First, I should tell you, I've been a sci fi / fantasy geek since I could read. I've read everything by Asmimov, Bradbury, Piers Anthony and Arthur C. Clarke. I've read the epic fantasy tales of J.K. Rowling and J.R.R. Tolkein (and seen the movies). I never read Phillip Pullman as a kid, because they weren't written yet. I was very pleased to be introduced to the parallel universe where everyone has a daemon (the equivalent to our soul).

I have watched this movie four times now, twice on DVD and twice more on Blu Ray DVD. I loved the movie so much that I went to the library and got all three books in Pullman's Dark Materials series on Audio Books in the children's section. I had no problem telling the children's librarian that they were for me to listen to.

An incredible fantasy tale

Lyra is a young girl of 11 or 12 who lives in an incredible alternate universe. In many ways it is like our own, people are people after all with all the good and bad that this implies. In fact their world is much like ours except instead of souls every person has a daemon. A daemon is not a demon, it is an animal representation of the person. It is far more than a pet, it is an extension of ones self. Like a witch's familiar or a twin except stronger. There is also a concept called "dust" hinted at, but heresy to a world run by the Magesterium. Lyra finds that her Uncle Azriel (Daniel Craig) is doing research into just this, and it has made him a target of assassination right at the start of the film. Soon Lyra is given an aelethiometer or "golden compass" which if one can read it, tells the truth about whatever is asked of it. Soon Lyra is taken away from her home at Jordan college to live with Ms. Coultier (Nicole Kidman) who at first seems very nice and sophisticated, but soon makes Lord Voldemort and Darth Vader seem not so evil. At least in Harry Potter and Star Wars, you knew who the evil people were. Ms. Coultier has a golden monkey as her daemon. Her monkey makes the evil monkey in Chris Griffin's closet seem quite tame. As the story progresses, we find that the Magestorium is doing things that are down right awful and cruel all in the name of organized religion and power. For those who found Pullman's book or this movie anti religious, I would only point out that it is the church as a ruling force that is criticized, not religion itself.

Well soon enough Lyra is on an adventure that has her meeting Gyptians, Armored bears and witches in an effort to escape Mrs. Coultier and find out where missing children have gone, and to deliver the golden compass to her Uncle.

My Thoughts

I was enthralled by the world Pullman created. Since I first saw the movie, I have listened to the unabridged book as well. I can say that the movie adaptation is excellent, it just shortens some things up or changes the way things occur so that the results are the same, but the process is shorter. It's a long book! However, the magic and wonder and the foreboding and the evil all make it fully intact onto the big screen. My son and I both thought this fantasy movie was outstanding. It is easily an epic on par with Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. The acting by everyone was excellent, characters came alive and no one seemed like a charicature, but everyone was a real person capable of many emotions.Dakota Blue Richards who played the film's protagonist was exellent, she reminded me of another Dakota, only not as precocious. Nicole Kidman was able to convey evil incarnate here. Especially in Blu Ray, her blue eyes conveyed a sense of malice and personal ambition that made Ralph Fiennes Lord Voldemort seem rather lifeless.

I felt like a kid again, wrapped up in this amazing story brought to life on my screen. This is the sort of story telling I wish there was more of in Hollywood.

Special Effects

The cities, daemons, armored bears, and huge airships and balloons all came to life here. I really didn't even think about the special effects as I watched the film, I just became immersed in the story. That is the test for truly excellent effects, you forget they are effects and just enjoy. Of course there aren't really armored bears or evil monkey daemons but watching this film, I believed in armored beaers and daemons.

Blu Ray thoughts

This looked stunning on regular DVD, and it was the first movie I watched when I set up my Playstation 3 to a new Yamaha receiver to see and hear all Blu Ray offers. WOW! The film looks and sounds stunning, I felt like I could step right into my movie screen.

Extras

The DVD (both Blu Ray and regular) has an extra disc chock full of extras on the book, the film adaptation, casting, special effects and everything else.

Summary

If you enjoy well done fantasy movies or if you read any of Pullman's books, this movie really brings it to life. My son and I both gave The Golden Compass five stars.



Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12