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Signs hint 'Compass' may miss blockbuster territory (heh heh heh)
Los Angeles Times ^ | December 7, 2007 | Josh Friedman

Posted on 12/08/2007 6:17:51 PM PST by Mrs. Don-o

No one in Hollywood quite knows where "The Golden Compass" is pointing, though it appears to be south of blockbuster status.

...Unlike "Narnia" or the "Rings" and "Potter" movies, most of which hauled in more than $60 million in their first three days, "Compass" may open in the $30-million neighborhood, or worse, according to market analysts.

[Yet] it's unlikely to spell financial catastrophe for New Line.

The studio admits to a production price of $180 million, though some industry insiders believe the true cost soared past $200 million...

Even so, the film was cofinanced by Royal Bank of Scotland, and British tax incentives and presales of foreign distribution rights covered about two-thirds of the production cost, New Line says. The deals may limit New Line's risk, but also cap its upside: Fantasy films usually take in the majority of their ticket sales abroad, and "The Golden Compass" is off to a jolly good start in Britain, where it opened Wednesday.

If the film becomes a hit, the studio will launch two sequels based on Pullman's series. That remains a big "if" ...New Line says it will wait to see how "Compass" performs before deciding on the follow-ups.

Reviewers have been dazzled by the effects, but many are underwhelmed by the story. The review compendium website MetaCritic.com listed 50% of notices as positive, while rival RottenTomatoes.com reported 47% were bullish.

Another headache for New Line is the ire Pullman's books have whipped up among some religious groups.

But the ruckus may actually end up boosting the movie, said Karen Covell, director of the Hollywood Prayer Network. "The more riled up everybody becomes, the more publicity the movie gets," she said. "It just ends up helping at the box office."

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: antichristian; boxoffice; bungled; goldencompass; hollywood; moviereview; pullman
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Heh
1 posted on 12/08/2007 6:17:52 PM PST by Mrs. Don-o
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To: Mrs. Don-o
Some box office info points to a very disappointing opening weekend.

Rating by people on Yahoo! is a C+ (Lions for Lambs was a D- and proved to be a major bomb).

By contrast, Bella is running #1 on Yahoo! users of currently playing movies... Golden Compass is off the radar (no where near the top ten)...

2 posted on 12/08/2007 6:21:21 PM PST by topher (Let us return to old-fashioned morality - morality that has stood the test of time...)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Saw this extremely odd movie last night. Intriguing special effects, incoherent script, EXTREMELY annoying random moment ending right at the obvious beginning of a sequal.

Can’t say I would recommend it.


3 posted on 12/08/2007 6:22:08 PM PST by FormerACLUmember (When the past no longer illuminates the future, the spirit walks in darkness.)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

I don’t know too much about this movie. You seem to take pleasure in it’s proposed failure. Why?


4 posted on 12/08/2007 6:22:24 PM PST by kinoxi
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To: Mrs. Don-o
But the ruckus may actually end up boosting the movie, said Karen Covell

Yeah, sometimes it works that way. But with a $30M opening weekend, I don't see evidence that controversy has helped them out.

5 posted on 12/08/2007 6:23:57 PM PST by ClearCase_guy (The broken wall, the burning roof and tower. And Agamemnon dead.)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Ya know, I’m really not buying the contraversy=dollars argument very much anymore as it hasn’t helped a great many films this year at all.


6 posted on 12/08/2007 6:24:31 PM PST by ECM (Government is a make-work program for lawyers.)
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To: kinoxi

Because it is anti-Christian propaganda, aimed at our children.


7 posted on 12/08/2007 6:25:00 PM PST by i_dont_chat (Your choice if you take offense.)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

What’s the big deal with the animosity toward this movie? Some people seem to hate it-—why?


8 posted on 12/08/2007 6:25:14 PM PST by Rudder
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To: Constitutionalist Conservative; Borges; GratianGasparri; icwhatudo; wagglebee; NYer; Coleus; ...

FYI


9 posted on 12/08/2007 6:25:31 PM PST by Mrs. Don-o (Mammalia Primatia Hominidae Homo sapiens. Still working on the "sapiens" part.)
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To: kinoxi
Image hosted by Photobucket.com because his books are about killing God and the church and the movie is just a hook yo get the kids to read the books...
10 posted on 12/08/2007 6:25:36 PM PST by Chode (American Hedonist)
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To: Mrs. Don-o

director of the Hollywood Prayer Network. “The more riled up everybody becomes, the more publicity the movie gets,” she said. “It just ends up helping at the box office.”

