MovieChat Forums > The Golden Compass (2007) Discussion > Boy, this was bad.

Boy, this was bad.

posted 14 years ago by alberto-ferrermorant
48 replies | jump to latest

Embarassingly bad.

I haven't read the books, or seen narnia movies, or stardust, I didn't know this was sorta famous or anything. If you are asking, I'm film and media student from Spain, so english literature is not really our thing. Also don't know about how it made in cinemas. For what I'm reading, this seems like a harry potter film, very expected, from famous author, or whatever. Yet I was surprised by the cast and vfx so I sit through the film.

I don't usually walk out of films, we've made some shorts, and not very proud of them, even. So I DO KNOW and DO STAND to watch subpar films without panic. But, man... This was unbearable. Before someone give me the "it was meant for kids" line, that's BS. I love labyrinth, dark crystal, hook, all pixar and even like most of harry potter (for what they are worth), and dozens of other movies alike.

The guy who made this didn't know anything abour framing, story-telling or editing. The only thing that would make this anyhow valuable are the vfx team, but they didn't save the movie.
The cast took their check and bought themselves a Ferrari. An this is not one of those parts that made Nicole Kidman new success era of this decade, but one of those "hey, I'm free today. Shall we make movie and get paid?"

I also don't usually go straight to IMDB to comment, only to check production facts, trivia, cast and such. I usually do after I watch every movie. Buy nobody seemed to comment on their liking of the FILM (no the book or story or anything else), I only read comments on a controversy I don't know/care.
I couldn't stand the girl, I didn't understand what was happening or why the girl talks or travels with an adult she just met - like 4 or 5 times in a row. If all this happened in that other world they were looking for, she had been murdered, raped and the murdered again. The scene with her sitting with the compass in the harbor, when an old man with white air and moustache just comes out of nowhere, it's just weird. I thought he was going to offer her candy and then show his penis.

This thing really seemed direct-to-dvd stuff, like literal translation to film of a half baked kid tale. I don't know the original material, right now I'm just amazed this movie is so expensive and has that full house cast. Yet it's no wonder why it made so poorly. I would be very angry if I had watched this on cinema. Whoever written this, and whoever directed it, needs to be shot down.

[–] Blueghost 14 years ago

Let's see your film.

[–] alberto-ferrermorant 14 years ago

It doesn't really mater how my films are. You know, we dont have 100+mil and thousand people crew to make them.

Also, me being a terrible filmaker wouldn't make this film better, and film critics and public aren't expected to do better films in order to be realize a film is bad.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Blueghost 14 years ago

by alberto-ferrermorant (Sat Mar 12 2011 10:44:20)
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It doesn't really mater how my films are. You know, we dont have 100+mil and thousand people crew to make them.

Also, me being a terrible filmaker wouldn't make this film better, and film critics and public aren't expected to do better films in order to be realize a film is bad.

I'm just saying you ought to put your money where your mouth is.

I used to work on feature films, and admittedly I didn't like this movie for a number of reasons. It was strictly market art by a corporation, but it's technically surpassing.

Me, I couldn't stand the bear, the girl, in fact the whole story. But I'm not going to knock the technical aspects, because even though I couldn't stand the whole angle the film took, I have to begrudgingly admit that it was marginally entertaining.

[–] AllStarAlun 13 years ago

'Let's see you do better' is not a sensible argument against a person's opinion. He stated why he didn't like it and I think his response "me being a terrible filmaker wouldn't make this film better" is one of the smartest things I've read on these boards in ages.

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Ace_Spade 9 years ago

Agreed 100%. The OP wasn't saying he could do better, he said this was bad. So, proving him bad wouldn't make this film better or worse.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Broadsman 9 years ago

Using the usual childish reply of Lets see your film does not by any means magical transform a extremely bad film in to a good one.
Even the books were not very good. But the film was so awful it was embarrassing to watch.

[–] wallacesawyer 14 years ago

I guess I liked it a little more than you, but this wasn't that great. I'm not familiar with the books, so I'm just talking about the movie.

For DEMONIC TOYS and updates on Full Moon Films:
www.freewebs.com/demonictoys/

[–] conker_a 14 years ago

I'm glad someone shares my views of this vomiting infesting rollercoaster.
The Golden Compass is like that kid from high school that tried to be edgy and different by listening to classical music and reading Anne Rice books but he doesn't understand what the heck they mean.

[–] domwatson 14 years ago

This is the worst film I've ever been to the cinema to watch. I watched Date Movie on DVD and I guess they're probably both on the same level.

I felt robbed that I paid to go see this.

[–] veil182 13 years ago

This was one of 3 or so movies I've ever walked out of. For some reason I bought the books anyways, and they are fantastic.

The movie had no pacing and awful editing, obviously due to having the main theme of the original story completely absent and the reduced run time.

I wouldn't call it one of the worse movies I've ever seen. All the actors do a good job, the script they have is just nonsense. FX, visuals, set and costume designs are great to.

It's a bad, undeveloped film, but it's not on the same level as recent classics such as "The Happening," "Aliens vs Predator 2," or "Dan in Real Life."

listen to the receiving end of sirens.

[–] voodooloa_812 14 years ago

I liked the movie, but then, I'm not full of myself.

