BridgeToTheStars.net

WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?! My faith in the judgment of Philip Pullman is being seeeeeeeriously tested right now. I don’t even know what to think. Does this mean no bridge to the stars? No Roger dying? No betrayal? I really really don’t understand how this is going to work. My brain hurts.

October 12, 2007 6:22 pm | link

I would assume it just means that instead of finishing the film as book 1 ends, they will have that scene occur and then add in the first few chapters of Subtle Knife in order to introduce Will’s character to the audience and show the intersection of parallel universes. I don’t have a problem with that at all. I teach The Golden Compass and students are always sort of “left hanging” at the end of that text and I have thought for years that giving them a glimpse of Will’s character at the end would actually keep the interest in reading/seeing more intact while at the same time, letting everyone know a glimpse of Will and his world (our world) and see how it begins to intersect. I really don’t have a problem with it if that’s how they plan to do it, and I think it is nice to see the director and Pullman taking the time to address the fans of the series. They could have simply ignored everyone, but they didn’t.

October 12, 2007 6:53 pm | link

Hold on I misread it–well now I am confused too. So they are ending it early. Well, I’ll have to think about that one… Ignore my earlier comment–sorry I’m still half asleep, I guess!! Need to go get my book and take a look at this.

October 12, 2007 6:54 pm | link

Well, personally I think doesn’t work at all. The conclusion of this story (golden compass) have no sence without the final scenes. The purpouse of the movie won’t have sense. What is Lord Asriel doing so, at the begining of the story?

For me they have ruined the movie-

October 12, 2007 7:02 pm | link

We’ll see how this works out. I like, however, how both Pullman and Weitz took the time to actually tell the fans about it instead of surprising them.

October 12, 2007 7:05 pm | link

Well they took the time to dont’ loss money…It’s all marketing!

October 12, 2007 7:43 pm | link

The have to assure the fans are calmed…

October 12, 2007 7:44 pm | link

Ok I went back and looked through the text and I do think it is horrible. I like that they took the time to address the fans but I do think that is motivated by marketing. If they are worried that fans will be terribly disappointed, to the point that they won’t see the film, then they wanted to try to assuage fears now to make sure that they do see the film.

As far as making perfect narrative sense, it simply does not. I have to disagree with them. This film will have no resolution. There will be no “major” betrayal. That is the whole point of the text–that Lyra betrays without knowing it. In addition, Mrs. Coulter will never meet up with Lord Asriel (till the next film) so there will be no key scene at the end with the two competing entities trying to gain control. You need those polar opposites–you need them to show that the line between good and evil is constantly shifting–that’s a major part of the story.

So it’s going to end with a bear fight? But the entire notion of parallel universes, which the text begins with, will not even be addressed by the end? I just don’t get it. I think it is a terrible idea that seems like it came out of a screening audience’s wish to have a big fight scene in the end instead of the real heart of the story end it. The thing is that they have obviously shot the ending because we’ve seen all manner of clips from it on the trailer, which suggests to me that they are bowing to a screening audience’s wish (or the studio’s) wish to end on a totally different note.

October 12, 2007 7:53 pm | link

Bring it on doomsayers!
I’m not worried.
Susan, I think you wrote: ‘”So it’s going to end with a bear fight?’” We have no idea where the end point will be. No one here has read the script, so to start guessing what is taken out and where things begin and end is pointless.

Don’t you guys understand that Pullman himself says it makes narrative sense? HDM IS ONE STORY. How it is put onto film remains to be seen.
I think the changes in LotR were vastly different from the books, but I still enjoyed the films heartily. Not that everyone else has too, of course, just my thoughts.

October 12, 2007 8:31 pm | link

I’m completely contrary to this…I agree at what susan has said. Will have no sense…

October 12, 2007 8:38 pm | link

So…critics will eat this movie…

October 12, 2007 8:38 pm | link

I just wanted to add something to my earlier post. I WILL be ticked off if the film is not good: if the changes make a mess of the central story and Pullman’s philosophy. But I’ll wait and make that judgment over a big box of popcorn when it comes out.

October 12, 2007 8:41 pm | link

its ruined, the new eragon its coming, congrats new line.:D

October 12, 2007 9:03 pm | link

Do we have any sources for these quotes? Are those sources reliable? Perhaps from Weitz’ and Pullman’s official websites?

October 12, 2007 10:59 pm | link

Ooooookkkaaay… O_O I’m getting a bit scared now. Will hte movie still be coming out on the seventh day of December, this year, then?

October 12, 2007 11:03 pm | link

It’s all very annoying…So sad if it’s true…The source is hisdarkmaterials.org. They said they recibed a letter from weitz. Do you thing this is a reliable source??

Because in the trailer you can see the ending…

If this it’s true, this film will be very, very bad……Like tato said, the new eragon is comming….

October 12, 2007 11:22 pm | link

eep!
the closer it gets to the opening the fearful i get.
i can understand changes from books to movies in LOTR Tom bombadil was cut— well i think mainstream audiences were not ready for such a character, certain characters were replaced Arwen on horse instead of the other elf guy– not much females in LOTR– and the story was shifted moved around somewhat (Boromir)….

but the ending of Norther Lights is a nail bighting ending. It would be good if they show a bit of Will at the end of the Golden compass- as Susan said i think it’s a good idea to put the first few chapters of the Subtle Knife in the mix.

Philip Pullman is rock solid–if he doesn’t like something he’d say it– i’ll trust in that.

October 12, 2007 11:25 pm | link

Calm down, everyone! I think the main reason to change track here is to provide the second film with a bit more input of what I shall term “action scenes”. Arguably, many of the things happening in The Subtle Knife, which I love, are just Will and Lyra talking, which does not lend itself too easily to adaptation on the big screen.

As a matter of fact, I have believed since reading the books for the very first time that the first chapters of The Amber Spyglass will end up in the end of the second movie, because rescuing Lyra from the cave provides a more satisfactory conclusion to that film.

With The Lord of the Rings, several chapters changed movies as well. And you cannot say that didn’t work.

I think with everything we’ve seen so far from the movie, Chris Weitz earned the benefit of doubt, in particular if this move is sanctioned by Pullman himself.

