My review of The Golden Compass follows the jump. Here there be spoilers…
Oy, my head hurts. This review is written for people who have read the books.
1. The movie feels like a summary until we get to Iorek. The children and the actors all work fairly well, and the effects are stunning, but the whole thing feels like a series of disjointed scenes stuck together hoping to grow up to be a story one day. Ironically, the best review I’ve read of it comes from Christianity Today.
2. Once we pick up Iorek, drunk and naked in Norway, the immediacy of the plot is greatly assisted by the battle-a-minute pace. Why did they want to do this movie in under 2 hours? Any kid old enough to read these books can sit still for 2 and a half. Why did the guy who directed American Pie get this? Whose bone-headed idea was that? Apparently, New Line chased off the guy Pullman wanted, probably because he wanted to leave in all the anti-Catholic stuff.
3. Why does Lyra use the Alethiometer as her “meet new friends” toy, whipping it out anytime she sits down?
4. Why, oh why did they cut the ending off? I understand that we’re being set up for the sequel, but Pullman knew what he was doing when he put the ending after Lyra reaches Asriel. After that, all bets are off. We don’t trust anyone. The story could go anywhere. Before that, the story teeters toward a cozy little family reunion. It’s no where near as gripping, which seems to be the choice Weitz made in every decision. “What will be the least exciting choice to make here?”
5. I looooooove these books. I looooooooove re-reading them, seeing new plot points and fore-shadowings. The world of the movie is beautiful and visually perfect. The actors carry off their characters well. Hopefully, they’ll get a director with a better sense of storytelling next time.
Posted in Film
