In the tradition kept by
camwyn, I have decided to post Doable New Year's Resolutions - ones I can be pretty certain I won't break.
Also, since I see no reason they can't share a post, I will include my reaction to The Golden Compass, which I saw today.
I don't particularly mind that they switched Bolvangar and Svalbard around, or even that they ended the movie before reaching Asriel's lab. To paraphrase something I once read, they had to walk the Harry Potter-Ella Enchanted line, between filming the whole book and completely rewriting the story. The casting was, for the most part, good, although Christopher Lee's character should have had a name and I agree with
adiva_calandia's dissatisfaction with Ian McKellen.
However, I do wish the camera had lingered more on the Alethiometer. (Also, they didn't have to reiterate that it was called a golden compass quite so often.) I wanted to see the symbols. I wanted to see if I could figure out exactly how she put the question to it. I especially wanted to watch the needle swinging around for the answer. I suppose the way they did show us the answers was all right, but it's not what I prefer.
The witches were slightly wrong - they needed their cloud-pine, for one thing. Also there was too much fabric. I have no objection whatsoever to modest dress, but the streamers - especially for archers - are a no-no.
The single most astounding thing - even more so than the astounding accuracy of all protagonist projectiles (Stormtrooper effect, much?)- was that in a battle as big and chaotic as they showed at the end, there seems to have been no friendly fire. Perhaps I'm channeling
limyaael a little, but I would think that if you're firing arrows or bullets into a dark mass of hand-to-hand fighting there should be at least a little of hitting your own allies.
I want one of those balls of energy that provide motive force. I don't even need anything to hook it up to, I just want the thing itself.
In all, a fun movie pretty true to the book. I daresay the Vatican will kick up a fuss if they announce that they're making the sequels.
- I will not attempt to arrange a confrontation involving Rodents Of Unusual Size and Incredibly Deadly Vipers.
- I will not set out to explode suns.
- I will read several books, including some that I have already read and some that I have not.
- I will make nefarious and possibly byzantine plots to cause distress to fictional characters. I probably will not actually carry out any such plots.
- I will not encourage any member of my immediate family to break laws.
- If I ask an orangutan the location of a book and do not understand the answer, I will not ask the people around me if they know where Rincewind is.
- I will not attempt to construct an object that is larger on the inside. I make no promises about encouraging others to do so, except insofar as 5. restricts me.
- I will not regularly worship quadrupeds.
- Barring an emergency, I will not run naked through the streets. Even in an emergency, I will attempt to put some clothes on first.
- I will not become a female impersonator.
Also, since I see no reason they can't share a post, I will include my reaction to The Golden Compass, which I saw today.
I don't particularly mind that they switched Bolvangar and Svalbard around, or even that they ended the movie before reaching Asriel's lab. To paraphrase something I once read, they had to walk the Harry Potter-Ella Enchanted line, between filming the whole book and completely rewriting the story. The casting was, for the most part, good, although Christopher Lee's character should have had a name and I agree with
However, I do wish the camera had lingered more on the Alethiometer. (Also, they didn't have to reiterate that it was called a golden compass quite so often.) I wanted to see the symbols. I wanted to see if I could figure out exactly how she put the question to it. I especially wanted to watch the needle swinging around for the answer. I suppose the way they did show us the answers was all right, but it's not what I prefer.
The witches were slightly wrong - they needed their cloud-pine, for one thing. Also there was too much fabric. I have no objection whatsoever to modest dress, but the streamers - especially for archers - are a no-no.
The single most astounding thing - even more so than the astounding accuracy of all protagonist projectiles (Stormtrooper effect, much?)- was that in a battle as big and chaotic as they showed at the end, there seems to have been no friendly fire. Perhaps I'm channeling
I want one of those balls of energy that provide motive force. I don't even need anything to hook it up to, I just want the thing itself.
In all, a fun movie pretty true to the book. I daresay the Vatican will kick up a fuss if they announce that they're making the sequels.