The Golden Compass movie

[rekall]

I just got back from seeing the movie version of the Golden Compass... and I'm not recommending it.

Most of the movie is good. There are some changes from the book but nothing too cringe worthy (unlike some of the trailers would imply) but then it happens...


They cut off the entire ending.

I am seriously not kidding.

The movie ends with Lyra in the balloon talking to Roger about rescuing Lord Asriel and then it just fades to black (they changed the order of things and had the bear part happen before they rescue the kids, which made no sense at the time but seeing the lack of ending made me understand why they did it).

The movie is 114 minutes long. Easily they could have added another 20-30 minutes to include the ending.


This could have been a really good movie but they blew it.

If you planned on seeing the movie, skip it and read the book instead.

Comments

[proleptical.livejournal.com]

I heard that Roger *spoiler; you know what*, which is incredibly stupid since that event is what practically propels Lyra to begin her journey. Stupid.

[rekallthegreat.livejournal.com]

Apparently they filmed the ending but American preview audiences said it was "too confusing" and "depressing" so they cut it.

It's a real shame since the movie is enjoyable until the stupid non-ending. The not-ending just completely kills the entire movie. Hopefully a director's cut version is eventually released on DVD.

[proleptical.livejournal.com]

Just came back from watching and it really was a great movie up until the end. I mean, obviously it is extremely watered down but I think most of us already came to terms with the fact that they would have to tone down the religious theme and violence for the younger audiences but I couldn't help but laugh at the collective gasp in the theater when Iorek literally rips Iofur's face off during the duel; I was sitting there thinking to myself, "lol, people... in the book he literally eat his heart out!"

But as for the ending, I really do hope they start off the second movie with it because it's really quite pivotal for the plot of the entire series plus by not adding it, it really takes away from the story something which I quite enjoy about the novels - that not everything is so black and white, like, say, Narnia. The "good" guys and "bad" guys have a moral ambiguity to them, and Lord Asriel is such a wonderful morally ambiguous character and the "killing" of Roger emphasizes this. So I really do hope they include in the second movie for those who won't get the DVD won't get lost. On a shallow note, I wanted to see Mrs. Coulter and Lord Asriel reunited and making out, so that's also why I hope it is included! XD

I thought Lyra was fantastic, though. As was most of the cast, really. Lee Scoresby was awesomely cast, Eva Green is so disgustingly gorgeous she made me question my sexuality, the daemons were fantastic and I really do hope it does well enough so they can make a second and third movie. I want to see Will and I want more audiences to get into this bloody series! They are some of my favorite books ever and it saddens me that they go unnoticed.

Sorry for the essay, lol. It thrills me to have someone on my f-list who's a fan of the books as well!

[rekallthegreat.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I really thought it was a great movie until the end. Like you said, the cast was great and I really didn't mind some of the changes because I expected that.

The non-ending really killed it for me though because that was something I didn't expect. I was really looking forward to seeing the ending between Mrs. Coulter and Lord Asriel and then Lyra's decision to continue on the journey into another world alone.

They'd pretty much have to start off the second movie with that part because then it really won't make sense since the second book starts off with Will. People who haven't read the books would really be confused when Lyra shows up in the other world.

I also hope the movie makes more people want to read the books. People who haven't read the books probably won't be bothered as much with the movie's ending so it shouldn't turn them off of reading the books.

[kryptyd.livejournal.com]

WHAAAAT!? That's preposterous! That's one of the main points, the creeping sense of dread building up from that conversation where the two guys at Jordan are saying the stuff about betrayal.

I'm glad I read this though since if I do watch it I'll be prepared for the end being lopped off,

[rekallthegreat.livejournal.com]

I know, it was stupid.

Actually I think the talk at Jordan about betrayal was also removed. I might be wrong though because at the time I was too in awe at how cool everything look.

I think I wouldn't have been annoyed as much if I knew the ending wasn't there before I saw it. It's one of my favourite scenes in the entire series and I was really looking forward to that part.