The Golden Compass - Film Review
Friday, December 7th, 2007
Plot
The Golden Compass is set in a world where everyone’s soul are tangibly represented by animals called “daemons” and sinful tendencies represented (or misrepresented) by something called Dust. In here an authoritarian government named the Magisterium rules all. Having amassed an inordinate amount of lies and deception, (not unlike any government) they seek to destroy those who can expose them. Of which there are two, firstly Lord Asriel (Daniel Craig), a globe trotting muscular scholar(heh) who just discovered the real nature of Dust and the church’s, err, Magisterium’s integrity might suffer for it. Secondly are the alethiometers also know as a golden compass, these are clock-like devices that reveal the absolute truth. Thought to be destroyed by the Magisterium, one is in fact left intact. The last golden compass is in the possession of a rascal orphan girl named Lyra Belacqua (Dakota Blue Richards). Lyra’s life is turned upside down when Marisa Coulter (Nicole Kidman), an alluring and powerful woman closely associated with the Magisterium took a liking to the girl and decided to bring her on a trip. What happens next is a grand adventure involving air cowboys, gypsies, witches and warrior polar bears.
Review
Let me preface this review by stating coming into the film I had no clue about the book this movie is based on, Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy. But based on the hullabaloo I can surmise its hugely popular in Caucasian land and its decidedly anti-Christian but I’m here to review a film and not talk about controversies. And review it I will.
The film made me grin with delight, not at the majestic polar bear, nor at the ultra cool witch or the dashing explorer but by the main character, Lyra. Seldom has a movie’s protagonist be a delightful rascal who can lie and steal with the best of them and be a girl at that. Dakota carries the film real well, considering this is her acting debut, its quite an achievement. It helps that she is surrounded by great actors, namely Ms. Nicole Kidman, who seems to relish in playing a ruthless but motherly character, Daniel Craig who unlike Pierce Brosnan seems to shake off that Bond smell easily and the Great Sir Ian Mckellen which voices the polar bear, Iorek Byrnison.
The world is a mish mash of Jules Verne inspired contraptions against old English buildings. It works as the wonderful things are not gawked at but rather inconspicuously. The daemons, represented by talking animals, are done adeptly. Having said that there is quite a laundry list of what’s wrong with the film.
First and chiefly, the film is impatient. There is seldom build up to scenes with important plot point and conversely emotional scenes are cut abruptly as opposed to letting it linger to achieve empathy with the viewers. The film botched in establishing the significance of the Golden Compass and similarly the Dust. One can blame this to economics, as this film costs $180 million, running time had to give in. Another significant problem is too many characters are introduced and glossed over, this might not be a problem if the characters are not so intriguing. Eva Green’s witch is so visually mysterious, I could sense some rich backstory. Daniel Craig’s Lord Asriel begs a few flashback on his exploits traveling the world. The film assumes that all the viewers have read the book and that is never the case. The last major flaw is the final battle scene is anticlimactic, and frankly, anaemic. It was such a shame that we didn’t get to see impressive moves from the characters or any formidable opponent. Perhaps all these will be mitigated when I have read the book.
Nonetheless, I was transported to this beautiful world where people have animal souls, I was amused by the waif Lyra dealing with problems with cunning and wit, I was roused when the polar bear got his groove back on. While the similarities here and there from Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and Narnia might be offputting to some. It stands on its own. Delightful, magical and at times heady (which I like) Golden Compass lays the foundation for the next film quite well. Let us hope the box office is in a good mood for another fantasy film.
