JPF Home Page Forums Creative Arts Forums Acting, Theater, Film and TV Forum "Gimmie-A-Clue" Review: "THE GOLDEN COMPASS"/Nicole Kidman

Hmmmm... This is my THIRD Attempt to sit down & explain this Fascinating (& Fantasy-Filled) Movie. (So MANY Details, SO Little TIME!) For Starters, it's "Book One" of a Trilogy penned by Phillip Pullman. So IF you like Convoluted FANTASTIC Plotlines, & INTERESTING Characters & Dialogue, you're Just-Gettin'-STARTED with this one!

Stars Nicole Kidman, as Mrs. Coulter, a Beautifully-Dressed High-Society Protector-of-Orphans, with major Political & Religious Clout (& a Big Secret, later-on). Mrs. Coulter's flawless-facade hides Evil Deeds, like helping to plot the assasination of Lord Asriel (Daniel Craig), and snatch the "Golden Compass" from Lyra Belacqua (Well-Played by young Dakota Blue Richards).

The "Compass", (Actually a Mechanical-Mystical Contraption that goes By Another Name here), has the ability to tell Past-&-Future, in answer to Questions Properly-Posed to it.) Lyra's "Keep-it-HIDDEN" Gift is one of the FEW Not-Confiscated-Yet by the corrupt Clergy who more-or-less Rule this Scientifically-Advanced "Parallel Planet in a Parallel Universe". Her Very Liberal-Minded (Hence-"Targeted") Scientist Father has just-discovered OUR Planet & Universe, where, unlike his, Souls reside INSIDE our bodies.

In Lyra's, they're OUTSIDE..in the form of "Companion Animals" that Tag Along (& Converse & Warn their Alter-Egos regularly.) Choke or Kill ONE and you take the OTHER with it. KIDS get Critters that can Morph into Other Species at-will, GROWNUPS' Critters have settled-down to an UN-Changing Critter..(Like a Tiger, Eagle, & even a Praying Mantis was spotted on one adult's shoulder.) Prepare for Real-BUSY Crowd Scenes!

Add-IN "Formation-Flying Witches", A How-Did-HE-Get-Here Texan (Sam Elliott as Lee Scoresby) flying a weird Balloon Contraption, Frozen Northland Orphanages, & "Armored Bears" (Don't laugh..they're both Heroic & Cool!) & you've got a Very Interesting & Hard-to-Explain Movie..as Lyra heads North to rescue fellow Orphans from Losing Their Souls to advanced Electronics & Corrupt Clergymen & Women! There's an Assasination to be Thwarted, & The Meaning of "Dust" Awaits...

All This, Just-In-Time for the Probable SEQUIL (& Action-Figure-TOYS to arrive just-ahead of Christmas Eve!)

I'll rate it a "7-outta-10", for a Yarn Well-Told, But NOT Easy-to-Explain! I enjoyed the 18th-19th-Century Horsedrawn Carriages (with Horses-Replaced by what looked like Little Fusion Generators!). Other neat "Transportation-Touches": a 19th Century Sidewheeler-Sailboat..& a Futuristic Deco-Dirigible (With a Great View, from its Nose!) Exterior Architecture Shots of 1890's-1900's German-Austrian-Goes-Skyscraper, and Interior Decors with some really FINE French Art Nouveau Touches make this one BEAUTIFUL Parallel Planet! (Complete with English-y Countrysides..then Off to the Frozen North for a Goldrush-y Alaskan Village...then off to Snowladen Mountain Ranges & Ice-Bridges!)

There is a Religious-Angle to the Plotline that's sort of Inquisition-Meets-Just-Pre-Scopes-Monkey-Trial...& taking the Orphan Kids' Soul/Critters away parallels taking away Our Free-Will here on OUR Planet. I DON'T see it as an Indictment of ALL of Christianity..but others are already On-Record of feeling-so. (So MUCH so that I think a NEW writer was called-in to re-adapt this book to Movie Script.)

The "Violence", particularly the Main Battle Scene, is on the Unusual Side, & those-Killed evaporate in a Flash of Fire, for the most part. It's overall a kinda "Hansel & Gretel" Fairytale for Adults, but I think you can cautiously Bring The Kids to this one. (Tho I confess to having had Bad Dreams for a Week after seeing the Witch hurl a Fireball..in The Wizard of Oz...when I saw it at Age 6. Over-10 Kids can probably handle this like in ANY Video Game...but Use Your Better Judgement here.) Lotsa Swords, Arrows, & yep, even Guns on this Sister-Universe..& You can draw lots of your OWN Conclusions on what Phillip Pullman's REALLY Saying Here. (Hard to Explain, but It's NEVER a Dull Movie.) &..Stay-Tuned for 2 More...heh!

