December
7, 2007
By
Veronica Mixon
The
Golden Compass seems to be this year’s “Narna”
and I’m sure New Line is hoping that it will spawn a series of quasi-fantasy
films like The Lord of the Rings. Chris Weitz, who best known
for the wonderful but underrated, About a Boy, has done a beautiful
job of recreating this parallel world imagined in Philip Pullman’s
books. The real life characters of the inquisitive Lord Asriel, bratty
Lyra, flying witches, a flying cowboy and the icy evil Marisa Coulter
blend effortless with the warrior polar bear, Iorek Byrnison and the various
shape shifting animal.
In this world, every human has a daemon, an animal spirit that walks with
them. Lord Asriel (Daniel Craig) has discovered that in the North, some
humans have encountered a path to other worlds through dust. The very
notion frightens the ruling Magisterium and they are determined that no
human shall explore or discover or experience dust. Meanwhile, poor children
are being kidnapped by Gobblers, who whisk them off and no one seems very
interested in putting a stop to this crime. Lyra, who lives at the College
where Lord Asriel stops between his various journeys, is considered special
but she’s not certain why. Before leaving on his latest quest, Lord
Asriel gives her the last of its kind, a golden compass called a alethiometer
because it can reveal the truth if it is read properly. And, Lyra can
read it. So, when her best friend is stolen by Gobblers, she decides to
use the compass to find him. Meanwhile, Lyra has caught the attention
of the icy Mrs. Coulter played by Nicole Kidman, whose eyes seem to penetrate
one’s soul when she looks at you. However, Mrs. Coulter knows a
secret about Lyra and she’s determined not only to stop Lord Asriel
but to bring young Lyra under her wing. Well, things quickly go array.
While Craig and Kidman look marvelous, the most exciting character in
The Golden Compass is the mighty Iorek Byrnison
(voiced by Ian McKellen). He’s dramatic and fierce. And, when he
makes war, all children under seven, should not be present in the theater.
The battles scenes are intense and disturbing! Lyra is the center of this
tale and Iorek, a wily cowboy with a flying machine (Sam Elliot), warrior
witches and a group of travelling Gyptions rally behind her. Of course,
the Magisterium has their own soldiers – an elite, well-armed group
of Russian soldiers with wolves as companions. The battles against the
snowy background are exciting and majestic.
Mr. Weitz has done a decent job even though the characters are quickly
introduced and the storyline hurried. But, it’s the ending that
I dislike. The movie simply stops so if there aren’t any sequels,
it will seem unfinished.
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