The Golden Compass
May. 19th, 2008 01:52 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mbarkerOne of the nice things about flying is that I see some movies. Normally I don't bother. However, while the Golden Compass had been advertised enough that I knew I might be interested, and the premise seemed promising, I found it unsatisfying.
The premise, that there are many earths, and that the one where the movie is set is very different, with people having thoughts or perhaps spirits outside their body called demons, is interesting. The animal shaped companions, and the way that harm to the demons causes harm to the person, are fascinating hints. And there are hints about "settling" suggesting that at some age (or perhaps some other trigger?) the form becomes fixed. Lots of fun background and setting, with the armored bears, gadgets galore, and all that.
But . . . this movie appears to be a prologue. With the promise that the next one will really be something, and we'll have some real climax there? Even the fearful opponent who is poisoned with her own gadget simply gets up and staggers out to continue the chase in the next round . . .
So this movie had freeing the captives, plenty of fun with combinations of mechanical whizzbangs and magical forces, and lush photography. But the underlying story of the girl orphan finding herself seems to be somewhat thin, and I wish they hadn't ended with quite such a strong message to watch for the next episode (without even a cliffhanger to make us wonder!). Although perhaps the implied threat of the evil antagonist knowing where the little girl is going next is supposed to be the cliffhanger?
I think they undercut their own climax trying to set up for the next movie. Ending this one a bit earlier would have left me, at least, with a better impression. Let the next movie fend for itself!
I guess I'll have to see if there's a book now. The movie . . . well, I didn't watch it on the return flight.
The premise, that there are many earths, and that the one where the movie is set is very different, with people having thoughts or perhaps spirits outside their body called demons, is interesting. The animal shaped companions, and the way that harm to the demons causes harm to the person, are fascinating hints. And there are hints about "settling" suggesting that at some age (or perhaps some other trigger?) the form becomes fixed. Lots of fun background and setting, with the armored bears, gadgets galore, and all that.
But . . . this movie appears to be a prologue. With the promise that the next one will really be something, and we'll have some real climax there? Even the fearful opponent who is poisoned with her own gadget simply gets up and staggers out to continue the chase in the next round . . .
So this movie had freeing the captives, plenty of fun with combinations of mechanical whizzbangs and magical forces, and lush photography. But the underlying story of the girl orphan finding herself seems to be somewhat thin, and I wish they hadn't ended with quite such a strong message to watch for the next episode (without even a cliffhanger to make us wonder!). Although perhaps the implied threat of the evil antagonist knowing where the little girl is going next is supposed to be the cliffhanger?
I think they undercut their own climax trying to set up for the next movie. Ending this one a bit earlier would have left me, at least, with a better impression. Let the next movie fend for itself!
I guess I'll have to see if there's a book now. The movie . . . well, I didn't watch it on the return flight.
