THE MARKET: “The Golden Compass” goes into wide release on Friday, December 7, 2007. How much will it gross in its opening weekend as first reported by Variety on Sunday, December 9? Each dollar of the share price represents millions of dollars in sales. Shares bought at $15, for example, would be worth $39 if the movie grosses $39 million. Trading closes December 7 at noon PT.

THE LOWDOWN: New Line brought the world the 3-billion dollar “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, and it’s trying to kick-start another multi-picture run with “The Golden Compass.” Adapting the first installment in Philip Pullman’s successful trilogy of “Dark Materials” fantasy novels, “The Golden Compass” stars heavyweights like Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, and more. Moreover – for all of those whiners who always say “the book is better” – Pullman himself says the adaptation does a great job of bringing his vision to the screen.

THE PR: Imagine being the studio copywriter charged with summarizing this thing in 100 words or less. From Rotten Tomatoes: “‘The Golden Compass’ is an exciting fantasy adventure, set in an alternative world where people’s souls manifest themselves as animals, talking bears fight wars, and Gyptians and witches co-exist. At the center of the story is Lyra (played by newcomer Dakota Blue Richards), a 12-year-old girl who starts out trying to rescue a friend who’s been kidnapped by a mysterious organization known as the Gobblers – and winds up on an epic quest to save not only her world, but ours as well.”


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See the “The Golden Compass” home page.



“THE GOLDEN COMPASS” CONTENT ON YOUTUBE: