Northern Lights - 'The Golden Compass' Deleted Ending (2011 Version)

[TitaniaTheFeyQueen]

which city did she end up in???

sorry but i havent read the books

[EnergyUK]

@TitaniaTheFeyQueen no need to apologise! The city is called citigattze and is in a parallel world. It's the main location for the second book.

[pklcha]

thanks you again for making this!

It's one of my favourite moment of the book!

[EnergyUK]

@pklcha glad you enjoyed it. It's a brilliant moment in the book... such a shame they dropped it from the film!

[c00kie500]

Guys why the fuck aint the last part there when you see some of it in the trailer? thats just totaly fail?



[EnergyUK]

@c00kie500 read the description on the video, it gives an idea as to what happened. It is completely deverstating that it was all filmed and nothing was done with it... :(

[diamond000storm]

Wait, there are deleted scenes and storyboards out there? Well, why aren't they on my copie(s) of the film as bonus features? I bought the darn thing twice! (DVD and then Blu Ray.) I feel extra cheated.

Thank you for putting this together and sharing it. It helped fill the void a little bit...

[EnergyUK]

@diamond000storm the main reason a lot of this didn't appear as extras on the DVD release was due to the film possibly getting a directors cut later down the line, and some of this sequel was planned to be placed at the beginning of the second film. None of this is happening now though...

[Amarra2012]

When I first saw this movie back in 2007 I knew the ending wasn't right. Even though it's a sad ending in the book I'd much rather see that one then the one they put in the movie back in '07. I love the book trilogy, but it is depressing as hell! Still was good though.

[mudorahoshi]

The original ending is so much more powerful than the one New Line put in. It's one of my most favorite scenes from the books and I felt betrayed when I saw the credits roll way too early.

[nilmartinlopez]

Why this ending it isn't in the film?

[StormyCProductions]

I just uploaded a video in support, it all helps I guess... :-P

[TheMranimated]

I'm confused...

[EnergyUK]

@TheMranimated what part confuses you? It is a bit difficult to understand as New Line removed certain storylines from the theatrical version of the film (and reordered events). In the original version of the film, the kids at bolvangar are saved first, then lyra is taken to the bears. The bears have Lord Asriel captured, so this takes place after Iorek becomes king of the bears...

[c00kie500]

@EnergyUK

Ehmm dont we have to see that fight between Mrs coulters soldiers and the armored bears? :D not for anything but that confusses me.

[EnergyUK]

@c00kie500 While a clip of a possible battle is shown in the pre production video, I've seen no evidence that such a scene was filmed for the final movie. The clip from the preproduction movie doesn't explain much on its own, so it was just removed for ease of watching the film...

[c00kie500]

@EnergyUK

My english aint that good so i might have missed something

[c00kie500]

@EnergyUK

Oh and why exacly they didnt make The subtle knife as a movie? and so on..

[EnergyUK]

@c00kie500 the Subtle Knife was not made due to the film failing to make a profit in the US. While the film did well 'internationally', the studio, New Line Cinema, had sold the rights to international distribution for TGC and any produced sequels. Because of this contract there was no profit in making a second or third movie.

[c00kie500]

@EnergyUK

Omg that seems stupid... so there will never be one?

Btw about the clip i asked about i see your point :)

[c00kie500]

@EnergyUK

They never make one then?

[StormyCProductions]

If folks really want a director's cut of The Golden Compass (I do!) how about everyone Facebook messaging Toby Emmerich (New Line Cinema's President & COO) to show how much support there is for this film? Search his name and send a request! (its the profile that says 'worked at New Line Cinema, born on February 7)...

[TheFilmfreak123]

question is, what happened to the rest of the remaining footage?

[EnergyUK]

@TheFilmfreak123 sitting somewhere in Hollywood... Even Weitz doesn't have access to the final footage. It's not all finished either.

[TheFilmfreak123]

@EnergyUK If only the put it on the special edition disc :C and its a shame they didn't finish it either. This ending looks pretty dark which makes it more interesting. Its so agitating they didn't put it in the film! Say, have you got any new news updates on any thing else related to the original ending?

