The Golden 'Compass' (The Golden Compass (DVD))

Member Name: jensattaur

Product:	The Golden Compass (DVD)
Date:	25/08/09 (25 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some excellent acting and set decisions

Disadvantages: Massive oversimplification

Plot: Based on the first book in the 'Dark Materials' Trilogy by Phillip Pullman, 'Northern Lights', this is a story about a young gril named Lyra, living in a parallel universe to our own, and thrust unexpectedly into the middle of a scientific-religious war. When her young friend Roger is captured by a mysterious gang of child-snatchers called the Gobblers, Lyra vows she will go to North and rescue him. The mysterious Mrs. Coulter offers to take her, but Mrs. Coulter is not what she seems to be, and Lyra is forced to flee from her, with the aid of the Gyptians and a ferocious armoured bear. Deep in the north, Lyra joins the fight against Mrs. Coulter and the terrfying Gobblers, and uncovers more than is safe about the properties of 'dust'...

Review:
There are some very good points about this adaptation of a brilliant book, but unfortunately there are an awful lot of bad points as well. To start with the good, Lyra has been very well cast and portrayed. The actress chosen to play her is extremely accurate and believable: the right combination of arrogance and innocence, cunning and moral soundness. This is esentially a story about humainism versus religion, and the characteristation of Lyra as a liar who can reveal the truth, and a child whose innocence is not the same as ignorance, is crucial to the overall story. I was therefor very relieved that the film did not tamper with her character to make her fit the image of the stereotypical goody-two-shoes female child heroine.

In fact, throughout the film, the characteristations were all extremely accurate and believable. Nicole Kidman in particular as Mrs. Coulter was absolutely perfect, as was Daniel Craig as Lord Asriel. Ian McKellen as the voice of Iorek Byrnsson was also perfect, with just the right balance of ferocity and tenderness. I was less impressed with the protrayal of Serafina Pekkala, who has been un-gothed and is a pale shadow of the fabulous character protrayed in the book - this has more to do with the direction, however, as the acting was nevertheless impeccable.

The atmosphere - special effects, scenery, music, and so forth - was also excellent. A lot of attention to detail makes this film a feast for the eyes, and many of the best scenes from the book come to live magically on the screen. I was espeically impressed with the way detail was used to emphasise the similarities and differences between Lyra's universe and our own - heavy brass instruments, flying baloons and zepplins, clothes with a 1920s twist, a technology which is almost familiar but not quite - the portrayal was believable and just exotic enough to be exciting.

On the other hand, the direction left much to be desired. In the first place, too many changes were made in order to simplify the plot - starting with the most annoying and universally-detested decision to name the film 'The Golden Compass'. This title seems to have been pulled out of thin air. The film is not about the 'compass'; nor is the story. The instrument which is nevertheless not the focus of the story is in fact an alethiometer - a truth reader - (made, what is more, of brass, not gold) and I am forced to assume that the decision to rename it was a poor judgement about the ability of audiences to cope with such a long word, or indeed to understand what the 'northern lights' are. To cement this patronising mistake, constant clumsy references are made throughout the film to the alethiometer as a 'golden compass', which only serve to further annoy, without justifying or convincing.

Decisions were likewise made to simplify the plot. I will not say too much about this here, in case I spoil the stroy for anyone; but the whole ending of the book has been virtually removed, making it diffult to see how the next film can be started tidily. The new ending removes much of the heart-wrenching nastiness and pain which makes the first book so brilliant, and it also alters the focus of the story from Lyra as a fallen eve who makes a fatal mistake, to Lyra as an insipid and still innocent heroine. A number of elements which also made the book interesting, such as the complex power struggles influencing the witches' involvement, and the relationship between Lyra and Iorek, are skimmed over very quickly, making the end of the film seem rushed in comparision to the beginning and middle.

Overall, I was disappointed in the film, but not enough to not want to watch it again, or indeed to stop me going to see the second one (when it is made). Read the books, enjoy them, and then see the film. So long as you are not expecting too much, the pretty pictures will be entertaining.

Summary: Could have been better, could have been worse