While my enthusiasm for the book The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman was not as high as Raych’s, I did enjoy the book. Her review (click here) reminded me to check on just what I did think of it (my review here) and realized that I had not yet written a followup to seeing the flick starring Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig and the amazing Dakota Blue Richards and many, many more fab actors do voices. That movie source to top all movie sources, IMDB, will give you ALL the details…
In four words, THE BOOK WAS BETTER. The film falls flat.
I don’t like to be one of those people that always says the book is better. I very much enjoy reading a story and seeing it transformed visually onto the big screen. I love to contemplate the challenges that the screenwriter had to overcome to tell the same story, or not. Usually when I read a book where I know which actor plays which part and so I easily picture that person when I’m reading their thoughts and actions, usually… I like the movie just as much. Not so in this case.
The movie fails to convey just how very important the souls are, these daemons that are the changeable animals. The book does a better job capturing the charm and vitality of these creatures as a part of the human.
I also was disappointed the ending was more… hopeful. The book takes to the very edge, you are on a heart-stopping O.M.G. ride of how Lyra reaches out to the Daniel Craig character, and and AND…
oh – gotta read the next in the series (which I have yet to do.)
The movie ends with Lyra on voice over (gosh, I hope I’m remembering that right) about how fun it will be to explore these new worlds – basically to tell the movie-watcher to “go see the next movie, coming soon, to a theatre near you.”
The movie did not endear me.
I saw the movie last year and really enjoyed it – I haven’t read the book yet – it’s on my TBR – but since you think the book was better than the movie I think I did it the right way around and can’t wait to read the book!
Yeah, the book was a whole lot better. Nichole Kidman really creeps me out anymore–I don’t know why, but there’s just something not right about her.
Oh, and I meant Gene, not Finney! Duh, I’m a retard!
MrsS/BlueArchipelago – the film wasn’t bad, but, well – you know. the book was just better!
Chartroose – I know what you mean about NK – almost a waxy plastic look to her skin. But I’m very happy for her and her new love….
Of course, I knew who you meant. And wasn’t Finney just WONDERFUL?! I’d go change that comment and then erase all of this but no one will read it anyway. or care. yea, that’s it.
A. Thanks for the link, and
B. I know, right? I actually liked the movie quite a lot ON ITS OWN AS A MOVIE, but the book was just so much more INTENSE! We were just talking about this today in my kiddie lit class, about how it’s hard to impress upon the reader of a fantasy novel all the importance of the various cultural taboos, because we don’t have them. Pullman does a great job of this, and when it gets to the point where some guy grabs Lyra’s daemon, you’re shocked and appalled even though we don’t have daemons. THAT’S what makes it so terrifying when Lyra and Pan are about to be severed, because by that point in the book you’ve got a complete and total understanding of the relationship between humans and their daemons. The movie just sort of let that part ride, and the daemons may as well have been talking pets.
Kidman was cool as ice, though, wasn’t she. Mrs Coulter to a T.
Raych, A. You are quite welcome.
B. Oh yea, I know! Intense – yes. The movie missed a bit on intensity and passion.
I agree, the book was better than the movie. I thought the movie was really awkward about trying to give background and details, like the director couldn’t think of a creative way to do it so he/she just added voiceover or had the characters give a big monologue explaining something like the importance of bear armor. Like Raych said, it just seemed to lack passion.
You should read the next two books in the series, they are even more amazing