The Golden Compass
So today I was lucky enough to get to see The Golden Compass. I've been looking forward to see this movie since Harry Potter and it was the one movie I truly wanted to see. I read all three books back in 8th grade (or around there) and fell in love with them with The Golden Compass being my favorite and I reread that one a couple times. I also did an 8th grade English project on it in which I cast the movie and wrote about how I'd do it. So I was really happy to see the movie made and couldn't wait to go see it. I haven't read the books since then so I was hoping that the little details and even big ones they changed wouldn't matter and I could truly appreciate the film for what it was.
In short, I could not. Because they left out the MOTHERFUCKING ENDING!! WTF!!! Argh. That was my favorite part, what it all led up to. In the film I had totally forgotten about the betrayal and poor Roger and then I remembered right at the end in the air. So I was OMGing and freaking out about getting to see this moment. Not to mention my favorite Asriel and Mrs. Coulter scene since I have to say now I was totally a shipper before and loved the energy in that scene. And I get FADE TO BLACK on the ship, WTH. GRR ARGH *enraged* It totally ruined the movie for me. I still like it and think it's good overall and the special effects are definitely amazing but the ending is bullshit. You can't end like that! I could feel the crowd around me feel off put by the ending like they were expecting more.
So I read the interviews with the director/screenwriter and Phillip Pullman himself and I still think it's bullshit they left it out. One they said it wasn't happy enough for a feel good box office movie. Oh, COME ON do you really think so low of audiences that they need that? And the end is uplifting with Lyra reclaiming her purpose and walking into the beautiful aurora sky! It doesn't get much better than that. Then apparently some stupid small audience got "confused" by the ending so they canned it. Two points: Argh why do you trust these people? And two, if its confusing, make it so its not! The movie didn't feel too long so adding this end and making it complex really would not have been a problem. Yes it's true the audience wanted more of the movie so they'd want to see the next movie but to keep off the amazing end is manipulative and trickery in doing that rather on the strength of the film and has the risk (and fulfilled in my case) of not getting enough of the movie and having the movie feel incomplete. So then the director/screenwriter says "The juncture at which to leave audiences hoping for more was before Lyra sets off to find Asriel. " Um, NO because the movie never even gave a good reason at why this is was important or real momentum towards it. And then there is more bullshit about how it was too dark (Oh COME ON and grow up) and how it was all the studios fault. You have to FIGHT for your movie! They have no proof that it would have been bad for business.
Now why do I think this scene was so important for the integrity of the movie? This is the MOTHERFUCKING ENDING as I said before. It's the climax at least emotionally speaking. The battle can't even hold a candle to it. It just made it seem like the movie was all about flashy effects and big epic scenes which is lame and not quality at all. And the REAL ending can't be the beginning of the next movie without taking away from the beauty of the story. I seriously do not understand how they think this will be a good beginning for the next film. My only justification is they didn't want to start with Will in the next movie. Again, lame and not a good enough reason. Most importantly, this ending had so much emotional significance which you NEED the beginning and middle and all the rest of The Golden Compass for. When audiences go back into theaters, are they going to remember the love of Roger and Lyra and how she so recently saved him? You don't start beginnings of stories, even the next part of them with a big emotional revelation that rests on what happened previously at least not in movies. As the director/writer noted these are some of the most brilliant and complex scenes and to throw that on in the beginning takes away the HUGE emotional meaningful moments these are and throws the audience into the lion's den straight away without getting emotionally invested enough to fully appreciate them. There is a beauty and a logic to narrative structure and an end should be an end and a beginning a beginning. End of story.
So yeah, I am SO RAGEFUL about this and its making me cry and I know I shouldn't care but some things just shouldn't be tainted, you know? This eclipses my anger at the 5th Harry Potter movie because they almost eliminated a huge scene but at least they didn't cut off the ending and mess up a narrative. That's unforgivable in my book. I didn't care about any of the religion changes at all nor the other smaller changes which is in part to not reading the books recently but in the fact they really aren't that bad. It just sucks the director/screenwriter had to ruin the movie by leaving it out when I would have been really happy with it. People are also complaining about the lack of Lord Asriel/Daniel Craig especially if they haven't read the books and it's just so frustrating that his huge scenes got taken out for such ridiculous reasons. I know I have bias because the Asriel and Mrs. Colter scene was always such a highlight to me and it was THE one thing I was really looking forward to seeing in the movie and I get nothing. I just love them so much in all the tragicness of it and the sheer power and chemistry and need and everything that they are in that one beautiful scene. Talk about not giving the stars a chance to shine. They didn't go out with a bang, they went out with a whimper.
The killer is they actually think having it in the next movie will be enough to qualm the fans. Oh wait, I forgot, the movie doesn't come out for TWO FUCKING YEARS!! Like waiting that long is going to make me be okay with it. Yeah it's good you didn't leave the scene out but it's not in the place it's SUPPOSED TO BE. And the worst thing is, the movie may not even get made if they don't get the box office numbers. I'm not expecting too much with the stupid controversy and leaving out the ending and not being *that* good of a film so I am worried with it being so needful of CGI. If I don't ever get to see that ending scene I am going to be pissed. I'd rather see it than get the next two movies. It's THAT important.
