Chris Weitz blasts New Line over "The Golden Compass"

Daytripper · 11-23-09, 04:23 PM

I never read the books so I never knew what was left out. As is, I liked the finish product a great deal. But I found the following interesting. Good for you Weitz for speaking out!!

From Variety

Weitz digs 'Gardener'
‘New Moon’ director plants next pic at Summit
By MICHAEL FLEMING

As "New Moon" soared toward a $258 million opening weekend worldwide, director Chris Weitz was in discussions with Summit Entertainment for his follow-up.
Weitz said he plans to go to work for Summit right away on "The Gardener," with deals in the works for Weitz and Eric Eason ("Manito"), who wrote the screenplay. The picture is about a hard-working immigrant who lives in Los Angeles and his efforts to protect his son.

Weitz said he will begin production in March or April.

"There are no werewolves or vampires, just a Mexican gardener in Los Angeles," Weitz said.

Weitz also dispelled reports that he would stop directing movies after "The Gardener," an assertion that came from an interview he gave to Moviemaker magazine. The retirement angle got picked up by the New York Post's Page Six late last week.

The report inferred that Weitz's exit was based on the rough treatment he got from New Line on "The Golden Compass."

Weitz did not deny that he had a terrible time on that movie, but said he was reinvigorated by "New Moon." He met his goal to broaden the visual scope of the film from the original while keeping it on budget and not overwhelming the appeal of the core love triangle.

Weitz said Summit and author Stephenie Meyer trusted him to honor the books while adding his own stylistic imprint, something that didn't happen on "The Golden Compass." He added that "Golden Compass" was taken away from him and that heavy-handed editing by New Line eliminated 30 minutes of footage and neutered any of the edge evident in the Philip Pullman books.

"It was an utter violation of my status as a director and the worst thing that has happened to me professionally," Weitz said. While he "bit through my tongue" when that film was released out of loyalty to cast and crew, he was very happy to see "New Moon" surpass grosses of "The Golden Compass."

"I was treated badly, it was almost like they never read the books. They seemed frightened of offending the right. This was a wonderful experience by comparison. I got to work with terrific young actors at the top of their game, and see Taylor Lautner perform so well."

His mind seemed squarely on his directing future and on Depth of Field, the company he runs with brother Paul, who's off directing "Little Fockers." Depth of Field's Tom Ford-directed "A Single Man" has Oscar hopes.

Weitz said he's learning to be careful about swearing off movies in interviews when he's drained from finishing one.

fumanstan · 11-23-09, 04:49 PM

I thought Golden Compass was terrible, so at least this gives me some reason to think that there was a decent movie under there that was cut.

Dr Mabuse · 11-23-09, 04:52 PM

I didn't think it was "terrible", but I agree.

Giantrobo · 11-23-09, 04:56 PM

I really liked "The Golden Compass" so I'd be interested in seeing what they cut.

mhg83 · 11-23-09, 05:04 PM

I'm wondering if anyone at New Line read the last book in the trilogy? I'm guessing they didn't since there would have been a shit storm of controversy from religious groups if they had made the third movie.

RichC2 · 11-23-09, 05:26 PM

And Summit continues its rise to becoming a major player in the movie industry.

fitprod · 11-23-09, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichC2

And Summit continues its rise to becoming a major player in the movie industry.

One series does not make a major player... It just skus their reality. (DOH! It just skews their reality! - To many years in retail and the home entertainment industry.)

Check the number on any Summit film that is not attached to the Twilight Saga.

fitprod

GreenVulture · 11-23-09, 05:46 PM

The best part of that article is that he feels like he was a crucial part to New Moon's success. It's like the Harry Potter films: 99% of the audience doesn't know and doesn't care who's in the director's seat--they're going regardless.

The Bus · 11-23-09, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daytripper

I got to work with terrific young actors at the top of their game

The Bus · 11-23-09, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fitprod

One series does not make a major player... It just skus their reality.

RichC2 · 11-23-09, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bus

more ...

Artman · 11-23-09, 06:02 PM

I fell asleep for awhile watching Golden Compass.... hard to believe those magical 30 minutes would've made the difference on that one.

dan30oly · 11-23-09, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreenVulture

The best part of that article is that he feels like he was a crucial part to New Moon's success. It's like the Harry Potter films: 99% of the audience doesn't know and doesn't care who's in the director's seat--they're going regardless.

Exactly.

I could have directed New Moon and it would have done as well.

superdeluxe · 11-23-09, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Artman

I fell asleep for awhile watching Golden Compass.... hard to believe those magical 30 minutes would've made the difference on that one.

sometimes that is all it needs: See Daredevil director's cut and non-directors cut.

Suprmallet · 11-23-09, 07:34 PM

I thought Golden Compass was unwatchable for things that had nothing to do with the edit.

Jeffy Pop · 11-23-09, 11:13 PM

Golden Compass was brutal. Can't imagine a cut that's a half-hour longer.

