Movie Review: ‘The Golden Compass’

Although “The Golden Compass” received a lot of pre-release buzz, it earned a modest $25 million during its opening weekend. A disappointment for a film made at an estimated cost of more than $150 million.

The film is based on author Philip Pullman’s novel of the same name. It’s positioned as an adventure film, but it’s slow moving. If you haven’t read the books, which I haven’t, it was difficult to make sense of the story.

What is the story? “The Golden Compass” is set in an alternative world where people's souls manifest themselves as animals, talking bears fight wars and Gyptians and witches co-exist. At the center of the story is Lyra, a 12-year-old girl who starts out trying to rescue a friend who's been kidnapped by a mysterious organization known as the Gobblers and winds up on an epic quest to save the world.

Nicole Kidman is delicious playing the evil Mrs. Coulter. James Bond star Daniel Craig is underused as Lord Asriel. The true start of the film is Dakota Blue Richards who beat out more than 10,000 other girls for the role of Lyra. The cast also such well-known actors as Sam Elliott and Ian McShane.

Due to the scary nature of the story, I don’t recommend it for young children. The best part of the film? The armored bears. Very cool.