Kidman's expression in this still is amazing; it's so good it's kinda creepy!

is this a still... or like... part of the actually movie?

^What's the difference?

I'm not 100% sure what the definition of a still is, but as far as I've gathered, it's just a picture taken by the director of photography of the movie. It's used to promote the film, to give off teasers of the film before a trailer is made. It's just a picture of the film that is "owned" by New Line. Like I said, I'm not 100% accurate about this, so if anyone has a better idea of it, then feel free to correct me.

Actually, a still is an image that has been taken from a video reel, so it is actually part of the final film; they pause the video and capture the image...thats why its called a 'still' in the first place.

i wonder why she appears to be wearing a plastic sheet?

Taken from the source of all knowledge (Wikipedia):

"A still, sometimes called a publicity still, is a photograph taken on the set of a movie or television program during production and used for promotional purposes. Generally, a still photographer is present on the set and shoots along side of the production crew. In some cases, a single frame is taken from a footage reel and blown up. This is usually less desirable, however, since individual frames usually are grainier (due to the smaller size of cine vs. stills negatives) and more blurred (due to a shutter speed around 1/48th of a second)."

Marisa looks so intelligent and so young and so pretty and ... so dangerous.

Thanks for the information on stills. And Mrs. Coulter is wonderfully... Mrs.-Coulter-ish. =) Except...I don't know why she would be holding glasses. I didn't think she wore them.

is anyone else wondering tho how this girl (actress) is gonna grow up quickly enough to be makin out with a guy by the third book's ending?

well, John, Lyra's about twelve at the end of the third book. maybe thirteen. that's the reason so many people (whatver their relationship to the critique of organized religion) are uncomfortable with the ending.

I've never worked out a chrononlogy for the trilogy (because they all travel through so many different universes, and geographic regions within those universes, it's hard to intuit the passage of seasons) but I think it's much less than a year, all told. anybody know?

Mandy, I think its more than a year factoring in the long periods where Lyra lives with her mom, when they travel to the arctic, when Lyra is unconcious, etc. I could be remembering it wrong though.

She's so perfect it's almost scary.

I though of Lyra as being nearly 14 at the end of book three... Everything that took place in the entire series seems like it would take up about 1.5 to 2 years. So much happened. And I always thought Will was a little older than Lyra... They were both 13 in book 3, it even said so I think on a couple occasions.

I always got the idea that Lyra was older then Will, but by so little it didn't make a difference.

As for the issue of the actor being to old by the third movie.. Harry Potter's actors are older then their characters, and the series isn't over yet. Also, Kristen Bell, who plays Veronica Mars in the show of the same name, is 26, even though she's playing an 18 year-old. I totally fell for it until I found out her real age.

I think you will find that Lyra and Will had both just turned 13 in book three. And I am sure that if Dakota is the amazing actress the writers have chosen to play Lyra, then she will be proffessional enough to "make out" as you say with another actor by the final film. By the way, I wish to point out that I really resent the fact that you keep refering to it as being "making out". It sonds like they are drunk adults kissing for a dare. These characters spark one of the greatest (The greatest in my opinion) love stories ever written about. The things these children go through together, the hardships they face with only each other for comfort (especially when they truly are completely alone without their deamons) and when finally they discover there trusting, passionate, beautiful love for each other, they must part forever. Better than Romeo and Juliet by far! (at least you can relate to these characters!) and yet you can only refer to this as "making out". Are you American by any chance? like the picture by the way. But why is Mrs Coulter wearing a rain mac?!

I think she's having her hair done, and the smock is to protect her clothing.
As for the question of age, my impression has always been (and again, this is vague, because I've never tallied) that Lyra and Will are both on the cusp of 13 at the end of TAS. I don't think we hear anything about Lyra's precise age.except from Mrs. Coulter's conversation with Father MacPhail in that book; but either way, I think the timespan is much shorter than a year.

