People may criticize Peter Jackson for the over-long running time of his “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy (not to mention the extended cuts available on DVD), but the man knew how to build a story and characters to care about. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about New Line Cinema’s newest attempt at a fantasy franchise.
Based on the first book of British author Philip Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” trilogy, “The Golden Compass” is a fantasy adventure that stars Daniel Craig (for all of ten minutes) and Nicole Kidman, but really revolves around a little orphan named Lyra (Dakota Blue Richards). Chris Weitz (”About a Boy,” “In Good Company”) adapted the screenplay and directs, but he seems hog-tied by non-stop character introductions and too many perceived commercial considerations. The movie moves too fast to carry any weight. Because it is so worried about cramming in as much of the plot as possible, we don’t get to know or care about anybody.
A fast-paced action flick does not always suit the material. What New Line needs to remember is that Jackson spent a good hour getting to know the hobbits and their way of life in the Shire before setting them off on their quest. Poor Lyra is whisked away with the nefarious Marisa Coulter (Kidman) so quickly that we barely get a handle for who she is. Her allies and enemies alike—flying witches, pirate-lite gyptians, talking polar bears, and high councilors—have little more than cameos and their motives are all sketchy at best.
Then, of course, there are the numerous movies it seems to have lifted every major character and plot point from. Instead of a ring, the magical object is a compass, Sam Elliott plays a Han Solo-like ship captain, polar bears replace “Narnia”’s fearsome lion, and the list goes on. This wouldn’t be a problem if the story was able to engage one and make them forget about Harry Potter, but “The Golden Compass” never sees its direction clearly.
There is something about dust being quite valuable (not spice, you “Dune” fans) and the existence of parallel universes, but the main threat of the film comes in the form of the Magisterium. Pullman freely admits he is an athiest, and many religious groups are up in arms about his fictional not-necessarily-religious group’s outward similarity to the Catholic Church—A small group of powerful old men dressed in robes who want to limit freedom, tell people what to think, and kidnap children to inflict severe psychological damage? I just don’t see it!
Seriously, though. I have a legitimate beef with this essential premise. If the Magisterium are the narrow-minded prigs they are made out to be in their limited amount of screen time, then why are they in power in the first place? Somebody must like them. Who put them there? Does anyone perceive them to be righteous? It is not hard to believe that Lyra’s world is in danger of becoming a dictatorship now, but it would have been nice to get some background on how without having to read the book.
Kidman is fine in a devilish role, but her dialogue in one key scene sounds like an antithetical thesis statement. When she tells mischievous little Lyra that sometimes it’s good to let others make decisions for you because they know better, it is less than convincing. Lyra doesn’t believe it, the audience doesn’t believe it, Kidman doesn’t even look like she believes it. I understand that Weitz had a lot of ground to cover in the script, but he’s normally such a natural at great dialogue that it is disappointing to hear it reduced to that.
The CGI effects and art direction are very inspired for the most part. The look is an odd mix of 19th Century England and the sleek, smooth surfaces of the future. A giant polar bear fight scene is impressive (if a bit violent for kids), and the daemons (animal sidekicks who accompany each human) are fairly realistic-looking—as a special effect, that is. It is hard to describe, but you never really get the feeling there are actually animals there because there are so many creatures moving smoothly and silently (like only CGI can) within one frame at any given moment. It makes for one distracting battle scene, though, trying to keep up with every human and his/her furry little buddy, too.
Bringing the film in at just under two hours may have been what the studio wanted, but with everything else going on, it doesn’t bring an audience anywhere near the characters. Maybe if the movie does well, Weitz will get to put out an extended edition and give them their due.
Part of me thinks New Line should have either done the entire HIS DARK MATERIALS trilogy like they did LORD OF THE RINGS (i.e. one long ass fucking shoot making all 3 films together) or flat out not make any of em. I say that because what GOLDEN COMPASS needed (among other things) was more time to really set up this world, the characters, etc. like FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING masterfully did.
Everything just felt random as Hell and the ideas sounded more like what a hyper 8 year old kid would have thought of (i.e. talking polar bears wearing armor, cowboys, flying witches, gyptians, James Bond with a beard, etc.) than actual plot devices. Shit just came too suddenly throughout the film before the ideas could sink in with the audience. And the way the film just abruptly ended, you didn’t have to know about the ending being changed at the last minute to not notice something was up. It definitely gives you that “what the fuck?!?” vibe like after first seeing DUNE.
And…was I the only one thinking of other films during the screening? All the stuff with Lyra & her friends at the college looked like HARRY POTTER. Even that tracking shot introducing Coulter from her backside looked like an outtake from POTTER. And when Asriel fights those thugs in the snow I couldn’t help but think of a BOND film.
It was a really fucking frustrating film for me to sit through because it clearly had the potential to work. If it actually makes $$$ domestically, I’ll be surprised because I…just…can’t see U.S. audiences getting into this.
I had just finished reading these books and was excited to see the Golden Compass. Then, I heard about the controversy, didn’t understand it, and wanted to see the movie even more. However, I recognized the controversial topic as soon as dust was mentioned and it made the movie worth while to me. (I’m still kicking myself for not getting the anti-religion theme while reading. I don’t remember that it’s spelled out the way it is in the movie. In the book, dust was just a secret topic that some were protecting.) The movie brings up the age-old and polarizing topic of science vs. religion and directs the audience to side with science. Dust is the new thing and the magisterium is decidedly against it.
There is a lot missing from the book (like most books to movies) that did not make it to the movie such as the essential ending chapter of the book. They could have made Lyra a lot more interesting. In the book, Lyra is awesome. In the movie, she’s a little brat.
I agree with both of you guys’ opinions on this one. Rushed, should have been better and intriguing, want more.
Thanks for the review.