The Golden Compass

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue. In addition to the titles below, you can now rent or own the fourth season of Beverly Hills 90210, which — according to Netflix and my memory—includes moments like Andrea finding out she's pregnant and Brandon meeting Bill Clinton!

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is based on an astonishing true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, the one-time glamorous editor of Elle France living the high life when he suddenly suffers a stroke and is rendered paralyzed except for the movement of one eyelid. From a premise that sounds unspeakably bleak, director Julian Schnabel (nominated for an Oscar for his work on this film) takes Bauby's own words and whips them into a film imbibed with gorgeous images and touching performances to tell what is actually a very hopeful and life-affirming tale.

I enjoyed this movie very much and think you should consider bumping it up to the top of your queue today. Special features include a featurette titled "Submerged: The making of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"and a Charlie Rose interview with Julian Schnabel.

Two more titles after the jump, so read more

Nicole Kidman went from sheer and black at the press conference to long and white for the Tokyo premiere of The Golden Compass today. Her baby bump is still barely noticeable, but the mom-to-be definitely had that certain glow about her. While she's all the way over in Asia, Keith is still on tour with Carrie Underwood here in the states. Hopefully the two will be back together soon, because I'm sure there's a lot to get done before their big addition over the summer.

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Nicole may be five months pregnant, but there was hardly any hint of a bump under her crazy-looking dress at a press conference for The Golden Compass in Tokyo today. Once the baby arrives there will be lots of big changes for Nicole of course, including the kinds of projects she will be tackling. The mom-to-be said that having children helps her look forward to taking on more kid-friendly films like this one. She said,

"My Bella and Connor are 13 and 15. So they have seen the film and they loved it . . . my child inside won't see the film for a long time. But I think once you have children you want to balance the work you do because they give up so much of you to your work. So occasionally you want to make films that they can take their friends to, they can go to the premiere of, that they celebrate."

Nicole will have plenty to celebrate later on in the year, but right now she's still focusing on her latest film, including this weekend where she'll be cheering on her Golden Compass live from the audience at the Oscars.

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Every week up until the Oscars, I'll be featuring the nominees in the various visual categories. This week, I'm looking at the nominees for Best Art Direction, which encompasses the entire look and feel of a film from the scenery to the lighting. So far we've looked at stills from two other nominees in this category: American Gangster and Atonement. Today I bring you images from The Golden Compass.

Cheesy as this sounds, The Golden Compass really is a feast for the eyes. The imaginative, whimsical visuals stunningly bring to life the fantasy world as described in Philip Pullman's novels. The rich, golden hues and mystical landscapes give the appearance of a far-off world, but it's all so textured and lifelike, you get pulled in as though this place and these characters actually exist before you. I found this movie so visually mesmerizing and vivid, it seemed entirely possible by the end that I might encounter a talking polar bear or come to possess a magical compass. See what I mean?

For many more stills from The Golden Compass, read more

It seems to be all the rage to find fodder for movies within books these days, and 2007 featured a good number of book-to-film adaptations. Aside from the beloved Harry Potter movie, this year's projects were met with varied success. The Golden Compass, based on the first of Philip Pullman's series His Dark Materials was not exactly praised by either those who read the book or those who had not. I Am Legend, though popular at the box office, managed to irritate some fans of Richard Matheson's 1954 sci-fi novel in its transition to film.

There were some success stories, as well. Bridge to Terabithia, for example, will never be as great on screen as it is in one's imagination, but I was pleased with what they did with the movie version. And, of course, I believe Atonement is a fine example of how to create an excellent film that can stand on its own as a piece of art while still honoring the original text.

What do you think about this year's adaptations? Which ones worked the best, and which ones probably should have just stayed on the bookshelf?

Nicole Kidman kept it simple in a LBD and a much-sleeker hairstyle at a charity screening of The Golden Compass in Sydney today. Spending time with the kids from the Children's Hospital is obviously one of Nicole's passions — this time last year she shared her Happy Feet with the kids, and she's already talking about coming back next year. She said, "This is a small gesture and I would just like to say I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope to come back next year and present the film I have just been making, Australia." The Golden Compass may not be winning the hearts of critics or crushing the box office, but it's still a fun, family film that Nicole's biggest fans are sure to enjoy.

More of Nicole in Sydney with the kids if you just read more

Nicole Kidman shined in her silver Balenciaga pantsuit in Sydney on Sunday at the premiere of The Golden Compass. Nic had her parents and sister by her side and spoke about how she was thrilled to be home despite the rainy weather and her latest film losing the top spot this weekend. Remaining in good spirits, Nicole said, "It is nice to be able to come and say, 'Thank you' to the fans, especially since I've been here for nine months now filming Australia."

Lots more of Nicole showing off The Golden Compass in Australia so just read more

• In light of Amy Winehouse's recent erratic behavior, her mother has written an open letter urging her daughter to take the first step towards recovery by acknowledging her drug problems, phoning home, and letting her family help her get well. We hope it's not too little too late. — News of the World
• Despite its bad early buzz, The Golden Compass took the top spot at the box office over the weekend with $26 million, while Enchanted came in at number two, and This Christmas at third. $26 Million isn't too bad, except for the fact the film cost $180 million to make. — BuzzSugar
• Ugly Betty's David Blue, who stars as Michael Urie's boyfriend, was mugged at gunpoint on Saturday in LA after leaving a wrap party for the show, but fortunately he was unharmed. That sounds ugly! — TMZ
• Backstreet Boy Howie Dorough married Leigh Boniello in Orlando on Saturday, in front of his bandmates. Congrats to the happy couple! — OK! Magazine
• Scott Baio married his longtime girlfriend Renee Sloan, on Saturday in LA. The two recently welcomed their first child together. Charles in Charge is officially off the market. — People

Bauer-Griffin

The Golden Compass opened this past weekend to the tune of $26 million, easily taking the top spot at the box office, but still disappointing New Line studio heads who'd expected more like $30-40 million. This is especially frustrating given the $180 million it took to make the film.

Enchanted followed behind The Golden Compass in its third week in theaters, bringing in $10.7 million while This Christmas came in at No. 3. Fred Claus inched its way from sixth place to fourth this weekend, as audiences perhaps sought out more holiday-themed fare. Beowulf rounded out the top five with $4.4 million.

This upcoming weekend I predict the top films will be I Am Legend and Alvin and the Chipmunks, though it should also please many folks that Juno finally opens in more cinemas this weekend.

Photo courtesy of New Line