Following up on the stir that Chris Weitz' statement regarding the ending of The Golden Compass has been causing, the book's author Philip Pullman had the following comforting words to say; reminding us that change is not always bad.
The ending makes every kind of narrative sense. The National Theatre production ended the first part plumb in the middle of The Subtle Knife, and nobody minded that because in the only terms that mattered it worked brilliantly. Every film has to make changes to the story that the original book tells - not to change the outcome, but to make it fit the dimensions and the medium of film. I'm very happy with the work the filmmakers have done, and no-one wants this film to succeed more, or believes in it more firmly, than I do.
- Philip Pullman
23 comments - Add yours
#1
How wonderful. I agree :)
Of course skepticism was to be expected.
# October 11, 2007 18:32 by Amyra
#2
It’s always nice to hear from Pullman. At least he is behind the change for the new movie ending. I feel a little more comforted now.
# October 11, 2007 18:50 by whohash83
#3
Hear, hear…
So, let’s be more optimistic…
I was thinking about this cut...Couldn’t it mean that we could expect this movie to be followed by “The Subtle Knife”?
# October 11, 2007 19:20 by Lyrael
#4
Well it would appear that they have got a deal of footage available to start ‘The Subtle Knife’, complete with special effects.
# October 11, 2007 19:27 by Andy-C
#5
I think that we as fans are desperate for this film and the rest of the books to be made into full length feature films. Ill be at my local theater Friday afternoon on the 7th to make sure that this happens. I cannot wait for the film.
# October 11, 2007 21:09 by TowerDragon
#6
It is comforting - I trust PP completely. And yes, it does mean they’ll have more footage and stuff for TSK, so the next two will be a bit cheaper to make, and more likely to be made.
# October 11, 2007 22:22 by JParry
#7
My only concern is, that if the test-audience thought that The Golden Compass ended suddenly and sad, how are they going to deal with The Subtle Knife? Or for that matter The Amber Spyglass? It would be a shame to ruin the cliffhanger of TSK but they can’t wait for movie number 4 to change the ending of TAS!
# October 11, 2007 23:05 by John Faa
#8
If Pullman is confident about it, I’m not going to keep doubting it.
We’ll find out soon enough anyway!
# October 12, 2007 01:26 by bethie
#9 The film will live up to its promise
Adapting a story as complex as His Dark Materials to the screen is admittedly a challenge, but from everything that has appeared online, all indications are that all hands involved in this film adaptation of THE GOLDEN COMPASS has gone out fo their way to make sure that fans will be happy with it.
Although I regret that the first movie will end with some of the chapters missing, we’ll see them in film #2, which will surely be made.
The new trailer for the film is, simply, magnificent. The sheer breadth of imagination that marks the books appears to have survived the transition to film, which will be a remarkable achievement: I predict the film will do very well worldwide and be both a critical and financial success, and that—just as importantly—the movie will lead the way to the books, so that filmgoers can experience the richness of Pullman’s prose through the original text or Pullman’s own, masterful audiobook recording.
# October 12, 2007 02:39 by GBeahm
#10
I feel it’s likely they’ll add stuff from TAS to TSK as well, because TSK is a bit plot- and flash-thin, even with the added scenes from TGC. And that was, frankly, a gratuitous cliffhanger in my opinion. TGC doesn’t even seem like much of a cliff-hanger to me - it opens the way to another world, but provides a great deal of closure. It’s a bridge. The ending of TSK is just excruciating, like the ending of Two Towers. And I think they’d be wise to avoid it, as they did in LOTR. But they had better more or less stick to shuffling things and not watering down essential elements. They wouldn’t dare soften the ending of TAS! Would they...?
# October 12, 2007 07:09 by JParry
#11
Where did this statement come from? Is it an exclusive to us?
# October 12, 2007 07:10 by JParry
#12
As long as he thinks it is all right it must be so.
Besides, that just means there’ll be more time for nice details in this movie! :D
# October 12, 2007 15:12 by AnneMaria
#13 Ardanawen
Well, I still think that those last trhee chapters are some of the best in the book; but I’ll be happy if it works out
# October 13, 2007 02:32 by Ardanawen
#14 Well...
I still wish New Line had just left well enough alone, but if Pullman supports the move I feel a bit better about it. It just feels like I won’t be seeing ALL of The Golden Compass until 2009 now…
# October 13, 2007 02:56 by violet93
#15 petition for the final
come on people, sign this petition
http://www.petitiononline.com/hdm1jwm9/petition.html
# October 14, 2007 20:13 by situ
#16
I freaked out when I read Weitz’s statement. Having the knowledge that Phillip Pullman suports the writing decision gives me hope fro the trilogy.
# October 15, 2007 05:02 by CS
#17
Ok so they have changed the ending, well moved the ending. The alethiometer has become the golden compass (at least in the trailer) and Nicole, sorry I mean Mrs Coulter runs the Magisterium. I just wonder about one thing. If all religious themes have been taken out of the first film, how on earth are they going to explain angels and the plan to destroy god etc etc etc...???
That is the real change fans should worry about, it’s what the books are about. Not a subplot! This move the ending seems like a bit of a distraction from the real problem.
Well in my opinion anyway.
# October 16, 2007 17:11 by mimosa1312
#18 Oh and what about Lyra looking 2 years older..
So we start in Lyras world and then after 30 minutes or so....
Bam she walks into another world and she’s 2 years (at least)
older..... And at her age that is a BIG jump.
anyone..anyone...???
# October 16, 2007 17:16 by mimosa1312
#19 :)
Well, those are some comforting words, I can relax a little bit more, but I still can’t help but be concerned. ^^;
Mimosa: Look at the Harry Potter movies =P
# October 17, 2007 02:24 by Phyco126
#20 I think you miss my point..
Lyra has already been shot for the end of GC. The subtle knife hasn’t even gone into production. She will age IN THE SAME FILM. Harry Potter films are set a couple of years apart and reflect the passing of time. When did you see harry go into the loo a child and come out a teenager. It will seem like the blunder of all blunders, unless they ridiculously write it into the script.... (Best Pullman voice)... “Then Lyra walked out from the light and with a flick of her hair realised she was no longer a little girl....”
# October 17, 2007 12:34 by mimosa1312
#21 Meh
I never read the HP books, I was always under the impression that only a year has passed between each one, and that Harry was still supposed to be a young teen in the final book when in fact the actor was not.
Anyway, I’m not arguing, I thought that LotR had the best idea to shoot movies myself. :D
# October 18, 2007 06:40 by Phyco126
#22 :) Sorry but..
Harry does not age in one movie! Without explanation. And sorry, I was refering to the two year gap in shooting not the hogwarts years. And no I haven’t read them either. :)
# October 18, 2007 11:43 by mimosa1312
#23 Ahh
I think I see your point. Still, with computer graphics and make up techniques, they still might be able to make Dakota Blue look like she did in the first movie.
I mean, at least it isn’t a boy. One movie opens directly where the last movie left off, and instead of a young boy we get a man with a deep voice. =P
# October 21, 2007 19:40 by Phyco126