Has anyone seen "The Golden Compass" What did you think?

[Sarah]

I'm particularly interested in hearing how it compares to the book.

[Matt]

Haven't seen it, but this article might be of interest:

http://www.avclub.com/content/blog/book_vs_film_the_golden_compass

[masterofsparks]

I've heard mostly bad things from folks online. My wife's boss saw it and thought it was OK but said that, not surprisingly, the anti-church stuff has really been toned down. Apparently the movie goes out of the way to   portray the religious order (can't remember the name - the folks Ms. Coulter works for) as police/generic bad guys rather than employees of a church.

[Vambo]

Haven't read the books, so I can give a film-only perspective.  I found it to be quite entertaining, with a wonderful rendition of landscapes/cityscapes that are just a hair short of steam punk.  The airships were marvelous.  I'm also a sucker for Ian McShane, so I went away happy.

[Beth]

My little sister was obsessed with those books. I tried to read them and couldn't get interested. Maybe after I see the movie I'll read them (for shame, I know). However, I cannot stand Nicole Kidman, so I don't know if I'll be able to get through the film.
It's really a hatred based on nothing, but some actors and actresses drive me crazy for no particular reason. The only two films of hers I really liked were The Hours and To Die For.

[Laurie]

Apparently, Ian McKellen actually growls, "You want to ride me?"

No, I don't know the context, as I haven't actually seen the movie.

[Beth]

Apparently, Ian McKellan actually growls, "You want to ride me?"

I'm seeing this now, Nicole Kidman or no.

[Laurie]

Apparently, Ian McKellen actually growls, "You want to ride me?"

I'm seeing this now, Nicole Kidman or no.

It's just his voice, though. I think he plays a polar bear or something.

[TL]

It's just his voice, though. I think he plays a polar bear or something.

(in best "nerd" voice, possibly accompanied with a pantomime push of the eyeglasses back up the bridge of the nose)
Uh - excuse me, Laurie - his naaaaaame is Iorek Byrnison, and I'll thank you to remember that in the future!

[ughwhy]

I saw it in a theater full of uber-fans (including one sitting in my seat), and as soon as the credits rolled, a huge groan went up. No sp-sp-sp-spoilers or nothing, but they kinda neuter the story by ending the movie well before the conclusion of the book. I'm a pretty great fan of altering texts to make them play better onscreen, but ending early does nothing to (a) speed up the first part of the movie, which drags just as much as the first part of the book (SORRY PHIL) or (b) further illuminate the moral/personal axis on which the story turns.

The daemons look pretty great, as does Mr. Byrnison. I thought the cast was thoroughly great. Ultimately though I don't know if I'll be as excited if they attempt to adapt The Subtle Knife. I will, however, be first in line for a spin-off called Lee Scoresby & Hester.

[yesno]

I love the books.  The movie was so-so; I thought that it tried to cram too much from the book into too little time. The whole movie felt rushed to me.  Too many different scenes and settings and ideas for 2 hours.  This is a pet peeve of mine:  A novel usually contains enough material for a miniseries.  (The Brideshead Revisited miniseries does the book into screen thing right, for that reason.)

I think the reason they cut the very ending out of the story, is because the novel ends in a way the leads directly into the next novel.  The second and third installments of Dark Materials might never get made into movies if this tanks, so I think they wanted it to feel slightly more self-contained.