Over the weekend, an extended 5 minute preview of The Golden Compass was posted. Lots of new footage is shown, but most importantly I think it gives a good idea of the film to those who have no experience with the book. Out of all of the movies that studios have developed as Harry Potter clones, this one has the best chance to succeed.

After the success of the Harry Potter films, studios were snatching up any fantasy related material with kids present. In the past few years we’ve had Eragon, Bridge to Terabithia, the Chronicles of Narnia (which also got a push from Lord of the Rings), The Dark Is Rising, The Spiderwick Chronicles, and many more that I’m forgetting.

Based on just the previews, The Golden Compass looks to be the most engrossing. It looks less like an attempt to pander toward the “Harry Potter” audience and more like a honest attempt to bring Philip Pullman’s world to the screen.