Northern Lights/ The Golden Compass FILM

[DarrenSV650S]

I read "Northern lights" years ago when I was in school and loved it. It is written by Philip Pullman and is part of the "His Dark Materials" trilogy.
The three books in the trilogy are the best kids books I've ever read.
According to wikipedia....... The superficial resemblance of protagonist Lyra Belacqua's alethiometer (depicted on the book's cover) to a large compass caused the North American publishers of Northern Lights to retitle the book The Golden Compass.

But anyway, to get to the point, they have made a film of the first book. It looks quite good. Released December 5th. Cast includes Daniel Craig, Nicole Kidman and Christopher Lee.

Did anyone read this?
Or have I got anyone interested?:p

[Sean_C]

I saw the trailers on the telly for the film. I thought the books were brilliant, red them a couple of years a go. I'll definitely be going to see the film, if only to remind about the book again :)

[DarrenSV650S]

I saw the trailers on the telly for the film. I thought the books were brilliant, red them a couple of years a go. I'll definitely be going to see the film, if only to remind about the book again :)
Yeh me too, gonna get the tickets booked. I'm actually considering reading the books again too:)

[Paws]

Havent read the books but deffo going to see the film

[northwind]

Looking forward to this one myself. Sort of intrigued what they're going to do about the ending of the third book though, can't see that going down too well in certain areas! (no spoilers!)

Not too impressed with the FX, it's pretty but it somehow doesn't look quite right, Iorek frinstance doesn't really feel solid enough. It all looks a bit too much like computer game FMV, bit too slick and shiny. But it's got The Stranger from the Big Lebowski in it! I guess that's the way the whole durned human comedy keeps perpetuatin' itself.

[missyburd]

only problem is them spoiling it by calling it 'The Golden Compass' but spose thats american films for you. I'm re-reading the book atm, definitely going to see it :)

[DarrenSV650S]

Looking forward to this one myself. Sort of intrigued what they're going to do about the ending of the third book though, can't see that going down too well in certain areas! (no spoilers!)

Not too impressed with the FX, it's pretty but it somehow doesn't look quite right, Iorek frinstance doesn't really feel solid enough. It all looks a bit too much like computer game FMV, bit too slick and shiny. But it's got The Stranger from the Big Lebowski in it! I guess that's the way the whole durned human comedy keeps perpetuatin' itself.
Yeh I know what you mean about Iorek. The effects don't seem up to current standard.

[northwind]

Just started rereading the books, because of this thread. How good? Very good.

[DarrenSV650S]

Went to see it tonight. Really enjoyed it. Was great to remember all the characters.
It is definitely an entertaining film but the story seemed a bit rushed to me. Maybe it is because I have read the book, but they seemed to miss quite a bit of information. And you could tell that they forgot some dialog that was crucial to the story, so just added it afterwards when the camera wasn't looking at the characters face.
I was a bit disappointed with the way they showed Lyra reading the altheiometer. They didn't show her working out the messages using the symbols. Instead they just showed images of the altheiometers answers with gold dust.
Like I said before, the graphics could be better, but you don't notice it too much.

Definitely worth seeing, but I just wish they had taken a bit more time making it, and made the running time a bit longer so that more information could have been included from the book.

[Kate Moss]

Havent read the books but deffo going to see the film

same! The advert looks good, just hope its not one of the ones that shoes all the best bits in the advert then the rest of the film is S*it

[Samnooshka]

I've read the books several times :D can't wait to see the films... it has had disappointing reviews but usually the films that get slated by the critics i really enjoy so i wont be listening to any of it and go and see it for my own :)

[MeridiaNx]

Books are great, children's adventure stories with some serious adult themes.

Film looks (and reviews suggest) neutered, all elements of religious contention removed leaving an empty shell in true Hollywood style :rolleyes: [EDIT: Can't judge fully 'til I've seen it of course]

[drefraser]

only problem is them spoiling it by calling it 'The Golden Compass' but spose thats american films for you. I'm re-reading the book atm, definitely going to see it :)

Like the Bond film they were going to call "Licence Revoked" until they found out that most Americans didn't know what revoked meant so they called it "Licence to Kill" instead :)

[missyburd]

Like the Bond film they were going to call "Licence Revoked" until they found out that most Americans didn't know what revoked meant so they called it "Licence to Kill" instead :)

really? didn't know that but definitely figures :rolleyes:

[lukemillar]

Books are great, children's adventure stories with some serious adult themes.

Film looks (and reviews suggest) neutered, all elements of religious contention removed leaving an empty shell in true Hollywood style :rolleyes: [EDIT: Can't judge fully 'til I've seen it of course]

SPOILER (maybe?)
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They had to do that though. I worked on a load of VFX pitch work for the film in the early stages. They went through a few directors as it was being fleshed out how true to the book to make it. It didn't surprise me at all when the religious aspects would be substituted for a fictional evil entity instead.

Much of the VFX work was split between London and LA though which I think is a pretty good thing for the industry. (talking)Animals is an incredibly hard thing to pull off in VFX land especially in a film like this where they feature as prominently and in the numbers that they do.

I would definitely recommend reading the books :)

[Pedro68]

Like the Bond film they were going to call "Licence Revoked" until they found out that most Americans didn't know what revoked meant so they called it "Licence to Kill" instead :)
Really? I never knew that either!
Think Hollywood missed the boat (so to speak) with "Titanic" though ... I think they should have called it "The Unsinkable Ship" ... some people would have been quite surprised by the ending then :-P

I plan on taking the kids to see Golden Compass :)