First Official Trailer for Golden Compass
Posted on by Merlyn

SpoilersYahoo were the first to post The Golden Compass trailer distributed at Cannes and it has now spread online. Running at around two-and-half minutes, audiences will be able to see the trailer in theatres with the third Pirates of the Caribbean movie, as we reported earlier. The trailer includes scenes from the earlier proto-trailer and the footage shown at Cannes as well as some new material. New Line seems keen on establishing the Lord of the Rings connection in the trailer’s opening, as the LA Times notes in its coverage of The Golden Compass at Cannes. We get our first glimpse of Bolvangar, fighting bears, and Lord Asriel’s device for opening the window.

We’ve embedded the trailer below for you to view. Post your comments, and join in the discussion on our message boards!


About Merlyn

Founder of BTTS
This entry was posted in The Golden Compass movie, Trailers. Bookmark the permalink.




113 Responses to First Official Trailer for Golden Compass

  1. Diolmhain says:

    It slightly reduced my hatred.. how … how.. interesting?

  2. holl says:

    despite my best efforts….im excited

  3. oz says:

    Nicole Kidman LOOKS PERFECT.

    Omg, that was exciting!

  4. holl says:

    although…i thought id would be a lot darker, grubbier. like that really good fan trailer on youtube that for a while everyone thought was the real one. and not just because of that trailer. when i was younger it always seemed darker, sort of innocently sinister if you get me

  5. aimee says:

    which trailer might that be holl, post a link will you?

  6. Radagast says:

    The fight between Iorek and Iofur/Ragna will be great.

    Marisa/Nicole is perfect.

    The flight of Serafina is a joke. It is realy unrealistic.

  7. Energy says:

    The effects look around 80% done, there seems to be a disticnt lack of deamons, but wow does this trailer finally make the film seem like a reality. Not too keen on the cinema trying to make the film piggy back off LotR; the film is powerful enough to stand alone.

    I’m still not 100% sold on this future-esque oxford/london, Lyra’s world has always been always victorian in my mind. However it does look like they might be able to pull this off.

    A shiver ran down my spine, I can’t wait till December now!

  8. Monica says:

    I am excited, no doubt about it. I hope the longer trailer is more exciting… I did think that Iorek was somewhat noticeably computerized, but then again, technology isn’t perfect, so I should probably keep my mouth shut about that. I am kind of disappointed that the witches don’t have cloud-pine, but the soundtrack sounds like it’ll be awesome in the actual film. Just as a side-note, am I the only one who thought the last few seconds of the music in the trailer are part of the music from Gladiator?

  9. Kevlar says:

    Very Nice indeed! Harry Potter, time to move over! Only 2 minor quibbles – I didn’t think Iorek’s voice was fitting. I imagined him a lot scarier and less snobby – if you know what I mean. I also wish they would remove Lyra saying ‘to fight’ too. It has no conviction in that clip.

    Can’t wait 🙂

  10. lyra+will=love says:

    o my god i can not wait i am so excited i first found out they were making a movie in like…october or september and i have been waiting ever sincethough i agree with energy i hope that they are still working on the special effects
    😮 omg i just thought of when they make the subtle knife and the amber spyglass!!!! they better make will fucking hott or i will be so pissed

  11. Jacob says:

    I was definitely disturbed by the lack of daemons. To me, it is fundamental that the audience understand that seeing a human without one is wrong and disturbing. Without that, this world just doesn’t look different enough.

    That being said, the film looks very pretty and seems to be following the book in major plotlines. Hopefully the daemons will be added later and we will really see Lyra’s alternate universe come to life.

  12. Radagast says:

    I have seen the trailer once more and the best moment is: “I have a contract with that child!”

  13. Kim says:

    Iorek is very impressive. As is Lyra. Oooh it’s exciting!!

  14. Eurasta says:

    This trailer was rather poor and underwhelming in my opinion. It’s lucky that they still have 7 months to finish those effects because they look dreadful! I really don’t think it is going to get people who are unaware of these interested in HDM. In fact, it’ll probably do the opposite. 🙁

    Also, i think the majority of the music on that trailer is cobbled together from other films (which is usually the case, anyway); that last shot of Iorek running, for example, had ‘Now We Are Free’ from the Gladiator OST playing in the background.

  15. Amy says:

    Loved it and good thinking on New Line’s part in mentioning LOTR and for people to know this movie is from the maker of that great trilogy, good advertising move.

    For a teaser trailer, it’s great.

