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The Golden Compass [2007]

Director: Chris Weitz
Actors: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Dakota Blue Richards, Ben Walker, Freddie Highmore
Studio: Entertainment in Video
Category: DVD

List Price: ~~Ł19.99~~
Buy New: Ł10.49
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Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars

79 reviews
Sales Rank: 158

Format: Pal
Languages: English (Unknown), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language)
Rating: Parental Guidance
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 109
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.6

EAN: 5017239195600
ASIN: B0010X8FLM

Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Release Date: April 28, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days

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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.co.uk Review
Perhaps it didn't ignite the box office in quite the way it'd been hoped, but that's little reason to pass over the qualities of The Golden Compass now it arrives on DVD. Based on the Phillip Pullman novel His Dark Materials--itself the start of the Northern Lights trilogy, the film isn't without a few problems, but emerges as a quality adaptation.

And you certainly can't fault The Golden Compass for sheer ambition. The story, for those new to the series, is primarily that of 12-year old Lyra, who is in search of her friend who has been kidnapped. Naturally, this proves to be quite a challenging adventure, not least because it's through Pullman's vividly imagined world, crossing dimensions as Lyra travels. The film, while toning down and fiddling with some elements of the source material, stays quite close to the book, and it proves to be a good, if not Lord Of The Rings-standard, adaptation.

What helps The Golden Compass, on top of the strong effects work and scope of the production, is a solid cast, featuring the likes of Daniel Craig, Nicole Kidman and Dakota Blue Richards. And it certainly whets the appetite for the next instalment in the series. Whether the muted box office returns put pay to that remains to be seen: for now, at least, The Golden Compass is a good, solid family movie that's easy to enjoy. --Jon Foster

Customer Reviews: Read 74 more reviews...

3 out of 5 stars

Could have been better July 26, 2008
To me 'Northen Lights' ('Golden Compass' if you're in the US) is THE greatest childrens' book of all time. No question. However the movie is far from the best film I've ever seen. All of the pieces are there, the plot, the characters. They even have a glittering cast. But something just doesn't gel. Lyra is unconvincing and Pan is only a step up from Jar Jar Binks (and it really pains me to say that!).

Perhaps the problem arises from the script. Originally Tom Stoppard (possibly the finest playwright alive today) was due to write it. However, the director decided he's be better suited to tackling the challenge. And after all, he should know. He's responsible for the masterpiece that is the 'American Pie' trilogy.

Nevertheless there are some high points here. Kidman sparkles and Daniel Craig makes an impressive Asrael. Sadly, however, it doesn't look like the makers will get to amend their errors as the sequel appears to have been shelved...fingers crossed though.

5 out of 5 stars

Seriously under-rated film! July 20, 2008
Having read, and thoroughly enjoyed the Pullman trilogy in print, if I were the author, I would be absolutely delighted to have my work presented in such a visually exciting manner. Pacy and thrilling representaion in visual terms with excellent cast and solid performances, especially from the young heroine.

I find myself impatient for part two.

Great work!!

1 out of 5 stars

if you buy this film you are dum July 15, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

this film is the worst film i have seen in may life and trust me i have seen some rubbish ones. this film is so bad that i did not wont to give it a rateing but i have to to review it

Proper rateing -1/10

3 out of 5 stars

Good special effect, poor story. June 23, 2008
Great special effects, but not a very good story, looks like it was trying to prop up the poor storyline with the special effets and the actors.
In all a disappointing movie.

3 out of 5 stars

What's it all about, then? June 11, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

I came to The Golden Compass without any expectations, having never read any of Philip Pullman's books. And what did I get? A visually beautiful film (hence the three stars) but one that is fundamentally unsatisfying.

I'm aware that Pullman is immensely popular and his books have been analysed both philosophically and scientifically, so there must be more to them than is apparent here.

The film poses far too many unanswered questions. It was not clear what the "daemons" represented (free will? conscience? Not a literal "soul", surely.....Pullamn is reputedly an atheist) or why it should be considered necessary to separate the children from them. What was the agenda behind the Magisterium's plans? Their world seemed pretty pleasant to me! And how did Daniel Craig's character escape? One minute he's surrounded and outnumbered, the next he's shown holed up somewhere remote, experimenting in a laboratory. We're told "he escaped", but that's really sloppy scripting. Why is Lyra so special, and why does Mrs Coulter behave as she does? What, exactly, is the point of the whole story? Why should we care?

The film (obviously in full expectation of a sequel) finishes virtually in mid-story. Very annoying. I'm not surprised that most Pullman fans seem disappointed with the whole thing. This non-Pullman-fan, expecting something with depth and imagination, was disappointed too