The Golden Compass (2007)

The Golden Compass

I thought I was ordering the movie and instead got the game. My gradson is thrilled, so I guess, thanks. August 2, 2008

Great Entertainment!!

I resisted watching this movie at the cinema and didn't buy the dvd due to the poor reviews it received. I love my science fiction/fantasy and didn't want get that terrible sinking feeling when you know it could have been so much better. When I finally watched the movie on cable I was entranced, the movied is very well made, has great characters and is very well casted and acted.

At this point I should say that I haven't read the book so am viewing the story and movie with fresh eyes. I also don't really care whether the whole thing is a dig at Catholicism. Stand alone, this is a really entertaining fantasy movie and I would recommend it to anyone. In fact I am now going out to buy a copy of the movie to have in my collection.

Not being her biggest fan, I think this is Nicole Kidman's best role in years. She was another reason why I was prepared to dislike the movie, but I think her casting here is perfect. In fact I don't think they've put a foot wrong in any of the casting choices, although unfortunately Daniel Craig doesn't get to do very much.

So, if you aren't looking for a faithful translation of a favourite book but want to watch a well made entertaining movie - get The Golden Compass. Who wouldn't want a Battle Bear on their side!!! August 2, 2008

Well, *I* liked it

I think this is another one of these situations where either you read the book and you hate the movie (because it wasn't exactly like the book) or you didn't read the book and you love the movie (because it was a good movie).

I didn't read the book.
I thought the movie was excellent.

I rented this from Amazon Unbox out of sheer lack of anything better. I was expecting a cheesy kids movie, perhaps not unlike Narnia.

What I got was a good story with fantastic special effects throughout and a whole lot more violence than I had anticipated. I'm honestly surprised that they got away with a PG-13 rating. No gore, but plenty of killings.

All of the standard fantasy genre elements are there (strangely, this is why some people rated it poorly) -- you got your drunken warrior brought out of retirement to bring down a king and generally save the day; you got your evil-witch-type person, your good-witch-type person, your evil government workers, your easily fooled scholars and your mystical device that everyone wants in the hands of a girl.

It's a winning formula and made for an enjoyable movie. I give it 5-stars on the condition that they are making the next installment. I would have to deduct at least 1 star, maybe 2 if they simply let it end with this one, which was clearly the intro to an intended series.
July 30, 2008

Okay adaptation of Pullman's fantasy opus

This was a decent, if cursory, adaptation of "The Golden Compass," the first book in Philip Pullman's controversial "Dark Materials" trilogy. The original print version is both innovative and tendentious -- an absorbing fantasy world built as a means for the author to exercise his strong antipathy towards organized religion. The movie glosses over the anti-religious message, although not quite to the extent I'd imagined. The condensed plotline can be a bit jumpy, but on the whole this is an enjoyable action film, with the social commentary lurking just below the surface -- it's dumbed-down a little, but still basically the same as the book. Worth checking out. (Slipcue Film Reviews) July 29, 2008

AMAZING.....

.....Amazing how they managed to completely miss the point of the book. They took all the action from the book, but left out the important information that supports the action. The movie briefly mentions Dust at the beginning...and never goes anywhere with that idea. Never mentions anything about the religious beliefs behind Dust and its connection to children and their Daemons. I personally dont see how they can make the 2nd film....because thats what it most deals with...(atleast as far as I have read into it so far.)

The movie as a movie was well made....as a book to movie adaptation it is horrible. Read the book first, then see the movie! The book is WAY better. July 29, 2008

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