Thre Golden Compass: Dusted (MTV Movie Review: clutter, confusion, and strangely lacks magic)

MTV Movie News ^ | December 7, 2007 | Kurt Loder

[Mrs. Don-o]

Last paragraph of MTV review:

The picture ends with the promise — or the threat — of a sequel. Given the numbers, and this movie's probable reception, I'm betting it never gets made.

[Antoninus]

Ouch.

I'm most amazed that Kurt Loder can actually write this well. Who'da thunk it?

[gridlock]

What is that strange high-pitched whistling sound?...

Well, it sounds like a.... like a... BOMB!!!

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Joe Morgenstern of the Wall Street Journal also panned The Golden Compass in his movie review today. He also informed that the movie was from United Artists, which TC is now a part owner since parting with Viacom. UA has yet to release a commercially successful movie since the Cruiser has been aboard.

[ClearCase_guy]

Admirers of Pullman's book, who've invariably followed this tale through to its third-volume conclusion ...

I didn't. I've known a number of people who started the series, liked the beginning, and dropped the thing as they got deeper in. I don't know anyone who actually managed to finish it. The hidden message becomes very off-putting when it becomes no-longer hidden.

[Enterprise]

I am going to go see it in about an hour. I’ll get back to give give it a thumbs up or thumbs down. Or maybe one of each.

[wideawake]

So MTV, the NYT and the WSJ all thought The Golden Compass was either flwed or just a bomb.

The only reviewer to give it two thumbs up so far seems to be the USCCB.

Clowns.

[tx_eggman]

Given the numbers, and this movie's probable reception, I'm betting it never gets made.

ha ha ha ha ha ha

[VOA]

Bumping for this PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:

The film “The Golden Compass” STINKS!

You can save your money on this “Golden Turkey” even if you are
an atheist/agnostic.

We now return you to a thread on the ultra-right-wing Internet forum,
www.freerepublic.com

[Mrs. Don-o]

I read it all, the first one with a big-gulp fascination (Lyra really does have gamine charm) but the rest in smaller and smaller takes. The feeling gets to be that of some poison dripping into your veins. By the end, it manages to be both repulsive and boring. Even where the children actually kill God ----- pffft.

Interesting, though, that Pullman's fellow Oxonian, C.S. Lewis, predicted him 50 years ago to a T. He's not even a real atheist. H's somebody who thinks you can give Tinkerbell and her Fairy Dust a solemn intellectual respectability by poking her with a stick and making her intone, (deeply) "You understand, of course, it's Quantum Physics." Pullman's --- in Lewis' terms --- a Materialist Magician.

I think we can expect more of this.

[Jeff Chandler]

The only reviewer to give it two thumbs up so far seems to be the USCCB.

Yeah, but two thumbs up what?

[Borges]

He started as a critic for Rolling Stone.

[sinanju]

Why do you think youth-worshipping MTV has kept him on as the only adult representative of it’s “news” division.

Sayyy, now I’M getting an idea for a great fantasy epic: it’s about an television entertainment network that was once visonary, artistic and cutting-edge, but that abandoned it’s business model for the lowest common-denominator and now steals the innocence and sucks the souls of young children...

[Little Ray]

Have to wonder one thing, though - did this guy pan the LotR movies and the first Chronicles of Narnia, too?

[netmilsmom]

My daughter wants to see this. We’ve discussed it and I have told her why we will not see it. Then, I told her that one of the reviewers called it the “Chronicles of Yawnia”. She is a smart cookie. She has since changed her mind.
My nephew manages a movie theater and we would not go to see it for free there. Period.

We will, however, be going to see Enchanted for the third time, right after the practice for the Nativity Play on Saturday.

I’m putting James Marsden’s kids through college.

[Aquinasfan]

I got bored halfway through the review and couldn't finish it. But I'm still afraid that the special effects and effective advertising will bring the kiddies in over Christmas vacation.

The picture looks great — director Chris Weitz and his town-size team of digital technicians have created a fantasy world of misty cities, gleaming dirigibles and intricate steampunk gadgetry that really pops.

While adults may get bored with shiny empty boxes, kids won't. Or at least there's enough in the ads to get the kids nagging mom and dad to see it.

[dfwgator]

I’ll get back to give give it a thumbs up or thumbs down. Or maybe one of each.

I give it, "The Finger."

[Enterprise]

I’ll let you know if I give it that too!