Having never read the source material, but most definitely a serious fan of the fantasy genre, I walked into Chris Weitz's adaptation of Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass with a small sense of schizophrenia. As much as I enjoy epic adventures, daring escapes, dramatic battles and all that magical stuff, I'm well aware that every studio in Hollywood has tried to copy-cat the success of Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings. Between Narnia, Eragon, Stardust, The Seeker, Beowulf, and a few others (with Inkheart and The Spiderwick Chronicles on the way!), it's tough to keep track of which ethereal realm needs the assistance of which plucky youths in order to thwart which decidedly nasty villain.
But it seems a little silly to complain, especially when you consider that the last time the "swords and sorcery" sub-genre had a revolution, it yielded movies like Legend, Labyrinth, Ladyhawke, Dragonslayer and Krull. (Yes, all of which I like.) Our latest entry into the family-friendly epic adventure category is, of course, The Golden Compass, which is based on a rather controversial fantasy novel that has the audacity to (gasp) criticize organized religion. But since pretty much all of the subtext has been drained out of this movie version, we can skip all that nonsense and cut right to the meat of the movie -- which is pretty damn fun, if you ask me.
The setting is a parallel universe in which people look a lot like we do ... only they all have personal "daemons" that hang nearby at all times. Not creepy Clive Barker-style demons, these are more like magical talking animals that share a soul with their respective 'masters' -- and the kids' daemons can morph into different animals at will. Cool! Our heroine is a precocious young tomboy called Lyra, and her adventure begins when she's whisked away from Jordan College by a mysterious lovely known as Mrs. Coulter. (It comes as little surprise to learn that Mrs. Coulter actually isn't that nice a lady, but let's not spoil things for those who haven't read the books.)
Turns out that not only is Lyra destined to play a pivotal role in the breakdown of the nefarious "Magesterium" (government), but she's also required to rescue a bunch of kidnapped children, protect the world's last remaining "alethiometer" (truth-meter), discover the secrets about her mysterious lineage, and defeat the conniving king of the ice bears. Along the way Lyra will have to befriend all sorts of colorful creatures: gypsies and cowboys and witches, oh my! At its heart, The Golden Compass is little more than a well-scrubbed and visually impressive quest story, but it's presented with such color and confidence that it's tough not to get swept up in the spectacle of it all. (One can't help but feel that the more "controversial" aspects in Pullman's book might have made for a more challenging film, although definitely a less profitable one.)
If you're one of those movie fans who expressed some skepticism when Chris Weitz (the guy who directed American Pie and About a Boy) was handed the keys to this particular kingdom, you'll be pleasantly surprised to learn that the director acquits himself quite well here. Sure, as with most 'earnest' fantasies, you'll get a few moments of camp silliness, but for the most part The Golden Compass is an admirably straight-faced (if eventually more playful) adventure that takes its tale pretty seriously. The plot may be little more than a mixture of Harry Potter, Pinocchio and the age-old 'coming of age' hero quest we all know and love, but there's something to be said for a slick-looking adventure movie that does an admirable job of introducing a new world, what with all the shiny buildings and strange clothes and exotic monsters.
As the effortlessly likable Lyra, young Dakota Blue Richards is really quite excellent. In many ways, a movie like this (even with all its flashy names and gee-whiz effects) really relies on its lead kid, and Richards makes for an instantly affable character. Nicole Kidman offers some of her sliest work in years as the two-faced Marisa Coulter, Daniel Craig has a few commanding moments as a noble scientist, and the great Sam Elliott pops up in the middle of things and damn near steals the whole expensive movie. Also of note are some recognizable-yet-effective pieces of voice casting, particularly Ian McKellen as a disgraced warrior bear and Ian McShane as his hateful nemesis. For icing on the cake we get an awesome little Christopher Lee moment and the stunning Eva Green as a butt-kickin' witch woman!
If The Golden Compass takes a little while to pick up steam and deliver a ride worth taking, the set pieces, colorful cast, and surprisingly witty script make up for the slow start. By the time the flick draws to a close (with more questions than answers, of course, this being a series and all), you'll be treated to a few rousing battles and some character moments that'll probably make you smile. It's all just simple fairy-tale fantasy fare (and NOT the anti-religion propaganda that some would have you believe), presented with a lot of energy, imagination and momentum. Not too many of the fantasy genre latecomers are really worth a damn (I'm looking at you, Eragon and Seeker), but as far as 2007 goes, I'd be perfectly happy sitting down with a double feature of Stardust and The Golden Compass. Doubly so if I was 12 years old.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-07-2007 @ 7:29PM
FRITZ said...
