Philip Pullman on the upcoming "Paradise Lost" movie--

"There's also the problem of what to do with the verse. The majesty of the language is a huge part of what the poem is about -- lines like "High on a throne of royal state, which far Outshone the wealth of Ormus and of Ind, Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold ..." would be sadly missed by any lover of the poem, but what do you do with them in a film? They're stage directions: the next words are "Satan exalted sat," and you could just show that by -- showing it. It would be a pity to reduce that poetry to a mere brief for the designer. So I look forward to this project with great interest, and some hope, but a little scepticism too."