MLBFan24 · 11-23-09, 11:39 PM

To this day, I still can't believe "The Golden Compass" beat "Transformers" for Best Visual Effects (80th Academy Awards)

Boba Fett · 11-23-09, 11:40 PM

Summit is behind more than just Twilight in terms of profitable films; most recently, Knowing (bad movie, but it made solid money) and The Hurt Locker.

They also snagged rights to Red Cliff.

Solid Snake PAC · 11-23-09, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superdeluxe

sometimes that is all it needs: See Daredevil director's cut and non-directors cut.

it's still a crappy film..but maybe a bit less of one...

Rypro 525 · 11-23-09, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boba Fett

Summit is behind more than just Twilight in terms of profitable films; most recently, Knowing (bad movie, but it made solid money) and The Hurt Locker.

They also snagged rights to Red Cliff.

Red Cliff (asumming your talking about the John Woo movie), is being distributed by Magnolia/Magnet pictures

Moleman1138 · 11-24-09, 01:07 AM

I love TGC. The book and the movie are separate entities. That's how I look at it. I know Act II and III are reversed and the ending is missing, but I still enjoyed it as a film not an adaptation. I want to a DC if they ever do it.

And as far as Subtle Knife and Amber Spyglass, I know it's impossible this late in the game. Keep Kidman, Craig and Green if there is a reboot.

Trevor · 11-24-09, 10:27 AM

Terrible film, but I have enough free time to give a director's cut a chance if it ever happens.

Panda Phil · 11-24-09, 03:40 PM

Awwww, but I liked GC.

I'd heard about it being cut to hell and was dissapointed as hell that they didn't make a directors cut, or at least put some damn deleted scenes on the dvd when it came out.

11-23-09, 04:23 PM	#1
Daytripper DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 6,579	Chris Weitz blasts New Line over "The Golden Compass" I never read the books so I never knew what was left out. As is, I liked the finish product a great deal. But I found the following interesting. Good for you Weitz for speaking out!! From Variety Weitz digs 'Gardener' ‘New Moon’ director plants next pic at Summit By MICHAEL FLEMING As "New Moon" soared toward a $258 million opening weekend worldwide, director Chris Weitz was in discussions with Summit Entertainment for his follow-up. Weitz said he plans to go to work for Summit right away on "The Gardener," with deals in the works for Weitz and Eric Eason ("Manito"), who wrote the screenplay. The picture is about a hard-working immigrant who lives in Los Angeles and his efforts to protect his son. Weitz said he will begin production in March or April. "There are no werewolves or vampires, just a Mexican gardener in Los Angeles," Weitz said. Weitz also dispelled reports that he would stop directing movies after "The Gardener," an assertion that came from an interview he gave to Moviemaker magazine. The retirement angle got picked up by the New York Post's Page Six late last week. The report inferred that Weitz's exit was based on the rough treatment he got from New Line on "The Golden Compass." Weitz did not deny that he had a terrible time on that movie, but said he was reinvigorated by "New Moon." He met his goal to broaden the visual scope of the film from the original while keeping it on budget and not overwhelming the appeal of the core love triangle. Weitz said Summit and author Stephenie Meyer trusted him to honor the books while adding his own stylistic imprint, something that didn't happen on "The Golden Compass." He added that "Golden Compass" was taken away from him and that heavy-handed editing by New Line eliminated 30 minutes of footage and neutered any of the edge evident in the Philip Pullman books. "It was an utter violation of my status as a director and the worst thing that has happened to me professionally," Weitz said. While he "bit through my tongue" when that film was released out of loyalty to cast and crew, he was very happy to see "New Moon" surpass grosses of "The Golden Compass." "I was treated badly, it was almost like they never read the books. They seemed frightened of offending the right. This was a wonderful experience by comparison. I got to work with terrific young actors at the top of their game, and see Taylor Lautner perform so well." His mind seemed squarely on his directing future and on Depth of Field, the company he runs with brother Paul, who's off directing "Little Fockers." Depth of Field's Tom Ford-directed "A Single Man" has Oscar hopes. Weitz said he's learning to be careful about swearing off movies in interviews when he's drained from finishing one.

