Following their Q&A session with Chris Weitz, MTV have posted a piece on the altered ending of The Golden Compass, featuring some new quotes from New Line and the director. Chris Weitz says the change was made so that the film would end “in just the right kind of mood. The good guys win.” He went on, “Just kidding. It’s more, ‘What kind of exit line do we want for our heroine?’ We just wanted to find the right place to enter the second movie, and as we became more confident about the likelihood that there will be a second and a third movie going, we decided we wanted to end the first one in a way that led right into the second one. And probably only we would think it’d be any different.”
Changing the ending apparently necessitated other changes to the film, to make the story more cohesive. New scenes were added for the purposes of what Sam Elliott (Lee Scoresby) called “clarification.” The actor said, “These are really difficult books, I think, to adapt to the screen. I’ve done enough of these things that were adapted from really good literature that don’t always work verbatim, so I can appreciate the thought of this as a cliffhanger.”
Late additions also included the replacement of Nonso Anozie (voicing Iorek Byrnison) with Ian McKellen “We thought Ian McKellan would add more to the role,” producer Bob Shea said. “It elevated this visual-effects character into something powerful and exciting and dramatic and passionate. As with all big films, there’s always a lot of tuning up to do,” Shea said. “And typically, as we did with ‘Golden Compass,’ we budgeted for the possibility, the certainty even, that we’d make changes and reconceive certain things, to make it as good as it can possibly be. There have been changes all along, because sometimes things didn’t work out the way the director or the studio thought it could work out, so we make adjustments.” Chris Weitz added, “Fortunately we had a long enough production schedule so we could take a look at what we had and see how we can improve it.”
Imagine if the original Star Wars ended right after Princess Lea was rescued and the rousing final act where the Death Star is destryoed was cut from the film and placed at the opening of The Empire Strikes Back. Can you imagine that classic film scene not being in the movie?
By altering the ending of The Golden Compass, the film makers are removing what really gave that book it’s depth and maturity. The ending of the book is as remarkable as that final scene in Star Wars. It’s a shame it has been removed.
It’s a good point, but you’re forgetting that the final scene in Star Wars provides a definate closure to the story’s (and the characters’) arc. The death star is destroyed, Luke has gone from farmer to hero etc. From a film stand point it makes sense.
The book’s ending is wonderful (and I would jump at the chance to get a special edition DVD ‘book edit’ at some point) but the Return of the King proves that if film ends too far after the ‘arc’ ends the audience gets restless
I agree completely with Justin.
Although TGC could be ended after the bear battle, it will be a much less powerful film. I would go so far as to say that it was only after the final chapters I considered it a truly great story rather than merely a good one.
I suppose it could all work out once the trilogy is complete, but those scenes should be a crescendo not an overture,
Some of it still sounds very much like a studio spin on things. Like McKellen beig dramatically more exciting, etc.
I just hope that Weitz’s confidence about the sequels being made isn’t misplaced. As much as I have faith in him, it’s going to be evryy hard to come up with an ending as satisfying as the original one.
This makes me much more confident about the movie… That and the fact that it’s rated PG-13.
About moving the last scenes… (Ready for another LotR reference?) In the books, Frodo meets up with Shelob at the end of Two Towers. When the reader finishes the book, they think (unless they’ve seen the movies) that Frodo is dead. In the movies, they moved that scene to the beginning of Return of the King.
I think that made perfect sense, and although I would have liked for the last scene of TGC to be in -this- movie, you must admit that it’s confusing to people who haven’t read the books. As I think Weitz said, the test audience thought perhaps Lyra had gone to heaven.
“Return of the King proves that if film ends too far after the ‘arc’ ends the audience gets restless”
That’s true.
Since the major action sequence of TGC is the bear fight (through the “bridge” is my favorite moment), other action scenes after that could not work so well. In matter of timing, I think it was the right decision. And The Subtle Knife will have an awesome introduction.
Anyway, now that at least 10 or 20 minutes were removed from TGC length, I hope Weitz fills this space with interesting material.
After much internal debate,
I was disappointed about the Two Towers ending, but that was because I loved the fact that Frodo died but didn’t. I had the next book to read right away afterwards.
Likewise, when I finished TGC, I was in awe, but I felt like I needed closure. Luckily, I had just bought the other two, and I could jump right into the sky with Lyra.
Everyone who has not read the books will be left hanging, with nothing next to jump into (unless they start the books, of course). I know that when I leave the theatre after an inconclusive ending, I feel sort of shammed, and my liking towards the film is lessened. It puts a taint on the entire experience.
Children of Men was a great movie, but the ending left you hanging, which put a bad taste in my mouth.
Then take 28 Days Later– A huge reason that this film is magnificent is because of the ending.
Selkie: You’re saying that you agree with the decision to move the final scenes to TSK, right?
Yep, I agree with it.
It is not my first choice, but I realize that it is for the best of the storyline. I am ok with it AS LONG as they will make TSK.
And at least they warned us ahead of time. That would have been a real shocker if we didn’t know.
I’m skeptical… I don’t see the logic in it, it doesn’t seem to add anything (in fact it detracts.) Well, we’ll see how it is really changed when it comes out December, 7th.
I think it is great that the writers have made changes to the film and twisted the story. It adds excitement and interest to what is going to happen next, it would be boreing if it was the same as the book. I see Lyra and her best friend Roger going on more journey into un-known worlds. Am maybe even Lyra is kidnapped and Roger saves her and maybe the film of the last book Roger sacrifices his own life to save Lyra.