I am not worried.

October 12, 2007 11:26 pm | link

just re-read the letter i like the sound of this

“providing a solid footing for the launch of The Subtle Knife”

October 12, 2007 11:30 pm | link

“providing a solid footing for the launch of The Subtle Knife”

I also like the sound of this, but if this means, cutting the final scenes of the golden compass, then no. If they want to provide a solid footing for the launch of the subtle knife, all they have to do is keep the thinkg like in the book, come on, no Roger’s death?? This is for having a happy ending…

October 12, 2007 11:44 pm | link

yea, this is crap. i was looking forward to the last scene more than anything. if the other 2 movies come out and are good, then maybe i wont worry so much, but if it does bad then we might not get those scenes on subtle knife bc the subtle knife movie wont exist.

i like the whole trilogy, but i LOVE golden compass and am more angry than anything at this change. someone tell me where to complain to these guys at! enough of us tell them, theyll see the error of their ways. the movie is made for us, so we should definitely have the right to tell them we dont want our favorite story altered

October 13, 2007 12:10 am | link

how can we adress to new line?

October 13, 2007 12:31 am | link

Dear Chris Weitz,

This is an appalling decision. The end of The Golden Compass is one of the most perfect endings to any book, ever. Without the catharsis provided by the final scene, the rest of the film will not have one tenth as much power. That scene was what gave the rest of the story its weight. Iorek is a wonderful character, but his plotline is still tangential to the main story, namely LYRA’S STORY. Having the film climax with the Iorek’s battle marginalizes Lyra and doesn’t provide any sort of satisfying resolution to the main plot.
The beginning of Subtle Knife will also be harmed, since we’ll start out by watching something that feels like it belongs in the last movie, and shifting partway through to Will’s perspective will be jarring, and not in a good way.
Chris Weitz, you cannot agree with this decision. If the studio is simply afraid to end the film with the death of a child, fight them. Don’t give the story a false and unsatisfying happy ending. Please do not let them do this to your film.
If this decision is indeed final, I will likely not see the film in theatres; it would just be too frustrating. I will wait patiently for the director’s cut with the final scenes intact and Nonso Anozie as Iorek, so I can watch the film as it was intended to be seen. For the moment, this is tremendously disappointing.

Very best,

A Fan of His Dark Materials

October 13, 2007 12:40 am | link

http://www.newline.com/contactus.shtml

This is a contact form to New Line… Please voice your concerns now!

October 13, 2007 12:43 am | link

So here’s my take on the subject:

Bottom Line: Terrible decision… The major concern for this film from the beginning is that the general population would see it as just another children’s fantasy film like the others that have been so overproduced since the LOTR and Potter series have been put to film and have not lived up to the depth and artistic standard set by those real, enthralling masterpieces of literature (HDM books included, my personal favorite!)… Now that the film will be losing its resolution and overall point (Lyra going in search of Dust, Asriel’s explanation of Dust and universes at the end, etc.) this movie, standing alone, will be no more than a simple adventure story for kids… the thing we all feared from the beginning! New Line is bringing about its own demise. They are essentially removing the entire underlying plot from the first movie! Basically we will see Asriel in the Retiring Room and hear about Dust, and then… nothing. I can see the point in moving the scenes to add more action to TSK but if this movie does not succeed, then there will be no Subtle Knife. New Line has stated more than once that they will not even consider making the other movies unless TGC is successful. Remember that this movie is the biggest and most expensive project in New Line’s history (this are the people who brought you the Matrix, people)… millions and millions of dollars. so needless to say, they will be expecting an even greater return in profit before making another… So needless to say, by degrading it to a simple children’s BEAR adventure story (not Lyra’s story), they are lowering themselves to the level they feared to be in from the beginning. Something must be done. Please voice your opinions to New Line! I wish that independent film companies would be well funded enough to make this film so that we dont have to stoop to this level!

October 13, 2007 1:08 am | link

Thanks! I have write a leter to new line, so people, write one… With more letters, better!ª

October 13, 2007 1:17 am | link

Would anyone be interesting in helping petition New Line?

October 13, 2007 1:28 am | link

Hey guys, just so you know (as I heard some speculation about the source coming from one or two of you). The news comes straight from the horses mouth, so to speak, direct to us from Chris Weitz and Philip Pullman.

I can’t help worrying that the studio may be interfering far too much here, though this is just my own speculation of course. I guess we’ll just have to see the film ourselves and find out what they’ve really done before we all work ourselves into too much of a frenzy over it. Who knows, it may be good or it may be bad, but at least we’ll always have the magic of the books.

October 13, 2007 2:18 am | link

Why are the people complaining the loudest the ones who speak/type the WORST comprehension of English?

I’m thrilled with the trailer. The changes to the ending might be good, might be bad. I still wanna see the film. So do you. Anyone saying otherwise is a Silvertongue and will be fed to the Gobblers.

October 13, 2007 2:34 am | link

please someone make a petition, i promisse i´ll make everything i know sign. new line think think that the fanbase of hdm its little; let show to THEM. someone please make a petition, ok?i already send my message and in the oficial blog you can guys post too in the post of the new trailer.

i totally agree with blain, i always wanted to see this so much cause its different from all those crapy adaptations books for children, without no intense material. new line just cut the MOST important part. i think with this they are killin the adult audience, dont you think?and this is BAD. i dont wanna another narnia, PLEASE. with this i´ll not be surprised if they rated golden compass as PG.
the changes might be BAD. i dont think a person is a real fan of the books if accepts this and think that some other end cab be GOOD when we have already the final ending, its just sad. PLEASE MAKE LOUDER.

October 13, 2007 2:43 am | link

Before any of us go spouting out “the movie is total crap!,” perhaps we should reserve judgement until we actually *watch the movie*. Director Chris Weitz, himself a fan, has told us to be patient, and has even gone out of his way to explain why he’s making this decision. He’s been outspoken when the studio has forced a change on him before (e.g., the casting of McKellen), so that may not be the case here. Pullman himself has reaffirmed his trust in the filmmakers and endorsed the decision.

