The Golden Compass. I am afraid. Very afraid.

[Ghost]

I just saw the trailer for The Golden Compass  at
http://www.goldencompassmovie.com/

I can't say I liked it very much- as a great fan of the books (well, at least of the first two books, The Amber Spyglass was a bit too religiously orientated for my taste) I was very disappointed to get served with a trailer that a) had an unnecessary connection to Lord Of The Rings, (b) a lot of very prominent celebrities in roles not really meant for them and (c) hardly any daemons.
And of course there will be a computer game modelled after the movie, and soon everyone will know The Golden Compass as something it probably never was meant to be.

I'm really afraid that some people will take these great books and repeat all the mistakes done in the Harry Potter movies: Flashy stuff, fast action, here a little story, just looking for the buck.

Anyone here read the trilogy? Anyone here to pat a fearful ghost on the shoulder? Anyone here who has some FACTS and can tell more about the movie? In the best case can tell me it might turn out GOOD?

I need some people here!

[Becky]

Loving Northern Lights (why they chose to use the American title for what is actually a British book, I don't know) and its sequels tremendously, I will state quite simply that the film will disappoint you.  But books are books and films are films, and books-to-films will never be the same as you imagine them.  I will probably end up seeing it at some point, possibly on DVD if anything, but I wouldn't place any high hopes on it.  Information has been patchy, and perhaps time will tell.  Treat the book and the film-of-the-book as two separate entities, and you won't be sorely upset and it wont "ruin" the books for you.

I find it amusing that you found Amber Spyglass too religiously orientated when Northern Lights (the whole trilogy even!) is pretty damn strong in that theme.  It's the overriding theme

[Mr Flibble]

I hate the feeling when something I love is about to be corrupted for a mass public who won't understand it. They either won't get it because of the way it is presented, or because of their own ignorance...

Gah, I feel your pain here. I often lament the appearance of a movie because it produces an awful lot of new "fans" who completely miss the point.

[Ghost]

@becky: Religion is, to me, only one of many strong elements of the series. I can remember that, after reading the Compass, I was taken by the way the book dealt with friendship. The friendship that made Lyra go after Roger, the friendship between the panserbjorn king and the little girl and, always and forever, the friendship betwen Lyra and her daemon. The Subtle Knife, while revealing even more religious elements, was also mostly about friendship. For me the whole trilogy is about people and what they'll do to and for each other, and the religious plotline is just a way of providing a strong situation for all the characters to be friends and foes.
I read The Amber Spyglass at a bad time, I must confess. My father had just died, I wasn't in the most "stable" condition, and suddenly the whole "fighting heaven" plotline was a bit too much for me.
But you're right of course, it'd be best to consider book and movie seperate entieties.

Which brings me over to:

@flibble: Exactly what I fear: Fans who don't know the original. It's just the same as with the LotR movies.

I think I'll go and see it anyway. It's some time until december, and here in germany the movie'll probably start a bit later, too. But I think there'll be many deeper story bits that'll just be missed or left out. Sigh. At least the actor for Lee Scoresby looked spot on.

[LimpingFish]

Hasn't the hollywoodization of the book(s) removed all traces of religious content?

Can't say I'm a fan of these kind of books (rambling, multi-arc, epics). Or of these kind of films (rambilng, multi-arc, epics).

Which beggars the question...why am I here?

LimpingFish wanders away...

[Becky]

Ghost, I have to admit that Amber Spyglass makes more sense on a second reading   The anti-religious theme was quite strong to me, but that kind of thing attracts my attention quite easily, hehe.  Of course there are strong coming of age and friendship themes within the books, and I didn't mean to suggest there weren't.

Oh yeah, they're removing pretty much all the religiousness (no direct mention of religion or God...when one of the central enemies in the book is the Church!) of it to sanitise the books for American audiences.  So I won't be going to see some half-baked, santised version.  Definitely best to keep it firmly distinct from the books in your mind!

[Akatosh]

Guess I'll have to read these books again. But seriously, what will be left of these books after you take everything philosophical and religious out?

[SSH]

(c) hardly any daemons.

I'm guessing that the post-production on the movie, which will include all the visual effects such as the CGI daemons, is not yet complete... so lack of daemons in the trailer means very little.

[Becky]

Akatosh: An action/adventure CGI-fest, that's what!

[Akatosh]

If you're looking for me, I'm in the edge over there, probably throwing up until my liver comes out. Next, they'll make a movie of Brave New World, with all the dystopic future stuff removed, I fear. Or something like Wargames 2: Stuff With Terrorists or such.

[SSH]

Hollywood making terrible book adaptations? Surely not?

[Akatosh]

Worse than terrible.

[Pesty]

The "trailer" posted on the website isn't so much a trailer as it is a sneak peek. The movie isn't even finished yet. I suggest waiting until the movie comes out and you see it before you condemn it.

(b) a lot of very prominent celebrities in roles not really meant for them

Also, this is just silly. Aside from the fact that Phillip Pullman named Nichole Kidman for the role of Mrs. Coulter before she had it, is any role really meant for a celebrity? Actors' jobs are to pretend they're something they're not. And the people cast in the roles are good actors (the people I've heard of, at least). Daniel Craig is a fan of the books, as is the little girl cast as Lyra. I'm sure they're just as emotionally invested in them as you are, and wouldn't be okay with being in a half-assed version.