[EnergyUK]

@TheFilmfreak123 I'm working on a full list of scenes removed from the film, not just the ending. The film was supposed to be a lot darker, New Line got scared though. Oh to see all the filmed footage! -- Chris Weitz got to sit down with a vfx guy and it was said to be $15 million to finish all the scenes. It's not going to happen...

[TheFilmfreak123]

@EnergyUK im into dark story lines. It would have been interesting to see the final outcome of the original. About finishing the scenes, there was a few religious complaints about the film too.

[EnergyUK]

@TheFilmfreak123 well to get more of an idea, read the books. You get a bigger idea of where the film would have ended. As for the religous complaints - they're more aimed at where it heads (the 3rd book is very anti-religion), anything that had religous elements was removed from the film (they even cgi'd out latin text off the magestrium's logo!).

[StormyCProductions]

@EnergyUK Considering how well the film did financially (mostly outside of the US thanks to the religious boycotting) you'd think a director's cut would be on the cards. If a new version altered things as radically as I think it would, 15 million would be a blip compared to the cult following likely to follow, and with social networking, marketing would pretty much take care of itself...

[EnergyUK]

@StormyCProductions you'd think, and yes itr would if New Line hadn't of screwed everything up by selling the distribution rights. This means that they can only sell copies and make money in the US. The film didn't do well there, so they're unlikely to gamble 15milion on it. :(

[StormyCProductions]

@EnergyUK As it's done so well elsewhere, couldn't an investor be brought in, or whoever bought the distribution rights? Seems a no-brainer to me...

[2110Carole]

The movie is embarrassing compared to the book.. It could have been soooo great if they had just let Chris Weitz do his work!!!!

[christmasmatt21]

Just wondering, where did you get the audio that you played with the pictures.

[EnergyUK]

@christmasmatt21 The storyboard esqe sequences with audio (obviously not movie, and not the audio book) comes from a leaked preproduction video that appeared on the net prior to the movie coming out. It reflects an earlier version of the film, but it's not too far from the final thing. So I used it to fill in the gaps. :)

[christmasmatt21]

After I saw the ending of the movie, I went out to buy the book to see what happened, because I KNEW there was more than what the movie left off with.

I wish I could see the whole ending (if they even filmed it)

[EnergyUK]

@christmasmatt21 the whole ending was filmed, and pretty much finished. I have spoken to one of the people who got to see the sequence (known internally as the NP sequence). There was a lot of footage that didn't make it... Newline decided that they'd prefer a kids fantasy film rather than a teenage one. The books are amazing and worth a read.

[christmasmatt21]

@EnergyUK

That's crazy. They deleted these scenes and yet the movie was rated PG-13. And they wanted it a kids movie? So silly.

[KillerShark1119]

Truly Amazing Movie. But Second Part might not come.

[EnergyUK]

@KillerShark1119 it's definetly not coming. Which is such a shame. Maybe one day we'll see the script draft for the second. However it won't make much sense as the script will be based off the original version of the Golden Compass.

[Loganberrybunny]

Beautifully done. I've just watched the DVD and then this straight afterwards, and despite the little bit of repetition (the ice bridge sequence) it absolutely *works*. Unless there's ever a TV adaptation (it would make a *great* BBC Christmas serial, à la Box of Delights) this is probably the closest thing I'll ever see to a truly satisfying ending to a screen version of this book. Thank you.

[EnergyUK]

@Loganberrybunny for it to work you have to watch a few of the other alternate scenes - Lord Asriel was captured by the amoured bears, although the theatrical edit skirts around this. The movie had its main scenes reordered and the ice bridge was randomly used to explain why Iorek couldn't be at bolvangar. In reality the ice bridge was meant for the end - so it would go save kids at bolvangar > lyra falls out of ballon > armoured bear battle > ice bridge > deleted ending. Big yes on the BBC!

[Danstu90]

I'd like to see a BBC mini series, following the plot , messages and depth of the books correctly. It deserves to be made (bbc2 to avoid censorship :) )

[EnergyUK]

@Danstu90 all for that - a bbc version could be superb. However the rights might be completely screwed at the moment.

