Review: “The Golden Compass” – Chris Weitz

PODCAST:

S3E10M – The Golden Compass (movie)*

SHOW NOTES:

And we watched it, we watched it, oh God almighty, we watched it.

It was a low point. The movie was a big f-around. Not something we wanted to watch, but something we had to watch. The consensus was that it certainly was a movie, but not one that anyone needed to watch, or make, or be in. Although it had some star power.

We discussed the movie and how it compared to the book. We also discussed the director, and why he was a terrible person. It was a sort of low, for me, Dave Wilkinson, who has so many things I would like to read or watch, and this movie was not one of them.

However, it was a pretty good episode, lots of good banter, and all in all one of our better shows. The movie may appeal to young teens, and fans of the book. Maybe. If that is a thing.

Anyways, next time you go to space, don’t bring this movie. Because it stinks and there is no deodorant in outer space.

– Wilk

WRITTEN FILM REVIEWS:

Book: “The Golden Compass (2007)” by Chris Weitz (Nicole Kidman)

Ryan: 3 Stars “…It’s a well done movie…it lacks something…”

Wilk: 2 Stars “…It’s got a good production value and that’s about it…”

Rick: 1 Star “…I was completely turned off by it, literally…” (Caveat: please note the disclosure in Rick’s Show Notes for the book episode.)

 

 

FUN FACTOIDS:

Director Chris Weitz also worked on the script for the new Star Wars movie “Rogue One,” which came out earlier this month (December 2016).

On the episode Ryan mentioned podcast interviews of the author, Philip Pullman. If you want to hear from the author directly check out these two interviews:

• Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/geeks-guide-to-galaxy-science/id395738416?mt=2&i=127252765
• BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qgj4/episodes/downloads.rss

Also here are some articles on the religious controversy surrounding this fantastical tale and it’s author:

• http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=3970783&page=1
• https://www.tor.com/2013/09/24/banned-books-week-philip-pullmans-his-dark-materials/

And Roger Ebert’s review of this movie which was discussed on the show: http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-golden-compass-2007.

Wilk and his wife Laura Valle started a true crime podcast called, “How to Avoid Murder …and other awkward situations,” which he plugged on the show. You may remember that Laura Valle joined us (with our former co-host Beam) for discussion on The Hellbound Heart and Hellraiser during our special torchlight recordings.

The website for their podcast is: http://www.avoidmurder.com/. You can also find it on iTunes here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-avoid-murder-other/id1187366565?mt=2

 

* DISCLAIMER: Please be advised that the views and opinions of the hosts and guests of NDIOS are completely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of the other hosts and guests or that of NDIOS.

Advertisement

Review: “The Golden Compass” – Philip Pullman

PODCAST:

S3E10B – The Golden Compass (book)*

SHOW NOTES:

We were so excited to cover this material over the last few months, I just couldn’t contain myself during the show. As a matter of fact, I grew increasingly relieved that I didn’t bother to read the book as the evening proceeded. Ironically, I was the asshole who suggested we read it as we started organizing this season. Guess the book served as a valuable lesson solely for Ryan and Wilk.  Now, they are in a better position to realize organized religion is a bane of the world. With that, I leave you with this; the wise Maud’Dib famously remarked, “There is no escape—we pay for the violence of our ancestors.”

– Rick

WRITTEN BOOK REVIEWS:

Book: “The Golden Compass a/k/a Northern Lights (His Dark Materials #1) (1995)” by Philip Pullman

Ryan: 4 Stars “…A tale told by a crackling, comforting fire while the bitter northern winds gust dangerously against the window panes outside…”

Wilk: 3 1/2 Stars “…If you’re reading this review you’re too old for this book…”

Rick: 1 Star “…just a bunch of blither aimed at children…” (Caveat: please note the disclosure in Rick’s Show Notes for the book episode.)

(Click the links to read full written reviews on Goodreads.com)

 

FUN FACTOIDS:

On the episode we mentioned that one of the characters is named Lord Azrael, not to be confused with sinister cat named Azrael on “The Smurfs” cartoon: http://smurfs.wikia.com/wiki/Azrael.

In The Golden Compass, the characters have familiars which are psychically tethered to their bodies and function a bit like an inner conscious, companion and soul. These animals are referred to as “Daemons” — not to be confused as “Demons” although they are pronounced the same. Here is a short article on the pronunciation: https://www.quora.com/In-Golden-Compass-how-do-you-pronounce-daemon. Here’s a Wikipedia entry on Daemons in Philip Pullman’s fantasy world: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%A6mon_(His_Dark_Materials)

Some of the conversation on this episode were about the Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien. The Rings trilogy was originally turned into the publisher in the form of six smaller works with suggested titles. The publisher repackaged the manuscripts into the now-famed trilogy, however a few years back a version of the books was bound in the way Tolkien had originally suggested. If you want to know more about this check out this website: http://www.mytolkienbooks.com/books-by-tolkien/middle-earth-related/lord-of-the-rings/complete-sets/the-lord-of-the-rings-millennium-edition/.

Lastly, Wilk and his wife Laura Valle started a true crime podcast called, “How to Avoid Murder …and other awkward situations,” which he plugged at the end of the show. You may remember that Laura Valle joined us (with our former co-host Beam) for discussion on The Hellbound Heart and Hellraiser during our special torchlight recordings.

The website for their podcast is: http://www.avoidmurder.com/. You can also find it on iTunes here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-avoid-murder-other/id1187366565?mt=2

 

* DISCLAIMER: Please be advised that the views and opinions of the hosts and guests of NDIOS are completely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of the other hosts and guests or that of NDIOS.

Preview Episode (The Golden Compass)

PODCAST:

S3E10P – Preview Episode (The Golden Compass)*

SUBJECT MATTER:

Book: “The Golden Compass a/k/a Northern Lights  (His Dark Materials #1) (1995)” by Philip Pullman

“Lyra Belacqua is content to run wild among the scholars of Jodan College, with her daemon familiar always by her side. But the arrival of her fearsome uncle, Lord Asriel, draws her to the heart of a terrible struggle—a struggle born of Gobblers and stolen children, witch clans and armored bears. And as she hurtles toward danger in the cold far North, Lyra never suspects the shocking truth: she alone is destined to win, or to lose, this more-than-mortal battle.

Philip Pullman’s award-winning The Golden Compass is a masterwork of storytelling and suspense, critically acclaimed and hailed as a modern fantasy classic.” (from Amazon.com)

*** * ***

Film: “The Golden Compass (2007)” by Chris Weitz (Nicole Kidman)

“In a wondrous parallel world where witches soar the skies and Ice Bears rule the frozen North, one special girl is destined to hold the fate of the universe in her hands.” (from Amazon.com)

* DISCLAIMER: Please be advised that the views and opinions of the hosts and guests of NDIOS are completely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views and beliefs of the other hosts and guests or that of NDIOS.