As far as the religious stuff is concerned, I'll just say this. Hollywood can really surprise you. Sometimes producers, writers, and directors aren't afraid to go into that sort of thing. Look at the first and third Indiana Jones movies. They are heavy with religious iconography and they're still considered family films.

And while religion is the underlying reason for the stories, it's not the whole thing. I didn't even notice any religious stuff at all my first read through the books (except the third, which is more blatant than the first two about the religious undertones). I'm sure most kids who're fans didn't notice them either. You have to remember, they're mostly making this movie for the kids who are the fans, and while I'm sure they won't just make it a "kiddy movie", because it's not just a "kiddy book", that IS their target audience. If they please all the kids who loved the books, then they'll make their money and be happy.

Honestly, I don't know why you're letting yourself get so worked up about it. Who cares if a bunch of people you don't know think about a book you love differently than it was meant? Maybe this movie will make them want to read the book and then they'll learn better.

[Ghost]

@ Pesty
Hm, somehow I feel the need to defend myself a little here. I did not exactly condem the movie. I just said I didn't like the trailer (I consider it a trailer, given the quality of the shots) and that I'm afraid the movie won't be much good. This is, of course, a pretty subjective oppinion. I guess there're no better words for it: I think I will not like the movie. I was disappointed by some of the things I saw in the trailer, and said that aloud. Of course you're right, you can't judge anything before you see it- that would be futile, foolish and even a bit arrogant. But I just said I WAS AFRAID it wouldn't be much good.
Of course, movies like Spider-Man 3, PotC 3 and FF4 have already proven that there's no better way to get pretty biased oppinions into collision than telling that you liked or disliked something.

And why I get worked up about it? Well, that's hard to say, but mostly because I like the book and care a bit for it... I would like to see it filmed the way I imagined all the stuff in there... which is (of course) stupid, not two people will see the same things or think the same things about anything, ever. It's just a bit unfair IMO: You go and buy a book, you're allowed to have it your way. You go and see the movie, suddenly everything IS, for the majority, as shown IN THE MOVIE. When did Legolas use a shield as a skateboard? Why is Eragorn a slightly naive fellow in the books, but a boisterous he-man in the movie? Why doesn't the Oxford of the trailer look more dirty, worn, why so sparkly and shiny?

You can get worked upon such things I guess, and sometimes I do. Sure, all I'd need to do is not seeing the movie and keep my mouth shut, and I could keep my picture of the story, and that'd be it. But then again, why not speaking up if something itches? I'll know better after seing the movie, anyway...

[LimpingFish]

The religious overtones were also removed from the Narnia movie(s), so this is nothing new.

As for the 1st and 3rd Indy movies, well, since almost 20 years have past since Last Crusade, comparing them to the current media climate in America is moot.

But then Nintendo of America, and it's ilk, have been pro-actively removing religious imagery and terms from westernized versions of Japanese games for decades.

The fear of being perceived as willing to cause offence, is just as scary to these organizations as actually being held accountable for causing offence.

[Kweepa]

The trailer looked pretty damned good/faithful to me, once I got past the unnecessary Lord of the Rings reference.
The only thing I'm worried about is Lyra - her lines didn't seem that convincing.

It's got to be better than the TV adaptation of The Ruby in the Smoke.

[Pesty]

I'm not attacking anyone, and I apologize if I came across that way. I'm simply saying that it's important not to get caught up in what's wrong or different, or if they removed religious things or whatever.

As for the 1st and 3rd Indy movies, well, since almost 20 years have past since Last Crusade, comparing them to the current media climate in America is moot.

You'd be surprised at how little Hollywood changes. Producers will always care about marketability first and foremost, and they will always fear having something that will insult or offend their audience. And those two movies, despite having a lot of religious mythology (or fact, if that's your cup of tea), were highly successful and highly marketable. The only difference is that the religious undertones in His Dark Materials is a lot more controvertial.

If they remove the religious stuff in The Golden Compass (sorry, Brits), then it's not as detrimental as it would be if they removed the religious stuff in The Amber Spyglass, which I'd say is completely impossible to do. If that's what you're worried about when it comes to the movie, keep in mind that the producers will get braver if the first one is a success. They'll know they can reel in the audience they got with the first one, so they'll give the writers and directors more freedom.

Now, I'm not saying it'll be fantastic. I'd be willing to bet money it won't live up to anyone's expectations, if they're hoping for a fully faithful adaption. However, don't get your panties in a knot because a quick five minute glimpse doesn't look like what you were hoping for. At least give it a chance, and keep in mind that it's just a movie.

[Miez]

Being a big fan of the books I have to say that I'm very much looking forward to this movie (or this trilogy). And - judging from the trailer - Lyra, mrs. Coulter and Lord Asriel look perfectly cast. They look just as I imagined them.
I do agree that Lyra's Oxford looks a little to sparkly and shiny, though... needs a little bit more on the grime and filth shaders, CG department.

[Ghost]

I'm not attacking anyone, and I apologize if I came across that way.

No offence taken, none meant, just wanted to clarify what might've been a bit vague in my original post 

On a lighter note, Terry Pratchett was once offered a large sum from some american producers to allow them to make a movie of "Mort", all they wanted to change was "to get rid of the death angle".
Life's a funny old dog.

[Eggie]

Well... I hate the stupid books, but I did kind of get the feeling they might work better as a film.
But this trailer looks pretty glossy and arbituary and, honestly, I think the weirdly specific genre of big budget movies adapted from subversive childrens fantasy novels might just need to take a little bit of a breather.