Not if instead of geatting angry, and getting riled up (every Christian) simply let their friends, and neighbors whom they know good people about the dangers of this film, then there is not “negative publicity” merely the telling of the real theological dangers of this film..(then people will not go, and it will make less than it may would have).


11 posted on 12/08/2007 6:26:32 PM PST by JSDude1 (When a liberal represents the Presidential Nominee for the Republicans; THEY'RE TOAST)
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To: kinoxi

I can’t speak for the poster, but I will say that since the author of the books has spent considerable energy denigrating CS Lewis, I am taking special glee in watching his movie fail to approach the theatrical treatment of Lewis’ work (never mind the fact that the author’s stated purpose with the books is to “kill God.”)


12 posted on 12/08/2007 6:26:43 PM PST by ECM (Government is a make-work program for lawyers.)
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To: kinoxi; Mrs. Don-o
You seem to take pleasure in it’s proposed failure. Why?

The author expressed extreme hatred for God, Christianity and C.S. Lewis (the Author of The Narnia stories). He stated his goal was to “Kill God.”

Atheist groups complained that the books Anti Christian theme was watered down.

Does that about cover it Mrs. Don-o?

13 posted on 12/08/2007 6:27:47 PM PST by Grizzled Bear ("Does not play well with others.")
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To: kinoxi
To: Mrs. Don-o

I don’t know too much about this movie. You seem to take pleasure in it’s proposed failure. Why?

4 posted on 12/08/2007 6:22:24 PM PST by kinoxi

1. You don't surf FreeRepublic much, do you?

2. This movie was written by an anti-Christian author who has sworn to destroy Christianity.

3. Hollywood has adopted this author and movie as their next attempt to destroy Christianity and America.

4. Are you really this naive or are you a plant?

14 posted on 12/08/2007 6:27:49 PM PST by american_ranger (Never ever use DirecTV)
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To: kinoxi
I don’t know too much about this movie. You seem to take pleasure in it’s proposed failure. Why?

The author is some kind of raving demented off-his-meds atheist, who claims this peculiar movie and its sequel will kill organized religion.

After seeing this completely incoherent, computer graphics to the annonying hilt jibberish last night, God remains safe in the human heart.

15 posted on 12/08/2007 6:28:12 PM PST by FormerACLUmember (When the past no longer illuminates the future, the spirit walks in darkness.)
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To: Mrs. Don-o
Anti-war, anti-religious movies are not selling this year, this should be a wake-up call to the liberal elites in Hollywood, but its not.
16 posted on 12/08/2007 6:28:24 PM PST by RatsDawg (Hsu out the Democrats in 2008!, Go Hsu-less vote GOP)
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To: kinoxi
It based on books by a very atheistic/anti-Christian writer.

This movie would be very good for liberals and others who undermine our children...

There is concern that if the movie succeeded, then children would be negatively influenced by the books.

We have enough trouble with children. Example: Syracuse, NY 11-14 year old girls sharing nude photos with boyfriends. Boyfriends make CD, and selling the CD becomes child porn (eleven year old girls are children).

I think President Bill Clinton was part of that negative influence on girls (girls in grade school started doing the Monica L. thing because of Clinton).

17 posted on 12/08/2007 6:29:43 PM PST by topher (Let us return to old-fashioned morality - morality that has stood the test of time...)
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To: Chode
...because his books are about killing God

That can only happen to people with dubious Faith.

18 posted on 12/08/2007 6:30:29 PM PST by Rudder
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Related...

http://exposingtheleft.blogspot.com/2007/12/golden-compass-2007s-biggest-bombs.html


19 posted on 12/08/2007 6:31:22 PM PST by traderrob6
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To: Mrs. Don-o
This was a LOW BUDGET FILM to attack Christians -- $140 million.

Atheist writer stands to gain lots from book sales as well as movie box office.

20 posted on 12/08/2007 6:31:27 PM PST by topher (Let us return to old-fashioned morality - morality that has stood the test of time...)
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