I guess I'm just a sucker for anything that has airships, or Sam Elliot. 
"Golden Compass" director speaks about own film: thunk-whack-POW!
- Thread starter Gaith
- Start date
New Line got greedy, didn't want to immediately let Peter Jackson make "The Hobbit"...prequel to one of the biggest movie series of all time, not only financially but critically, for their *Oscar-winning Director*....they didn't want to pay him as much to "show him who's boss"...
....the went off and said "we don't need you! we can make our own new giant fantasy series!"
Then dumbed-down the (actually nice book series) Golden Compass, then acted surprised when the film flopped.
Now New Line itself is in the trash bin, we're FINALLY restarting the Hobbit prequel movies, and what was gained? NOTHING
Nothing but THREE WASTED YEARS (2005-2007) before ACTUAL Hobbit prep restarted in 2008.
....the went off and said "we don't need you! we can make our own new giant fantasy series!"
Then dumbed-down the (actually nice book series) Golden Compass, then acted surprised when the film flopped.
Now New Line itself is in the trash bin, we're FINALLY restarting the Hobbit prequel movies, and what was gained? NOTHING
Nothing but THREE WASTED YEARS (2005-2007) before ACTUAL Hobbit prep restarted in 2008.
Well I wouldn't say it 'flopped' exactly. When you include foreign grosses it did make a little money. It just wasn't the smash hit blockbuster that studios expect these days.
I liked the Golden Compass film a lot and it got me interested in reading the books, so it was a success from that standpoint.
But I agree that this was another case where the studio messed up the movie. There's a thread discussing how Blade Runner was screwed over by the studio forcing that awful narration by Harrison Ford. And Terry Gilliam's battle with the studio over Brazil, culminating in an "Alan Smithee" version at one point being made, is still much discussed.
The problem with Golden Compass is that the studio didn't know how to handle the books. Although marketed as kids books, Pullman's trilogy is not a bunch of kids books by any stretch of the imagination. It's a far darker tale than Harry Potter; darker in many ways than even LOTR; but the studio wanted a Harry Potter series with a female protagonist. Problem was they couldn't change the story enough to do the job they wanted.
All this said, the biggest problem I have with the Golden Compass movie is that they didn't make The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass at the same time. Maybe I'm spoiled, but frankly if you set out to adapt a multi-volume storyline you jump in with both feet and either do all 3 films at the same time or you do them in fast succession. This is how LOTR was able to be made. The Twilight books are being filmed back-to-back-to-back (and even then they've had to recast a central role). The Potter films have also been pushing it a bit, nearly losing a few actors over time and in fact having to recast Dumbledore because of a death.
It's frustrating as hell to have a film series cut short after the first chapter. Never mind whether the film made unacceptable changes or not. The story - as told in film - will forever be left unfinished. It's like when Ralph Bakshi only made his first LOTR film and left the story unfinished (yeah I know they did a TV cartoon later, but that wasn't the same).
Alex
But I agree that this was another case where the studio messed up the movie. There's a thread discussing how Blade Runner was screwed over by the studio forcing that awful narration by Harrison Ford. And Terry Gilliam's battle with the studio over Brazil, culminating in an "Alan Smithee" version at one point being made, is still much discussed.
The problem with Golden Compass is that the studio didn't know how to handle the books. Although marketed as kids books, Pullman's trilogy is not a bunch of kids books by any stretch of the imagination. It's a far darker tale than Harry Potter; darker in many ways than even LOTR; but the studio wanted a Harry Potter series with a female protagonist. Problem was they couldn't change the story enough to do the job they wanted.
All this said, the biggest problem I have with the Golden Compass movie is that they didn't make The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass at the same time. Maybe I'm spoiled, but frankly if you set out to adapt a multi-volume storyline you jump in with both feet and either do all 3 films at the same time or you do them in fast succession. This is how LOTR was able to be made. The Twilight books are being filmed back-to-back-to-back (and even then they've had to recast a central role). The Potter films have also been pushing it a bit, nearly losing a few actors over time and in fact having to recast Dumbledore because of a death.
It's frustrating as hell to have a film series cut short after the first chapter. Never mind whether the film made unacceptable changes or not. The story - as told in film - will forever be left unfinished. It's like when Ralph Bakshi only made his first LOTR film and left the story unfinished (yeah I know they did a TV cartoon later, but that wasn't the same).
Alex
But not darker than Red Riding Hood, and we still tell that one to our kids. Most children love dark stuff, actually.
That's frequently not financially feasible, especially for less known properties.
How's that "pushing it"? The books take place over seven years, and it takes a year-and-a-half, on average, to make them. All things considered, they've been quite prompt.
Well thats hardly the films fault then is it?
Just ask Terry Gilliam.