Let’s hold off on the petitions for now. I’m all for a “wait and see” approach.

October 13, 2007 2:50 am | link

I find it difficult to jump to any conclusions, because all adaptations never follow the source material exactly as it is. Yes, they’re cutting out the final three chapters, but who’s to say that the movie will end the way the fourth-to-last chapter does? I’m just as angry about all this, but I do believe Chris Weitz has something up his sleeve and will not leave the film feeling incomplete.

October 13, 2007 3:13 am | link

i would like to hear what HOMER has to say bout this….what if this altered ending is really a good thing for the movie after all?

October 13, 2007 3:43 am | link

Hang on…lyra’s betrayl as mentioned by the witches prophecy is her betraying pantalaimon by leaving him at the land of the dead…nothing to do with roger. i agree that ending it early doesn’t make a lot of sense…surely you take away all the drama at the end…there’s no climax! the whole point of the end of northern lights is that she vows to find dust and find roger, it’s all about her determination to get away from her parents and carry on. i also think it’s a shame that presumably the second film won’t start with will as the book does, i like that we get to know him almost before he even meets lyra…it makes him his own person sort of. i mean lyra isn’t mentioned until after we have a whole chapter on will in the second book. i suppose they could edit the scenes together, could be interesting…the scene on the mountain and will’s torment with his mother. i think we really need to wait and see where the film ends. i have total faith in philip pullman, i don’t for one second think he would mess about with the story unless it worked…he certainly wouldn’t talk to the fans about it either.
yeh anyway i think we just need to wait and see, however i think the end will be a total anti climax without the last three chapters as the end of the book is the clear end of one section of her story and the clear beginning of another!

October 13, 2007 4:02 am | link

we have to adress our thougts to new line! Come on people!

October 13, 2007 4:45 am | link

*sigh* It’s “OMG The Two Towers movies isn’t ending with Shelob!!” outcry all over again.(and we all know what a disaster THAT turned out to be).
Poor Weits: damned if you do… Writing a letter to a few fan sites does not qualify as ‘marketing” – that’s when a committee of people with degrees spend $1.3 million to find out what colour M&M girls between 17 and 23 1/4 like best – one would be charitable enough to call it a courtesy.
The fact of the matter is this man is a film-maker, who currently is living and breathing one project with one goal: to make the film work. And unless you actually have experience in the nuts & bolts making of a film then you really can’t make the call on how the film maker comes to his decisions. I’m sure all those scenes were shot, I’m sure they all were in some edit at some point – and for whatever reason the director (and editor, and producers etc) have realised that they don’t belong in the film that they are making. And that is all here is to it.
The books are intact – Pullman’s works are there for all – This is a Chris Weitz film, and he can only make the film as he sees is right. As reader I to am disappointed, but if it means the film is more cohesive as a single film, then that means it will more likely be a success and the missing chapters will make it to the screen at later date.

October 13, 2007 4:55 am | link

Woody: What most people feel, however, is that this hasn’t been Weitz’s decision to make. Peter Jackson had a great deal of control over Lord of the Rings (especially after the first film was such a success, when editing on TTT and RotK would be taking place) and I just don’t see Weitz as having that much power within New Line. I don’t especially remember much of an outcry over Shelob being moved to RotK either. Most people thought it made sense, since Frodo and Sam wouldn’t really have much to do in the film otherwise. Keeping LotR exactly the same as the book would have been awful – in the books the two plot strands (Frodo and Aragorn) are totally separated!

The fact that we can plainly *see* scenes from the removed last three chapters in the trailer released only this week suggests that something has gone wrong somewhere. We already know the film is at least $50 million over budget and there have been various rumblings that post-production is in a real crunch; so I don’t think this is simply a story-telling reshuffle.

The film could still be good of course, and there’s no reason an ending after the rescue of the children Bolvangar and the bear-fight – which is where the film is now ending – can’t be good, but a lot of things will be lost and it’s hard to see how that can’t affect the film.

Lord Asriel won’t make a return at the end of the film – Lyra won’t meet with him in the north. This doesn’t leave Daniel Craig with much in the film at all. There’ll be no kiss between Craig and Nicole Kidman – we won’t get that lovely shot of them embracing in front of the red aurora, shown in earlier trailers. We won’t get Roger’s death. We won’t get the bridge to the stars – the audience won’t even get the parallel worlds they’re promised!

October 13, 2007 7:03 am | link

I know this will sound horribly rude and you might think as well that I am a rude person, but sorry…
CHRIS WEITZ IS A SON OF A &!@%$! I HAAAAAAAAATE HIM!
Sorry, that las thing was an exaggeration, but he’ll blow the chances of many kids who have hope on being Will on the movie.

October 13, 2007 7:17 am | link

PS: I agree with tato ,let’s make a petition.

October 13, 2007 7:19 am | link

I do agree with you there Will… I am a TV/Film student and have studied what some of the above call “the nuts and bolts” of filmmaking. It is an unimaginably extensive process. But what I believe we are seeing here, based on past interviews with Chris Weitz, is a “chopping block” decision made by, not the director, but the production team (producers, editors, marketing). This was not a CREATIVE decision at all, which falls under the responsibility of the director. These canges, due to the timing of the announcement and how far into the post process they are, were purely based on marketing, money aspects and demographic appeal (obviously the producers are looking to simplify the plot and “happy it up” for the kiddos). New Line has had a dirty, dirty past in doing this to their projects, which is why they are in the financial crunch they are in now. I wish we would have seen a studio outside the TimeWarner franchise produce these films… Anyway, the fact that the scenes being removed actually made it past the animation process (as we see in the trailer) purely reflect this decision was based on hollywood greed.

October 13, 2007 7:26 am | link

wheres the petition?:D

October 13, 2007 8:57 am | link

Sign me in for that petition…
A clear marketing move it was, made by the NLC production team completely – as Will and Blain described so well.

Don’t know why Pullman endorsed this but, with the information we have so far, this change still doesn’t make any sense in the narrative: it makes for a “cleaner” ending for sure (no kids dying, no big complicated physics information, no “polar opposites” that “show that the line between good and evil is constantly shifting”), but quite a more unsatisfying one as well (no conclusion, no meeting with Asriel, no “betrayal”).

