Starring:
Dakota Blue Richards, Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Freddie Highmore, Ian McKellen, Sam Elliott, Kristin Scott Thomas, Kathy Bates and Christopher Lee

Director:
Chris Weitz

Running Time:
113 mins

Out to buy on Blu-Ray/DVD 28/04/08

• Fantastic visual effects create an amazing fantasy world
• Good performances from an all-star supporting cast
• A huge story from Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy

• Leaves far too many questions unanswered
• Is part of a much bigger story
• Ends just as it gets going

 

 

"What's it for?"

There are numerous parallel universes and countless versions of Earth, in Lyra Belacqua's (Richards) world your spirit is seen as your animal demon, the northern skies filled with witches, ice bears are the greatest warriors on the planet and the people are governed by the Magisterium. As Lord Asriel (Craig) seeks to prove the existence of other parallel worlds, the Magisterium close in on his niece Lyra and send Mrs. Coulter (Kidman) to discover if she is the prophesised child that the witches have said will play a pivotal role in the future. Thinking she might well be that child, the Master of Jordan College gives Lyra an Alethiometer, a golden compass that can reveal the truth about any question it is asked and tells her to keep it secret and safe from anyone who would seek to take it.

Since the success of 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy the fantasy movie has made a big come back but the world of 'His Dark Materials' make just as successful translation to film?

Based on the first novel of Philip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' trilogy 'Northern Lights' comes to the silver screen and it has some rather large footsteps to follow. Renamed 'The Golden Compass', the film is seen by New Line as their next big fantasy franchise after the phenomenal success they had with 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy. The box office gold that movie produced and the following success of 'The Chronicles of Narnia', meant that studio were quick to green light many a fantasy epic but not all of them have had the impact the studio hoped they world. The complete failure of 'Eragon', 'The Last Legion' and 'The Darkness Rises' means that fantasy is not always a huge box office draw but the good news is that 'The Golden Compass' could be the start of something great.

Philip Pullman's much loved novels were ripe for translation to film but they could have easily caused controversy however. The main emphasis around the story was that there are infinite numbers universes and therefore numerous versions of Earth. On the version of Earth where our first story takes place, the world is ruled and governed by the Magisterium, an all powerful organisation that influenced everything on the world, dictating how people should think, what they should believe and what was considered heresy. Parallels to organised Christian religion were made and questions were asked if an American funded movie would transfer this to the silver screen and for the most part the essence of this from the novel is in tact but it isn't as explored as much as it could have been. In fact the mixing of magic and religion has never gone down well with any religious group, so there is bound to be controversy.

The rest of the story plot lines are a little less controversial however. As with any good fantasy story, the world hangs in the balance with the forces of good and evil about to battle for the future but one prophesised child who would change everything has emerged and it is she who will return the balance. There is a huge story here, with the Magisterium, human souls that shown in the form of animal demons, the discovery of parallel worlds, the dust that flows through and connects the galaxies, ice bears that are the bravest warriors and the last Alethiometer or golden compass of the title that can give the truth to questions that are asked of it. This creates a fantastical world but then another problem arises, the lack of explanation or back story to how these things became so.

Unlike 'Lord of the Rings' or 'Narnia' movies, the history of the world and forces that govern it are not explained through either flashback or character story. Here we are expected to know why the ice bears are great warriors, how to read the Alethiometer and how it works, why the Magisterium want the souls of children and why they don't want to admit the existence of parallel universes. While this maybe explained in the later two stories, you are left with a sense of this been a much bigger story, especially when the movie ends at a pivotal moment in the development of the plot and you leave thinking, you can't end it there!

The cast that screenwriter/director Chris Weitz has gathered together is impressive however. Nicole Kidman revels in the villainous role of Mrs. Coulter. Sam Elliot is his usual cool self as sky cowboy Lee Scoresby. Eva Green and Daniel Craig are together again, but both of them have very small parts in this chapter of the story and there is some excellent vocal work from Freddy Highmore, Ian McShane and Ian McKellen as Lyra's demon Pantalaimon and ice bears Farder Coram and Iorek Byrnison. The only slight let down is Dakota Blue Richards as Lyra. She struggles with the more emotional elements of the story and isn't as convincing as some other child actresses that have graced the film as of late.

'The Golden Compass' is hopefully the start of another big fantasy franchise. While the film feels like it should be much longer than just under two hours, this sets up a world and a story that should draw you in from the off. The lack of back story and explanation aside, this is still great family entertain and a building platform for hopefully what is to come.

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