Reviewed by Cassam Looch
Stars Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Dakota Blue Richards,
Sam Elliott, Eva Green, the voice of Ian McKellen
Written by Chris Weitz, based on the novel
Northern Lights by Philip Pullman
UK certification PG | UK RRP £19.99
DVD Region 2 | Runtime 109 minutes
Directed by Chris Weitz
Fantasy film fatigue could well be a problem for most people. The Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings franchises have dominated the box-office and popular culture for a while now, and with the likes of Eragon falling by the wayside, The Golden Compass has an uphill battle from the start. Thankfully a wonderful central performance, excellent support and top-notch special effects make this a stand out in this genre.
In a world similar yet different to our own, an organisation called the Magisterium oversees and controls the ideas and thoughts of people. It’s a benevolent and non-violent methodology, but things change when Lord Asriel (Daniel Craig) plans an expedition to the frozen north to research the phenomenon of ‘Dust’ which could explode the very basis of the Magisterium. Asriel’s niece Lyra (Richards) is a precocious and inquisitive child who finds herself in possession of a golden compass that can answer any question asked of it. When Asriel leaves Lyra is left under the stewardship of Marisa Coulter (Green) whose initial good nature turns into anger when Lyra refuses to handle the compass. When the girl escapes she heads to the North to expose what Coulter (in cahoots with the Magisterium) is doing, she is aided by a polar bear and a group of Gyptians.
The complex plot manages to come across to even a novice viewer as an involving and interesting piece. Based on the Philip Pullman series of novels, His Dark Materials, the world created is stimulating and full of wonder. Every person is accompanied by their daemon, an animal which can talk and guide the individual. The cityscapes are familiar especially early on when you’ll spot the London background looking as good as it ever has. The manufactured controversy around the film's religious themes is misplaced; it's just one element of a very good movie. Richards in the role of Lyra is a fantastic onscreen presence. Given that she is a novice and spends much of her time with some serious heavyweight acting talent (or imaginary creatures), it could have been a foolhardy casting choice. However she keeps things moving and brings together the different strands of the story with her enthusiasm and energy. A thoroughly entertaining and well made film, which although very obviously part of a trilogy, works well enough on its own merit. It's just a shame that because of its relative box office failure in the US, we are unlikely to see the other two films ever get made.
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