Director: Chris Weitz
Actors: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Sam Elliot, & Dakota Blue Richards
Film Company: New Line Cinema
Release Date: December 2007
Length: 113 min
Classification: Drama, Family Films (Book: Fiction)
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: PG-13
Age Level: Teen
Series Title: Movie based on the series "His Dark Materials" though no more films have been made yet to date.
Subjects: Religion, Alternate Universes,
Reader's Annotation: In a alternate reality, Lyra Belacqua go to the far North to help her friend & other kidnapped kids from hideous testings by a dark, deadly, & mysterious administration.
Synopsis: The Golden Compass is the movie version of the book by the same. The first installment in Phillip Pullman's His Dark Material Series. The story centralizes itself around Lyra. An orphaned young girl who lives at Oxford with her uncle (played by Daniel Craig). The plot is set into motion after an assassination attempt on her uncle and the overhearing of a dubious and dark mysterium called "The Dust." In Lyra's universe, the Magisterium (a religious group threatening to take over her world), she is lurred to the North with Mrs. Coulter (played by a scarily goddess-like Nicole Kidman) with the golden compass in her possession. Children are missing, one of which is Lyra's friend. The golden compass (or alethiometer), is said to tell the truth of things. Can it help Lyra figure out how to save disappearing children and solve the mystery of "the dust"? In a world of animal souls and shape shifters, Weitz translate this adventure into a special effects triumph.
Fans of The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia will enjoy this film (but love the series). Fans who don't usually watch fantasy films may enjoy this regardless. This is a series that has a little bit of something for everyone and the movie delivers a faithful (however faithful any two hour movie could be to any book). I had a hard time with the film so I can not enthusiastically endorse it however I am not fully slamming it either. Fans of the book will be the most disappointed audience.
Notes: There is no nudity or bad language in this film. Parents should be more aware of violence and philosophical and religious provocations (in case religion is an issue). Personally, I didn't find it overly provocative, however I have gotten this feedback from religiously conservation parents and thought it appropriate to mention.
Other Notables of Interest: Director Chris Weitz is currently directing the teen film "New Moon" sequel to the immensely popular Twilight film. It is based on the book(s) by Stephenie Meyer.
Extras: Official New Line Movie Site
Book Series Link: http://www.randomhouse.com/features/pullman/
Video Game (10 & up) for PSP, Wii, PS2, Xbox 360, & PC Computer, Check it out Here: Trailer
Rhetoric on religious backfire (Note: This does not reflect the view of Courtney in either direction.)
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