We know that a lot of time has to pass in GC/NL: her six weeks at Mr. Coulter's; her time with the gyptians both before and during the journey north, which probably comes to 3-4 months; and then maybe a week for all the events at Bolvangar and Svalbard. but I think the events of SK take place in the space of a few days, except for the final bit when Will and Lyra are teaveling north (which is only a few days more.) TAS takes longer than SK - it has to, because Mary has to have time to integrate with the mulefa - but I still don't think it can add up to more than a few months. a whole lot of things happen, but they happen very quickly.

but whether it's 8 months or 2 years, I can't really get on board with their romance as one of the greatest love stories every written. they're too young! as extraordinary as their experiences are, and as real as their love may be, there's so much to love that comes later... later in the experience of each other, and later in the experience of the self. I'm sure it wasn't meant this way, but I took Will's statement that he "loves Lyra more than anyone had ever been loved" as evidence that, for all his bravery and adventures, he still has a lot to learn about life.

I respect your comments mandy but I still stand by what I said. The fact that they are so young really adds to the fact on how much they love eachother; you are genuinely more passionate when you are young. Maybe the story of them isnt the greatest but the way it is written that they respect, trust and finally love eachother and the development of their characters as friends and then somthing more really shows how much they love eachother. Thats what I meant by "the greatest love story ever written about", the way pullman shows how much they care about eachother. As for the chronology of the story(ies) I shall have to take yor word for the time space in them as I have never really worried about it. However I have to point out that Lyra and Will really did turn 13 in TAS as it says on page 426 title chapter "Authority's end", as Mrs Coulter and Lord Asriel are contemplating hurling themselves in to the Abyss in order to destroy Metatron, "He kissed her. She felt as soft and light in his arms as she'd done when Lyra was concieved 13 years before." So I can definitely say that Lyra turned 13 at some point in TAS But I cant be certain for Will. It is difficult to pin point this as it doesnt mention birthdays; I suppose the characters would not have time to celebrate such events so Phillip Pullman didn't think it neccessary to add them in. I guess he wanted us to make our own minds up.

I always got the impression that will was younger than Lyra, but only by a few months. And that Lyra stated the series as an almost-12 year old, turned twelve towards the middle of GC, a few weeks more added in SK, and finally, in AS, was just barley 13 or within a month of that age. As far as i'm concerned, its impossible to pinpoint any significant passage of time in HDM with a margin of error less than a month, due to Pullman's constant use of phrases such as "in the coming months" or "within a few weeks," and even "days and days" in TAS could be as much as 3 weeks and as little as 4 days. So, at THIS POINT in the story, Lyra is about or almost 12. By the time she "makes out with" (I, too, despise that term) Will, and assuming that it doesnt take more than 2 years to make each movie, lyra will be about or almost 13, and Dakota will be either 13 or early 14. Plenty old enough to have an on-screen kiss.

i like her hair =]

hmm, that's funny, i always thought that will was older than Lyra (by quite a while, maybe four - 6 months)

I always thought that Will was older than Lyra, but only by a month or two. I guess I assumed this because Will is described to look older than Lyra, he seems more developed and Lyra is still small and skinny.

Ah Nicole... Bless her. I love how she's looking at Lyra like she's a doll that she's dressing up.

And as other people have pointed pout the smock type thing must be to protect her clothing while her hair or something is done. It's all gold coloured and everything so it's obviously the kind of upmarket place Mrs Coulter would go...

Oh what a creepy look. How perfect!
This is great.

Responding to Will: I really hope they dont make the kiss all lame hollywood movie kiss crap. I'd die. Like you know sunset in the backround, some cheesy movie-made line... *shudder*. These books are my favourite's and have been ever since I read them first four years ago. If they screw these movie up........

love the look on Nicole Kidman's face!
btw... i thought Lyra was like 11 or 12 at the end. remember all the events are supposed to have happened in the space of about six months.

The time in TAS must be really long though as Mary Malone is beginning to understand the mulefa without looking at notes she has made or anything

The time in TAS must have been long though because Mary Malone was able to understand most of the mulefa without reading any of her notes so...

i can see a bit of dakota on the left hand side.......... but i like this pic, it is of them getting hair and makeup done for a scene..........

nicole kidman is absolutely amazing..... ahh she looks so evil!

