Comments on: ‘Golden Compass’ Studio Sues Video Company

By: Phil Gee

Phil Gee — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 20:16:32 +0000

Not at all Serena. Much as they might like to think so, New Line did not create ‘His Dark Materials’, they just bought the film rights.

By: The Jim Walker

The Jim Walker — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 12:29:06 +0000

I do not for a minute think that this documentary will “hurt” the release or overall box office of the film. However, it is OBVIOUS to me that this company is trying to capitalize on the marketing and whatnot of New Line. I don’t think NL should get 10 million, but in lawsuits the “damages” amount is almost always severely inflated and if they win gets lowered substantially by the courts.

This doc company is being a bit shifty though.

Here is a brief analogy for you all who want to read and have an extra minute: When i was a kid, every spring my neighborhood would get together and have a “neighborhood-wide yard sale”. Everyone would chip in like 3 to 5 bucks and whoever was in charge would put ads in all of the area papers and make up signs to put on the large incoming roads. Inevitably, say like 20 houses would pay the money, yet on “Yard sale day” there would be like 30-35 people with crap out on their driveways. When the person in charge had some gusto, he/she would go around to the “non-payers” and ask for the advert/prep money. It is laughable how many people gave the BULLSHIT excuse like “Huh? Collecting money? I had NO IDEA that the whole neighborhood was having a group yard sale TODAY! I was just planning on doing my own, individual sale. I really don’t think I need to pay you any money.” What a crock. So, you saw the flyer noting the upcoming group sale, and just by sheer coincidence you were planning your own sale the same day? And you didn’t advertise or make any signs? Yeah, right. I mean it was like 2-5 bucks. Those people were as shifty then as this documentary company is now. Are they evil? No. Manipulative? Yes.

By: Terry Letourneau

Terry Letourneau — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 04:36:00 +0000

When Lord of the Rings came out, there was a couple straight to DVD’s about J.R.R. Tolkien , even one from National Geographic I believe. I guess they are just riding on the coat tails of the of the upcoming films. BUT they are just documentaries about the authors and their work. You would think the studio’s would appreciate them for elevating the interest for their upcoming film.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 03:30:12 +0000

I agree with you. I don’t see how a documentary on the author can in any way hurt the movie. New Line is being stupid and childish with this.

By: Darren J Seeley

Darren J Seeley — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 02:30:28 +0000

No, Serena, you are not alone in your summary of thought.

While New Line watered down Pullman’s novel to make it “more accessable” to audiences (Pullman is well known for forcing extreme atheistic views in his books) in efforts to capture the “Narnia” type audience, it is even more distrubing…that New Line would resort to this tactic.

So someone makes a doc about a contreversial author. While I don’t know what light they will shine Pullman in, all I can sum up is that it (the doc) isn’t a competing work, but could be seen as a possible companion piece…or even a critique on the author should it be about that. It doesn’t really matter it isn’t “competition” with an adaptation of his work.

Perhaps New Line should buy the rights, and throw it on as a DVD extra. Either that…or leave it be.