"Golden Compass" was written by an athiest with athiestic views. This version of the trilagy is the "MILD" one to entice youngsters to think they are getting another "HARRY POTTER" series...BUT, "Harry Potter this is NOT!!! Don't see this athiestic movie and DEFINITELY DON"T READ THE THREE BOOKS!!
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12-07-2007 @ 7:30PM
FRITZ said...
"Golden Compass" was written as a trilodgy by an athiest!! This first one was the "mild" one to entice youngsters to think they are getting another "harry potter" type...But "Harry potter this is not!! Don't see it and definitly do not read the three athiestic books!!!
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12-07-2007 @ 7:55PM
Xian said...
Wait, is this a trilodgy or a trilagy?
And isn't it a given that an athiest has athiestic views?
The book series is great, and I'm very curious & optimistic about the adaptation! Nice to have a fantasy movie series with a strong assertive female main character! Something sorely lacking in LW&W.
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12-07-2007 @ 8:13PM
Michael R. Bloom said...
^^ Right, because the moment anyone sees this movie, or reads even one thought-provoking word of the original novels, they will lose all ability to think like a human being, throw out their entire belief system, and become a devout--for want of a better word--atheist. Right? Ugh.
Anyway, I, for one, am fairly excited for this movie. I'm a Nicole Kidman fan, and it's been a while since she's gotten a chance to really shine. And well, there's the fact that I'm a complete fantasy junkie.
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12-07-2007 @ 8:19PM
pete said...
yo Fritz, your not the boss of me, go read a bible you nut!
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12-07-2007 @ 8:22PM
Eduardo said...
Atheist, NOT athiest.
Trilogy, NOT trilodgy.
It's best to use a dictionary before you spout words you can't even spell.
And for pete's sake, it's only a movie!
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12-07-2007 @ 9:51PM
Kyle said...
The subtext is not done away with or drained out. It's just not overt. It's placed in things like costumes, snide remarks and the overall feeling. In fact, I thought that heightened the message. You know, for those of us who acknowledge the message: Think for yourself. Question authority.
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12-07-2007 @ 10:48PM
katied said...
If it offends you,don't see it.Being raised Catholic and having a number of issues with the RC church, I appreciated it more than most ;)
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12-08-2007 @ 2:09AM
YouFaceTheTick said...
In an article someone said all the villains had snakes and insects as their daemons (apparently snakes and insects are bad?). Kinda funny how Derek Jacobi - the leader of the baddies Magesterium - has a big cat as his daemon and Nicole Kidman - the most evil character in the film - has a golden monkey as hers. Hmmm, kinda blows that nitwit theory out of the water, eh?
The Maggie guys ARE presented as evil because they're the antagonists. They're supposed to come off as pompous, hypocritical and devoid of reason and compassion...they're the villains!
People are deadset on misrepresenting this film and trying desperately to connect it with an evil agenda. It's a fun fantasy flick and that's about it. There's a bit about free will but there's zero mention of god or religion.
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12-08-2007 @ 7:05AM
BondsBabe said...
I absolutely adored this movie! I just sat back and enjoyed the ride and it was terriffic! I went for Daniel Craig and though he wasn't in a lot of the film, when he was it was great. I know the previous reviewer had complained he was too warm, but I thought he was perfect. He has the physical presence that was needed for both a man of intellect and adventure. Derek Jacobi was a pleasant surprise for me as was Christopher Lee.
I'm hoping the film does well enough for the next two movies to be made because I would love to have the trilogy on dvd.
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12-08-2007 @ 11:55AM
pete thomson said...
The movie is turgid. What happened to freedom of speech ?why shouldn't art and culture question the controlling elements of organized religion. Some of the American responses to the aeithiestic content in the film are ridiculous and extreme, they'll be burning prints of the movie next. As it is they've already done a pretty good job of turning what could have been an interesting multi-layered philosophical story into an unconvincing, muddled mess without a clearly established purpose or motive. The majority of reviews testify to this.
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12-08-2007 @ 3:57PM
YouFaceTheTick said...
I disagree. The majority of negative reviews focus on the BOOK'S supposed content and thrash the movie based on what they've heard about the books.
12-08-2007 @ 9:03PM
Gina said...
Pete, it's not worth burning. :-)
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12-10-2007 @ 10:16AM
Mackenzie said...
I think the review has it best, government over religion. Everyone's harking on the religious/aethist aspect of the writer when clearly the way the movie pans it out it could be any number of hardline dictatorships/early communist countries where people are better off listening to the government on everything.
it's sad that the religious angle got harped on and probably had more people stay at home because of it.
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12-12-2007 @ 5:33PM
Debrababy said...
