Movie Review

The Golden Compass

OK, OK I know that this film has been out for quite a while now on DVD, but I got my first chance to watch it last week. Now it is classed as a family film, which in many respects it is, but there are lots of dark elements in it.

The story is based in a parallel universe, in which all the 'human' characters have their souls on the outside of their bodies in animal form. These souls are known as Demons for some reason or another. Lyra Belacqua ( Dakota Blue Ricards ) is unique among her kind for she is given an Alethiometer ( a golden compass that tells the truth) by her 'uncle Asreil' ( Daniel Craig ), her uniqueness is that she can read it.

The film follows Lyra to the kingdom of the Snow bears, where Lyra must rescue kidnapped children who are being used in evil experiments by the wonderfully wicked Mrs Coulter (Nicole Kidman).

Now the special effects in this film are pretty amazing, and I was blown away by the way the animal demons so closely followed the humans. The snow bears were awesome in effect, and the battle scenes very very well done.

All in all this is a very enjoyable movie, it may be hard for younger children to follow, but they wont care, as they will be too entranced by all the animals and fantasy elements. My 8 year old has seen it twice now, but still has loads of questions about why? and how?

However, one moment of the film TOTALLY ruined it for me, made all the previous spectacular special effects disappear into the ether, and made a joke of the word special effects. That moment was when Lyra is carried across the Ice by Iorek Byrnison the snow bear. Here's how it looks;

Imagine you get a large doll, like a tiny tears, or better still a cabbage patch doll, then tie it to the back of your dog, now get the dog to run around, then film the result. That is basically what Lyra on a snow bear looks like. I cannot describe how awful it is, and it was the ruination of a good film.

But taking that to one side I am still going to give it 4 stars!

Certificate: PG-13

Running Time: 113 mins

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Dakota Blue Richards, Sam Neil, Ian Mckellen,Freddie Highmore

Rating: *****