Reading this review might turn you into an atheist. Anyone whose faith might be shaken by otherworldly special effects or stellar acting is in serious danger. Most of the pre-release media coverage for “The Golden Compass” that does not focus on stars Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman dwells on the film’s alleged religious subversion. It’s true in the broadest sense this is a movie about free will and the struggle against spirituointellectual repression, but that makes it sound boring.
“The Golden Compass” is set in another world, and every frame is a dazzling visual feast. In this world, a person’s soul exists outside his body in the form of an animal called a daemon. Not the least of the filmmakers’ accomplishments is the creation of realistic-looking talking animals that can actually be taken seriously. The rest of the largely CGI world oozes stunning detail so captivating that while the movie is playing it’s almost impossible to think about the Herculean feats of technowizardry behind it.
In addition to the amazing visuals, “The Golden Compass” has a gripping and original story (which is only slightly hobbled by metaphysical exposition) and a fantastic cast. Craig is commanding as the free-thinking Lord Asriel, and his regrettably brief amount of screen time makes the most of his forceful presence. Derek Jacobi and Christopher Lee are delicious in small roles (could any Council including them be anything but evil?), and Ian McKellan and Ian McShane turn in outstanding voice work as rival armored polar bears.
Kidman mesmerizes in her portrayal of Mrs. Coulter, an ambitious instrument of the ruling religious body. Mrs. Coulter commits heinous atrocities with perfect poise, but Kidman’s manipulation of her icy facade and its cracks are disturbing in the best possible way. An unexpected standout is young newcomer Dakota Blue Richards, whose Lyra is the headstrong center of the film and the owner of the golden compass.
In the hands of a first-rate director, “The Golden Compass” could have been magnificent. Under Chris Weitz, the story unfolds only capably. Luckily for him, the actors and effects teams hit the ball out of the park, and their efforts almost make up for the lapses in pacing and pedestrian editing. Still, the majority of the movie’s faults lie at his door, particularly the clunkily scripted ending that inexplicably cuts off just before the jaw-dropping finale of the source novel.
Despite its flaws, “The Golden Compass” is a solid piece of entertainment that is certainly worth seeing on the big screen. With a sequel sure to be in the works, this series has time for the shape of its soul to settle so it can live up to its fantastical promise.
RATING: 3 stars (out of 5)