Now I just realised something: people, remember when you thought that *that* betrayal was *the* betrayal until, years later, you found out that it wasn’t? Now there won’t be ANY betrayal AT ALL for anybody to think ANYTHING… Nice, eh? The Master’s comment is going to look very out of place when the final credits start rolling…unless they cut that off as well… Seems that the only way to fix it would be reprising that comment after the credits, as a “to be continued…” strategy – which still would be weird. Just throwing thoughts in the hat.

Sad to see such a great book go down in such a mess for the silver screen.

October 13, 2007 10:08 am | link

thanks for the support everyone! Hopefully, we will be getting a petition written up within the next few days so we can submit it to New Line before the post process ends… If you are interested or if you have some helpful info. please send it to me:

bcroft919@gmail.com

October 13, 2007 10:32 am | link

This movie will be devoid of shade if they retain the current ending and remove the “Tony Makarios and The Fish” segment – and if they do this for the first movie then god alone knows how much they will cut out from the second. Honestly, if they don’t have the guts to show a child being killed by the protag’s father, then will they have the guts to show the witch being tortured, etc. I think not!

Based on what went on online before Weitz’s statement was released, it’s clear that this is not an editorial decision, but one necessitated by the top brass of New Line Cinema due to test audience reasons. They have been way too many compromises made on this movie. I want to see His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass, preferably in it’s Director’s Cut. I will NOT pay a dime to see His Lite Materials: The Golden Compass in Shaye’s Sheared Edition.

October 13, 2007 1:21 pm | link

His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass, preferably in it’s Director’s Cut. Which would include Nonso Anozie voicing Iorek, I must add. In spite of the spin courtesy Weitz and Pullman, it’s clear that the top brass of New Line (who know nothing about the book) are making these changes.

October 13, 2007 1:26 pm | link

ohhh i get it. This is just a big money spinning trick. “if you want to see what happens next, go see the next film” and i think philip pullman has to say what hes been saying because if he says “no i think its a terrible idea” etc then this will give a bad image to the movie, and also kind of to him.

And yeahh ill put my name down on that petition of yours, blain

October 13, 2007 2:00 pm | link

According to someone on the imdb boards the film now ends with the scene in the balloon after the escape from Bolvanger. (Lyra now goes to Svalbard FIRST. It makes no sense) Anyway, it ends with Serafina telling Lee that Lyra is important, and we fade out on her sleeping face.
A stupid, sickly sweet, ‘Hollywood’ ending.

October 13, 2007 4:54 pm | link

[...] His Dark Materials | The Golden Compass Ending: Altered | BridgeToTheStars.Net [...]

Trackback October 13, 2007 5:04 pm | link

I wonder how long this movie will last, you guys. Two hours? Longer than that…? O_O

October 13, 2007 5:41 pm | link

Um, people, why are you worrying so much? They’re KEEPING the end of TGC, they’re just adding a bit of the beginning of The Subtle Knife to it, because it flows better as a movie. THE ENDING IS IN TACT, they just added a bit. I personally don’t have a problem with that. In fact, it makes sense. It would annoy people who haven’t read the books to see the movie end so suddenly as in TGC, so they just want to add a bit of Subtle Knife so viewers aren’t confused.

Honestly, I don’t know why you guys are so riled up…*shrugs*

I hope the movie’s long! XD

October 13, 2007 11:23 pm | link

I hate this idea, I really, really hate it. I admit it might work perfectly and I will wait and see. But I cannot imagine that it will be a good improvement. There is just as much happening in the Subtle Knife as there is in Northern lights, if not more, so how in the world are they going to fit everything in, and what exactly will they have to cut to make this work?!

I’ll give it a chance but I do not like it at the moment, not even remotely.

October 14, 2007 12:04 am | link

no IT DOESENT flow better. if a person prefer the end as they are proposing to the ORIGINAL AND this person is a dumb. you wanna this end, in ballon, instead the original one?COME ONE.

please make the petition guys, we´ll can get MILIONS of signtures. im from brasil, we have communities here from fays, more than 3.000, they´ll sign come ON o//

October 14, 2007 12:07 am | link

no, it DOESNT flow better. so you are telling me that you prefer this end instead the ORIGINAL ONDE, with the bridge to the stars?WHERES the petition?;.;

October 14, 2007 12:09 am | link

the ending isn’t intact…they’ve taken the last three chapters and added them to the beginning of the second film. i sort of understand…the beginning of the subtle knife is quite slow, there’s not a lot of action to begin with, it’s Will and Lyra meeting, them in oxford etc so i can understand that the end of Northern Lights would make a better beginning to the Subtle Knife, they also don’t want to leave it on a cliff hanger, not know where lyra is etc. it means they don’t have to recap at the start of the second film, they can just carry straight on. i also think it will be nice to edit the two stories together smehow and then bring will and lyra together …show the two struggles of the two children as one story. i hope they leave the bit with will’s mum in tact though as that’s why the reader loves will initially.
i really don’t think it will be that bad!

October 14, 2007 12:11 am | link

voldy, hope this comment of you was true!! But no, they are doing the opposite, they are cutting the three final chapters of the book… so, no roger’s death, no northern lights, no city in the sky, not BRIDGE TO THE STARS!!ETC……

October 14, 2007 12:16 am | link

Voldy it’s the opposite! They are cutting the three final chapters of the golden compass to be in the begining of the subtle knife!

October 14, 2007 12:17 am | link

I am a little upset that the last 3 chapters of TGC won’t be shown in the movie, because they are some of my favortie, but what confuses me even more is that in the new trailer they have scense from the ending when Lord Asriel and Lyra cross into the new world. I also find it hard to believe that they are ending the movie at the scene where Serra says Lyra is important, consider that is before the fight between the two bears, when they are CLEARLY on the new posters, and their fighting scene has been included in ever trailer so far.

Argh, I’m so confused.
I think the ending would have been just fine if they would have had the last scene of Lyra walking into the new world, and then that be the end.

