I thought there was a thread running for this but couldn't find anything after various searches, so. . .

Here's the first picture of Lyra: His Dark Materials Lyra revealed.

Really must get around to reading books two and three at some point!

Ooh ooh!

Not read the books, but my brother was an extra on the shoot in London last month for a big crowd scene. He got to wear a robe, have his hair cut and look at Nicole Kidman for a day and a half.

I don't really think that will have anything to do with the overall quality of the film, but at least I have a reason to go see it now - that's not to say there aren't other reasons to see it, but I have no idea what its all about so I was indifferent about the whole thing.

But as with any successful book series I haven't read turned movie, I'll give the first installment a spin. Could be Lord of the Rings or A Series of Unfortunate Events...or, on the other hand, another Harry Potter (shudder).

And regarding the picture, doesn't Dakota Blue Richards look near identical to Dakota Fanning? It's not just the name, I assure you!

I'm quite hopeful that they will do the books justice. There are some good ingredients already in place; Stoppard, Craig, Fillion etc, but at the same time the fact that they have apparently toned down the religious element of the books worries me. The whole series is, on one level at least, a critique of organised religion and if they just make it a fantasy film and ignore the religious content I would be quite worried about the results.

It'd be a nice counter to The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe if they'd left the story unedited.

Fillion's in it? I thought that was just our wishful thinking..?

Hmm, imdb doesn't have him on the castlist but I'm sure I read somewhere (other than the wishful thinking on here) that he had been cast. imdb may not be that useful at the moment, though since they have only listed 6 or 7 cats members anyway.

Is Mr. Mistoffeles in it then?

You may scoff, but at least one member of the cast has or will play a feline in a film so technically it was an accurate statement.

Who is he supposed to be? The Yank in the hot air balloon?

Aye. Twould be a shame if they left that element out, although I felt that in some places Pullman's critique was overtaking the story and ended up a little muddled.

Kidman as Coulter though...genius.

I think you may well be getting confused with a number of "wishful thinking" posts that were made here. I also sometimes find that reality and "forum world" blur.

I definitely read somewhere other than on here that he was rumoured to be up for the part.

What part?!

If he's in it at all he would be the ''Yank in the air balloon''. I can't remember the character's name since I haven't read the books in years.

Cheers!

Lee Scoresby.

I'm pretty sure this close to filming they'd have confirmed if Fillion was playing that character, wouldn't they? He would be a superb choice, though.

Gah! That's him! It's been bugging me all night!

No one is listed for playing Lee on imdb at the mo, so fingers crossed?!

The fact that most of the cast is not yet listed suggests that either they want to keep things quiet about some casting choices or some of the roles have not yet been filled. Considering how big a film it is there is probably still room for some roles to remain uncast; as long as Lyra, Coulter and Azrael cast they can film a lot already.

Here's hoping they don't screw this one up.

I saw them filming some of the film in the centre of oxford, it was a part with a cat, presumably a daemon. they just kept trying to get the cat to walk towards a fake drain for about an hour. It wasnt that exciting, but if that bit makes it into the movie i'll be able to go a-ha!

Hear, hear. I'll have to read the books again - I've forgotten quite a bit of the storyline now.

Anybody know roughly when they're planning to release this?

Sounds like possibly Farder Coram's daemon. That was a lovely wee kitty. The only other cats i can think of are in the Subtle Knife.

Sefi x

Doesn't the Trailer for this look awful? I always think that a long trailer having almost no dialogue is a bad sign...

The CGI looks quite....horriffic....

Agreed

Agreed. They've taken everything individual about the atmosphere of Pullman's novels and made it into generic, Star Wars prequels meets Narnia. Nothing is made of the daemons, the whole hook of the story to begin with, and I take this as a bad sign.

I hadn't noticed the dialogue being lacking, but now you mention it, that's also worrying.

Oi!...I know some people who did some of those.

(but I know what you mean)

Daemons look crappy but I don't care. I am looking forward to this film.

I'm gonna see this on Sunday!

My mini spoiler-free review:

Well, I really didn't like it.
It was ok, but I wouldn't watch it again. It really didn't grip me.
Although I've not read the books, & maybe if I was a fan, I'd enjoy the film more. ... On the other hand If you have read the book, you maybe more dissatisfied with the film than I was.
I think part of this is down to the pace of the movie. It seemed in a bit of a rush to get the character from a to b to c. This is probably due to them trying to edit lots of bits out to get the running time down to a child-friendly 2 hours (actually it may've been shorter, but it felt like 2 hours). Had it been longer, it could've felt like an epic. ... although even that wouldn't have necessarily made it a better film for me.

Then there's the CGI... Some of which is excellent (there's bits you can't actually tell are CGI) ... but then there are certain scenes that could've been better.

Ok. That's my short review. ...even without having a go a the plot, script or acting, I'm giving it a generous 6/10*. I'll leave it for someone else to dissect this further.


*Good effort. Could do better.

I thought the trailers looked okay, but then I have yet to read the books (of which I have heard some very good things).

But it sounds to me like the books are by far the best option. If the film has the potential to be considerably lacking, then I'd rather not spoil things by seeing the film first. If Waterstones still have the trilogy in their 3 for 2 range, I may just pick it up at the weekend.

Yes. There will be more too them. Films are okay but not enough.

I loved the books and am looking forward to enjoying the films, but I'm not expecting them to be able to capture the entire world of the trilogy. Just as I never expect the Harry Potter films to give me everything from the books - they're kind of like a visual snapshot from the novels and in that way I can enjoy them without being disappointed.

I hope they fix the ending of the 3rd book.

Pah!

-m0r

Golden Compass author hits back at critics.

Nothing new really, more of the same-old, same-old.

Northern Lights has been in my room for quite a while now but I've still not got round to reading it. Although books in general seem to have become a little foreign to me over the last couple of years, much to my own personal shame.

The internet is killing reading.

I saw it last night.

I was disappointed. Much of the character of the book ain't there. Mrs Coulter is too nice, storylines swim about fitting into the hour and a half the movie has and so much is left out.

A child or someone who hasn't read the books might like it though - I can't tell as I'm neither.

Also (spoiler alert) Roger is still alive at the end!! poor sod

-m0r

I've not read the book, & I thought it was rubbish. ...(although the bit with the Ice bear's jaw was a pleasant suprise)

Perhaps if I'd been 20 years younger, I'd have liked it.

Yeah that bit you liked was good, didn't expect to see that myself (maybe spoilerise it for now)

-m0r

Not read the books, but thought the film was okay and the bit with the polar bear fighting was pretty cool. It passed the time good for a rainy afternoon on Saturday.

Went to a cheap showing on Sunday... really had avoided this because of some of the scathing reviews, especially by fans of the books, and I have to ask... Did I see the same film? I thought it was well handled, the effects were really good, the casting perfect and the main storyline, although abridged, was there. I had heard that the chuch storyline had really been cut, but I saw it there, bold as brass!

All in all, this was a really good film!

Pullman doubts 'Golden Compass' sequel - this ties in with something else I read yesterday that sequels are looking unlikely.