The Golden Compass (2007)

This is a movie based on a book in a series known as "His Dark Materials" by Philip Pullman. The book has garnered some controversy because Pullman explicitly made the book out to be anti-religious. From what I know, the anti-religious stuff was downplayed in this film version. I guess you could compare him to Douglas Adams and his Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy books, another anti-religious writer. Of course, his movie was certainly better than this. I could get a couple anti-religious vibes in this. It did talk about skepticism and heretics, but only briefly.The movie's main fault is that it came across as pretty silly to me. What happened is that these people are trying to stop these other people from discovering magic dust that proves the existence of other worlds. Yeah, it's a really goofy sounding premise. It takes place in this world where everyone has a shapeshifting creature or "daemon". Maybe if I read the books, I could comprehend it better. The movie often suffers from really bad CGI. Everything looks pretty fake. I still thought the actors were quite good. There really was an all star cast here with Christopher Lee and Sam Elliot. I wish they were in the movie more! Oh wait, Christopher Lee was in every movie back then. Besides, "Lord Of The Rings" was pro-religious. Maybe fans of the book were disappointed that it wasn't more anti-religious? I just thought it was a movie that wasn't that well acted with kind of a silly story. It seems like everyone is against religion nowadays. Hey, a lot of people hate my reviews regardless of my beliefs, which I don't really discuss anyway. I really did like this movie's pacing as literally half of it was them at the North Pole, which the first half set up. It's hard to go wrong with armor clad polar bears too. **1/2

As the film opens it is explained that there are many parallel universes a in the one where the film is set people's souls dwell in animals, known as daemons, that accompany them everywhere. In this world a group known as the Magisterium wants to keep knowledge from the people that may weaken their authority. In a parallel Oxford a member of the Magisterium attempts to poison scientist Lord Asriel not realising that his niece Lyra, an orphan, is observing his action. She saves her uncle and he proceeds to leave for the far north to research the things that the Magisterium is keenest to keep hidden. Shortly after he leaves the college master gives Lyra a device known as the alethiometer, the golden compass of the title, which reveals the truth to those who can read it. There were once many such devices but this is the last one. Mrs. Coulter offers to take Lyra to her uncle but it is clear that her intentions aren't as pure as she would have Lyra believe. Realising that Mrs Coulter is a threat Lyra escapes and meets aeronaut Lee Scoresby who takes her north. Here she makes an alliance with an icebear and faces many dangers before confronting Mrs. Coulter again.I haven't read the books so can't say how close this adaption is to the original… perhaps that is a good thing as it means I'm but put off by any changes. The story is interesting and the film does a good job introducing this parallel world and its differences. I particularly liked the idea of the daemons; these creatures were beautifully rendered so that sometimes I wasn't sure if it was CGI or a real animal. There is plenty of action and a good number of scares although nothing too scary for younger viewers. The cast that features plenty of well-known actors, including Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, does a fine job although it is the young Dakota Blue Richards who dominates the film; she is rarely off the screen and does a great job as Lyra. The story moves at a good pace all the way to the end… and this is where the problem begins; this was clearly meant to be the first film in a series but those sequels were never made so there is no sense of closure as Lyra's quest is clearly far from over… it is as though the 'Lord of the Rings' films were cancelled after 'The Fellowship of the Ring'. Overall I'd say this was an enjoyable film; it is just a pity the story wasn't finished.

The Golden Compass (2007): Dir: Chris Weitz / Cast: Dakota Blue Richards, Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Sam Elliott, Eva Green: Adventure about guidance as a golden compass is thrust into the possession of a young girl. Interesting directing choice for Chris Weitz after directing About a Boy and the dreadful Down to Earth. He has managed to switch up genres while keeping his resume semi interesting. Exciting and adventurous that turns to constant action within the third act. Dakota Blue Richards does well as the young lead holding her own against her much more famous co-stars as well as the exquisite special effects surrounding her. She plays off intelligence in the face of adult adversary. Nicole Kidman plays an enchanting seductress named Mrs. Coulter whose downfall was underestimating Richards. Daniel Craig is featured as Richards' uncle in what is mostly a standard role but Craig rises above it. Sam Elliott also rises above conventions as a Texan who flies a plane. He leads Richards to an armored polar bear where she seeks help but first she must witness a massive battle between two of the polar warriors. Eva Green plays a witch queen, which is not much of a stretch from her usual roles. Pointless and often corny with animal companions that seem to double as souls. Weird storytelling but the visual elements are tremendous and render the compass a worthwhile adventure. Score: 7 ½ / 10

If you are five years old, you may enjoy this film. If you are older, you may sense that there are important elements of the story missing that would help you to make sense of it. I was deeply shocked at some of the major plot-points that were left out of this film in an effort to make it family-friendly. First of all, Pantalaimon is Lyra's externalised soul, and to give him an 'Alvin and the Chipmunks' cloying and sickly-sweet voice was an insult to the character. Lyra's character was one of a wild child, and Pantalaimon a wild beast - so anyway - that is just for starters. I would be here all day if I listed all the things that were left out or dumbed-down, but another major fault was - little Tony Markarios had his daemon severed, and so he becomes little more than a zombie or a corporeal ghost, before his remaining body dies from the shock of having his soul sliced away from him by the Oblation Board. I cannot understand why they would remove one of the most important plot-points! Iorek Byrnison is also a wild beast, and the whole point of his character is that he has no vanity, and yet they gave him horrendously fancy and frilly armour, again completely at odds with the whole point of his character! So many other ways in which they strayed from the story but it hurts too much to go on. This is a film that needs to re-done and directed by someone like David Yates, who totally 'gets' stories like this. It was either adapted and directed by stupid people or an extremely conservative 'family values' committee. If you want pure undiluted entertainment, read the book.