First of all, Lyra is NOT a tomboy. What a stupid thing to say! Is she a tomboy because she is special, intelligent, curious, fearless, determined, and courageous? Seeks to save her friend? She's a heck of a lot more of these than any of the boys in the movie (or the boys who've reviewed it)!
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12-17-2007 @ 1:44AM
ann said...
creeps
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12-17-2007 @ 2:03AM
ann said...
good things never last on earth anymore, good famous people even get murdered hollywood was enjoying daily my destruction there and they never had good intentions besides continuing watching get destroyed leo watching the whole thing go done in his private jets eating good food laughing enjoying in nice clothes etc, got thretened to b killed therer whole appearance detoriated face body hair etc,laughed at acalled namess never ever happen in my whole adult hood anything like thathas anyone ever called me names till this year, sexually assaulted by one of leos hollywood friends, etc now im living on the streets sleeping in cold climates, havent eaten anything today taken a shower for days or changed my clothes there point was to keep destroying me till i die. i will be dead on the street soon from my appearance destroyed etc becasue of selfish easy life punk leonardo dicaprio-and you can take that one till your grave jerk off i know the truth and so do you-pathological liar-like all humans today-all liars hypocrits-hollywood enjoyed a work of art daily getting destoyed-leonardo dicaprio u will get what you deserve someday you witch artist, perverted horror who kills people secretly like me poor girls and leaves them dead just like the mafia-you guys in this country are all a bunch of no good creeps, even leonardo dicaprio is a dud-how dare you sexually assault me 5 times in hollywood and "you' guys were watching it all go down' eyes stinging no showers crudded up appearance'''was the ride of destorying me fun everyone seems to enjoy i am better off away from all human beings-you disgusting creeps leonardo dicaprio you mafia criminal
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12-17-2007 @ 2:22AM
ann said...
leonardo dicaprio keep on jacking that big cock off and i hope your appearance gets ruined someday or bars whatver like mine on purpose comes around goes around u slimebag how dare...poeple love"playing the game with me" i have destoryed 1000 of times and i get myslef back ''after destroyed the game stops everyone is happy and then i come back and it all starts back over youthink this crap is new to me,hollywood how dare you ruin me you unhappy miserable creeps, and leonardo dicaprio your a a evil evil mafia bag how dare eat steak enjoy watching me get destroyed feet blleding etc, you creep,,,when i die soon i hope all u jerks in this country who abused me laughed at me, taken away my appearance on purpose, messed with my mind, tortured me, forced me homless, you are pathetic human beings and phyritrist i hope you all get locked up someday you heartless spinless insane creeps who destory peoples lives,human beings think they know everythings blahhha blah i have realized this world are all full of dummies who dont know what the heck there talking about or doing,,, i am so sure pcritrary is still going on weeding people up killing people in hospitols mafia still killing people this world has turned into a evil evil place, and how dare you creeps ruin me you pathetic losers who do horrible things daily and could careless so u have to destory me to make yoursleves feel good
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12-17-2007 @ 8:24PM
JJ said...
Being a huge lover of the books [His Dark Materials], as soon as I saw the trailer it planted HUGE doubts in my mind. The girl cast of Lyra was definatly NOT how I imagined her, and I think that they should have cast someone different as Ms.Coulter too. I also heard that the plot has been watered down and changed, which immediatly put me off seeing the movie. I love the books for how they are, what they say and stand for, and the movie seems as though it is almost a different story.
I haven't seen the movie yet, but the special effects do look fantastic. Its like the Harry Potter books, if you seperate the movie from the book, then you will find the movie to be amazing to no end. But when you compare it to the book, I don't think it matches up to the expectations. I believe that Pullman may have sold out by making His Dark Materials into movies.
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12-26-2007 @ 8:03PM
somervillechangeling said...
While atheists have the right to their own fantasy worlds, my problem with "The Golden Compass" is that Pullman is actually doing what he accuses C.S. Lewis of doing, albeit for the secular crowd. I love fantasies, and I don't mind paganism in an alternate universe setting, so I'm far from a fundamentalist. Yet, I really hate seeing Biblical religion portrayed as the bad guys in many movies.
One of these days, we'll see a fantasy movie where religious leaders generally try to do the right thing, despite human failings, and where they aren't central casting evil churchmen.
That portrayal is my biggest problem with Pullman's trilogy, his dislike of Biblical religion provides him with a resistance by committee instead of an artistic vision. We have witches, gay angels and atheists willing to sever children from their souls (just like the churchmen, but for secular reasons).
One of these days a movie will deal with the secular/religious divide in a fantasy setting that's not quite so unfair to both sides; though most are unfair towards organized religion.
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