  16. aimee says:

    Anybody decifer what Lee Scoresby said before Iorek says “I have a contract with the child”

  17. Par says:

    The LA Times article says Pantalaimon is going to be voiced by Freddie Highmore now!

  18. Amy says:

    kevlar, I always thought Iorek was snobby, quite arrogant even.

    I think these epics usually use that music in the trailer especially if there is a tragic element in the movie, I don’t know why, lol.

  19. Jules says:

    Aimee:

    He asks him if he’s gonna join in on this turkey shoot.

  20. Ashe says:

    I, for one, thought it looked amazing. You have to remember that this is an adaptation and so things aren’t going to look exactly how you imagined. Also, the effects aren’t finished yet, but I still love the overall look of Lyra’s world. Plus, I have a feeling the “shiny” city shots we saw were London and not Oxford, but I could be wrong. Just imagine how awesome this trailer is going to look on the big screne with surround sound!! I think it will do the trailer more justice than it does on the tiny window I got for quicktime.

  21. vivycakes says:

    I think it looks promising for a small online trailer with poor video quality. I can’t wait to see it on the big screen.

  22. Haltiamieli says:

    Not a bad trailer. No shivers down my spine, but maybe on a big screen the effect will be different. I too hope they are going to add a lot more “background daemons” with computers. Like in the scenes where Asriel is speaking with the professors in Jordan College, and where Fra Pavel and Coulter are talking.

    I’m really happy with the LA Times reporting about recasting of Pantalaimon’s voice actor. I was quite doubtful about an adult acting him all along. I suppose Highmore is a good choice. At least let’s hope so! Lyra and Pan’s relationship is a very important part of the credibility of the film.

  23. Yokata says:

    I don’t even know how to begin to describe my reaction to this incredibly glorious trailer. It seems as though this movie will be, for the most part, incredibly faithful to the source material while ensuring that it retains its own individuality as a work of cinema. The film itself looks gorgeous in terms of visuals.

  24. Aryl says:

    Well, first of all, I hate how they use “Mars” from Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” suite in the beginning of this trailer. I think it sounds cheesy.

    Secondly, when Lyra says something to the effect of: “I have to go to the North…to fight!” The last bit (“…to fight!”) sounds kind of silly and is probably the result of poor editing. It sound awkward tagged on at the end, and completely artificial.

    The rest of it, though, was fantastic. Kidman/Coulter seriously freaks me out, and after Iorek says, “I have a contract with the child,” Dakota’s facial expression is absolutely and perfectly Lyratic.

    I really liked the very mystical- and somewhat ominous-sounding music from the end of the trailer as Lyra and Iorek are galloping through the snow. I wish they had chosen music a little less cheesy and much darker for the main body of the trailer.

  25. Binni says:

    You can get HQ versions of the trailer here:

    http://www.filmick.co.uk/2007/05/direct-download-links-for-golden.html

    I got the 1080p version, it’s 176MB, but it’s so worth it 😀

    I’m pretty much with the majority here, it’s a promising trailer, it’s just the lack cloud pines that bug me.

  26. Kier says:

    Many, many years I’ve been waiting to see this. It reduced me to tears of joy. Can’t wait to hear Mr. Pullmans’ verdict!

  27. Janet says:

    I am so excited! It is THE best thing I could ever dream of!

  28. Katie says:

    SO. FREAKING. EXCITED.

    Yeah, it’s not perfect, but just the idea of the books that are so dear to my heart coming to life on screen…I cannot wait.

  29. hoobits says:

    I knew I would be in the minority and that trailer really did nothing for me. It has nothing to do with my own vision of the books, it has everything to do with the seemingly generic wanna-be style of the film or lack of anything really “cinematicly it’s own” at least in that trailer. I’m talking set design, cinematography etc. It seemed just like cut and paste fantatsy adaptation material. A real Star Wars meets LOTR. I hope future trailers try and showcase Dakota more so I could get a sense of her.

  30. Skye says:

    I was looking forward to seeing it on the big screen first, really… Ah, well.
    The HD version almost makes up for it. Except I had to go for the lowest version. My poor computer can’t take it.
    If your computer can handle the file size, go HD!

    As for my feelings on the trailer — it’s TGC! Anything they do, I’ll still love it. Those who complain about the lack of daemons — they’re there, people. If you’ll remember, Pullman wasn’t constantly alerting us to the fact in the books. The movie will establish their importance in key areas, then they’ll be background — always there, but taken for granted, get what I mean? The point is to make them natural, not go “OH MY GOSH A TALKING ANIMAL!” every minute or so.
    Does anyone understand me on this?

  31. Homer says:

    I certainly agree there’s a lack of dæmons in this trailer.