[mrnicholasmoody]

thanks for making that man!

iv never read the books, and only seen film for second time 2nt , but it was GREAT to be able to watch the cut material, encourages me to learn there is a book(s) to read too :-) ...

Nick

[EnergyUK]

@mrnicholasmoody I beg you to read the books. They're superbly written, contain great action, adventure, and have thought provoking messages. The first one can take a short while to get used to but soon you'll be loving it.

[skybreaker09]

So I was just wondering: I noticed that some of the pictures used in this (like the pics of Cittagazze and some of the portal being opened by Asriel) were from some of the tie in books that came out when the film did. Could anyone please tell me what those books are, what the titles are? I would be very grateful.

[EnergyUK]

@skybreaker09 think the lord asriel one is sourced from the panini sticker collection, and the cittiagazze was either one of the synopsis story books or the visual guide to the movie. Can double check for you, but I pretty much went out and got them all to do this video

[skybreaker09]

@EnergyUK Thank you very much. If you could double check that would be great. I really want to get my hands on those books.

[MatthewMcPheeZ]

I respect you man, you done a really good job!

[EnergyUK]

@MatthewMcPheeZ thanks, much appreciated

[23Prospero37]

Its only recently come out that Peter Jackson and Newline had major fights throughout the trilogy. Wasn't sure what to expect from Golden Compass as I hadn't read the books but it wasn't a strong story telling movie. Newline almost went bankrupt after it and has since come out with dogs like Journey to the Centre of the Earth 3d Surprised they didn't try and do the next one.

[BooBop1987]

That was really sad!

[MyMerryMelodies]

It angers me that they messed up this series. I mean right from the start. There's no heart to this movie, unlike the book. And to think, from Hollywood. They're supposed to be professionals.

A mini-series is in order, I think.

[masht11]

When the movie ended, I felt empty on the inside. New Line really did burn a hole in my pocket. I think there should be another adaption with a Visually-Professional Director like Terrence Malick at the helm.

[rerodriguez90]

Where does the audio from the very last moments come from? Starting around 6:26

[HippyAngel001]

PUT THIS IN A DOUBLE DVD SET NEWLINE!! PLEASE, WE NEED TO SEE IT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!! =D

[nicochueco]

and i hate new line cinema and producers and director.. THEY CANT CUT THE FILM AS THEY DID!!!!! IS INHUMAN ='(

[Grissha]

@nicochueco Actually the cuts came from New Line Cinema only (chairmen Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne), so much against the wishes of director Chris Weitz and producer Deborah Forte. The studio even fired Weitz's editor and cut it all without the director.

What I don't understand is how New Line and Bob Shaye were so visionary and bold in letting Peter Jackson shoot 3 movies at once, which all studios had rejected to do, but took such dumb and coward decisions in The Golden Compass.

[PrincessLeia100]

They did it because the Lord of the Rings films have a lot of Christian Catholic themes and don't say anything blatantly offensive. In a religion dominated world, it's difficult to get a story like the Golden Compass in the mass media, even if it is genius. I really hate censorship, and religion too.

[nicochueco]

the music that starts at 6:14.. where is it from? its wonderful...

[aliebellule]

I can't believe that such an amazing story, with such amazing sequels will not return for another movie. It is desperately sad. 2 reasons and 2 guilty ones. First, New Lines that took the film from Chris weitz and cowardly cut the substance out. Second, the Christian groups in America that convinced people at church to not see the movie when it was in the united states and scared New Line into making a lousy trailer and publicity campaign. They purposedly tried to shut Philip Pullman up. Lame.

[NotOrdinaryInGames]

I know saying this would be a waste of virtual space, but...

......

... the books are better.

[Vincecouk]

I fail to understand why any studio (and they continue to do this) would take on a property like this that would clearly and obviously affect certain people and yet have no intention of a faithful adaption. I was so disappointed with the movie when it came out which had wonderful production values but I really loved the book (all three). The first book is arguably the best and it was a real missed opportunity to make something better than ok. I'd be curious about a recut version + ending.

