chris weitz's THE GOLDEN COMPASS (2007)

Weitz gets an A for effort (okay, maybe a B) but winning intentions don't save Pullman's book from the tragedies of adaptation, especially an adaptation co-scripted by New Line's anthropomorphic desperation. it succeeds to a pleasant degree visually, affected though its epic touches may be, and it's nice to see that Pullman's vitriol isn't critically dulled despite the Chruch's well-anticipated uproar, but the elegance of the book's metaphysical conceits (primarily dust & daemons) is sullied almost entirely by an uncontrolled rush. of course, doling out information slowly (or smartly) isn't a luxury typical of a family fantasy film, and therein's the folly of adapting a book just because it sold well, but The Golden Compass' main crime is the ending, or lack of one; the final scene is a lot more upbeat than the book's, sure, but there's no excuse for adapting a book with attempted reverence and then second-guessing its author as to where the story ends, not to mention squandering every cent of Daniel Craig's salary by reducing his Lord Asriel to little more than a plot device. The Golden Compass aims to differentiate itself from the overwhelming crop of kid-lit cash-ins surrounding it (lord, please get this fad over with, i've seen all of those trailers five too many times) but the self-respect just isn't there.