From now on, I’d like you to think of me as Serafina Pekkala. She’s my kind of witch, and I’ll pretend to be Eva Green’s twin sister. Hah.
I expected to like the film, even with the end cut out, and I did. Daughter got a bit disoriented to find the last bit of the book missing, but it was a logical move. All we need now is for the second film to come along very soon.
Everything went at a very fast pace, but it could hardly do otherwise, with such a long and full story into a film in under two hours. The casting is first class, and I’m rarely satisfied with choice of actors in films. The settings are good looking, and I’d say that non-readers of the book will almost be able to follow the plot.
The dæmons are beautifully done, and the bears are good, although I’m not sure about Iorek’s voice.
And I’ll fly into the sunset with Lee Scoresby any time.
6 responses so far ↓
Meg Rosoff // December 5, 2007 at 22:09
Good to hear. I’ve read a few not-so-great reviews, and want to love it. And you’re not the first to question Ian McKellan-as-polar-bear…..
bookwitch // December 6, 2007 at 9:18
Yes, Daughter kept whispering “Gandalf”… There’s only so many great literary figures one man can be. And as it’s voice only, what’s wrong with the one from the audio cassettes that I fell in love with?
Sally Nicholls // December 6, 2007 at 13:13
Hmm … it was better than I’d expected. But I found it too rushed, which made it hard to get emotionally attatched to the story. Kind of inevitable with such a big book, I suppose.
I though the witches and daemons were very well done. And Mrs Coulter was wonderful.
Julie Bertagna // December 7, 2007 at 14:26
I wanted to love it too, and on the whole did. Though it’s almost impossible for a such a book to translate well onto the screen. But the ending? Pah. So cheesy (for an American audience?) Hated it. I remember how inspired I was by the ending when I first read Northern Lights. Then, it was accepted wisdom among children’s book editors that young readers couldn’t take long, complex, demanding fiction that didn’t tie up all the loose ends but left you awestruck , devastated, and wondering….
bookwitch // December 7, 2007 at 17:02
It would have been nicer longer, wouldn’t it? As for the ending, it seems that the test audiences were confused, so they dropped it, for now. I think it might be a mistake, as if it had done what the book did, they’d be clamouring for a sequel already.
Ian // December 9, 2007 at 12:03
Film was too rushed basically. I agree - McKellan was a bit suspect as Iorek. Having seen the film twice, second time around the boring bits really stood out. Rumour has it that the film isn’t doing well enough in the States to warrant the sequels - although I think that they may well make then all the same.
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