(no subject)
Dec. 5th, 2007 12:12 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
I have been reading His Dark Materials, having decided I really ought to read it before the movie comes out. On book 3 now. I am informed by the internets that movie 1 has had references to Christianity and religion toned down somewhat.
Ok, I can kind of see how you'd do that. Religion is present everywhere in Northern Lights, but acts mainly as a motive rather than a plot element. Magisterium as generic authoritarian state-like institution with no well-explored motives
performing nasty experiments on children. Young child must rescue friend. Don't explain theory as to what Dust is. (but doesn't that leave people wondering what the hell is going on?)
Incidentally, I am impressed they didn't age Lyra too much by casting an older actress. It's important to the story that she be around 12. Ageing her to 15, which would have been very tempting, would have resulted in the plot being a nonsense, or severe changes to it.
But they plan maybe to make sequels if this does well. Which leads to an obvious question... How on earth can you do the same thing with the next two books, which have religious elements far deeply entwined into the core plot. If the Church is complaining now, then how loud would it complain for those?
Ok, I can kind of see how you'd do that. Religion is present everywhere in Northern Lights, but acts mainly as a motive rather than a plot element. Magisterium as generic authoritarian state-like institution with no well-explored motives
performing nasty experiments on children. Young child must rescue friend. Don't explain theory as to what Dust is. (but doesn't that leave people wondering what the hell is going on?)
Incidentally, I am impressed they didn't age Lyra too much by casting an older actress. It's important to the story that she be around 12. Ageing her to 15, which would have been very tempting, would have resulted in the plot being a nonsense, or severe changes to it.
But they plan maybe to make sequels if this does well. Which leads to an obvious question... How on earth can you do the same thing with the next two books, which have religious elements far deeply entwined into the core plot. If the Church is complaining now, then how loud would it complain for those?
no subject
Date: 2007-12-05 12:36 am (UTC)But we knew that they'd do this anyway. I really hope they don't even attempt books 2 and 3 as it would be ridiculous.
no subject
Date: 2007-12-05 12:53 am (UTC)Argh, I wonder if they will keep Roger's death.
I'm going to see it anyway, to see what they've done. If they keep dust=original sin, I'll be happy.
no subject
Date: 2007-12-05 08:52 am (UTC)It would have been better if the film had been made and financed in Europe but as the UK film industry is moribund and financiers unadventurous to the extreme.