The Golden Compass (2007)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

Expected more

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

This movie is serious and sad, but also mysterious and adventurous. The story is interesting and keeps the audience waiting to see what happens next. The idea of the 'demon', who is actually part of the human, is very interesting. However, it is not made clear why they are called 'demons', as they do not have any negative qualities. The story seems to represent a futuristic world, like in the 'Hunger Games', in which there is a cruel 'authority' that wants to control everyone. It is very disappointing to have a cliffhanger at the end that offers no solution to what happens next. If the movie was intended to be continued, it should have been a long time ago. Other than that, the colours were pretty dull because most of the scenes and events, but the acting was good and the little girl had a courageous and determined personality.*7/10*

I saw the movie several years ago on TV. I couldn't really remember it now, but I did like it, and have wanted to read the book several times ever since. I've been running about a lot nowadays, and I love listening to audiobooks. I have had the audiobooks for quite some time, and this was the perfect opportunity to listen to them, so I did. Once I was done with the first book, a rewatch of the movie was in order.This movie didn't do well in the box office. Some blame it on the religious theme of the story, others on it not being a very good movie. I quite liked it, though now that I know what they worked from, I can see the problems. For a discussion on the story itself, please read my book review.The story didn't change much. They did merge a few characters, as it sometimes happens. What was strange was the introduction of the councillors and the Magisterial Emissary. It is remarked in the books that the Magisterium dictates a lot of things, and is half supporting Mrs Coulter, but it is her eagerness for power, which drives the negative events, not the Magisterium, as it appears in the movie. Or so it was my understanding as I read the book. I did wonder why they made it out so, but I couldn't see any justification for it. Maybe more will be revealed int he following books. Another change as opposed to the book was the revelation of Lyra's parents. In the book, Lyra learns about it under very different circumstances, and much sooner. I think they placed it so in the movie, because it had a bigger impact on Lyra that way, but it didn't seem to matter for the story all that much. The third big change was the order of the last couple of events, and especially leaving out the last big event. Lyra coming across the children and the bears is the opposite in the book. The only reason I can see for the change is that in the movie the party at Mrs Coulter's house is left out. It is there that Lyra learns of Lord Asriel's imprisonment among the bears, and that's why after the children she goes there. While in the movie she knows nothing about that turn of events, so she would have no motivation to head that way, and therefore has to just happen on that storyline while heading to her original goal. The fourth big change is that they left out death, that seems to be an important part of the story. From Lyra exploring the catacombs in the beginning, to the end, death is a part of the story. In the movie, it was taken out. Sure, characters die, but not children. We know from the books that the poor boy Lyra finds dies, and yes, I did shed a tear, but that's not clear in the movie. That particular horror is left out, making the tone milder. In a way, the children who die make what is really happening - without giving too much away -, all the worse. That people would do that without a thought, just to keep children from growing up to thinking freely.The biggest change of all is the milder tone overall that the movie takes. Gone are the references to Christianity. The Magisterium is the big bad, the organisation, while in the book, it was the underlying doctrine, that is the actual problem. I can understand the reason for the change, even though I wasn't pleased by it. The milder tone was also achieved by the ending. Since in the book, Lyra does reach her final end-goal, and in the movie she doesn't. I can especially understand this change, since that still haunts me a bit, and I'm somewhat glad to not have seen it.The best thing about the movie is really Nicole Kidman. She was picked and persuaded by Philip Pullman himself to play Mrs Coulter. Sure, her hair is blonde, but even the author admitted that he should have described his character as a blonde. Nicole Kidman is perfect for the role. Cold, ruthless, even when trying to care. I'm not a big fan of hers, I think in some things she was terrible. However, I will always see Mrs Coulter as she portrayed her.The second books was never made into a movie. It can be the problems with the anti-religious tone, or the fact that a lot of people didn't like it. Truth be told, it did feel rushed. All the events were crammed into these 113 minutes, clearly not enough. However, back in 2007 TV shows still didn't have the budget they do now. 2008 did one good thing. TV became more important, as people cut back on going out. Shows became more popular, and therefore more money is poured into them now. This book would have clearly worked better as a TV show. That is what will hopefully happen, as BBC has promised to develop the trilogy as a TV show. I'm sure the books will the in good hands, as BBC adaptations are very high quality, especially in recent years.Overall, watch this movie. It's pretty good on its own, and if you're unsure about reading the book, it will give you a general idea of it. The CGI is also terrific, and don't forget the real highlight of the movie, Nicole Kidman as Mrs Coulter.

The Golden Compass (2007): Dir: Chris Weitz / Cast: Dakota Blue Richards, Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Sam Elliott, Eva Green: Adventure about guidance as a golden compass is thrust into the possession of a young girl. Interesting directing choice for Chris Weitz after directing About a Boy and the dreadful Down to Earth. He has managed to switch up genres while keeping his resume semi interesting. Exciting and adventurous that turns to constant action within the third act. Dakota Blue Richards does well as the young lead holding her own against her much more famous co-stars as well as the exquisite special effects surrounding her. She plays off intelligence in the face of adult adversary. Nicole Kidman plays an enchanting seductress named Mrs. Coulter whose downfall was underestimating Richards. Daniel Craig is featured as Richards' uncle in what is mostly a standard role but Craig rises above it. Sam Elliott also rises above conventions as a Texan who flies a plane. He leads Richards to an armored polar bear where she seeks help but first she must witness a massive battle between two of the polar warriors. Eva Green plays a witch queen, which is not much of a stretch from her usual roles. Pointless and often corny with animal companions that seem to double as souls. Weird storytelling but the visual elements are tremendous and render the compass a worthwhile adventure. Score: 7 ½ / 10

Golden Compass were they ever going to make a part 2 the end was a major setup for what had to be a 2nd in the works what the h happened, Religious Fanaticism prevented yet another movie which seemed to be quite a good movie to fade away if those fanatics could they would be burning books, I have 1 statement for those fanatics, if you want to burn books and block movies from being made then throw that politicized piece of crap called the Holy Bible on the fire first, since that is a total perversion of Christs message, HA HA growing up my mother had it in her head I was possessed due to her catholic upbringing and the fact I was smarter than everyone I had met then and still to this day 35 years later I am now 51, I have yet to meet anyone worthy of having an intelligent conversation with, Ha Ha people seem to believe that aliens visit earth its not to see people for their intelligence it is just a courtesy visit to the hairless apes that think they are something special, but if you have an IQ over 120 then it would be hard to disagree with me here this is the Planet of the MORONS, I decided that when I was 6 when my mother decided I had to be possessed since at 6 the school district wanted to make me a High School Senior, and her holy roller ass wouldn't have it, anyway at 16 she had the preacher from our church come by to cast out my Demons, Ha Ha after I talked with him for around 20 min he left but he looked at my mother before leaving and told her he has a greater understanding of the bible than anyone, and all I told him was what I said above that the Bible is part of the creators message, rearranged and perverted to meet the needs of the time it was all gathered together and Canonized also called made into a book, but 7/8 or the written stories that were a major part of Christianity throughout its first millennium were banned from ever becoming part of the bible again, so when the Church stops perverting the word of the Creator will once again join a church but face it they never will and those Blank blanks will never cease and desist with the perversion of the word of God, if they did they couldn't justify to themselves that conning the elderly into leaving the church everything they have ever gotten and conning everyone out of a 10% tithe which is a perversion of a whole different caliber, I tithe of my spirit as Christ and all his true followers did and I never ask or even want anything in return the most I desire it that those who listen may at some time in the future choose to tithe of their spirit.