His Dark Materials?

Question

Ok, so many people have read the book. I myself absolutely love it. But i'm dreading the film. They made a mess of Harry Potter and buggered up Eragon.
Does anyone else have the same feeling as me??

Also they are doing the same with the Artemis Fowl series.


Don't you think the films will completely betray the books?

For Suzy....
I've heard that they have had to re-hash the ending because the catholic church doesn't want to be demonised. However my big worry is, the book is central to religion, without the religious views of the people in the story there would be none.
So how they will have the same story is beyond me.

For Sketch.....
I know!!! Why would you call it a compass if it isn't one, what's wrong with the original title?? Makes a lot more sense to me.

Answer 1

I do think they will betray the books, when they are turned into movies they are always changed. There is some controversy about the ending and some other parts, also they won't be able to capture how good it is, they'll cut out some parts that are important and probably make it into an action/adventure movie without understanding that the dialogue and the story are more important than attracting viewers with action. Also, I heard that Cameron Diaz would be in the Artemis Fowl movie so I think they might make it into a cartoon or something and that would totally ruin it.

Answer 2

Philip Pullman is somewhat involved with the film, so maybe it will be ok. It will be interesting to see how they condense such a long, involved story into a 90 minute film, though. I thought it was the details that made it so rich, interesting and unique.

I am also wondering, especially with the last book, how much of Pullman's criticisms of organized religion will come through. Puts a bit of a damper on the marketing, maybe.

I don't think the HP movies were done badly. Condensed, surely, but you can't make an 800 page book into a 250 page filmscript. That's why books are so much better than movies, IMHO. I am wary of any good book made into a movie. But I also don't like books that read like screenplays, i.e. the later Grisham's, etc. Artemis Fowl books are shorter and not so nearly complex as HP or HDM. They might be able to pull those off.

Leaving out the Church as the villain and just leaving it at Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter would simplfy things a bit. Remember, though, that this is an alternate universe, and their Church isn't exactly the RC church, thinly veiled as it is. A few superficial changes may satisfy naysayers. Can't imagine getting across such an intellectual argument in a kid's film, though. Ah, the advantage of books....

Answer 3

They're gonna change the religious part of it? That's ridiculous! It's like when they wanted to change the title of the Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers in case it upset 9/11 victims.

I really hope they don't change it. What's the point of making a film on a book if you're gonna change the story? The religious elements are what gives the story so much depth, and I love the book's version of God (well the angel pretending to be God).

I'm kind of dreading the film but I'll definately see it. I hear the girl playing Lyra was chosen by Pullman so she must be good. Books are always better than films though.

Oh, and I like the name Northern Lights. The Golden Compass is stupid - it's not even a compass!

Answer 4

I've noticed this and it's making me extremely angry. The thing about Artemis Fowl is that the author is very much into the process, he's even most likely going to play a goblin if it's live action shooting. But he's said that there is a lot of changes because it's "Hollywood". But I don't see why hollywood has to change books that did incredibly well on the bestsellers list. Why change it? There must be something that the readers like, then hollywood takes it out and puts something in. I don't think they will completely betray the books, but screw them up yes. Usually the movies are good, but the books much much incredibly better.But some are sucky.