[aliebellule]

@Vincecouk My personnal favorite was the third and I will never get to see it. It breaks my heart. And with such a controversal ending, the Church would have been so pissed! I can't believe they ruined His Dark Materials while Narnia got three movies (that piece of religious propaganda crap though I admit the movies were not as bad as the books). It's plain stupid.

[PrincessLeia100]

I know! I've read both series and by the end of Narnia my mouth was hanging open at how much propaganda there was. It made me sick.

[Danieldll]

Почему нельзя сразу снять нормально фильм? Почему нужно все время доснимать режисерские версии, расширенные, удлинненые, еще какие-то, почему нельзя сразу снять нормально, что бы все были довольны?

Why it is impossible to shoot normally film at once? Why it is necessary to do all time the director's versions, the expanded versions, the super-expanded versions, and any why it is impossible to shoot at once normally, what all would be happy?

[Caterfree10]

Man, what could have been right here. Would've been far better than what we got. *sighs hugely* OH NOES, CONTROVERSY, CAN'T HAVE THAT. Grow some balls, New Line. B|

[22Kirjava]

I've never seen the scenes at 5:05, 6:00 and 11:14 before; they're great! I think they should've done the hole in the sky like the drawing at 11:14 for the movie.

[floooooooooooooooood]

I for one blame it all on those test audiences. Most of the inconstantances and removed darker elements I didn't have a huge problem with it's almost expected when making a film with such a touchy topic. But the removal of the ending and the rearranging of events was what destroyed the Subtle Knife's chances not the american sales in my opinion. The couldn't have continued it without the ending and pushing the ending forward I imagine would not work well at all.

[Farnorin]

What does she say between 07:54 and 07:57? I'm making spanish subtitles but can't understand that.

Thank you.

[EnergyUK]

@Farnorin 'I love an armoured bear more than I love my father... And Iorek loves me too. He'd never have hurt Roger'

Can I ask where you plan to use the spanish subtitles? Would love to see :)

[Farnorin]

@EnergyUK I just finished, subs are allright but I'm afraid I lost a lot of quality in the process, will try to fix that. Any advice would be great.

link: /watch?v=SvTYtXWdPd0

Hope you don't mind I didn't ask for permission.

[DJelectfire]

Great job trying to fix the ending, I would have loved to see the Golden Compass as it should have been! It (and the next two in the trilogy) are some of my favorite books... Too bad New Line Cinema though it was too dark....

[Cartmansgf]

For being a movie about a religion oppressing an entire group of people, the magesterium, which symbolizes organized religion, is the most unthreatening, unmenessing, unoppressive, and unconvincing thing I've ever seen. Kindof ruins the movie for me, I'm not convinced they did it very well.

[EnergyUK]

@Cartmansgf this is true - but that's because so much was removed. A lot of the darker scenes were removed when the studio took over from Chris Weitz. Heck even the magestrium logo which had a latin phrase saying 'under one god' was removed by the studio as they felt it was too much. The theatrical film was poor due to New Line being scared to make a film with substance - it's not what Chris Weitz was aiming for.

[Cartmansgf]

@EnergyUK They should really make a remake then. I'd really like to see what the Golden Compass done right would be. It really could have been a great film had their not been so many inconsistancies and had the actual goal of the film been done correctly.

[Cartmansgf]

@Cartmansgf *there

[Sharmilka]

Thanks for this.It opened my eyes....

[crewmannumber7]

This is so great! After I watched the movie, I sat in the theater in dumb silence trying, to trick myself into thinking it was a good movie, and that I had just imagined the watered-down abomination I had just seen. I was left with the sickening impression that the HDM series had been exploited by the Hollywood entertainment corporations. I am so happy this video exists! It tells isolated HDM fans like me that there are other people who take issue with the movie.

[missypomful]

Thank you so much for these! They're lovely.