[–] alberto-ferrermorant 14 years ago

Wow, great arguments there. You must be scholar or something. Go buy yourself some film good taste.

[–] mickey_blue1976 13 years ago

Wow, what a nobend you are you egotistical little greesy haired spaniard!

[–] alberto-ferrermorant 13 years ago

What are... meh, who cares. Go watch a movie or something. I'm still waiting for someone above 15 to tell me why do they think this is a good movie.

It isn't.

Is a bad movie.

There lots of it.

Get over it.

[–] ender342 10 years ago

I am well above 15 and I liked the movie very much. I thought it did a good job of depicting Lyra's parallel universe as Pullman conceived it. Of course it couldn't elaborate on all the complexities of the novel but it set the stage very well. So I was surprised to see the torrent of negative comments in this forum and elsewhere. The phenomenon reminds me of the organized campaigns the 'Church' of Scientology launches against anyone who criticizes it. The Magisterium doesn't look like Scientology but it closely resembles a powerful institution in our universe which has reacted fiercely in the past to its critics. (Burnings at the stake are no longer in fashion but they still have ways of making you stop talking.) The negative reaction apparently caused the studio to abort the planned second and third films which would have brought Pullman's startlingly Gnostic vision clearly into the open. Was that just happenstance or cooincidence? Or was it something else?

[–] Horse_Caulk 9 years ago

"you egotistical little greesy haired spaniard!"

You have no idea how unintentionally correct you are. When it comes to Sebaceous Hyperplasia, Spain has the second highest incidence, next to Italy. They are literally, not figuratively, greasy!

I think his over-productive oil glands, have tainted his subjectivity.

[–] hanksgirlever 14 years ago

Hello I know it's been along time since you put this up but I wanted to say you are out of line to say the things you said. Yes you can say want you want and believe what you want in this movie personaly I loved it it was creative and original. I do not know a lot about film makeing as "you do" but I give a lot of credit to someone who trys new materials. If you stayed and kept an opened mined you would know that.about the seen in the harbor its a movie if you read between the lines you would know that he knows of the girl's quest. As for the gyptcies she knew the mother of billy. I also know it was anti-god or something like that I do believe in god but I also believe that it was a good creative movie that should have had a chance in this world. I wish the sequal was made there are a lot of farfetched, unrealistic, and anti-god movies out there. As for someone who likes Harry potter,labyrinth, dark crystal, and hook witch I all love to well not the last harry potter I'm sad to say. but that is not the point I think you were closed minded to say all the mean things you did.

[–] ronunsworth 13 years ago

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, though I find it hard to accept that this movie should be classed as bad. Storyline is good, acting superb with a fantastic array of star actors.
Personally, I think this is superior to the Harry Potter series of movies.
The only let down is Daniel Craig with that darn silly look he has on his face in every movie he's in.

[–] PoppyTransfusion 13 years ago

The only let down is Daniel Craig with that darn silly look he has on his face in every movie he's in.

Agree. Aside from the fact that I don't care for him as an actor he was also not my image of Lord Asriel at all and was the one casting choice that did not match, was uninspired and disappointing.

Now in his day Timothy Dalton would have made a terrific Asriel.

I'm a fountain of blood
In the shape of a girl

[–] gb901 13 years ago

Mr Dalton did play the role in the national theatre adaptation of 2003/4.

[–] AllStarAlun 13 years ago

Yeah I imagined Dalton when I read the books too :)

[–] natrang 13 years ago

My sentiments exactly. The studio probably hoped for another LOTR but it backfired. Both source material and execution of the adaptation sucked profusely.

[–] chilone 13 years ago

Ca'mon!!! Don't you all know that if you don't work in film, you are idiots that cannot possibly know what make a movie good.

Living well is the best revenge.

[–] gregoryland8 13 years ago

The books were brilliant, the problem with the film was that it tried to target everyone in its audiance. And hit no one.
It tried to be so many different things, and failed at being a good film.

I would of preffered for it to run an hour longer and be more true to the original plot and not a silly hybrid of narnia and harry potter.

America was not discovered by Americans - shame on them.

[–] tomas-ribinskis 13 years ago

I'm not kid and I love this movie, watched it twice actually, and i was shocked when I read that you guys don't like it so awfully that you could walk out of cinema or so... And if you don't understand what's happening in the movie you're dumb or you were not listening/watching it. By the way, I only saw the movie, haven't read the book.

[–] alberto-ferrermorant 13 years ago

Good for you.

The film is still an editing and audiovisual disaster.

[–] GabzGirl 12 years ago

It could've been a great adaption if it wasn't for those *beep* at New Line cutting and editing the film to smithereens, switching around the Bolvangar and Iorek vs Ragnar fight AND removing the ending altogether! Because of all that, it sucked.

Iorek wasn't originally voiced by Ian Mckellan (Wtf to whoever decided to have him voice Iorek), Christopher Lee was a last minute addition...I could go on. Seriously, I just wish New Line would get a grip and release a new special edition with ALL the deleted scenes.

[–] Critick 12 years ago

The problem is that if you are a fan of the books or you have read them. You can't put the *beep* out of your mind. Its incredibly confusing how they strung the plot together. The motivations don't make any sense in the film. They don't create any suspense..at..all.