11-23-09, 04:49 PM	#2
fumanstan DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 22,875	Re: Chris Weitz blasts New Line over "The Golden Compass" I thought Golden Compass was terrible, so at least this gives me some reason to think that there was a decent movie under there that was cut. __________________ XBox Live: Fu Man Stan "I've never derived "joy" from either comicbooks or torture porn, so you can imagine how I feel about the mainstream marriage of the two in The Dark Knight" - baracine

11-23-09, 04:52 PM	#3
Dr Mabuse DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: 75 clicks above the Do Lung bridge... Posts: 9,561	Re: Chris Weitz blasts New Line over "The Golden Compass" I didn't think it was "terrible", but I agree. __________________ "I cannot tell if what the world considers 'happiness' is happiness or not. All I know is that when I consider the way they go about attaining it, I see them carried away headlong, grim and obsessed, in the general onrush of the human herd, unable to stop themselves or to change their direction. All the while they claim to be just on the point of attaining happiness" - Chuang-tzu

11-23-09, 04:56 PM	#4
Giantrobo DVD Talk Hero Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: TORRANCE, CA Posts: 42,143	Re: Chris Weitz blasts New Line over "The Golden Compass" I really liked "The Golden Compass" so I'd be interested in seeing what they cut. __________________ XBOX Gamertag: Giantrobo On my 3rd 360 as of 9/27/2007

11-23-09, 05:04 PM	#5
mhg83 DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 3,376	Re: Chris Weitz blasts New Line over "The Golden Compass" I'm wondering if anyone at New Line read the last book in the trilogy? I'm guessing they didn't since there would have been a shit storm of controversy from religious groups if they had made the third movie. __________________ XBL Gamertag: bauer83

11-23-09, 05:26 PM	#6
RichC2 DVD Talk Legend Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 11,650	Re: Chris Weitz blasts New Line over "The Golden Compass" And Summit continues its rise to becoming a major player in the movie industry. __________________ Toshiba HD-A2 / Sony Playstation 3 60gb Xbox Live Tag: Gumai / PSN Tag: Seihaku

11-23-09, 05:46 PM	#8
GreenVulture DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 1,134	Re: Chris Weitz blasts New Line over "The Golden Compass" The best part of that article is that he feels like he was a crucial part to New Moon's success. It's like the Harry Potter films: 99% of the audience doesn't know and doesn't care who's in the director's seat--they're going regardless.

11-23-09, 06:02 PM	#12
Artman DVD Talk Ultimate Edition Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 4,636	Re: Chris Weitz blasts New Line over "The Golden Compass" I fell asleep for awhile watching Golden Compass.... hard to believe those magical 30 minutes would've made the difference on that one.

11-23-09, 07:34 PM	#15
Suprmallet Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: USS Enterprise Posts: 22,916	Re: Chris Weitz blasts New Line over "The Golden Compass" I thought Golden Compass was unwatchable for things that had nothing to do with the edit. __________________ Living Dead: So what you're saying is... no one died in the middle of your store when you told them they couldn't have a $10 plasma TV? I find that a little hard to swallow.

11-23-09, 11:13 PM	#16
Jeffy Pop Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Denver Posts: 640	Re: Chris Weitz blasts New Line over "The Golden Compass" Golden Compass was brutal. Can't imagine a cut that's a half-hour longer. __________________ "Don't make me hungry. You wouldn't like me when I'm hungry."

11-23-09, 11:39 PM	#17
MLBFan24 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 303	Re: Chris Weitz blasts New Line over "The Golden Compass" To this day, I still can't believe "The Golden Compass" beat "Transformers" for Best Visual Effects (80th Academy Awards)

11-23-09, 11:40 PM	#18
Boba Fett DVD Talk Reviewer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 2,430	Re: Chris Weitz blasts New Line over "The Golden Compass" Summit is behind more than just Twilight in terms of profitable films; most recently, Knowing (bad movie, but it made solid money) and The Hurt Locker. They also snagged rights to Red Cliff. __________________ On a gathering storm, comes a tall handsome man. In a dusty black coat with a Red Right Hand.

11-24-09, 01:07 AM	#21
Moleman1138 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 424	Re: Chris Weitz blasts New Line over "The Golden Compass" I love TGC. The book and the movie are separate entities. That's how I look at it. I know Act II and III are reversed and the ending is missing, but I still enjoyed it as a film not an adaptation. I want to a DC if they ever do it. And as far as Subtle Knife and Amber Spyglass, I know it's impossible this late in the game. Keep Kidman, Craig and Green if there is a reboot.

11-24-09, 10:27 AM	#22
Trevor DVD Talk Legend Join Date: Apr 1999 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 14,058	Re: Chris Weitz blasts New Line over "The Golden Compass" Terrible film, but I have enough free time to give a director's cut a chance if it ever happens. __________________ current exclusives & comparisons threads - Unwatched film thread - Spending - Challenge Compendium - DVD "upgrades" missing features from original release - DVDTalk Facebook My Countdown Counting down to: when Pizza and Larry C. win contests here. 569 days 9 hours 41 minutes

11-24-09, 03:40 PM	#23
Panda Phil DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Seattle,WA Posts: 1,144	Re: Chris Weitz blasts New Line over "The Golden Compass" Awwww, but I liked GC. I'd heard about it being cut to hell and was dissapointed as hell that they didn't make a directors cut, or at least put some damn deleted scenes on the dvd when it came out. __________________ "I think I could turn and live with animals. They are so placid and self-contained. They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins. They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God. Not one of them kneels to another or to his own kind that lived thousands of years ago. Not one of them is respectable or unhappy, all over the earth."