    Unfortunately, all the smaller ones just weren’t quite ready for prime time yet (actually, the cg-work in this trailer is representative of were it all was in mid-April). But there will be dæmons, alright. All over the place. Like Skye says, they’re not gonna be calling attention to themselves, but they will be there.

    Good references for how the background dæmons will work are the big zeppelin shot at 50 sec (everyone’s got one… notice the little birdie!), the start of the battle at 56 sec, background dogs at 1.42, and another battle shot at 2 min. Bet you didn’t even notice them — just the way it’s supposed to be! ; )

  32. Vampt Vo says:

    I really thought it interpreted the mood of the books pretty well. When I watched it, it seemed to fit into my vision of the books quite nicely. I’m liking DBR more and more as Lyra the more I see of her. She seemed originally to look too innocent to play Lyra, but some of these clips seem to say otherwise. The CGI looks pretty good, but you can tell they need some more time to perfect it.

    I don’t like Iorek’s voice very much, but I guess I’ll get used to it. Also, the witches used brooms, right? (I haven’t read it in a few years, so I don’t remember exactly) In the trailer they definitely do not use brooms.

    Once again, I have to say that this trailer fit right into my vision of HDM, and I’m very excited to see the film. And yes, the trailer put a shiver down my spine.

    The use of LoTR is actually a good idea. I’m sorry guys, but an unusual story like HDM can’t really stand on its own when faced with mainstream viewers who have never heard of it.

    (I guess I won’t be in a rush to see Pirates now…)

  33. Vaka says:

    I had to watch that a second time to make sure there were actually daemons. Which I guess is a good sign that they won’t be too distracting in the movie…but still, a glimpse of Pan would have been nice…

    Lee and Lord Asriel are both perfect though!

  34. LemuelG says:

    There was a glimpse of Pan. Or who do you think was the daemon changing shape versus Lord Asriel’s?

    The guys over at aintitcool.com have switched from doubtful to pretty much exstatic concerning this project after seeing this trailer. I think that says everything. Looking forward to december.

  35. adria says:

    AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!……..
    Ahem….what i meant to sa..AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
    THATS SOOOO FRICKEN COOL!!!!
    BUT!
    i HATED the start with the ring turning into the alethiometer.
    oh well…now…where was i?oooohhh yes,i remember…
    HUMINA HUMINA HUMINA HUMINA HUMINA HUMINA HUMINA !!!!

  36. Green Ink says:

    Derek Jacobi is in it? That’s a nice little surprise.
    Oh and oh my gosh, it’s lovely. Maybe it’s not how I expected it to be, but it’s definitely far from bad.
    Now if the script really is as Pullman and Weitz and co. would have us believe than I can’t wait for december.

  37. chris says:

    i think if you look really closely that the witches bows are made of cloudpine!! – there is one shot where it look way too leafy and twiggy for a normal bow.perhaps that how they have utilized the cloud pine – made weaopns out of it?

  38. WillTheSecond says:

    I don’t see what’s amazing about it my self, seems like a pretty average Hollywood fare to me… I honestly didn’t like this trailer much, something about it bothered me, it may have been the focus on the spectacle rather than the characters, hopefully this trailer isn’t the actual film in microcosm, it just seems to lack the sublime beauty of the novels.

    Then there’s this from a Guardian article:

    “Philip Pullman is against any kind of organised dogma, whether it is church hierarchy or, say, a Soviet hierarchy. We often deal quite obliquely with it in the film … but we have done service to Pullman’s books. Those people who read them for their philosophical content will not be disappointed.”

    Soviet hierarchy? What a load of rubbish, there’s not even a hint of commentary of socialist systems in the novels. Besides, the Soviet system has fallen, why would you bothering making a film about that? It’s simply not relevant. How about a film on corporate hierarchies? What’s that, you’re a capitalist and don’t want to question your own system despite the fact that it’s far more to the point? Oh, that’s right, you’re funded by a conglomerate, presumably there are a bunch of conservative, fundamentalist Christian shareholders…

    I am convinced that the best possible His Dark Materials film will NOT be made in Hollywood, at least not Hollywood as it exists now…

  39. Gabzie says:

    Really, really great trailer! ^__^ Only quirks were that witches don’t seem to use brooms to fly and there wasn’t enough Pan-chan. ;-; I wanted to hear his voice. D:

    Otherwise it all looks fantastic and makes me soooo excited. X3

  40. luis says:

    the only scene i didn´t like was the last one.
    the teaser released in mid april is far more realistic. this bear-trip is much more computer-like…

    but i loved the scene with asriel and fra pavel (Simply superb!)

