For those of you who can't wait until the movie is released, Yahoo! Movies has made available the first five minutes of the film. The footage features narration from Eva Green, Lyra's mud fight with the Gyptian kids and a horror story from Lyra.
Click here to view the footage on Yahoo! Movies
Thanks to whohash83 for the tip.
22 comments - Add yours
#1
That is awesome! I’m very glad that’s posted, because I missed the first part at the screening I went to. The mud fight and lying are an incredibly efficient setup of Lyra’s character, her relationship with Roger and Billy, and to a lesser extent her position in the college. It also gives her an excellent, immediate reason to go into the Retiring Room. The only odd thing is that the alethiometer seems like a bit of a non-sequitor from Dust, without knowing that Dust powers it.
# December 4, 2007 04:36 by JParry
#2
Hmm. Personally I think Eva Green’s voice is really annoying, and while seeing a window through worlds at the start is really cool, I think it would have been better if they saved that whole thing until they actually do pass through worlds. It’s kind of a spoiler.
Also all the little references to daemons and how they work and dust etc, all seems a bit forced.
That said, I actually quite like the actual footage. :D
# December 4, 2007 12:43 by Mumblingidiot
#3
I totally agree with Mumblingidiot..! Even though they’ve mentioned like a million times that this takes place in another universe no one (who hasn’t read the books) would know about windows between them. The alethiometer and Lyra being able to read it should’ve been a surprise as well… They gave to much away.
# December 4, 2007 16:19 by AnneMaria
#4
I’l sorry but the voice over is really lame...i’m loving the rest though.
# December 4, 2007 17:44 by anna11
#5
Thanks :). For a second there, I thought Lyra and Billy were about to engage in some “war”, the conclusion of their “fight” is funny.
# December 4, 2007 22:15 by fever
#6
I’m sorry, Annemaria, but I have to disagree with you on your comment about Lyra’s ability to read the aletheometer better left as a surprise. Some things work in books that just don’t work in movies, and vice versa. We, as readers, are shocked to find out Lyra can read it, and that works, but as movie goers who have seen commercials of the movie, showing examples of her reading it multiple times, it’s hard to imagine anyone being “surprised” by her coming to learn she can read it. With this way, we get to know something about her that she doesn’t, and we get to enjoy having the knowledge that she will eventually learn to read it. Kind of like the joy of watching Anakin Skywalker turn into Darth Vader. You already knew it was going to happen, but it’s enjoyable seeing someone become something new while they discover things about themselves that you’ve known about them all along. This doesn’t work for all things, but I actually like watching Lyra, knowing she will read it eventually, and watching her work her way through learning how.
As for the voice-over, it’s so short, I don’t really care all that much. Not sure how people can be so upset over something that’s hardly even there. And their reveal of the window, I think, is efficient. A great number of people are walking into this movie not reading the book. The book is clever in how it drops you into this world that is “like” our own but not, mentioning certain things, dropping certain names, but movies don’t have that kind of time, unless its 3 hours, and I think that it sets up the idea well enough that everybody is on the same page. Sure, there are still very clever ways of doing this in a movie, and I don’t want to call anyone “lazy” without watching the entire movie first, but for what it is, I think it works. I’m not sure if I agree with dust being mentioned so early, but like I said before, it’s so short, I don’t really care all that much.
But after that, the entire thing is, by far, the most perfect thing I’ve seen in all my life. Lol. Just…..perfect.
# December 5, 2007 01:33 by Stealthwolf
#7
I won’t be able to see the film for five more weeks, but I can’t agree more with Stealthwolf—thanks, you just saved me a lot of typing.
Films are different beasts than books, and the way information is revealed in them often has to work in a different fashion. The opening to TGC seems quite similar to the opening of FOTR; we also have voiceover (hey, noone complained about it then, even though it was three times as long), we also have an introduction to a vast number of new concepts (but it passes by much more quickly in TGC, and is just as visual), and we also come down from the large and the cosmic to the commonplace and the bucolic. Again, Weitz does it with great elegance, and in five minutes introduces us to all the major concepts and all the initial characters without missing a beat.
Also, I can’t stress how important it is to make it blindingly obvious to the viewer that Lyra’s Oxford is not the same as ours. So what if we were spoiled an effect for TSK? Story is what will carry the second film.
If this is how Weitz handles all his narrative challenges, TGC will be a classic for the ages.
# December 5, 2007 01:47 by Seretur
#8
OH, i cannot wait to see it! It comes out on Friday, but thats just to far away! I think that Serafina’s voice is perfect, and i agree, it wouldnt work in the movie, i thinkk it would drag on for those unfortuate people who havent read the book. that was a WONDERFUL beginning!