I didn't realize this movie was out. Did you see it in a preview?

Brian

HiDee Big Bro!

Yep...La Femme snagged Tix for the Monday Premiere here...tho, INTERESTINGLY, there was ALSO a "Sneak Preview" on Saturday in Tampa AHEAD of Our "Freebie" Engagement! (Smart Folks, those Movie Hypers..heh!)

This Baby's Fascinating Fun, with..as-anticipated..GREAT Special Effects. (The word "Incredible" almost slipped-in..but guess even I'm a bit-jaded by the Magic-Available these days on Computer-Command..heh!) Think this'n sets The Record for Number of "Talking Animals"...(All via an L.A. Studio owned by a fan-collecting buddy of mine, Alberto Noti)

IF you're NOT "Highly-Religious" I think you'll much-enjoy all the Shenannigans here. (It doesn't ALL Make Sense..but must have been HELL to Adapt to Screen, to begin-with.) UN-like "The DaVinci Code", where I felt All The Hype delivered a Less-Than-Satisfying Picture, THIS One DE-Livered.

JMO...& Guess I Forgot "Keep-or-Sweep" in the Review Above, too!
(The Things Ol'Age does to ya...heh!)

Best Wishes &
Another Big-Guy-Hug, Amigo,
Stan

I wish I could get out and see all these movies! I barely get out to see 3-4 per year!

Brian

my picks for this year's best movies are:

1) Zodiac...captures the mood and era perfectly which I can sorta remember. Defintely suspenseful and well, well worth at least a rental. trust me.

2) No Country For Old Men...fantastic modern noir with an ambiguous ending that feels as real as a Guy Clark song.

3) 3:10 to Yuma...killer western.

4) American Gangster...great crime flick if you can handle the sordid details. Lucas shoulda never worn that coat.

(someone should start a thread about the year's best flix. I'm not that guy, haha)

I saw the trailer for this film during the summer. Couldn't wait 7 months for the film so I got all three audio books. The first was more than 13 hours long. What a story. Since that time, I've revisted the movie trailer site and much has been added. So, far the trailers are very exciting. However, I am curious how they will manage to squeeze that book into a film (2 or more hours).

Yes, it is a bit dark, but what movie these days isn't. I was totally spellbound listening to the story with narration by Philip Pullman and cast. A Bravo stellar performance by all.

It's a bit of a challenge giving a synopsis (my take) about this story, but I feel it will not dissapoint. There is a lot of danger, excitement, risk taking, courage, friendships, loyalty, betrayal, trechery, self examination, regret and growth.

Here is a description from the audio book:
When Lyra and her daemon Pantalaimon decide to spy on a presentation her uncle, the commanding Lord Asriel, is making to the elders of Jordan College they have no idea that they will become witnesses to an attempted murder�and even less that they are taking the first steps in a journey that will lead them into danger and adventure unlike anything Lyra's unfettered imagination has conjured up.

Though she has been reised at the college in an atmosphere of benign neglect that has allowed her to become a half-wild child of the streets, Lyra soon finds herself apprenticed to the elegant Mrs. Coulter�and in possession of a strange device called the alethiometer, a "golden compass" that reads not true worth, but truth itself.

But truth is a precious commodity, and before long Lyra and Pan are running for their lives, the object of an obsessive hunt by mysterious forces who have been stealing children for dark purposes that no one understands. Lyra will need all her street-learned wiles if she and Pan are to survive.

An international sensation from the moment it was published, The Golden Compass comes to spectacular new life in this unabridged recording, narrated by Philip Pullman himself, with the support of some of the finest actors of the London stage."

This is a story I would enjoy again at least once a year or more. So glad I got the next two audio books in this trilogy. Enjoy!

HiDee Bro Brian!

Before my wife got the Free Movie Preview Tickets Bug, we got in The Habit of Dinner & A Movie, every Saturday Nite. Got even easier when we qualified for "Senior Tickets"..heh-heh!

Then..Bless 'Em, the Tampa Trib began giving out Free Tix, Twice-Weekly..(Tho it's HARD to find the page where the Announcements ARE..& Days Vary!) La Femme "Passes" on Cartoons/Kid Flicks (Which is WHY we didn't get tix for "ALVIN" today, alas!)

But she's good for an Hour's Wait, rain-or-shine, when GOOD Flicks are offered. (Usually, gotta be in front of the Trib Bldg between 11-11:30..& Lines CAN get pretty LONG..[& ya leave it, any reason, ya gotta get back in in The BACK of da line..heh!])

