A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, volume 1)

Date Viewed: 12/7/08

Details:

Nicole Kidman

Daniel Craig

Dakota Blue Richards

Ben Walker

Eva Green

Sam Elliott

Derek Jacobi

Voice talent: Freddie Highmore (Pantalaimon)

Ian McKellen (Iorek Byrnison)

Kristin Scott Thomas (Stelmaria)

Kathy Bates (Hester)

Written for the screen and directed by: Chris Weitz

Score: ++

The Review: The Dark Materials trilogy from Philip Pullman is one of these children's series that one would be reluctant to declare "beloved" -- in part because it is so dark and graphic, in part because you suspect it was not written solely for children. But it is a well written, closely plotted, wildly imaginative and fascinating tale that is ambitious enough to endure the rigors of the afterlife and encourage the overthrow of heaven -- all from the perspective of the children who populate it as main characters and point of view. It is a set of novels that creates new parallel worlds, with intriguing characters, visible souls, horrific gadgets, complicated political and religious alliances, and an unusual view of the interplay of biology and human life force. They are also novels that have elicited significant controversy, both when originally published and more recently when being put on the screen, from a variety of religious organizations (including the Catholic church). But it was inevitable that it reach the screen, controversy or not.

The first volume is finally here -- The Golden Compass (or, if you read the original English version, Northern Lights) -- and it was worth the wait. It is a grand adventure that starts in a slightly unfamiliar Oxford, wends its way through a totally unrecognizable Venice, on its way to the Arctic, where most of the events are played out. It is not quite the Earth we know, but a slightly shifted analog that has some significant differences -- all of which are relevant to the plot and character development, some more visible than others. If you don't already know, you should find out for yourselves what daemons are, what dust is and why the Magisterium is so worried about it. There are witches, great airships, and intelligent polar bears. If you have never read the books or seen the movie, I envy you -- because you are about to begin the trip of a lifetime, and experience (in the words of the original "Outer Limits") "the awe and mystery that reaches from the inner mind..." It's not always a pleasant journey, but it's an exciting one, and worth the ride.

The screen visualization is excellent; the SFX remarkable -- it does justice to the characters and events. And the polar bears are wonderful! If you have a chance to obtain a copy of the movie poster with Lyra and Iorek, get it and frame it! -- it's that good.

There's a large cast, with both great face and voice recognition. The protagonists are Lyra (Richards) and Roger (Walker); Dakota Blue Richards' performance of Lyra is very good, and the interaction with her daemon is everything you'd hope for (if you were familiar with what's going on). The adults include Mrs. Coulter (a very scary, while simultaneously and unconsciously sultry, Nicole Kidman), Lord Asriel (a more stoic and less seen Daniel Craig), the witch Serafina (Green, gorgeous in her role), and the airship captain from Texas, Lee Scoresby (another role that Sam Elliot was born to play -- superb!). There is the inevitable supporting cast of thousands, from Gyptians to ghouls, Magisterial officials to academics. The world is well illustrated, and you will feel at home in it rapidly. It's so fascinating that almost no suspension of disbelief is needed.

With something this large and wrought with discussion, I have but one quibble. Although much of the flavor and tone of the books are captured well, the screenwriter & director did play with the continuity a bit -- in that the movie did not end at the same point as the first volume of the trilogy did. If you know the Dark Materials, then you will be able to figure out and understand why, but it is a minor disappointment -- I assume this plot point will get picked up in the second installment.

(9-Feb-08)

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