The books are great, but this film was repeatedly compromised during the scripting and editing phase to remove elements perceived to be anti-religious or unpalatable. So we end up with a film where people have unclear motivations, where the nature of the world is unconvincing, where there's little jeopardy and no ending. A bland product that looks good, but, like the people seperated from their daemons, is soulless.

And the religious right still didn't want to see an anti-religion film with all the anti-religion removed, so New Line lost money because they'd foolishly sold all the overseas rights.

the books are excellent but the movie is well done! a good adaptation! I wished they would do the sequels but as I read several times they will not because of the anti-campaign organized in the US.

worst book to movie adaption EVER!! don't watch, just go read the books.