Internationally recognised art and literary critic, writer and cultural producer. Published in ELLE, Glamour, Esquire and Cosmopolitan; member of the Union of Writers.
The fantasy genre is one of the most popular and profitable in the entertainment industry. From books to movies to games, fantasy stories have captivated millions of fans around the world with their imaginative worlds, memorable characters, and epic adventures. Some of the most successful fantasy franchises include “Harry Potter”, “The Lord of the Rings”, “Game of Thrones”, and “The Chronicles of Narnia”.
However, not every fantasy adaptation can achieve the same level of success and acclaim. One of the most notorious examples of a failed fantasy franchise is “The Golden Compass”, which was released in 2007 and based on the first book of Philip Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” trilogy. The movie, directed by Chris Weitz and starring Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Eva Green, and Ian McKellen, was intended to be the first of a trilogy, but it flopped at the box office and received mixed reviews from critics and fans.
What went wrong with “The Golden Compass”? Why did it fail to create a new fantasy franchise? And what can we learn from its mistakes?
A Controversial Source Material
One of the main challenges that “The Golden Compass” faced was adapting a controversial and complex source material. Philip Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” trilogy is a dark and sophisticated fantasy saga that explores themes such as religion, philosophy, science, and morality. The books are set in a multiverse, where different worlds coexist and are connected by portals. The main protagonist is Lyra, a young girl who lives in a world where every human has a daemon, a manifestation of their soul in animal form. Lyra embarks on a quest to find her missing friend and to uncover the secrets of a mysterious substance called Dust, which has the power to reveal the truth and to open the doors to other worlds.
The books have been praised for their originality, creativity, and depth, but they have also been criticized for their anti-religious and anti-authoritarian messages. Pullman, who is an outspoken atheist and humanist, has stated that his books are a response to C.S. Lewis’s “The Chronicles of Narnia”, which he considers to be propaganda for Christianity. In his books, Pullman portrays the Church as a corrupt and oppressive institution that seeks to control and destroy the free will and happiness of humans. He also depicts God as a senile and tyrannical figure who needs to be overthrown.
These controversial aspects of the books made them difficult to adapt for a mainstream audience, especially in the United States, where religious groups protested against the movie and called for a boycott. The movie also faced pressure from the studio, New Line Cinema, which wanted to tone down the anti-religious elements and to make the movie more family-friendly and appealing to a wider demographic. As a result, the movie had to compromise and dilute the original vision and message of the books, which alienated both the fans and the critics.
A Confusing and Incoherent Plot
Another problem that “The Golden Compass” had was its confusing and incoherent plot. The movie tried to cram too much information and too many characters into a two-hour runtime, without giving enough explanation or development. The movie also changed and omitted some important scenes and details from the book, which made the story less coherent and impactful.
For example, the movie did not explain the concept of Dust, which is the central mystery and driving force of the story. The movie also did not show the relationship between Lyra and her parents, Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter, which is crucial for understanding their motivations and actions. The movie also cut out the ending of the book, which is a shocking and emotional cliffhanger that sets up the next installment. Instead, the movie ended on a happy and hopeful note, which contradicted the tone and theme of the story.
The movie also failed to capture the charm and personality of the characters, especially Lyra, who is the heart and soul of the story. In the book, Lyra is a brave, clever, and rebellious girl who loves adventure and lies with ease. She is also curious and compassionate, and has a strong bond with her daemon, Pantalaimon. In the movie, Lyra is portrayed as a bland and passive heroine, who follows the instructions of others and does not have much agency or charisma. Her daemon is also reduced to a cute sidekick, who does not have much dialogue or interaction with her.
The movie also wasted the potential of its stellar cast, who did not have much to work with. Nicole Kidman, who played Mrs. Coulter, the glamorous and ruthless villainess, was criticized for being too cold and stiff. Daniel Craig, who played Lord Asriel, the ambitious and rebellious explorer, was criticized for being too bland and boring. Eva Green, who played Serafina Pekkala, the beautiful and powerful witch queen, was criticized for being too underused and irrelevant. Ian McKellen, who voiced Iorek Byrnison, the noble and fierce armored bear, was criticized for being too recognizable and distracting.
A Crowded and Competitive Market
The final challenge that “The Golden Compass” faced was competing in a crowded and competitive market. The movie was released in 2007, which was a peak year for fantasy movies. Some of the movies that came out that year include “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”, “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”, “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”, “Shrek the Third”, “Spider-Man 3”, “Transformers”, and “The Simpsons Movie”. All of these movies were part of established and popular franchises, which had loyal and massive fan bases. They also had bigger budgets, better marketing, and more favorable reviews.
“The Golden Compass” had to compete with these movies for the attention and money of the audience, which was not easy. The movie also had to deal with the expectations and comparisons of the fans and critics, who were used to the high standards and quality of the other fantasy movies. The movie also had to overcome the negative publicity and controversy that surrounded it, which affected its reputation and appeal.
The movie did not perform well at the box office, especially in the United States, where it only made $70 million out of its $180 million budget. The movie did better in the international market, where it made $302 million, but it was not enough to cover its costs and to justify a sequel. The movie also received mixed reviews from critics and fans, who praised its visuals and production values, but criticized its plot, characters, and tone. The movie currently has a 42% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 51% rating on Metacritic.
A Lesson Learned
“The Golden Compass” is a cautionary tale of how a promising and ambitious fantasy adaptation can go wrong. The movie failed to create a new fantasy franchise because it did not respect and honor its source material, it did not tell a clear and compelling story, and it did not stand out and impress in a competitive market. The movie also disappointed and frustrated the fans and the author of the books, who felt betrayed and let down by the movie.
However, the movie also taught a valuable lesson to the filmmakers and the industry, who learned from its mistakes and improved their craft. The movie also inspired and encouraged the fans and the author of the books, who did not give up on their hope and passion for the story. The movie also paved the way for a new and better adaptation of the books, which is the TV series “His Dark Materials”, which premiered in 2019 and is currently on its third and final season. The TV series, produced by BBC and HBO, has received positive reviews and acclaim from critics and fans, who praised its fidelity and quality. The TV series has also won several awards and nominations, including a BAFTA and an Emmy.
The TV series proves that “The Golden Compass” was not the end of the story, but the beginning of a new journey. The story of “His Dark Materials” is still alive and relevant, and it still has the potential to create a new fantasy franchise. The story of “His Dark Materials” is still a golden compass, that can guide and inspire the audience to explore new worlds and new possibilities.