# December 5, 2007 01:48 by SliverWolf
#9
I agree with Stealthwolf… and there is actually a literary term for knowing something is going to happen to a character before even he/she does. I don’t remember it now but anyway… I don’t mind Eva Green’s voice actually. I think she is kind of supposed to be like LOTR’s Galadriel. i really like dakota blue richards… she is perfect. only thing i didnt necessarily like was the window. in this scene the window actually does look good. I just want it to look different in the next two movies. i picture less elaborate and more of just a simple few cuts in the air. like you would only see the physical edges of the window depending on the angle you are looking at it from. and I never picture the windows looking magical or anything. just simple. i hope its different in the next 2 movies. anyway loved the first 5 minutes!
# December 5, 2007 03:13 by ROKYPA
#10
I am just excited to check some of it out!!! thanks for posting it :)
# December 5, 2007 05:15 by Bekster
#11 Love it!
love it , love it!
She is Lyra. Oxford looks fantastic.
It all seems very close to what i envisioned whilst reading the books.
Going tonight!
# December 5, 2007 10:27 by RoryK
#12
It’s called Dramatic Irony, ROKYPA.
# December 5, 2007 14:20 by Stealthwolf
#13
I really liked this bit, except the voeice-over. By the way, does anyone know what the glass orb Lord Asriel’s holding is?
# December 5, 2007 16:10 by Frits
#14
I don’t think it’s an orb frits.
I think it’s a picture slide.
The one he shows of the man surrounded by dust.
# December 5, 2007 17:25 by Stealthwolf
#15 pantalaimon
have you heard the voice of pantalaimon?
woahw..
as i read the book i thought the voice is more higher than that in the film. :)
# December 5, 2007 19:22 by Leyaexcolosi
#16 Nice but...
Narration did give too much away, but… at least they called the Aliethiometer just that. Still, I’m not sure I like the fact that they mention “there is only one that remains and only one that can read it...” Pfft, please. The books had several and several could read it. The fact that there where more than that others could read it was important in the book, and so much more so in the end of TAS.
# December 5, 2007 19:56 by Phyco126
#17
i agree with Phyco126, i think that that might cause a problem if the make an “Amber Spyglass” movie because they make a lot of references to others reading the Aliethiometer, not the way Lyra reads them but with the books.
# December 5, 2007 20:45 by SliverWolf
#18 cool
In spain we have seen the movie. I think it’s really, really good. It’s a pity that the last three chapters weren’t included, but… it’s still very good, only that leaves you with a terrible feeling: “I WANT MORE”.
Lyra is perfect. Ms coulter is GREAT. I think this is a good adaptation (myby a little fast, but still perfect).
Enjoy de movie!!
And cross your fingers craving a sequel!
# December 5, 2007 23:46 by age_of_blachite
#19 Really nice but
Doesn’t it sound like Weitz (and whomever assisted with writing the script) threw in the “only one remains and only one who can read it” as a lack of better closure for the grand narrative? That piece of information sounded extremely cheesy and cliche to me..and as was mentioned, it’s not accurate to the book plot. *sigh* Ohwells. I’ll still go in prepared for a good movie and I’m sure they did a great first job for such a scale.
# December 6, 2007 03:24 by pai
#20
Well I still have hope. Dakota’s performance seems better in the actual movie than what I’ve seen thus far in movie clips, not that she exactly looks or acts how I always imagined Lyra to look or act. Still, not bad.
I am hoping that they go into more detail about other possible Alethiometers in the other two movies (if there will be one.)
Just, I understand having to change the plot of the story to fit the movie. They put the mud fights in and that did a great job explaining Lyra’s life with the other kids pretty good. However, if the lie she told in the movie is what gave her the excuse to enter the retiring room, I’m not too pleasent with that.
In the book, it was Lyra’s curiousity over her fear of what would happen if she was caught that drove her into the room. That right there gave plenty about Lyra’s courageous and adventurous personality right there. In the movie, if she just did it to prevent war with the gyptians, then that changes her personality doesn’t it?
Maybe not, I enjoyed the first 5 minutes and I do have hope. Like I mentioned before though, I hate it when they change important facts, especially through narration.
I mean, in the books Lyra’s importance wasn’t given until the end pretty much, and only hints about her various abilities came about as the book went, leaving me pleasenty surprised. The book would have been awfully boring if the first chapter said out right “Lyra can read the stupid thing, she is gonna save the world, and she will be Eve, etc etc etc” :(
# December 6, 2007 03:56 by Phyco126
#21 the clip
i thought it was superb
the voice at the start was perfect for the viewers who haven’t read or know anything about the Golden Compass.
I’ve read the books and i think the start of the movie really sets it off.
im seeing it for my birthday, last day of the year! so i have to wait until then, although im a huge fan of The Northern Lights
# December 6, 2007 21:41 by kiwi-kid73
#22
Yes, thanks, i missed the first part, because there were people looking for their seat, and they took way too long in front of the screen!
Movie’s just great! i’m gonna watch it again!
# December 8, 2007 03:12 by daemon_hadevir