Posted on 12/08/2007 6:17:51 PM PST by Mrs. Don-o
No one in Hollywood quite knows where "The Golden Compass" is pointing, though it appears to be south of blockbuster status.
...Unlike "Narnia" or the "Rings" and "Potter" movies, most of which hauled in more than $60 million in their first three days, "Compass" may open in the $30-million neighborhood, or worse, according to market analysts.
[Yet] it's unlikely to spell financial catastrophe for New Line.
The studio admits to a production price of $180 million, though some industry insiders believe the true cost soared past $200 million...
Even so, the film was cofinanced by Royal Bank of Scotland, and British tax incentives and presales of foreign distribution rights covered about two-thirds of the production cost, New Line says. The deals may limit New Line's risk, but also cap its upside: Fantasy films usually take in the majority of their ticket sales abroad, and "The Golden Compass" is off to a jolly good start in Britain, where it opened Wednesday.
If the film becomes a hit, the studio will launch two sequels based on Pullman's series. That remains a big "if" ...New Line says it will wait to see how "Compass" performs before deciding on the follow-ups.
Reviewers have been dazzled by the effects, but many are underwhelmed by the story. The review compendium website MetaCritic.com listed 50% of notices as positive, while rival RottenTomatoes.com reported 47% were bullish.
Another headache for New Line is the ire Pullman's books have whipped up among some religious groups.
But the ruckus may actually end up boosting the movie, said Karen Covell, director of the Hollywood Prayer Network. "The more riled up everybody becomes, the more publicity the movie gets," she said. "It just ends up helping at the box office."
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Rating by people on Yahoo! is a C+ (Lions for Lambs was a D- and proved to be a major bomb).
By contrast, Bella is running #1 on Yahoo! users of currently playing movies... Golden Compass is off the radar (no where near the top ten)...
Saw this extremely odd movie last night. Intriguing special effects, incoherent script, EXTREMELY annoying random moment ending right at the obvious beginning of a sequal.
Can’t say I would recommend it.
I don’t know too much about this movie. You seem to take pleasure in it’s proposed failure. Why?
Yeah, sometimes it works that way. But with a $30M opening weekend, I don't see evidence that controversy has helped them out.
Ya know, I’m really not buying the contraversy=dollars argument very much anymore as it hasn’t helped a great many films this year at all.
Because it is anti-Christian propaganda, aimed at our children.
What’s the big deal with the animosity toward this movie? Some people seem to hate it-—why?
FYI
director of the Hollywood Prayer Network. “The more riled up everybody becomes, the more publicity the movie gets,” she said. “It just ends up helping at the box office.”
Not if instead of geatting angry, and getting riled up (every Christian) simply let their friends, and neighbors whom they know good people about the dangers of this film, then there is not “negative publicity” merely the telling of the real theological dangers of this film..(then people will not go, and it will make less than it may would have).
I can’t speak for the poster, but I will say that since the author of the books has spent considerable energy denigrating CS Lewis, I am taking special glee in watching his movie fail to approach the theatrical treatment of Lewis’ work (never mind the fact that the author’s stated purpose with the books is to “kill God.”)
The author expressed extreme hatred for God, Christianity and C.S. Lewis (the Author of The Narnia stories). He stated his goal was to “Kill God.”
Atheist groups complained that the books Anti Christian theme was watered down.
Does that about cover it Mrs. Don-o?
I dont know too much about this movie. You seem to take pleasure in its proposed failure. Why?
4 posted on 12/08/2007 6:22:24 PM PST by kinoxi
1. You don't surf FreeRepublic much, do you?
2. This movie was written by an anti-Christian author who has sworn to destroy Christianity.
3. Hollywood has adopted this author and movie as their next attempt to destroy Christianity and America.
4. Are you really this naive or are you a plant?
The author is some kind of raving demented off-his-meds atheist, who claims this peculiar movie and its sequel will kill organized religion.
After seeing this completely incoherent, computer graphics to the annonying hilt jibberish last night, God remains safe in the human heart.
This movie would be very good for liberals and others who undermine our children...
There is concern that if the movie succeeded, then children would be negatively influenced by the books.
We have enough trouble with children. Example: Syracuse, NY 11-14 year old girls sharing nude photos with boyfriends. Boyfriends make CD, and selling the CD becomes child porn (eleven year old girls are children).
I think President Bill Clinton was part of that negative influence on girls (girls in grade school started doing the Monica L. thing because of Clinton).
That can only happen to people with dubious Faith.
Atheist writer stands to gain lots from book sales as well as movie box office.
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