I love the nicole's expression! so coulterish
♥

I think Lyra's Younger than Will for 7 or 8 months...
And I agree with Lyra at the heart of 13, this is the best love story ever written in my opnion, but people don't take it like thet because they say they're "too young"

For your information I remember crearly when i read "Will remembered these moments even at the age of 60" or something like that (sorry, i've lend to a friend)
So that means she really was the love of his life, and he really was the love of her life
Even if they've found another person... their love was the most beuatiful and intense of their lifes. :]

haha, I love kidman's expression in this still.
I think she definitely has the looks and the experience to play this part, but I would've liked coulter with long dark hair :)

i mean, she's supposed to have the 'feeling' of an exotic, cultured european woman. this peroxide blonde version makes her more of the American postergirl/femme-fatale character. but whatever, i hope she plays well.

-they are wearing oilskins, a waterrepellant jacket that is made of seals' intestine. this means they are in the arctic in this shot
-does it matter if coulter has a pair of glasses in her hand? even if it isn't 'cannon' that she needs glasses in the books, they are a nice and inconsequential touch.
-to a poster who wrote 'they are not the greatest love couple in fiction, they're only 13'... romeo & juliet are also 13. and getting married, and having sex. lyra and will are the more believable romantic couple, by far. i don't think them kissing passionately at age 13 is very shocking. unless you've spent your life in a sock you'll realize that it is quite common for children to begin exploring romantic attachments at or even before the cusp of adolescence.
sorry for making so many posts

Nicole Kidman is going to be brilliant. She's such an ice-maiden anyway - she'll get Mrs. Coulter off to a tee. I keep thinking of the character that she played in "The Others" - I bet she'll play it something like that. Creepy, cold and collected. Excellent casting!

rosebud is right, there is a bit of dakota in there....

Well... yeah its a bit obvious that there is a glimpse or two of Dakota in there... but what has that got to do with anything????

They aren't wearing water-repellent jackets- too thin and open down the front, and anyways why woud lyra be sitting down in front of a mirror to admire her oilskin?

Oo... it clearly shows that Lyra is getting her hair done...

Maybe it's some sort of shawl Mrs. Coulter is wearing?
I agree with the people who think Lyra and Will are better than Romeo and Juliet (and I actually have read that play). I was twelve when I read the books last year and their whole romance seemed much more relateable than Romeo and Juliet's (which I didn't really care for). I hadn't really thought about their age (I guess I just assumed they were still both twelve at the end), but now that I think about it, I imagined Will older too. When they first met, he just seem much more in contol of the situation than Lyra.

hmm i cant picture dakota at 13 madly pashing with some lad and romeo and juliet is the biggest pile of tosh i ever had the misfortune to read. fancy killing yourself at13 for some guy you`ve only known a few days. how anyone gets in a dither about a lad in real life is beyond me.

But thats the beauty of love jakiya. And your right about Romeo and Juliet. I do not know why that story is considered the greatest love story ever written. I believe their relationship was pure lust (On Romeo's side mostly) and the ending of them killing themselves... they are teenagers! In those days it was a cry for attention!!! Lyra and Will are the greatest couple ever. Their relationship is pure,trusting,passionate and tragic. Sorry. The ramblings of a romantic.

Kidman is amazing.

Lyra at heart age 13...

you had a perfectly good argument going on about the 'making out' thing untill u insulted americans... i wil agree that there are quite a few of stupid americans but you shouldnt bring racism into you argument...

I do think lyra looks a little young, even for a 12 year old and i cant tell if she will be able to handle the love story of the third book...

oh well

Lyra at heart age 13- I agree. She looks young for a 12 year old. I don't think she'll do very good with Will. She looks like a 10 year old and I don't think it'll go that well kissing and almost dying for Will....

lol I didn't mean that the way it sounded ...! I am english and we don't usually use the expression "making out" here, and I know that they use it a lot in America so I was just asking whether or not the person I was refering to was American or not. I am sorry for any offence I caused by that comment it was unitentional!! I would never insult american people on purpose anyway. Many members of my family are American. Once again, my apologies!!

Hey,

but, Lyra's is supposed to look younger for her age.

they are in the hairdresser's!!!! Both Lyra and Marisa are wearing this plastic thing. Marisa is watching Lyra's naw hair cut.