I have a question, though. At the beginning of the original deteled ending video, you listed the opening track as Letters From Bolvangar, but it doesn't sound like that's the song playing -- it's playing here, I'm pretty sure, in the same scene (where Asriel notices Roger, etc). So is my hearing out or is it another song on the original video? (if it is another song I'd love to know which one it is!)

[EnergyUK]

@missypomful if you mean the very first version (the rough one) there is a mistake in the audio. It's a track from the soundtrack (somewhere) and will try and identify it for you later. At the time, my inexperience in editing lead me to leaving an audio track in the mix that shouldn't have been there. It was supposed to be letters from bolvangar and I think if I remember right both tracks play at the same time! >_<

[missypomful]

@EnergyUK

Ha ha, there's always something that has to go wrong! Thanks for the quick reply. If you can't find the track then it's no big deal -- I'll just go searching myself if it's on the soundtrack. I just love these endings you've made. <3

[EnergyUK]

@missypomful obviosuly can't check but have a funny feeling it's the unused track 'Lee Scoresby's Airship Adventure' - but feel free to check. Not at my computer right now so can't hear it.

I'm glad you like the endings - there's more golden compass footage coming very soon :)

[SuperHeroMania]

@EnergyUK Great reconstruction, how pissed off I was when this was not in the movie

[Myrkin]

Superb video. It's really good version of the only right ending of this fantastic book. However, I have to admit that I prefered previous version of last minutes of the ending. You know, the one with "Gravity of Love" as end credit's music. :D

[EnergyUK]

@Myrkin A few people have commented that they miss it. For the version that I use in my 'fanedit', Gravity of Love still kicks in. I just removed it on this version so that it was just a standalone video. On the fanedit version it plays this video - gets to the bridge opening, gravity of love kicks in with the credits, then if you wait to the end of the credits the text comes up revealing the twist about Will. :)

[gguru1]

Good going. Its a shame they cut the ending, but on the bright side, it made the true ending a much bigger shock and surprise for me since I saw the movie first, and then went and read The Golden Compass not knowing the film ending wasn't the end of the story.

[Burkhart4192]

I listened to the Director's commentary, an apparently he cut it because he felt that the original ending was too ambiguous.

[EnergyUK]

@Burkhart4192 there's more to it than that - it wasn't even Chris Weitz choice, but he can't really studio bash on the released commentary can he? :)

[TheBriguy04]

Oh my god that was amazing! WHY!? why did they have to entirely gut the story!?

[Yonkers444]

@TheBriguy04 What happened was everything was filmed. Under marketing pressure New Line Cinemas cut the ending. To make that now work they had to re order a lot of events to make it seem more family safe and set up a sequel because they believed the HDM would still see this regardless of how bad the ratings were. They gambled and loss. The film would of been close to 2.5 hours if everything stayed but they opted for a failed under 2 hour movie. your thoughts?

[theoriginalshaun]

Unfortunately, even though the ending is brilliant, as we all know, it is more sad than happy, and I have no doubt that's why the Hollywood brass stepped in at the last minute and said that they couldn't end a "children's film" with such a sad ending. A massive patronisation in my opinion as I'm sure it is in many other eyes too. The one saving grace of the film causing the 2nd and 3erd part not to be made is that it can now be made all over again - the right way :D Looking forward to that!

[cole42pickles]

did you know that on philip pullmans website you there is a link to the 1st draft of the script that has the ending and is very faithful to the book

why did they decide not to use it

[EnergyUK]

@cole42pickles I have seen the script, not seen it on Phillip's Website but I have on His Dark Materials. org - I'm not sure why they didn't use it - at the time of the movies release this same question was rasied when the draft script was read by a New York newspaper. It is a big shame... :(

[lovetolovefairytales]

@cole42pickles Really? Cool.

[HeyYashamaru]

Who is that boy at 6:03? It looks like Billy but that can't be right...Was that scene in the film or am i just being stupid and missed it?

