Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Golden Compass licensing




On a slightly different topic, but continuing on licensing agreements and subsidiary merchandise, I wasn’t surprised to see that there are now plush versions of the Golden Compass daemons at F.A.O. Schwarz. I was quite taken with the idea of having a stuffed armored polar bear, but I bet DJ is not the only one who would prefer the Lord Asriel doll (your very own Daniel Craig doll! Ooh!).

7 comments:

Amy Adams said...

Is anyone here a fan? Anyone going to see the movie? I read the entire series, and I was really disappointed because so much of the originality got swamped by the anti-Church polemic. Plus, did any zeppelin in the entire series NOT explode? Pullman had some powerful writing, amazing ideas, and a chip on his shoulder the size of Rhode Island! My kids are completely uninterested in the movie as well. Too much promotion maybe?

Doc Jen said...

Hmmm. Daniel Craig doll. Hmmmmm

Anyway, Sara and I decided we were much more interested in the stuffed armored polar bear (though feeling a wee bit "dirty" at all the merchandizing). Maybe it was a good thing that The Dark is Rising tanked at the box office. That might cut down on the "Ryder" action figures and plastic replicas of the "Signs."

Per Cate's comment, I actually enjoyed the books but hear the movie takes all the anti-organized religion bite out of it (which is little compared to what comes in book two and three). That said, I have friends who really didn't care for Pullman's take.

DJ

julienj said...

I loved the books, especially Golden Compass, though I agree that the third book in particular was weighted too heavily towards polemic. I always expect the worst about the translation to the screen, but the previews look pretty spectacular, so I'm planning on seeing it - preferably on the big screen (a rarity). The kids (9 and 6) were scared by the preview, so I don't think they'll be accompanying us.

I don't remember how old I was when I made my own Signs out of Fimo. The fire one was a mixture of orange, red, and yellow. I was very disappointed by how they turned out :(

Doc Jen said...

I never thought to try to make the "signs." However, I was ten when I tied to make a replica of Tia's Star Box from Escape to Witch Mountain(the book version versus the movie version which I also loved).

crossons said...

I think I best read the Dark is Rising. How'd I miss those?

And I keep meaning reread the Golden Compass series. I did really enjoy it the first time through, probably because I missed all the subtleties (I was a history major, remember, unlike all you English/Classics majors!) I want to reread before I see the movie, but would like to see the movie on the big screen, so better hurry! No kids coming with us, either....

julienj said...

Don't feel bad, crossons - I remember being extremely puzzled by people talking about the heavy Christian theology in the Narnia books. Remember, I was raised as a pagan Jew...

I remember Escape to Witch Mountain as being sort of scary. DJ, do you think it would be okay for our Friday movie night? T gets pretty scared by things, so it might have to wait a few more years.

Doc Jen said...

I think there might be some scary parts in Escape to Witch Mountain . . . especially the opening credits (which feature lots of baying dogs). I don't remember being particularly scared when I saw it (not like that tunnel scene in Willy Wonka) but if Tim is easily rattled, you might wait a bit. The book is pretty good as I remember though it's been years since I've read it (and it may be more dated than the movie).

Actually, I think Disney might be doing a remake of it.