  41. Kevlar says:

    Why is everybody complaining about the lack of deamons. If you look at the scene where they face up to each other, then pause the movie. You will see hundreds of them – dogs, cats, rabbits etc. all in one shot. Move the frames back and forth and you can see them all moving / animating – looks great 🙂

    Kevlar…

  42. Ashe says:

    Yes, why is everyone complaining? I was actually pleasantly surprised when I saw the trailer. I was actually preparing to be horribly disappointed, but upon a few viewings of it in HD, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s pretty well done (aside from a few editing mishaps anyway). My breath was actually taken away with the London cityscape. BEAUTIFUL.
    The film just got finished shooting in January so they haven’t had much time to edit a trailer together with top notch effects. Trust me; this could have been much, MUCH worse. Just look up the Eragon teaser trailer on Youtube for comparison. And as for the Lord of the Rings tie in, frankly I don’t blame them. I live in the Midwest and all but one of my friends hasn’t heard of this trilogy so it’s a good (even if cheesy) way to get the general public more interested in the film.
    I say to wait for a full trailer before we all start making snap judgments. Plus, like I’ve said earlier, viewing this one the big screen might do it more justice.

  43. Schrodinger's Cat says:

    WillTheSecond, do you know anything about Stalin? Mao? Read a little before you start proselytising your omniscience please. In fact, don’t go see the movie — stay at home and read the books instead, we don’t want you bothering people who are genuinely excited about TGC.

  44. Schrodinger's Cat says:

    PS In fact, many people living in totalitarian communist states (the former USSR, China) will know exactly what the children face in Bolvangar and what the Magisterium’s cut really means. HDM is applicable to any totalitarian authority, not just the Catholic Church, you really need to read the books again and have a long hard think about what Philip Pullman is aiming at.

  45. Nix says:

    SC: That seems a little uncalled for, he’s right, there is no need to be referencing the soviet regime in these films, but the critiques of authoritarianism can be applied to any regime.
    That said, I don’t think that was what the article was meaning, I think it was just trying to demonstrate that Pullman isn’t solely anti-religious establishment.
    And anyway, if you just read the books as being good stories, then you miss out a lot. Films don’t necessarily capture messages, no matter how pretty they may look. And if you feel that protective of them, you’re going to be bothered by anyone that doesn’t like the films, so stop complaining.

  46. drama queen says:

    sraem…………
    every body watch newsround today on bbc 1 at 5:25 pm……… they are interveiwing dakota……..
    it looks brill….
    can’t wait……

  47. Roronoa Zoro says:

    I loved it. That’s all I have to say.

  48. WillTheSecond says:

    “WillTheSecond, do you know anything about Stalin? Mao? Read a little before you start proselytising your omniscience please. In fact, don’t go see the movie — stay at home and read the books instead, we don’t want you bothering people who are genuinely excited about TGC.”

    Yes, I do know about Mao and Stalin, and I think that they were both ruthless and (especially in the case of Stalin, who liked signing people execution papers as a hobby) psychotic. But that is not relevant to today. Socialism in that authoritarian form doesn’t exist in the 21st Century (well, except Cuba, but then they have great hospitals, lol).

    “PS In fact, many people living in totalitarian communist states (the former USSR, China) will know exactly what the children face in Bolvangar and what the Magisterium’s cut really means. HDM is applicable to any totalitarian authority, not just the Catholic Church, you really need to read the books again and have a long hard think about what Philip Pullman is aiming at.”

    China is capitalist in all but name, as is Russia. They are not democracies, that is for certain, but they are certainly not communist any more.

    The reason I dislike the fact that they have taken the focus away from religion is because religious dogma is the most important problem in the world today! In Iraq there is a civil war between the Sunnis and Sia’ites, and of course there is Bush telling everyone that God told him to go to Iraq, plus he has the backing of the nutter fundamentalists in the deep south. The kind of fundamentalist religion, against all reason, is just was HDM shows as being awful.

    Plus it’s about the aesthetics of poetry: Pullman’s source of inspiration was Paradise Lost, a religious text, not some complex novel on political theory. If you want some good political novels, try Frank Herbert’s Dune or Ursula Le Guin’s The Dispossessed. The religious element is central not just to the message of the story, but to the beauty and power of the story.

    This is simply my opinion, if you have a problem with it, I’m sorry.

  49. Virgile says:

    is it just me or was Iorek about to open a bottle of diet Coke ?

  50. Lizzietiffon01 says:

    wow