[EnergyUK]

@HeyYashamaru that's preproduction artwork for roger. It shows Roger vanishing after being seperated from his deamon. So no, not from the film just a series of still images that I used. Not being stupid at all - unfortunatly when they they're working on how the vfx will look they rarely know who the actors will be or look like. Hope that clears it up for you :)

[adventuresofagirl]

This was absolutely superb. I can't believe New Line didn't include this! It would've made so much more had they left the original ending in. Thank you for making this! :)

[lovetolovefairytales]

That was awesome! I thought your previous one was cool, but this was ten times better! Although, I don't understand why you didn't use that bit with Lord Asriel's Daemon rubbing against his hand, I thought it would have worked real good.

Do you think you could post a download link to this video at some point so that fans can have copies of this awesome ending? I personally would love it, I'm sure others would too.

PS: if you don't mind my asking, where did you get all your clips/photos?

[EnergyUK]

@lovetolovefairytales I'm glad you like the video. Each fan who responds positivly to it brightens my day :)

As for the clip of Stelmaria rubbing against Asriel's hand - yes it's a beautiful clip - but when you look at what I had to make the video it just doesn't fit. Lord Asriel never wears those clothes or sits down in that position. The reason for that is that it's not Lord Asriel - I believe it's actually jsut a CG test shot to see how Asriel's deamon would look.

[lovetolovefairytales]

@EnergyUK That wasn't actualy Lord Asriel with Stelmaria in that shot? huh, I thought it was! Learn something new every day. Still, I'm glad you included it at the end.

[EnergyUK]

@lovetolovefairytales As for a download - message me and we can talk. I don't really want to put a public download up as legal issues arise!

As for all the clips and shots - a lot of research, watching trailers and other footage, buying books and magazines, collecting stickers... Lots of fun.

[lovetolovefairytales]

@EnergyUK So if I send you a message, you might be able to send me a download link?

[cole42pickles]

This made may day

For ages i have been annoyed by new line for cutting the ending.

Now i can see part of what it should have been.

very well edited, where did you find the scene of Asriel opening the pathway to cittegazze

Brilliantly done

A round of applause.

[EnergyUK]

@cole42pickles sorry for the slow response, a lot of that scene was taken from the preproduction video that appeared online. I used that as a skeleton to hang the rest of the clips on, which are from various sources (trailers, video game, magazines etc) but all official. There isn't one clip that I've 'made', bit of photoshop here and there to touch an image up - but nothing too drastic.

Glad you enjoyed it :)

[Yonkers444]

what is the song at the end with the credits EnergyUK?

[EnergyUK]

@Yonkers444 it's a song called Painted World by a trailer production company called Two Steps From Hell. You hear the full song in this video (it really does fade out like that). Pretty beautiful song if you ask me :)

[Yonkers444]

@EnergyUK

Thanks!

[1994daniel1994]

This was the most beautyful ending (and best story following) ever! Thanks man for an amazing job, finishing up what NewLine didn't! ^^

Sadly, I don't ever think the second and third movie will be made, though I'm still one of them with hope! ;)

[daWaith]

Thank you for your work!

Going to get 'The Subtle Knife' to read now after I saw the movie, really liked it, such a shame there will be no sequels =(

Btw I've seen the other versions too, but is there any story-wise or otherwise that differs this 2011 version to the other one before that?

Thanks!

[EnergyUK]

@daWaith yes there's quite a lot of difference between the versions. The original edit was a quick thing made in Windows Movie Maker with screwed up audio. The second attempt added some more bits and pieces in, but generally made it more watchable... the new 2011 version goes all out. New edit with loads of new images and clips in, on top of that there is extra story tidbits at the end. It's also better quality than the others... :)

[Kytetiger]

Very interresting. I liked what you did.

Do you have any new information compared to the last one (the subtitle)?

[EnergyUK]

@Kytetiger do you mean how I added subtitles to the other one with extra info? - I do have more information, and I'm currently working on an audio commentry that you'll be able to download and play along with the video. This will give a greater insight into the events and bits I've found.

[MichaelSxe555]

Thank you so much! Love the scene where she walks into the aurora!

[Yonkers444]

Awesome Energy!

You did it!!!!!!!!!!

you made everyone proud (: