The Golden Compass -- hit or flop?

[Kaelan]

Last night, I watched The Golden Compass. There was almost nobody in the threatre, and they had the sound turned up so loud I couldn't hear what was going on. It was loud to the point of distracting and painful!

At first, I was absolutely horrified. The special effects were incredible, and it seemed to have some huge-name actors (I just can't be sure, because I'm awful at remembering names and faces). But I couldn't follow the story -- it was throwing too much at me without answering the onslaught of questions I had. There was almost no set-up time to introduce you to how this other world works (i.e. -- they tell you that touching someone else's daemon is a horrible horrible thing, but they don't tell what would happen!). And that's not even touching the meaning of the storyline, which is blasphemous at best!

But I've slept on it (where I dreamt about it), and I've been thinking about it all day long. It's starting to grow on me, I think -- but I have to see it again. I do not want to pay the $7.50 to see it again, though, so I guess I'll have to wait until it comes out on DVD or something.

In any case, I am most definitely going to read the book! I just have to wait until after Christmas, in case anyone get me the book (I suggested it as a gift idea).


Anyway! What do you guys think of the movie? I'm not talking so much about their portrayal of daemons, since I know they're common in the therian community, but rather what you thought of the movie itself.

[Hakumei]

I haven't seen it, but My uncle was just at my house. He's a movie reviewer.

he said it wasn't bad. The graphics were good, the actors were good.... but it was supposed to be great. It was supposed to be AMAZING, it was advertised as so. But it wasn't, which is why it seems worse than it prolly is.

The games. Don't get me STARTED on the Golden compass games. The graphics are so quickky and stupid and it's a hack-and-slash-for-30-minutes-tops game. D: Sucks.

[brighteyed]

I liked it, the effects were incredible ^^ Being unfamiliar with His Dark Chronicles i liked seeing the Daemons though i was left with a loads of unanswered questions. Still has me wanting to see the next film ^^

[curiouscat]

It was OK the books are much more detailed and better at explaining things. I was a little disappointed with the movie, but it was neat to see the book characters come to life. I would probably go see a sequel if they make one.

[wildcat]

Books are always better than the films they are made into. I've read the book (which was fantastic) and although the book was MUCH better, compared to others it was a pretty good film of a book.

[Saber]

i loved the idea of your soul walkes next to you and is your equivilente as an animal (oposite sexe dought) ... But what I really liked about it was the science behind it , i find it touches aswell more shamanism cult and belives mostly the ones invorlving animal ...

aniway for me it was a good 4.5 ...still i hatted the ending ...there should be sequwell ...

anyway my toughts ...

[wildcat]

I've heard that they're going to have a tough time making the sequel because of opposition of the Catholic church. This is because the Magisterium is said to represent the Catholic church.

To be honest I personally think it's a bit silly really. I mean, it doesn't attack the Catholic church, it simply is portraying any dogmatic organisation, and highlighting the dangers of them. The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams agreed with this. I am a Christian, and after reading the books I was not offended in any way.

Also you've got to remember - these are stories! Fiction! Just because I read a book (that isn't even a real story) doesn't mean I'm going to instantly convert to atheism!

Sorry, kinda turned into a rant...

Just my view on things

[Saber]

Just an idea , what do you think your daemon would be , a while back I used to beleive that he was a lion .

(he because your daemon complets you like the ying and yang ... male to female ... oposite gender in most cases (there are some exeptions tought)

So anyway I used to go on a shaman forum and try to figure out what ''he was'' because it seemed like a spirit guide or power animal but on the contrairy to being ''LION'' it was ''A'' lion ...

But know he's a deer lol ... (yes I am a daemian btw).

So anyway what do you think would be yours ?

[wildcat]

I suppose it's a bit like totems really as opposed to theriotypes.

I think, for me, probably another kind of cat.

I think I kind of have totems, animals which I associate with but aren't actually "me" if that makes sense. Those are Cait Sidhe (a cat in Scottish mythology, like a big black scottish wildcat) horse, dragon (if that counts) and sparrowhawk.

So something like that, I guess! I've forgotten if it was in the books, but in the film Pan was sometimes a Wildcat.

Heres a link of a pic from the film of Pan as a wildcat!

img.skitch.com/20080810-em6gtt2cfs8r63cqi8sgmapbxe.jpg

[Saber]

haha.. yeah he is cute in that pic isint he ...


He looks quite fluffy lol...

[wildcat]

Yeah he's so cute! Looks more like a kitten in the pic. He's eyes are slightly more of an amber colour than the usual wildcats hazel-green but hey, he's so cute I'm not complaining!

[Saber]

well i think that lyra (the main character in the story) is quite young ,

well there trying to take pan away befor he settles , so she isint in puberty yet ...

Aparently ive heard that theres probably going to be a second movie ^^ . it could be good ...

i hate the ending its so frustrating ... looks like those shows where it says : to be continued ...

*roars * those piss me off ... lol ...

still its the embition that i enjoy , waiting for the sequels ...


saber

[wildcat]

Yeah, I can't wait for the next one to be out. See how close it is to the actual book.

[ghostwind]

Saber, have you researched the Japanese Bakeneko?

You might find that of interest as you explore demons/yokai/jinn.