Okay, I did actually like things in this movie which is why it's so sad my rage is overshadowing it. The polar bear fight was AMAZING. Beautiful CGI and special effects, lots of emotion and the last punch is the coolest thing ever. I gasped and cheered along with the audience. The ending fight was also awesome in the same epic battle kind of way. I really loved the daemons in the movie and anytime they'd get torn apart hurt so much including the daemon-less kid and most tortuously almost Lyra. Nicole Kidman was amazing and did a wonderful job (I had cast Catherine Zeta Jones in the part but NK is good with me) bringing Mrs. Coulter to life from the evil to the touching in her revelation scene. Her clothes were also fabulous. All the acting was great as well as the voice acting and even the girl did a good job. They did a really good job shortening the plot and yet making it pretty understandable (I do have a feeling it's kind of hard to really get for the non-book watcher) which left them with the time for a good ending which of course they left out. It took me awhile to really get into it again but once I did the emotional investment into all of them came back. I understand how it's really hard to condense and shorten the book to make it watchable so I can forgive how it did introduce characters really fast and couldn't really delve into the messages and issues as well as the book. I wish they had been brought up a little more (the end could have helped with this!) but I was okay with it.
Onto the religion issue. I never thought the books were truly anti-religion or "killing god" (so bullshit) but rather the abuse of power and trying to control people. As someone who values freedom as most important, I totally support this and writing against it. What's most important is whoever is in power whether it be religion or the government or schools or even parents (see Mrs. Coulter), can't just tell people what to think and what to do without giving them the free will to think for themselves. Knowledge IS important. Which is why advocating to not see the movie based on some simplification, untrue assumptions is so ridiculous and goes against what the book and film is all about. Don't just accept what people tell you! And then people take authorial intent into account when they should be interpreting the film/book on their own. If watching a film/book is going to destroy your faith or your children's then maybe both are not as strong as you thought. It takes a LOT more than that to do something like that unless it's just not there to begin with. I'm not religious at all so it doesn't bother me so I'll admit that straight out but nor do I see the movie or book as preaching or trying to convert anyone in any way. It's just interesting, it gives you something to think about.
So yeah, overall it's good and enjoyable but leaving out the end sinks it and overshadows all the good until I am just saddened at losing out on what could have been a great film. You suck, Chris Weitz and I hate you for doing this to such a beautiful book.
I definitely recommend reading the book before (preferred always) or after you see the movie. Which I do recommend just to see what you think of it. It's definitely the kind of movie to see in a theater.
I have lots more I have to write about including my new addiction to Project Runway (OMG SO MUCH LOVE) but I'm just not in the mood to do it right now. Le sigh.
In short, I could not. Because they left out the MOTHERFUCKING ENDING!! WTF!!! Argh. That was my favorite part, what it all led up to. In the film I had totally forgotten about the betrayal and poor Roger and then I remembered right at the end in the air. So I was OMGing and freaking out about getting to see this moment. Not to mention my favorite Asriel and Mrs. Coulter scene since I have to say now I was totally a shipper before and loved the energy in that scene. And I get FADE TO BLACK on the ship, WTH. GRR ARGH *enraged* It totally ruined the movie for me. I still like it and think it's good overall and the special effects are definitely amazing but the ending is bullshit. You can't end like that! I could feel the crowd around me feel off put by the ending like they were expecting more.
So I read the interviews with the director/screenwriter and Phillip Pullman himself and I still think it's bullshit they left it out. One they said it wasn't happy enough for a feel good box office movie. Oh, COME ON do you really think so low of audiences that they need that? And the end is uplifting with Lyra reclaiming her purpose and walking into the beautiful aurora sky! It doesn't get much better than that. Then apparently some stupid small audience got "confused" by the ending so they canned it. Two points: Argh why do you trust these people? And two, if its confusing, make it so its not! The movie didn't feel too long so adding this end and making it complex really would not have been a problem. Yes it's true the audience wanted more of the movie so they'd want to see the next movie but to keep off the amazing end is manipulative and trickery in doing that rather on the strength of the film and has the risk (and fulfilled in my case) of not getting enough of the movie and having the movie feel incomplete. So then the director/screenwriter says "The juncture at which to leave audiences hoping for more was before Lyra sets off to find Asriel. " Um, NO because the movie never even gave a good reason at why this is was important or real momentum towards it. And then there is more bullshit about how it was too dark (Oh COME ON and grow up) and how it was all the studios fault. You have to FIGHT for your movie! They have no proof that it would have been bad for business.