Oh yeah! This is when Lyra is at Coulter's and they go out. It looks nice!

I thought at first that Ms. Kidman was wearing some peculiar sort of sheer wrap thing, but unless she's got matching ones for herself and Lyra (the peculiarity of referring to one actress by name and the other by role), then they could very well be getting their hair done... How odd.
As to the comment "and yet you can only refer to this as "making out". Are you American by any chance?" Any American worth her salt could tell you that making out is more than kissing (details withheld, but then you know exactly what I mean without them, don't you?). Ms. Kidman has that delightfully calculating look which is the epitome of Coulterishness about her again. They got that one right, for sure!

Finished reading the comments and had to add:
"romeo & juliet are also 13. and getting married, and having sex"
Juliet is 14, Romeo is several years older, and it is the 17th century (or at least that's when the Bard wrote it), when marriage at such an age--or younger--was the social norm (people didn't live as long as we do now, and with the non-existent sanitation system, people died of more than old age, so carpe diem and get a male heir).
"you had a perfectly good argument going on about the 'making out' thing untill u insulted americans... i wil agree that there are quite a few of stupid americans but you shouldnt bring racism into you argument... "
While I appreciate the sentiment as it was no doubt intended, I must add that Americans are not a race. Caucasians are a race; Americans are a nationality. But hey, we all know what you meant, so no biggie ;)

Ace Mrs Coulter! I think Nicole Kidman will the character justice, I can't wait to see her deamon!

Coulter: Delicious.....
Lyra: What?
Coulter: Er... Nothing...
Lyra: Right...
Pan: Wierdo!

On Topic: Hah, that shot is perfect, Kidman has got Coulter DOWN man!

She looks so beautiful! Exactly how i imagined her... I think she's gonna fit with D.Greg too...

lol, Atrias!

I agree with Lyra at heart age 13, Lyra and Will are the greatest love story ever. So much for Shakesphere!
Kidman has Coulter down packed! She is going to be awesome in the movie. She has the perfect coulterish look in every photo.
As for what they're doing, I agree they're probably getting their hair done. I would be really freaked out if she wer sitting there staring at me like that (in agreement to Atrias). But the look is sooo coulter!

Of course they are the best love-story ever. No doubt.

I agree with Lana ( ...I imagined Will older too. When they first met, he just seem much more in contol of the situation than Lyra...) Will is very mature and responsible, because he has to look after his mother.

...As for the chronology of the story(ies) I shall have to take yor word for the time space in them as I have never really worried about it. However I have to point out that Lyra and Will really did turn 13 in TAS as it says on page 426 title chapter "Authority's end", as Mrs Coulter and Lord Asriel are contemplating hurling themselves in to the Abyss in order to destroy Metatron, "He kissed her. She felt as soft and light in his arms as she'd done when Lyra was concieved 13 years before." So I can definitely say that Lyra turned 13 at some point in TAS...

I think you are wrong, Lyra at heart age 13, because Lyra was born 9 months after she was conceived, you understand what I mean. So she was 12+ in the AS.

Aah, yes didn't think of that Lyra_B_S! Although I do still think she and Will, coz I think that he is older than Lyra, turned 13 in TAS. It would make me more sense and be more metaphorical if they did as the story of them is about becoming more mature and reaching adolescence, so in becoming teenagers... you know what I mean!

I think Lyra and Will are the best love story in history of love stories. It was horrible at the end of the 3rd book..... I don't think Dakota will go very well with Will.

Yeah, of course I understand, and I feel the same!

Thank you for all your responses. I am on set at the moment playing the part and it is just fabulous.

Nicole Kidman

God Mrs Coulter is hot. She is so wicked. She is so powerful with the sophistation of her crotch.
................................................ =I

Did Nicole Kidman write the comment above?

Wow!! Was that REALLY Nicole Kidman??!! lol some sad person must have written that comment just under Nicole's!! I doubt Nicole Kidman would write such a thing about herself!!

I don't know, Lyra at heart age 13. I was so astonished when I saw the comment. But I don't really believe SHE wrote it. If you are really Nicole, we love you, nice photo!

