An epic fantasy in the Lord of the Rings mold, filmmaker Chris Weitz's The Golden Compass has a few of the same qualities, but the film's solid disparate parts—writing, direction, acting, special effects, and production design—never completely coalesce into a fully satisfying whole. Based on the first book in Philip Pullman's YA fantasy trilogy, the story is set on a parallel Earth where humans are paired with animal “daemons” who serve as their spiritual companions. This world is ruled by The Magisterium, an all-powerful government—with a theological bent and a penchant for mind-control—that kidnaps young children (who automatically resist authority) for reprogramming in some far-off detention center. A young girl named Lyra (Dakota Blue Richards) represents a particular threat to The Magisterium, partially because she may be the last person alive who can read an Alethiometer, the fabled Golden Compass that always tells the truth. While serving as an apprentice of sorts to the enigmatic, icy Mrs. Coulter (Nicole Kidman), Lyra discovers that her beloved uncle (Daniel Craig) has been targeted for assassination, setting into motion a series of adventures in which Lyra allies herself with an independent-minded airship-flying cowboy (Sam Elliott) and a gigantic “ice bear” (a computer-generated creature voiced by Ian McKellen) exiled from his frozen land in the North. Whether the Pullman series will find better cinematic footing in the next installment of the trilogy remains to be seen. Recommended, overall. [Note: Available in both single-disc and double-disc standard DVD editions and single-disc Blu-ray, double-disc DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Chris Weitz (with a picture-in-picture visual commentary option on the Blu-ray version), a 20-minute “Dæmons” featurette on the creatures, a look at “The Novel” with author Philip Pullman (19 min.), a featurette on the film's “Armored Bears” (18 min.), a featurette on “The Adaptation” with screenwriter Weitz (16 min.), a “Finding Lyra Belacqua” featurette on star Dakota Blue Richards (15 min.), a 14-minute “The Alethiometer” prop featurette, a 26-minute look at “Production Design,” a 12-minute featurette on “Costumes,” a “Music” featurette (11 min.), an eight-minute “Oxford” location featurette, “The Launch” on the film's premiere (8 min.), a poster gallery, and trailers. Bottom line: a fine extras package for a mostly winning fantasy adventure.] (E. Hulse)
The Golden Compass
New Line, 113 min., PG-13, DVD: $28.98, Blu-ray: $39.98, Apr. 29 Volume 23, Issue 2
The Golden Compass
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