Sigh ... Why ?

[gaspode]

Ok, I've noticed all the daemon meme's popping up from some site called The Golden Compass.

Once again - why are they renaming the film ? Its the Harry Potter thing all over again - And again in the UK its called the Northern Lights.

I mean why ?

Comments

[miss-s-b.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's cos that's what the book is called in America

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

But it's such a stupid reason - before it was HDM it was The Golden Compasses, and some numpty in the US thought the alethiometer looked like a compass and dropped the 'es' and then wouldn't use Pullman's title... gah. Stupidity.

[alex-holden.livejournal.com]

Ah, so that explains it. I was trying to discuss the series with somebody at a con, and we couldn't agree on what the books were called. It seems the box set I bought from amazon.co.uk has the American titles.

[wimble.livejournal.com]

It's 'cos they can't spell Alethia... Alethiomtre... Altheom...

and "Shiny Twirly Thing" just doesn't work as a film title ;-)

[killalla]

"The Golden Compass" was the standard USA title for "Northern Lights," and like it or not, that is what American audiences are going to recognize. Since the film is being made for American audiences, well, that makes sense.

And for once I'm going to side with the American model on this, because in a series where the other two books are called "The Subtle Knife" and "The Amber Spyglass," as a title "The Golden Compass" fits far better than "Northern Lights" - it uses the same structure, and it's an item of some kind. The title has symmetry. Maybe that's just another sign of American cultural imperialism, but if Pullman agreed, it's just as much of a correct title as anything else.

[gaspodex.livejournal.com]

Its going to be called the Northern Lights here anyway.

But my point sort of is the American Publishers just didn't want to call the book the Northern Lights (Pullman did argue - but bottom line was he wanted it published) ...

I never understood the point in changing Philsophers Stone either.

Its not so much the renaming of the film I don't get as the renaming in the first place ...

[teawith.livejournal.com]

Personally, for once, I agree with the Americans. And killalla. The Golden Compass fits much better with the other two titles. I actually prefer it.

[emperor-zhark.livejournal.com]

I'm with you on that one - it just fits the sequence better.

I've always understood the Harry Potter change was simply not wanting to offend Middle America - although you'd think "sorceror" would cause just as much offence!