids next time. They were worried it would be too infantile. It's not.

Daemons, not demons. It's derived from the Latin word for "spirit."

I'll go see Golden Compass as soon as I can, and start reading the books after. I haven't been able to make out whether the novels are anti-religious (a charge I hear only from the most strident detractors) or if the books criticize the abuses of power of religious organizations. Two very different charges, which should not be confused.

That's a tough call. The books have a strong spiritual element, but a certain religion is depicted as seriously misguided...and it abuses its power. It's hard to discuss things much further than that without seriously spoiling The Amber Spyglass.

I liked it! Ripping yarn, well done and un-obtrusive CGI. Lots of neat stuff to make models of- airships, steamships, horseless carriages that look like Henson's aerial steam carriage and run on a Keely Motor. Add some various brass clockwork gizmos and flying witches; what's not to like?
Andrew

That's true of most Western societies - including Germany. But if you're running for President of the US and your preferred holy book doesn't start with the first chapter of Genesis - you're gonna' have problems.

I think you're probably right about that, and it's unfortunate. I'm not certain what all the past US President's religions were. There was alot of hooplah going on about Obama having a muslim background. He's one of my favorite candidates, and I don't usually vote democrat. Mabey we need a capable president with a muslim background to win favor with the muslims of the the world that currently hate the US? But, that probably wouldn't work either because there are various groups of muslims that hate each other today.

I've pretty much given up on any good movies coming out for the holidays, aka the pollitically correct term for Christmas. New Kiddie films like Golden Compass don't interest me much. When I hear about the books the movie is based on, I become even less interested. For the record, I never saw Narnia in the theater either. That was another kiddie film. I could care less about any models that may sprout from this movie either. I know that Mr. Pullman would make money off of all these things and I won't be forking any of my hard earned money over to him.

Daemons, not demons. It's derived from the Latin word for "spirit."

er, so is demon. Besides software, daemon is chiefly the British spelling of demon. But thanks for pointing this out; I prefer daemon.

This side of the pond the word has negative connotations. It also means "attending spirit" or the "genius" of a place.

I'm not sure the author intended it to fit any of these definitions.

In this film these spirits were a complement of the person they were attached to. If the person was troubled or bad, the daemon exhibited these traits.

As a literary device it allows an excellent way for a character to carry on an inner diologue. As a visual device, it was a lot more fun than white hats vs. black hats; but you have to wonder why the characters didn't use these to judge associated the person's qualities. It seemed a dead giveaway.

The graphic artists did a wonderful job with these, as they did with the mechanical devices.

Either way it's going to contribute to the controversy.

New Kiddie films like Golden Compass

The previews definitely gave my kids (12 and 15) the impression it was a kiddie film. It's not. There are certain elements that would appeal to children (cute daemons that follow you around, look out for you etc; riding polar bears). I don't think it's a kiddie film any more than LOTR was. Any movie with Eva Green and Nicole Kidman is definitely not a kiddie film.

It's shown more from a child's perspective, but that adds to the fun.

I liked it! Ripping yarn, well done and un-obtrusive CGI. Lots of neat stuff to make models of- airships, steamships, horseless carriages that look like Henson's aerial steam carriage and run on a Keely Motor. Add some various brass clockwork gizmos and flying witches; what's not to like?
Andrew

I agree completely! If you're into 19th century sci-fi this has the look and feel of something Jules Vernian. The horseless carriage was way cool. So was the dirigible.

:thumbsup:

Alright, guys. Please leave the discussion of religion in the context of the movie only. Unless it has to do with a similarly based movie (i.e. the Narnia Chronicles) it doesn't need to go any further than that.

Leave politics completely out of this discussion - I'm only going to say that once. Any further discussion of politics is going to get the offender a Five Day Modeling Pass (i.e. 5-Day BAN) that I'd suggest you use to work on a model.

Many thanks in advance. :)

Daemons, not demons. It's derived from the Latin word for "spirit."er, so is demon. Besides software, daemon is chiefly the British spelling of demon. But thanks for pointing this out; I prefer daemon.

This side of the pond the word has negative connotations. It also means "attending spirit" or the "genius" of a place.

I'm not sure the author intended it to fit any of these definitions...Either way it's going to contribute to the controversy.Actually, you're both correct. In the books it's "Daemons", in the film it's "Demons". Saw Sam Elliot discussing it the other day on tv and he said (with a shrug) they changed it for the film.

Pronunciation would/should be the same either way. I think.

Pronunciation would/should be the same either way. I think.Most people (myself included) pronounce "Daemon" as though the "e" is silent, more like "dā-mon" or "day-mon" (like Damon Wayans). But according to Dictionary.com, it should be pronounced the same as "demon".

Most people (myself included) pronounce "Daemon" as though the "e" is silent, more like "dā-mon" or "day-mon" (like Damon Wayans). But according to Dictionary.com, it should be pronounced the same as "demon".

I tend to pronounce the "æ" form as sort of a hard "e" with a bit of hard "a" mixed in. (On a side note, I'm not really sure why my omnibus edition of "His Dark Materials" uses a separate "ae" rather than the conjoined form - was that a spelling choice on Pullman's part, or just an American typographic oddity?)

I thought I'd point out the spelling difference, considering the negative connotation attached to "demon" in the US.

At the risk of going too far off topic, does anyone know the etymology of æ and the Americanized "a"-less form? Encyclopædia/encyclopedia, dæmon/demon etc. The combined "æ" is sort of a weird double-letter.

The Latin "æ" and "œ" diphthongs have generally been simplified into "e" in modern English words of Latin origin, e.g. mediaeval/medieval, aesthetic/esthetic, foetus/fetus, etc. The written characters combining two letters, known in typography as ligatures, are less common now in the age of digital typesetting. They do give one's emails a certain touch of elegance, though!

Indæd they do!

I haven't been able to make out whether the novels are anti-religious (a charge I hear only from the most strident detractors) or if the books criticize the abuses of power of religious organizations. Two very different charges, which should not be confused.Well, see here: http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp. The relevant quote for this dicussion, found on the linked page, is probably this:
Pullman has left little doubt about his books' intended thrust in discussions of his works, such as noting in a 2003 interview that "My books are about killing God" and in a 2001 interview that he was "trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief."
Qapla'

SSB

Well, see here: http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp. The relevant quote for this dicussion, found on the linked page, is probably this:

Qapla'

SSB

Hence my observation on the comment about "disguising" (read sinister) his atheism within his books as opposed to C.S. Lewis "crafting" (read good) perfectly acceptable subtext. T'aint so.

Well, see here: http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp. The relevant quote for this dicussion, found on the linked page, is probably this:

Qapla'

SSB

Yet that quote of his is a touch misleading... *bangs head against "spoiler" sign*

Roy Clark can play the heck out of a banjo.

Roy Clark can play the heck out of any stringed instrument. Plus he's good at talking and telling jokes as well.

Roy Clark can play the heck out of any stringed instrument. Plus he's good at talking and telling jokes as well.

True True. Wish I could see him live.

Always liked him as Blue Boy Roy when Jethro was his manager.