Goldblatt University

Hrmph. If I had not read the book before seeing this movie, I think I would be unimpressed, uncaptivated, unbewitched by this film, and that disappoints me. The book is better. Isn’t that always the case? But in this situation it’s not merely a snobbish dismissal from a reader who wants to see every last word replicated on the screen. In this case the movie really does have a few problems of its own.

First the good: the director captures much of the style and aesthetic of Philip Pullman’s world. It is glorious to see Pullman’s unique wonderland alternative reality rendered vividly and creatively on celluloid.

Now the bad: the movie condenses the book unnecessarily, so that even those who haven’t read the book wind up thinking that this movie is too short. The beginning is crowded with exposition that explains plot points without allowing us to sit and enjoy the specific dramatic moments, and the ending is jarringly abrupt. Certain moments do not work. When Iorek Byrnisson says, “You would ride me?” it is awkward and unnecessary. Also Ian McKellan, although famous, is a terrible casting job for Iorek Byrnisson. He’s a gay English Shakespearean actor: perfect to play a wizard or a wise old man, but terrible to play an ultra-violent, alcoholic bad-ass brute warrior bear. He is too polite, too genteel, although he does his best. I would have cast James Earl Jones or Tom Waits.

To be fair, movies are never as good as the book and this movie is much much better than it could have been. It’s fine. But it’s not as good as, say, the first Harry Potter movie, and if you have read this book, you will probably be disappointed.