'God' cut from His Dark Materials movie

[John Q. Mayhem]

I haven't read the book, and from what I've read of Pullman's comments I wouldn't be happy with them, but anytime a book is cut up for a movie makes me angry.

 

[Rackhir]

Except that movies aren't too controversial. Dogma did well enough and looks like it easily lands in the same field from a boycotting perspective.

In "An Evening with Kevin Smith" he tells the story of how he decided to go to a protest rally that was being held to protest Dogma. So he makes up a sign and goes to the rally with a friend. It turns out that not only does he have the nicest sign there, but because he does he winds up getting interviewed by the local TV station about how he's protesting the movie (still not admiting that he's the one who made the film). Of course none of the people protesting the movie watch his films and apparently neither did the TV people. So nobody knew who he was.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

In "An Evening with Kevin Smith" he tells the story of how he decided to go to a protest rally that was being held to protest Dogma. So he makes up a sign and goes to the rally with a friend. It turns out that not only does he have the nicest sign there, but because he does he winds up getting interviewed by the local TV station about how he's protesting the movie (still not admiting that he's the one who made the film). Of course none of the people protesting the movie watch his films and apparently neither did the TV people. So nobody knew who he was.

Such a wonderful Kevin Smith moment.

 

[humble minion]

I'm not sure whether there's ever been a case of the box-office success of a movie being materially hurt by a boycott or by negative publicity. The people likely to protest HDM were hardly likely to go see fantasy films anyway - especially one where every character has a benevolent 'daemon' attached to their soul...

My understanding is that the cuts were made at the insistence of New Line Cinema. I can only guess that the studio was concerned about how producing something like this would affect their future relations with the Powers That Be, especially given the current US political climate.

The original interview is at http://www.bridgetothestars.net/index.php?p=weitzinterview. The director has a nice, pretty, well-rehearsed speech, and makes all sorts of promises. You'll excuse me if I'm skeptical...

 

[Particle_Man]

I heard that for the main antagonist they were replacing God with Jar-Jar Binks.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

I haven't read the book, and from what I've read of Pullman's comments I wouldn't be happy with them, but anytime a book is cut up for a movie makes me angry.

A friend gave me the first one for Christmas, and I read it, and I did not particularly like.

They can cut it up all they want. I'll be staying home.

Brad

 

[Truth Seeker]

You think that is bad, there is a Team America deleted scene of puppet coupling to the ninth degree, making the rounds on the web, I was going to post(news wise) that at one point, and my hands slapped me...the footage is very raw, and has no sound, but the images alone...well, could give the term 'wood-ie' a new meaning.

And don't worry, I ain't posting it either...

 

[Berandor]

Well at least this thread (and Pielorinho's endorsement) made me order the books from amazon. I hope they're as good as you say...

 

[Kesh]

I bought the books at eReader a while back, but I haven't had a chance to read them yet. Might do that next...

 

[Templetroll]

... especially given the current US political climate.
QUOTE]

In the story about this the agent for Pullman made a similar comment near the end, but he attributed it directly to the President. The author is supportive of this as a means to get a political dig in and garner publicity. If they named the Authority "George" they would sit back with smug expressions on their faces.

I think I can miss this when it comes out.