October 14, 2007 12:21 am | link

I understand what Pullman is saying but respectfully I don’t agree. The reason the Play worked split as it was into two parts and in the middle of The Subtle Knife was because it was performed as one big whole. Regardless of the fact the movies will be three parts of one story, they are still three separate movies and three separate acts.

The play was also, as far as my recollection goes, presented over two consecutive nights. The films will have to be split into three parts because of run times, and will likely be released about a year apart, even if they are filmed back to back ala Pirates Of The Caribbean, the last two films will be at least six months apart. To suggest that it doesn’t matter where each film ends because they are part of one big whole is frankly ridiculous. Each act of the story needs a conclusive close and something of a resolution, it doesn‘t matter if there is a cliff hanger but there need to be a sense that that particular act is over and the story is moving forward.
Like I said I will give it a chance, but I really hate the idea, and I really wish they would reconsider an idea that so many fans clearly dislike.

October 14, 2007 12:43 am | link

No, Voldy, that’s not what’s happening. Reread the announcement. The final three chapters of The Golden Compass are going to form a part of the Subtle Knife movie. In other words, the last three chapters, comprising Lyra and Roger’s meeting with Asriel, the major battle between the witches and Coulter’s forces, and the creation of the Bridge to the Stars, will not be in The Golden Compass, if Weitz’s statement about the final three chapters is correct.

I find this announcement really disappointing, because it’s such a perfect ending. Can’t you just imagine Lyra walking up the bridge into another world as the credits start to roll? It would be beautiful and poetic, and enticing for future installments. There really isn’t any other place the movie could end so beautifully.

Postponing the stuff with Asriel at the end also kind of kills the whole point of the movie. The reason for the journey, the reason for Lyra to do everything she did, ultimately turns out to have been in order to bring Roger to his death and to enable the creation of the bridge. Without that ending, the movie loses a kind of narrative sense; it simply goes unresolved, the forces that motivate it lacking conclusion.

I remain hopeful regarding the movie; I really want it to be good. But there is little news that I could find so unencouraging, and I can no longer say I’m optimistic.

-Paul

October 14, 2007 12:55 am | link

Though at first appaled, I have to agree that we´re giving way too much attention to the book. This is cinema, folks. What has good effect in literature can have no effect at all in cinema.

It´s best to watch the movie and see what the guys will pull (or hide) of their hats. You havent~s noticed, for instance, that this message means there´ll be two further films -most probably directed by Chris Weitz.

I´ll wait ’till December 25th in Brazil. Then I will speak a lot about the results, you may be sure.

October 14, 2007 12:58 am | link

Voldy: You have it the wrong way around. The end of TGC is being added to the start of the TSK. It’s true that nothing’s being taken away from the story as a whole, but TGC is having a bit chopped out of itself. There’s no material from TSK in TGC.

October 14, 2007 2:15 am | link

http://www.petitiononline.com/petition.html

someone make a GOOD text for this, my english is not quite good.

October 14, 2007 2:31 am | link

Voldy, I’m sure we would all be thrilled if that were the case, but the statement from Weitz clearly states that the last three chapters of TGC will not be in the first movie, but be shifted to the beginning of the second movie. That’s why we are so worried.

October 14, 2007 6:27 am | link

Here is a link to the new petition to New Line:

http://www.petitiononline.com/gc1003/petition.html

Please sign, leave a comment, and invite as many people as possible to take part!

October 14, 2007 7:14 am | link

Here is a link to a petition to New Line:

http://www.petitiononline.com/gc1003/petition.html

Please sign, leave a comment, and invite as many people as possible!!

October 14, 2007 7:15 am | link

Voldy: I hate to break it to you, but you need to freshen up on your reading comprehension skills.

Chris Weitz, Newline, and PP have decided to “shift the concluding three chapters of Book I of His Dark Materials to the beginning of the second film of our trilogy, The Subtle Knife.”

This means no Aurora or bridge to the stars until the beginning of TSK movie, and who knows when or if it will ever come out.

This is good news and bad news in my opinion. It shows that New Line is dedicated to filming the entire trilogy. It is bad news because the actual story will suffer and the final scenes of TGC won’t be as exciting if they are placed at the beginning of TSK, especially if it is after a 2-3 year wait.

I think this will make TSK a better movie, and I agree with the earlier posters that rescuing Lyra from the cave and her dreams of the land of dead should be squeezed into the end of TSK movie.

Do we have any word on how official this all is?

October 14, 2007 10:13 am | link

[...] has a message from Chris Weitz about the change to the ending the first HDM film. It appears the final three chapters of the first [...]

Trackback October 14, 2007 12:39 pm | link

[...] the same as the book’s. Fans seem to be in high dungeon or maybe it is just those commenting here that are so bent out of shape. I mean, what is the big deal? If Pullman is agreeable and the final [...]

Trackback October 14, 2007 7:41 pm | link

Most of you are completely wrong. The whole idea of moving the ending is not showing that they really want to make TSK, but that they want an out just in case they don’t do well at the box office. If you think about it, when thee story would end with Lyra walking up the bridge to the stars they would have to include the words “To Be Continued…” which forces them to make the next movie. However if it ends with everybody safe after the bear fight then it can end like a normal film and there is no need for any promises.

This makes me think there no longer confident in the film.

October 14, 2007 8:45 pm | link

Voldy, that’s the opposite of what they’re doing – they’re LOSING the ending of TGC and ADDING it to TSK, whenever that comes out.

October 14, 2007 9:04 pm | link

http://www.petitiononline.com/hdm1jwm9/petition.html

SIGN PEOPLE.

October 14, 2007 10:17 pm | link

http://www.petitiononline.com/hdm1jwm9/petition.html

come on people sign, for naw 33 people have signed!!

October 14, 2007 11:10 pm | link

Voldy, viewers would’ve far too dumb to confuse things. If they keep the ending of TGC and the beginnig of TSK separated, it’ll be far to better. They MAYBE could alter it if they don’t introduced Will’s story on the first movie. Now that I realize it, Weitz even said that he wanted to have Will and Lyra’s story separated until it would be necessary to join them…

October 15, 2007 12:42 am | link

please help preserve the ending to the movie…

http://www.petitiononline.com/gc1003/petition.html

thanks to everyone who has signed the petition so far!