Now why do I think this scene was so important for the integrity of the movie? This is the MOTHERFUCKING ENDING as I said before. It's the climax at least emotionally speaking. The battle can't even hold a candle to it. It just made it seem like the movie was all about flashy effects and big epic scenes which is lame and not quality at all. And the REAL ending can't be the beginning of the next movie without taking away from the beauty of the story. I seriously do not understand how they think this will be a good beginning for the next film. My only justification is they didn't want to start with Will in the next movie. Again, lame and not a good enough reason. Most importantly, this ending had so much emotional significance which you NEED the beginning and middle and all the rest of The Golden Compass for. When audiences go back into theaters, are they going to remember the love of Roger and Lyra and how she so recently saved him? You don't start beginnings of stories, even the next part of them with a big emotional revelation that rests on what happened previously at least not in movies. As the director/writer noted these are some of the most brilliant and complex scenes and to throw that on in the beginning takes away the HUGE emotional meaningful moments these are and throws the audience into the lion's den straight away without getting emotionally invested enough to fully appreciate them. There is a beauty and a logic to narrative structure and an end should be an end and a beginning a beginning. End of story.
So yeah, I am SO RAGEFUL about this and its making me cry and I know I shouldn't care but some things just shouldn't be tainted, you know? This eclipses my anger at the 5th Harry Potter movie because they almost eliminated a huge scene but at least they didn't cut off the ending and mess up a narrative. That's unforgivable in my book. I didn't care about any of the religion changes at all nor the other smaller changes which is in part to not reading the books recently but in the fact they really aren't that bad. It just sucks the director/screenwriter had to ruin the movie by leaving it out when I would have been really happy with it. People are also complaining about the lack of Lord Asriel/Daniel Craig especially if they haven't read the books and it's just so frustrating that his huge scenes got taken out for such ridiculous reasons. I know I have bias because the Asriel and Mrs. Colter scene was always such a highlight to me and it was THE one thing I was really looking forward to seeing in the movie and I get nothing. I just love them so much in all the tragicness of it and the sheer power and chemistry and need and everything that they are in that one beautiful scene. Talk about not giving the stars a chance to shine. They didn't go out with a bang, they went out with a whimper.
The killer is they actually think having it in the next movie will be enough to qualm the fans. Oh wait, I forgot, the movie doesn't come out for TWO FUCKING YEARS!! Like waiting that long is going to make me be okay with it. Yeah it's good you didn't leave the scene out but it's not in the place it's SUPPOSED TO BE. And the worst thing is, the movie may not even get made if they don't get the box office numbers. I'm not expecting too much with the stupid controversy and leaving out the ending and not being *that* good of a film so I am worried with it being so needful of CGI. If I don't ever get to see that ending scene I am going to be pissed. I'd rather see it than get the next two movies. It's THAT important.
Okay, I did actually like things in this movie which is why it's so sad my rage is overshadowing it. The polar bear fight was AMAZING. Beautiful CGI and special effects, lots of emotion and the last punch is the coolest thing ever. I gasped and cheered along with the audience. The ending fight was also awesome in the same epic battle kind of way. I really loved the daemons in the movie and anytime they'd get torn apart hurt so much including the daemon-less kid and most tortuously almost Lyra. Nicole Kidman was amazing and did a wonderful job (I had cast Catherine Zeta Jones in the part but NK is good with me) bringing Mrs. Coulter to life from the evil to the touching in her revelation scene. Her clothes were also fabulous. All the acting was great as well as the voice acting and even the girl did a good job. They did a really good job shortening the plot and yet making it pretty understandable (I do have a feeling it's kind of hard to really get for the non-book watcher) which left them with the time for a good ending which of course they left out. It took me awhile to really get into it again but once I did the emotional investment into all of them came back. I understand how it's really hard to condense and shorten the book to make it watchable so I can forgive how it did introduce characters really fast and couldn't really delve into the messages and issues as well as the book. I wish they had been brought up a little more (the end could have helped with this!) but I was okay with it.
Onto the religion issue. I never thought the books were truly anti-religion or "killing god" (so bullshit) but rather the abuse of power and trying to control people. As someone who values freedom as most important, I totally support this and writing against it. What's most important is whoever is in power whether it be religion or the government or schools or even parents (see Mrs. Coulter), can't just tell people what to think and what to do without giving them the free will to think for themselves. Knowledge IS important. Which is why advocating to not see the movie based on some simplification, untrue assumptions is so ridiculous and goes against what the book and film is all about. Don't just accept what people tell you! And then people take authorial intent into account when they should be interpreting the film/book on their own. If watching a film/book is going to destroy your faith or your children's then maybe both are not as strong as you thought. It takes a LOT more than that to do something like that unless it's just not there to begin with. I'm not religious at all so it doesn't bother me so I'll admit that straight out but nor do I see the movie or book as preaching or trying to convert anyone in any way. It's just interesting, it gives you something to think about.
So yeah, overall it's good and enjoyable but leaving out the end sinks it and overshadows all the good until I am just saddened at losing out on what could have been a great film. You suck, Chris Weitz and I hate you for doing this to such a beautiful book.
I definitely recommend reading the book before (preferred always) or after you see the movie. Which I do recommend just to see what you think of it. It's definitely the kind of movie to see in a theater.
I have lots more I have to write about including my new addiction to Project Runway (OMG SO MUCH LOVE) but I'm just not in the mood to do it right now. Le sigh.