Hey!!! All my crew book photos dissapeared!!! What a pity, they were perfect! *tears* An answer to Ardanawen, as I don't know where can I write it now:

Good point of view, Ardanawen, and I agree with you, but I was actually talking to daemonlight, who said that daemons must be smaller than real animals.
Daemons show the personality of their persons, and size doesn't play a role. For example, a snake(daemon) which is small, can be more evil and powerful than a dog(daemon again), which is bigger. The size is not a sign of power, of course.
(sorry for grammatical mistakes, i am not english)

Lyra was 13 at the end of the third book- Dakota will be 15 or 16. This is because they're doing one movie every other year TGC-She's 12. TSK- She's 14. TAS- She's 16.

oh my god! I love you Nicole Kidman! I think your the best actress to play Mrs. Coulter. Can't wait till the movie comes out!

Mareeka

Coulter: Delicious.....
Lyra: What?
Coulter: Er... Nothing...
Lyra: Right...
Pan: Wierdo!

I don't think that's really Nicole. It's probably some sad, lonely, bored, poser, who likes pretending to be famous people. If it is (which is like 1/100) then you rock!

its probably a fake butt if it isnt U BRING DA HOUSE DOWN NICOLE!

I think shooting has been completed already so that can't be THE Nicole Kidman. She's been in Australia since Easter, I think. Cool to think about, but I highly doubt she'd post here!!

Is that the real Nicole? Well if you are, you look awesome! Brilliant for the part!
But if you are some sad person pretending, get a life.

True, but somehow she looks better like this, for some reason i always imagined her with blonde hair.

Mikayli, Chris Weitz said that for the first film (this one obviously) they were (probably) gonna film it on its own and for the next two, they will be filmed at the same time like The Lord of the Rings films and they will just be released at different times, otherwise it would take to long.

Didn't Chirs Weitz pull out of directing the film? I read somewhere that he did.

They're all from the movie except the daemons havent been added in yet. I WANT TO SEE PAN!!!!!

i agree with 'c'
believe it or not, i read these books and 2nd grade, all right. i was 7 years old, and I could understand the power of the love that Lyra & Will had.

& Maybe it's not the 'greatest love story ever.' But hey, for a love story about two kids, at an age that a lot of us can relate to, it's pretty damn good.

Hmmm... 7? Yeah right. *sarcastic voice* Yeah, I read them when I was 5.

Well I ripped my copy up and ate half of the front cover when I was two!

(So I'm told)

ECH! I'm getting sick of this! Dakota would be too busy with the movie, family, and school too even have time to come on this site! It's not her.

Ah... I get it now, it's the reflection in the mirror! Well Dakota or not you spelt at and front wrong.

lol. :D

This picture is so amazing but so creepy! She's so Mrs. Coultery! Just look at that expression... Chilling. But awesomeness! They picked the best possible actress for this part. I can't wait for this movie to come out!!

Yeah, I think he quit for a little while but he came back.

Oh right. Anyway, I think he would have been stupid to give up on a project like this, its going to be huge!

aaah well... a little religious upstir never hurt anyone... accept in the case of Jesus...

The Vatican will hate it! They absolutly slated the Da Vinci code!

That'll probably just make it more popular. Which could be good or bad. But mostly good I guess.

Is mrs.Coulter wearing glasses??

I hope fans of the book will be in an uproar about it. Just like Eragon ^^
For Harry Potter I think they did a good job. The cast were good. The sceneries were good. Sure, they cut out a bit, but they had too. They were A LOT better then Eragon.

Yeah, Eragon was a major failure.

I think that they will make one more.

I won't watch it though

I really DON'T want to see "Bridge to Teribithia". I hate Katherine Paterson's books.

You didn't like Bridge to Terabithia? Awww. I thought it was brilliant. Sure the adverts were misleading because it's not actually a fantasy at all only some of the film is fantasy sequences and it is all the childrens imaginations, It's more of a coming of age story, but it was so beautiful and well acted by Annasophia Robb and Josh Hutcherson and I totally didn't see the ending coming!! It was sooo sad.. I won't say what happened because it's a great film and I advise a lot of you to see it, that is if you like a good weepie!!

