I imagined that my lack of familiarity with Pullman’s original novel would inoculate me from the sort of reaction my Pullman-philic friends had. But, sadly, no: This is a miserable failure of a film in nearly every respect I can think of, one that raises serious questions about the judgment of everyone involved, including Pullman.
Clearly much of the blame for an abomination such as this falls on the heads of greedy film studio executives. Hungry to cash in on their Tolkien bonanza (as well as all that Harry Potter business), New Line must have been racing to get this film written, shot, and into theaters — an eagerness and lack of consideration evident even in the editing of the film, which lurches forward from one-minute scene to one-minute scene without the slightest amount of tension built or backstory explained.
Of course, the cast doesn’t help much. I don’t generally expect much from Daniel Craig, who only turns up here to look stern, set things in motion, and punch out a few Eskimos. But it’s now a wonder to me that I once considered Nicole Kidman a great actress — her performance here as an evil, calculating bitch is marred, not helped, by the dollar signs one can often discern floating around in her eyes. Only Sam Elliott seems to be having any fun here, and he delivers his performance via a perfunctory series of winks, sub-mustache sidelong grins, and more feigned folksiness than the last five U.S. presidents combined.
Worst of all, the special effects aren’t even that special. And if you can’t get even that right with a movie like this, why would you bother? The polar bears in that Coke commercial from ten years ago were more endearing and realistic than the highly plastic ice-bears in The Golden Compass, Ian McKellen or no Ian McKellen.
But sadder still perhaps is that this movie doesn’t make me at all interested in Pullman’s books, which by all accounts are excellent. Imagining the fabulous payday that Pullman enjoyed when New Line came knocking is off-putting enough, but there are plenty of red flags in this film adaptation to have me seriously question the heights of Mr. Pullman’s purported genius. For me at least, all of this quasi-biblical, “Chosen One” nonsense that is the basis for virtually every fantasy novel ever is getting extremely tiresome (but perhaps I just don’t have that much in common with Christ-figures, however papally verboten they might be). And why is it that all of these books, from Tolkien onwards, seem to rely on the crudest and most thinly veiled of racial stereotypes to create characters? Uh, “Gyptians”? Russian meanies personified as feral wolves? I’d be curious to see what types of animals would follow around the black characters, but of course there don’t seem to be any.
But if you do take it upon yourself to sit through this utterly crap film, you might as well treat yourself to the Kate Bush song that runs over the end credits. It’s by no means the worst aspect of the film, but it’s perhaps the funniest.
by Leo Goldsmith | Source: New Line DVD screener
29 Dec 2007 3:48 PM | Comments (2)
Wow, that’s a bit harsh. I thought it was okay. I really applaud everyone involved in making this movie because it must have been difficult due to all the religious zealots (picketing at my local theater). And I believe movies like these – as well as Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings – spark an interest with some kids to research their origins. If this somewhat banal take on Pullman’s Dark Materials invigorates teenage trips to the library, what’s the harm in that!?!?
However, I do agree with you on two points; the books are much better (but they always are in my opinion) and your statement that the movie, “…lurches forward from one-minute scene to one-minute scene without the slightest amount of tension built or backstory explained.” During the first half hour, it seemed as if I could have reread the book right along with the movie. (Was it necessary for every detail of “The Decanter of Tokay” when we didn’t understand what Tokay was or hear the conspirators conspiring?)
i give it 2.5 stars out of 5.
Viola
31 December 2007
7:34 PM