The Republic of Heaven

If they decide to make The Subtle Knife a film, what do you want to expect in the film:

What actors
What kind of set design
Ideas that they would never have thought of

You get the general idea

Mod edit: Please don't use textspeak, I've cleaned it up this time.

Actors: same as TGC, except for Will cos he wasn't there anyway.
Set design-Italian preferably. Thats how I picture Ci'gazze.
Ideas blablablaetcetcetc.-perhaps in the advert, have a lyra thing-some things never change-then the shot of her whacking the man over the face with a rifle (TGC), then fades to her with iron bar whacking Angelica. Don't know how they'll manage with Kaisa. Another idea-less watering down of the script.

as far as actors i really couldn't say but other than that i hope they bring the religious aspect of the books into it and not make it so watered down

if they do make a subtle knife movie (most people think that they wont) I think they should keep all the religion in it unlike the GC where they ripped it all out let the church talk all they want i personally believe Hollywood has as much influence over us as religion does so they wont be able to stop it

GC was watered down-CW promised he wouldn't if the sequels get made

Hollywood, or whoever makes it, will dumb it down into whatever sells without causing too much controversy. Just like they always do. You'd think if a book was good enough to be made into a movie, it would be good enough to not change the story.

yes that would certainly make sense but still if they didnt dumb it down the church probably wouldn't be able to much about it

Since a lot fo the story takes place in Will's World, Product Placement.


Lyra: What is this building?

Will: A Restaurant called McDonalds. They're advertising there new 5 Item for 5 bucks meal, only limited time.

Lyra: ...wha?

Will: It's a fast food chain that sells bad food that makes you fat and ill, but it taste good.

Lyra: ...what's fast food?

Will: Never mind, I'll get you a double cheeseburger extra relish, and I'm paying.

Lyra: whats that?

Will: *sigh* you'll see...*mutters something under breath along the lines of 'stupid idiot...'*

Thats what I would love to see in the film if it gets made. And thats following on from Aurone.

^ And they buy a happy meal which is giving away TGC movie tie-in toys.

Large African American Stranger: I'm sorry, did you say double cheeseburger?

Will: Why yes, I did indeed.

Large African American Stranger: You know, you could have that prepared in half the time and with half the fat using my new Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine.

Will: Is that so?

Large African American Stranger: It sure is. The special design drains the excess fat into the grease tray while still ensuring the flavour remains sealed inside. It even comes with a scratch resistant non-stick coating! And if you buy one for your friend here I'll throw in an exclusive George Foreman Recipe Book for free. I'm so proud of it, I put my name on it!

Well, Coke and McDonalds were both mentioned in the book weren't they? I'm sure a Reece's pieces plug wouldn't go amiss...

See this is exactly what I wanted. You are all bringing a sense of humour to it.

just like IJ4.

Will: Nah, no thanks, how soon can you get it ready?

Foreman: No time-I have five people on grill. GEORGE! GEORGE! GEORGE! GEORGE! GEORGE! TWO DOUBLE CHEESEBURGERS, EXTRA RELISH!

George1: Got it!

George2: Sure!

G3: COMING UP

G4: Right!

G5: Double cheeseburger, extra relish. GOT IT.

George Foreman: FREEDA GEORGE! GEORGETTA! GET READY TO WASH THE CHIP PAN!

Will: Hold on, you got your whole family running this branch?

Lyra: ...eh?

Will: Shut up a minute, seriously?

GF: Yah!

Will: ...ok...

I think films need more tongue and cheek these days.

Well, Coke and McDonalds were both mentioned in the book weren't they? I'm sure a Reece's pieces plug wouldn't go amiss...

Coke was mentioned... but I think it was Burger King, not McDonalds.

What I'd hope for:

- The city getting a good sense of eerie emptiness when Will first arrives...
- An unrushed, but still not dragging pace
- At least one really good scene between Will and Lyra sitting at the window in a Cittagazze Cafe figuring out some things
- Very intense action where it is... such as the cat and mouse chase between Coulter/Sir Charles and Lyra/Will; the mob of children attacking Will and Lyra; and Lee & Hester's last stand
- A really heart-wrenching scene with Will crying and screaming at the witch when his father dies

The problem they're going to have with this film is keeping people's interest... in other words, being able to explain the complexity of the story without it being a slow pace and just a movie with a bunch of people sitting around talking. They'll have to make the action scenes unforgettable and develop the characters enough so that the audience will have such a connection to them that it'll make people care enough to come back for the third.

I personally think they could make an excellant film out of this story in 2 hours... the third, not so much.

Another few things I'd like to see-

-After Lyra walks through the Aurora-and this is the only reason I'm ok with it being in the second film, every other reason I grill CW-I would like to see a fast camera shot, straight past Lyra and Pan, turn left, going like 1000mph, speeding up, then reaches Ci'gazze, slows down slightly, but then slows down WOW passing the Tower, looking up at it, then straight to the window, then goes through slowly, speeds up again, straight through Oxford, down the roads and then abrupt stop at a close up of Will. And yes, I am doing media studies at school. I always thought this would work.
-BLOOD! There was none in TGC despite the amount of people who got shot and the fact one of them in nice armour had his jaw knocked off-literally. I'd like to see someone have their fingers chopped off without any blood being spilt-then I'd continue to grill CW.
-Some aerial shots of Ci'gazze.
-Better acting on Nicole Kidmans part, however little of it there is.

After Lyra walks through the Aurora-and this is the only reason I'm ok with it being in the second film, every other reason I grill CW-I would like to see a fast camera shot, straight past Lyra and Pan, turn left, going like 1000mph, speeding up, then reaches Ci'gazze, slows down slightly, but then slows down WOW passing the Tower, looking up at it, then straight to the window, then goes through slowly, speeds up again, straight through Oxford, down the roads and then abrupt stop at a close up of Will. And yes, I am doing media studies at school. I always thought this would thought this would work.

Hmmm... this is interesting, but a little video game-ish, if you know what I mean. I always thought it'd be nice if after Lyra's "Oh Pan, it's beautiful..." line, a white "fade out", and then opening on Mrs. Cooper's street with Will and his mother going towards it. I don't know. I just feel simple is better in this case. But nice concept nonetheless...

-Better acting on Nicole Kidmans part, however little of it there is.

I thought she did an excellent job... so whatever.

I'd want to see some carefully thought out effects for the scene of the theft of the knife from Charles' house. It needs to be a fast moving, gripping action sequence but at the same time they have to be clear about the cutting of the windows so it seems believable and really before us.

And really spectacular angels ... some new effect we haven't seen yet.

Well, there was an angel in Xmen 3, but that wasn't made of light.

Well, there was an angel in Xmen 3, but that wasn't made of light.

That was kinda out of left field, but anyway...

A sort of effect like they had for the alethiometry phases in TGC, maybe the camera zooms in to the tip of the knife, and there's loads of imperfections in the air, tiny ripples with a white light coming through, and when the tip catches one, zoom back out. Except-don't use the effect twenty times.

And something for the Amber Spyglass-get Nickelback's 'Far Away' to play through the end credits. And a slow motion shot when Lyra succumbs to vertigo and falls into that abyss-but without that annoying top-shot.