But..suggest ya make ONE night a Week into "Movie Night"...& away ya go!

Best Wishes & a Big Guy-Hug,
Stan

HiDee Rob, & Thanks for Visitin', Amigo!

Agree witcha on #1 & 4...have yet to see #2, which LOOKS like a Dandy, hype-wise/Hope it's still playin' This Weekend!

#3 I enjoyed, but HATED the Last 5 minutes where Crowe blows away his Entire Gang. Didn't seem "Logical". THEN..I talked to Steve Pearsal, St Pete Times Uber-Critic, & he said this Re-Make WAS true to the Original Movie, right down to The Ending. (& yeah, HE Loved It!)

WAS a Fun One to View & REview, anyways...(& I Still think The Ending Sucks...JMO, of course!)

Thanks for Your Kind Visit & Insight, Amigo!

Big Guy-Hug,
Stan

HiDee & Thankee Mz Latteta!

I forget Names rather-rapidly...a personality-disorder since Childhood, alas! I'd forgotten both "Pan" AND the fact "External-Souls" there went by the name of "Daemons"...(Pronounced "Demons", ironically-enough!)

Interesting that "The Story" takes 13 HOURS...(I've forgotten the Movie's Length, it's certainly 2+...AND Most I heard chatting about it in The Audience felt it SHOULD have run Just a Wee Bit LONGER...to resolve several SERIOUS CHALLENGES it set up, Plot-wise, JUST before the last 3 Minutes ran by. (Which prompted my Quip about The Inevitable SEQUIL(S) that are To Be CONTINUED...)

Reality..(Or at least The Rumor) IS: New Line Cinema (Think It Is) has "committed $150 Million to developing All 3 Philip Pullman Books" in sort of the NEXT "Lord of The Rings Trilogy".

It's certainly Off To A Good Start, IMO. Thanks for "The Alethiometer" & Other Details-I've-Neglected..It's kinda HARD to cram 13 Hours Text into 2 Hrs of Movie..then 2 Typed-Pages of Critique..heh! Sure Appreciate Your Visit & Assist!

Big Hugs,
Stan

Hey Stan,
Found this on my yahoo home page http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808718640/video/5305481
There are 17 video clips. I am totally excited about this movie. But am glad I had the opportunity to have experienced ther audio book. Enjoy!

HiDee Mz Tee!

I tried "The First 5 Minutes" clip...(& the Audio got interrupted 3 1/2 minutes-in by a Crest Toothpaste Advt...yikes!)

Did remind me how Rapidly/Smoothly we all got Immersed in the Culture of that Parallel World. (Reminds me of a Film French Course I took in College. Lots of The Familiar, alongside the Nouveau..heh!) You'll have "The Edge" over ALL the other Audience Members because You've Already Read The Book it's based-upon.

I'm looking forwards to your sharing with us whether you think they DID follow the book pretty-well...or not-so. (& WAS this movie What You Expected?)

Thanks again for Your Kind Visit!
Big Hugs,
Stan

Hey Stan, I'mma tell straight out...I have no expectations. I know the film is gonna be great. I watched all 17 video clips (trailers) and was totally fascinated. My favorite character is the bear (Yorick Erickson). I probably spelled it wrong but I love this bear.

I am curious about how they will tell that complexed story in 2 hours. But regardless, I can't wait. For me it's like the 'Narnia' movie. I could watch that film over and over and over again. In fact I have LOL. Can you guess my favorite character in that film??? The LION of course :-). So, I'll be back here with my take on the movie.

Thanks for posting this. Hugs back atcha!
(((((((((((((Stan))))))))))))))))

HiDee Mz Tee!

Saw the Local Paper's Review this AM...which said the Plotline was all Gobbldeegooked-Up, but The Acting Saved It, entertainment-wise.
Reviewer said he (she?)'d have given it an "F" if it weren't for the Acting...ALSO said "Not recommended for kids Under-13"...

So...It's apparently NOT Everyone's Cuppa Tea, Mz Tee..but I AM lookin' forwards to Your Opinion..(& I know you'll Rave at the Bears' Portrayals!)

Me, I just calls-'em like I-sees-'em. (& then I add "Keep-or-Sweep"..heh-heh!)

Big Hugs, {{{{{Mz Tee!}}}}
Ol' Stan

Hey there buddy!! Big hugs to yas! Yep I have been away for awhile. The request for judges got me back here and thought of this post. So, here I am.

I loved the movie. Oh man!!! it was totally great. I would see it again and again and again. Love the bear soooo much. I would not compare the audio book to the movie. They were both fantastic.

How are you? Best to you and yours the Universe has to offer. tee