With eloquent dialog, intriguing storytelling and simply marvelous special effects, The Golden Compass is a gem of a fantasy film.
The Golden Compass opens with a voice over setting the story in a time and place within a parallel universe.
Much like the Star Wars opening of “Long ago in a galaxy far far away” we are told that this world is like ours and at the same time very different.
From the opening on, it is a visual and audio treat as we follow Lyra’s adventures. Orphaned and raised rather haphazardly by Jordan College scholars, Lyra is a complex character, blending innocence and understanding with joy and pragmatism.
She can play with the “Gyptian” children, and carry on conversations with the scholars. There is a sense of inherent wisdom about her, but she is unaware that she is anything but a resourceful child.
Within the first few minutes of the film Lyra foils an assassination attempt on her Uncle Azriel (Daniel Craig) and observes a presentation about a mysterious matter called dust. Her uncle is planning an expedition to the far north to find answers about the dust and what role it plays in the universe.
Both the assassination attempt and the obstacles to his research come from a group known as the Magisterium. The Magisterium has gained and maintains a strong control over people’s lives in Lyra’s world, and there appears to be little room for questions or new ideas within their structured system. Lyra’s uncle does get the go ahead, and while he is away, Mrs. Coulter (Nicole Kidman) enters Lyra’s life.
Mrs. Coulter makes Lyra her “assistant,” promising to take her to the north to catch up with her uncle. As Lyra leaves Oxford, she is given a mysterious device known as the alethiometer which is supposed to tell the truth to those who know how to read it. Lyra hasn’t a clue what to do with it, but she decides to take it to her uncle.
She soon discovers that Mrs. Coulter is not what she seems, and decides to escape and begin a quest of her own to save the children taken by the “Gobblers” and find her uncle. This will take her to the far north where she joins forces with a legendary armoured bear Ioric Byrnison (voiced by Sir Ian McKellen) and has some adventures portrayed in some of the most amazing visuals I’ve seen in a fantasy film! You honestly forget to think about HOW they made the sequences.
The Golden Compass is presented on two discs in widescreen format. The feature has a running time of 113 minutes, and is available with English or Spanish subtitles. Disc one also contains a feature commentary with writer/Director Chris Weitz.
The film is rated PG-13 for scenes of fantasy violence, but I found these less intense than The Lord of the Rings fighting sequences. The second disc is loaded with special features divided into three categories. The first is Origins, with The Novel, The Adaptation and Oxford. The second is Behind the Scenes, with Finding Lyra Belacqua, Costumes, Music, Production Design, and The Launch. The third is Lyra’s World, with The Armoured Bears, The Alethiometer, and Daemons.
The adventure is riveting and the casting is perfect, especially of the ten year old heroine Lyra Belacqua, who is adroitly portrayed by young actress Dakota Blue Richards.
The Golden Compass (New Line Platinum Series Two-Disc Widescreen Edition) is now available at Amazon and AmazonUK . Visit the DVD database for more information.
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