October 15, 2007 12:49 am | link

so now we have this petition avobe and this:

http://www.petitiononline.com/hdm1jwm9/petition.html

COME ON, VOTE PEOPLE!

October 15, 2007 1:15 am | link

geek its completely right. the end as the book its better and this way we have the “to be continued”. they will only make the tsk if does well in boxoffice. this change its TERRIBLE.

October 15, 2007 3:08 am | link

people, send the petition to foreing websites. im from brasil and here i already send it to the orkut base of fans and the sites, ok?lets GO.

October 15, 2007 4:30 am | link

i am deeply disappointed in you Philip Pullman for deserting your readers and fans and changing the story line for the movie. i think taking out the religion in the movie which is a key factor of the plot of the book is wrong. i don’t think it should even be said it’s based on the book “NORTHERN LIGHTS”, you have diappointed and deserted us; your british readers once again for even approving the title “The Golden Compass” for the movie. i mean collapsing under the pressure of removing an essential plot; ie, the religion is appalling. What! are the names of the sequels going to be; “The Golden Compass 2 and 3″, i don’t think so, i wouldn’t go and see it. Look and Follow the example of J.K. Rowling!!!

October 15, 2007 10:28 am | link

Melodrama again.
John is another one who needs a bit of comprehension skills himself. Pullman is not the screenwriter, child: he has just approved the way Weitz -the guy who adapted the thing into the screen, making little cartoon pictures which are called storyboards- did alter the story.

You guys need to wait, don´t ya?
If they destroy their own film, then they´re going to be way much more screwed up than us readers. Jeez, you love to feel it´s all about yourselves and the readership of the books.

This is also business, in case you havent´s noticed yet.

October 15, 2007 6:52 pm | link

Subtle Knife is going to be a HUGE movie. It was the smallest book, but you just know now that they’ve lopped off the ending of Golden Compass to save it for the second movie, they’ll do the same with the beginning of the Amber Spyglass.

October 15, 2007 8:05 pm | link

I don’t care what anyone else says on this matter anymore, I won’t be going to see the film I have been waiting years to see.

October 15, 2007 9:04 pm | link

And I’m more than happy to sign a petition to ensure this does not happen.

October 15, 2007 9:09 pm | link

I STILL CANT BELEIVE THEYVE DONE THIS THEYVE GOT A WHOLE 2 MONTHS !!!!!!!!! WORK A COUPLE OF EXTRA HOURS BADABING BADABOOM WHEY last 3 CHAPTERS!!!!!!!

October 15, 2007 11:44 pm | link

I think the Subtle Knife should start with Will. And when he meets Lyra, she could have a personal 10 minute flashback of the end. The she snaps out of it and tells Will the way she got there (Ex.) ” Dunno. I just stepped through some window and now I’m here.” Like in LOTR how Gandalf tells frodo how he escaped from Isengard. I don’t think I’ll like the beginning of The Subtle Knife if it doesn’t start with Will.It would be a weird beginning if it started off with Lord Asriel and Roger dying.

October 16, 2007 7:27 am | link

I meant Lyra meeting Lord Asrier and Roger dying.

October 16, 2007 7:29 am | link

in this age of market segmentation, why not propose two alternate versions of the movie? One for the stuck-in-the Middle-Ages-religion-crazed US and one for the civilized world ? surely in the hands of a Marketing guru, one could exploit this to no-end. Think of 2 DVD releases, one ‘angelic’, containing the toned-down version and one along the lines of ‘rent the DVD, buy a ticket to Hell’ kind of a spin on it.

October 16, 2007 10:45 am | link

HELLO, Everybody lets calm down, the producers and directors are professionals and know what they are doing. Lets just wait to see the movie and then make our comments, it makes sense to me. So what if Roger does not die, it makes it more interesting. So what if Daniel does not Kiss nicole big deal, the story has a twist to it and become more adventurous. I am sure this film will knock the socks off us all, keep the faith.

October 16, 2007 4:45 pm | link

Soooooooooooo whaaaaat if the Golden Compass movie isn’t exactly like the book, and if it isn’t as epic. It’s not like the footage will disappear! Honestly, the studio probably doesn’t want a three hour long movie followed by a one hour movie!!!! I’m sure they just expanded the awesome plot to make it more enjoyable for you. And with the plot expanded, they dont want to add more footage to make the three movies uneven times. They make these good decisions aaallll just for you people, and most of you complain. Just wait for the movie, and I’m sure you’ll be satisfied (which is reasurred by Cris Weitz and Philip Pullman himself)!!!!!

October 17, 2007 2:39 am | link

STOP this stupid petition and wait for the most-probably-awesome movie to come out!!!!!

October 17, 2007 8:43 am | link

Anyone who STILL thinks that this is going to suck, after the AUTHOR said it won’t, is being a total jerk about this whole ordeal!!!!!!!!

October 17, 2007 8:48 am | link

I am glade to see someone else with some common sense, I am sure that no-one will be disappointed. It would be nice to see more about lyra and Roger in the media especially as they supposed to be best friends, the film company should be pushing this.

October 17, 2007 2:51 pm | link

I am curious how much more it would cost (and delay) it would take for the proper ending to be provided to the first movie.

October 17, 2007 10:25 pm | link

They have ruined me this film, I have waited years to see this, and now…Definetely I won’t see this….

Well maybe in a pirate copy!! It’s what New Line deserves…

October 20, 2007 3:26 am | link

Yes, yes, yes, I’m sorry, I misread it. I was about to leave, so I quickly tried to read it, and indeed, I did misread it. I do not have deficiency in reading comprehension skills, it was a simple mistake, as I am human.

Anyway, I wish what I thought was the truth *was* the truth. XD This seems like a strange choice to make for the ending of the film….I’m quite anxious and apprehensive now. But I guess if Pullman has faith in them, then my faith should lie in them as well. Hopefully the movie will still be excellent, even with the changed ending. HOPEFULLY. *sighs*

October 23, 2007 5:39 am | link

I guess as long as they don’t CHANGE the ending, and I don’t go insane before The Subtle Knife comes out, I’m okay.

