The Golden Compass," adapted from the first novel of Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy, is one of the many fantasy epics to follow in the footsteps of the excellent and very profitable "Lord of the Rings" movies. The advertising for the new film, which even features Ian McKellen of Gandalf fame in a prominent role, has continually stressed its ties to Peter Jackson's work. While nowhere near the quality of Jackson's trilogy, "The Golden Compass" offers enough surprises to merit at least a rental or even a matinee ticket.
The film is set in a parallel world where the soul lives outside the body in the form of an animal — called a daemon — and society is dominated by a religious organization known as the Magisterium, which seeks total control. Initially, the orphan Lyra (Dakota Blue Richards) has nothing to do with these political goings-on, spending her days cooped up in the repressive Jordan College. Things change when children start disappearing, supposedly taken by "Gobblers." Prominent lady Marisa Coulter (Nicole Kidman) recruits Lyra to go north with her to where armored polar bears reside. But before Lyra is taken away, the school's headmaster gives her the Golden Compass, an object able to tell the truth. When the malicious Coulter, a secret agent for the Magisterium, finds out that Lyra possesses the valuable device, Lyra must flee. The young girl embarks on a quest that will take her across the high seas and icy tundra to uncover the conspiracy that reveals why her friends have been kidnapped.
The star of this not-so-subtle critique of the Catholic Church, first-time actor Richards, is the highlight of the production. While her Lyra has a convincing Frodo-like determination, it is Richards' ability to endow her character with childlike qualities that enlivens Lyra. In a scene typical of her performance, Richards delivers a rambling speech about how her polar bear protector reminds her of her uncle, Lord Asriel (Daniel Craig). Her ability to evoke the spontaneity and joy of a child's overlong speeches injects a spark of life into the special-effects laden world.
In a fantasy, the hero is only as good as the villain; happily, "The Golden Compass" has made a spot-on choice with Kidman. After floundering for the past few years, she has finally found a role that fits her look perfectly. Kidman's very understated turn as the obsessive woman exploits her flawless face to create a portrait of an empty and joyless character. When Kidman's porcelain-like visage finally does contort in anger during a pivotal scene where Lyra resists her control, the result is deeply unsettling. The megastar's controlled performance is an excellent foil to the sometimes bubbly protagonist.
The same praise cannot be applied to much of the supporting cast, including Craig. Having swept away audiences with his portrayal of a brutal James Bond in last year's "Casino Royale," the actor plays his character with all the intensity of a paperweight. Craig's Asriel, a character described as tough and ruthless, is a bumbling fop who in the midst of battle will suddenly ask his opponents to talk things out like civilized gentlemen. The grizzled Craig is wasted in this role; he comes off as more a bland joke than an engaging leading man.
Like the performances, the special effects are a mixed bag. Director Chris Weitz has a keen eye for creating massive set pieces that evoke both the Roman and Victorian eras. Unfortunately, the technology driving the visuals cannot support the director's ambitious vision. The animal effects, so central in a film where each character has an animal counterpart, are well-animated but look second-rate. Even more distracting, small details appear absent from the final product. For instance, while much of the film is set in the Arctic north, the film never shows frozen breath coming out of anyone's mouth. These mistakes make the actors seem utterly disconnected from the world their characters supposedly inhabit.
These technical flaws are a shame, since the world of "The Golden Compass" is far more original than a typical "Lord of the Rings" ripoff. The story bristles with interesting ideas and finds ways to convincingly join Western gunslingers with witches and pirates. But at a little under two hours, the uneven film is simply too short to explore any of these compelling concepts at length. Coming away from the rushed movie, one cannot help but feel that within "The Golden Compass" lies a glimmer of a much bigger and better film. But just a glimmer.
The Golden Compass :: New Line Cinema
Pros:
Richards steals the show, subversive subtext, Kidman as villainCons:
Special effects, running time too short, Craig should stick to Bond moviesRead More
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