That happens with a lot of movies. I haven't read the book and I don't want to, but maybe it ends a bit different in the book.

Yeah, they could have made a bigger deal of the ending, but I still thought it was great!

Whatever :D

I loved bridge to terabithia! I was so heartwarming! Blah, Eragon was crap! I read the book and they distorted the film so much its not even Eragon anymore! There's going to be a thrid book in the series, I dont know when its out though..

Third Eragon? I didn't like the book nor the movie.

Third Eragon? I didn't like the book nor the movie.

How could such a mischievous person such as Mrs. Coutler could ever turn back to be good for being affected by little girl is quite astounding. Though I am not such that in true life, Love can make people radically change their ways. I have not seen such a case, yet. . .

Mother-daughter thing ;)

The reflections in this shot really confuse me!
Are they looking in a mirror or through a window? Because the figure on the right doesn't appear in the reflection, and Lyra looks like she's in a different place in the reflection too!

Gah CGI and doubles mess-up again!

I think this is when Lyra is getting a haircut before the cocktail party when she runs away.

She got a haircut?

L-word?

Lol! I guess it does kinda look like graffiti at a glance, but if you look closely you'll see it's just a design. It's not writing.

Ah! I thought you said word. But I'd really doubt they'd put gold graffiti-type writing on Mrs. Coulter's belt! If they did, I'd flip. =0

*flips* It looks awful!

Nah, I think that is just the part that clips the belt to the skirt.

You know what, I don't think the costume designers would be that stupid. Obviously something like that would be out of place. It's probably just some little design. And if it is writing, you can't even tell what it says, so what's the point of putting it there?

That doesn't look like an E.

She can't be moving around too much if she's sitting down.

Yes but not quite clear enough obviously. Because whether or not they are letters is very debatable.
Could anyone honestly think that it would be appropriate for the style of Lyra's world? No.

I dunno... My first impression wasn't that they were words. It was that it was some sort of brooch or clip thing..

Yes I think I'm somewhat observant as well. I also draw. .__.

I did one but not on an HDM site.
I've also done some in my sketchbook but I can't find it now.
Have you?

I hate when that happens. Luckily mine was on the computer.

Try tracing it, if you work on layout paper it's easier, the paper is transparent but doesnt dirty your hands like tracing paper. I've just done a good one of Mrs coulter, will post it when i get the chance.

Do you post your work? I'm interested to see some :)

Where do you post your work Witch_Queen?

On this site, I only started a little while ago so there's not many.

When i try to draw a picture i have in my head it never turns out right.

Wow. I simply must go check out the pictures now! I have barely any on oekakicentral.com. One of which is a TGC fan-art. :]

And where exactly are your pictures Witch_Queen?

Thanks! I'll go look.

What is your first one?

Back to the topic before, I think this would be the greatest love story ever to so many people because it was written in our time and to a target audience of our context. As R&J was, back in the day of the Bard. I loved HDM because it was in English I understood. Well, Baz L's take of the movie did drive R&J home, for similar reasons. Either way, it's love, and isn't love great :o

You should send them in!

There does seem to be a 1940's theme in all this, espesilly Mrs Coulter, don't you think?

What ever style it is, it suits her well I must say.

I really don't know what type she is wearing!

I'm confused... the person whose back we see in the reflection appears to be facing the mirror. You see the back of them twice! It doesn't make any sense... >_< And shouldn't the person be on Mrs. Coulter's right? The mirror shouldn't be showing it backwards like that. This is too weird.

Anyway, Kidman looks incredibly Coultery here. I didn't see her with glasses, but this looks great. Kidman's gonna make the perfect Mrs. Coulter.

I think Lyra is the one who is second to the right, not Mrs. Coulter. You can tell because her hair is a bit darker.

I was named after Nicole Kidman! Just thought I'll let you know.

And I'm sure it's going to be an excellant movie from so far of what I've seen, can't wait until it comes out!

Uh whoever edits these comments? I just want them to know they can delete my old comments if they want to. I'm sure it's a pain when you have to make room. Really, I don't mind.

This was the first pic I saw of Nicole in the movie. Love it.