October 25, 2007 1:27 am | link

So are they cutting the last three chapters? or is it 4…?

Also if they’re cutting them, why do they insist on torturing us by putting clips from those scenes in TGC previews?! (even the new one)

October 26, 2007 1:50 am | link

I can understand why people are so confused and angry over this decision, and for the past 2 hours I have been reaaaallly angry and absolutely bewildered on why these people are ruining my all time favourite books!

It’s an ending like no other, to me it’s the best bit of the book!! I was outraged, but then I started thinking…have I seen it yet? Yeah ive read the book, all of them, but movies are different than books.

It might be the best thing for it, but then again it might not. Either way I’m the first one there at the opening night! And don’t say you wont be there too.

I dont like how all these people are saying that Chris Weiz is an idiot, he’s actually putting everything into making these movies for us all so we should appreciate him!! Remember, he’s as much of a fan of the books as we are.

I’m quite sceptical about the decision, but I am having faith and still cant wait to see it. Chris Weiz was really brave to tell us all like that and I would like to thank him for all his hard work! The movie looks exactly how I dreamed it would.

October 27, 2007 4:06 am | link

Voldy, they’re not ending the movie with the beginning of the Subtle Knife (I wish), but rather before Lyra meets Asriel again in the North and before Roger dies.

I think this is a very bad decision and it reeks with corporate interference. I think New Line’s just trying to play it safe but too safe is bad for viewers. This is not a kid’s story, at least not in the traditional sense, but they keep trying to put it in this box.

I’m very sad because it was looking like the movie might actually be good. oh well

October 27, 2007 6:03 am | link

that makes no sense, leave it to hollywood to ruin a good series. hopefully pullman knows what he’s doing.
i’m in on that petition idea.

October 27, 2007 8:59 am | link

This announcement makes me very sad. I don’t know what to say. It feels like my favorite story in the entire literary world is being demolished. If this is due to Hollywood’s unending thirst for money then I am ashamed of the producer’s. Hopefully, and it looks like there is little hope in this situation, the director will either change back the ending after viewing upset fans responses or will surprise us in an unexpected way by adding something that will make everyone happy. Chris, don’t let me down!

October 27, 2007 11:06 pm | link

Voldy, that’s blatantly not the case; go and read the statement again.

They have ripped the last 3 chapters off the book, and they won’t appear until the second film… if it ever gets made…

October 29, 2007 7:51 pm | link

Sorry, scratch that comment, I didn’t see there were another 2 pages of replies!

October 29, 2007 7:53 pm | link

DO NOT GO SEE THIS MOVIE!!!!!!!!!This movie lours kids into a false religion!Please,the book talks about killing God and this is serious!There is a God.The first people who belived in God before “0 a.d.”sacrificed lambs because they sined[did wrong],but God in his human form [Jesus] came down and was the most purest lamb and sacrificed himself for all of us.Please,just visit a christian church this Sunday.

November 2, 2007 9:01 am | link

What? They cut out the last three chapters??? NOOOOOOOO! Can’t they see that they’ve made a huge mistake? The first book (as others have so rightly pointed out) doesn’t make sense without its original ending. Not only the whole explanation of dust/1st betrayal/bridge to the stars aspects, but also the fact that each of the books ends with a tragedy. Without this ending, the 1st movie becomes very lopsided, and loses its direction and goal, which is to show us the creation of a link between different worlds and hence the start of the chain of events that leads to the events of the other books. The reasons could vary from the benign (an overlong film, necessitating a shift of scenes to what is after all the shortest book) to the nefarious (studio execs panicking over how an audience might react to an open-ended ending with a sad element).

People have compared this to what happened with the Lord of the Rings films, which broke the story at different places to the original books. What many haven’t realised is that the Lord of the Rings was originally written by Tolkien as a single book, and was only divided into three volumes at his publisher’s insistence due to economic factors. Hence one could argue that the division between the three books is slightly arbitrary anyway, and where the movies broke off could therefore be viewed as another way of dividing up the story.

Pullman in contrast didn’t write His Dark Materials all in one go, but in three separate instances. Hence he has chosen very carefully where to break off his story, ending with cliffhangers with associated, tragic deaths. And, on the whole, it works; it leaves you aching to know what happens next, and sets the scene for the next part beautifully. It puzzles me deeply why he has gone along with Weitz’s assessment of the change, since he’s an intelligent, enlightened man; I fear he might be keeping his true views to himself in case it jeopardises the success of the movie and likelihood of future films.

And we all have to remember that there’s NO guarantee, until New Line start to see their bank accounts filling up, of the other movies being made. That might be one reason they’ve simply called it ‘TGC’, instead of ‘His Dark Materials: TGC’, in the style of LOTR. If this movie bombs, which it could still do (look what happened to Eragon…), then the others won’t be made, which will mean the ending scenes might never see the light of day, and the film looking even more perplexingly incomplete. We’d then end up with a ‘Ralph Bakshi’-type LOTR film, for those in the know, and it’d be years/decades before we see another attempt.

I hadn’t minded the other changes they had made up until now. Even the religion one, which let’s face it doesn’t have all that huge a role in the first book (although it’s sure going to bamboozle the film-makers in the second and especially third ones!). But this is too far. I’ll still go and watch it at the cinema, but I won’t be looking forward to it even half-as-much as before .

November 13, 2007 6:01 am | link

hey

We can’t exactly have a wait and see approach coz then if the movie ending is rubbish what can we do coz the movie is already out there! The ending is awesome! Why cut it? Subtle Knife starting like that??? How can they end it like that, the bears fight… then? The point of the break between those two books is so we can be introduced to Will and find out about him before we back with Lyra who is the person we really want to know about!!! I think the decision is STUPID!!

What if the film flops??? Then we don’t even get to see that scene anyway!!!

Where I live ppl are e-mailing parents to boycott the film coz they try to kill God??? Half my school aren’t aloud to watch it now!!

But if they leave the last scenes in then maybe people will like it and we will then see the rest of the films!! (eg. Pirates of the Caribbean- brilliant first film, rubbish second film but did ppl watch the third, YES!!)

Even if the second book wont be as good, we will still have a awesome first one!!

November 13, 2007 6:35 pm | link

This is a terrible idea.
I can understand that the film-makers might have concerns about TSK proving harder to make into a good film than TGK, but I cannot accept that this is the solution. Pullman’s pragmatic defence of the decision will surely convince no-one who has felt the thrill and power of his fearless storytelling. Indeed, I would be interested to hear anyone explain how hacking off the final act and tacking it on to the beginning of TSK makes any kind of narrative or dramatic sense. It betrays cowardice that I am sure emanates from the realm of marketers and their test screens; implying that the audience will not tolerate a cliff-hanger, nor cope with the sudden change of scene at the start of TSK. Comparisons to LOTR are weak and barely relevant – Tolkien’s book was grand in its imaginative scope, but in terms of his storytelling, craft and pacing it was a sprawling mess that absolutely required reshaping. HDM, in contrast, is a tightly and ingeniously crafted machine in three distinct parts, and each should be a complete opus. The effect of TGC will be severely reduced without its climax, a climax that is essential to all the major characters.
Concessions over the sometimes shrill anti-religious message seemed acceptable, since the heart of the argument concerns the evil of dogmatic authority in any form, but this is a compromise too far. It hurts the story, mutes it and trivializes it.

November 14, 2007 2:23 pm | link

Instead of book i mean movie!

Look two up- last sentence

November 14, 2007 5:15 pm | link

Have just seen the film and frankly im disgusted. had they in fact continued the story into the beginning of the subtle knife, as misintrpreted by the previous comment, it could have worked wonderfully, but no they ended it in a happy clappy family fantasy fun esque way with lyra and rodger embarking on a journey togetehr bla bla bla. rodger is murdered, lyra is betrayed and the film should have ended with her crossing the bridge to the stars, that was a perfect ending in the first place. apparantly pullman supports this ending which no one can argue with but i just think its a great shame to dumb down his masterpiece of a story so that millions of people will be left thinking ahhhh what a cute ending, ahhhhhhh it shouldnt be cute, its supposed to be tragic1!!! sorry if im ranting, just really annoyed right now x

December 7, 2007 6:06 am | link

Millions of people are left thinking “what a great story! I can’t wait to see what will come next”. I too was wondering what heppened to the ending, but I can at least live with it. It was a great movie, and it has followed the story quite well so far. PP also agreed on this decision, and because he is the writer of these books, I would have to say that I’m not afraid of loosing something important. Just because he ruins your image of the story, doesn’t make it bad. I guess you just don’t look at it the way he does..

I would have loved to see the final 3 chapters in the movie, but I can live with it as long as they show up in the next movie. I can allways sit down afterwards and see all the movies in a row to get the whole picture. If your so mad about his decision, please wait until they arrange a marthon in a theatre near you with all the movies. It will end tragic, so you should be able to walk away with a smile afterwards.

PS. To all you christians out there. The people who made the drawings of a certain prophet got wide support from all over the world, because people should have the right of free speach. PP should too, but you keep on complaining about it! If you don’t like it, then don’t go see it or read it. Stop complaining and grow up.

December 9, 2007 4:30 am | link

As a fan I am deeply, deeply hurt by the way Philip Pullman has so easily let the ending be altered. I agree with what a lot of you are saying, this is motivated by marketing. While the whole story is about Lyra, it isn’t right to just cut off the last 30 pages or so of the story. Philip Pullman wrote it that way for a reason, didn’t he? If he wanted the ending to be happy-go-lucky-cliff-hanger then he would have wrote it that way. Let us all just hope that when (not if, because they will make sequels) (thank you commercial America!) they make the next two movies that they don’t chop anything else up.

December 9, 2007 9:02 am | link

My main concern with the switching of the chapters is that; Rogers death, the guilt that Lyra feels at putting Roger in the very danger she was trying to save him from, her confusion over the fact that one man she thought she could turn to and aspire to be turns out to be just as selfish and manipulative as everyone else she despises, as well as introducing the odd relationship between the two rival figureheads who appear to be polar opposites will all just get shafted into a 30-second footnote at the start of the second film.

It’s a scene that deserves so much more than that.

December 24, 2007 8:22 pm | link

i think they should not have cut the mountain scene because now it just makes it look like a stupid kids movie . people will think ”oh ill take my kid there and oh bears and a stupid little girl evil mother and father is james bond” if they put the end in th subtle knife it would confuse everyone because next thing you know ther is a completly different character and youre like where has Lyra gone? they are just trying to get us to go see the next movie!!! i saw it in cinema but then the film stopped and i was like what th heck? it was to weird.

December 27, 2007 11:48 pm | link

What I want to know is, have the French/any other countries seen the last 3 chapters already? Because I just bought a book in France which is a storybook of the film with an abridged plot (it’s for 8 year olds) and loads of screenshots, and it goes right up to the end… so I’ve seen screengrabs of Lyra arriving at Asriel’s and him looking shocked etc etc, right up to Lyra walking through a door in the sky… so why would these shots have been sold to a publishing company in France at least a year before they’ll be seen on the big screen??!?!!!

December 28, 2007 11:50 pm | link

i was excited to see the scene where roger dies and the energy created opens up a big hole in the sky, but it wasnt in the movie and i was upset, sigh maybe next movie.

January 7, 2008 6:37 am | link

I love this movie when I got to the last level of the game, it showed a clip that wasn’t in the movie (I already saw the movie before I got the game) so I new something was up. Then I found it on youtube so I watch ALL the golden compass videos and all the “originial ending” clips were made with sketches I want to see the movie edited ending. But thanks for a great movie, also my daemon is romulus he can turn into a sparrow,mouse, and jakal

June 28, 2008 7:02 am | link

I hope that uh… oh! I hope to get a chance to see the real ending so… please get the real ending WITHOUT the skecthes.

June 28, 2008 9:12 am | link

nehuy spamit s icq…

Very usefull. Thanks! nehuy spamit s icq…

Comment November 26, 2009 4:55 pm | link