The Golden Compass

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Blu B The editing isn't good here and is the biggest problem here. It makes sense barely enough and does stay focused on Lyra for the most part to it's credit, but it feels like there are chunks missing because so many ideas are just underdevloped, rushed, or just forgotten about. We really don't get any backstory on Lyra, her father, brother, or anyone. They just assume we understand the spirit animal connection with no explanation at all, the realtionship with her family is just forgotten about, and her bonding with the polar bear is so rushed it's not even funny just to name a few. This alternates netween underdevloped stuff and plot expose scenes for most of the runtime. I'm not familiar with the source material but the climax is just nonstop CGI action and it just sort of ends like how the first LOTR did which was a letdown. The pacing just ins't good in general. The acting is alright thanks to a seasoned supporting cast but most of the time there just used for plot expose and forgotten about. That's another thing this just keeps throwing new characters at you nonstop even past halfway. Daniel Craig is forgotten about after the 30 minutes, Sam Elliot appears out of nowhere in the middle, Ian McKellan's bonding is so rushed out of nowhere past halfway, Kidman is forgotten about halfway, and I'm sure here are others. This can never keep a steady supporting cast but they do help because Dakota Richards isn't good at all. She is so emotionless, wooden, and robotic the entire time. She is so boring whenever she is on screen and the supporting cast helps make it watchable. The cinematography isn't good either. The direction is so basic, the lighting is dull, there is so much CGI in this it borders on oversaturation at points. There is tons of production value, nice set designs and special effects galore but it just adds up to a whole lot of nothing. Neverending Story this isn't. This needed to be more tangible with it's effects and be less dull in the practical ones it does have. The music is just boring and forgettable as well. Skip this. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 09/17/24 Full Review Andrew L The polar bear is the only likeable character in this film. That alone should tell you something. Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 08/17/24 Full Review Audience Member its a poor trilogy of a great book. Does not deserve more than 2 stars Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 07/05/24 Full Review Adam P I think this is very good Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/25/24 Full Review Katerina M It is a wonderful movie which kept my children and me entertained a few times already. It is just as well made as Harry Potter. I wish they continue with the entire trilogy! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/26/23 Full Review Audience Member After 15 years this was a good try even if it did end up failing so quickly Adapted from His Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman it centers on witches, pirates, magic, talking animals, and religion starring Daniel Craig, Eva Greene, Nicole Kidman, Sam Elliot, the late Christopher Lee, and Ian McKellan Dust is sacred to many of the inhabitants of this alternate earth where everyone has a spirit animal (daemons) that talks If the spirit animal dies the human lives but if the human dies so does the spirit The focus is on a girl named Lyra played by Dakota Blue Richards A powerful ruler called the Majesterium or a pseudo-Catholic Church in a reality that never enjoyed the benefits of the Reformation is after an item called the Golden Compass that points to wherever the holder needs to go and Lyra is given the compass which makes her run away Lyra will need the help of her daemon, armored bears, witches, and pirates to solve the compass's mystery and stop the Majesterium The dust particle itself in this story threatens all the strict teachings of everyone who mentions it, it's deemed blasphemous since it brings up alternate universes without rulers The film has a cool steampunk feeling to it along with some impressive CGI and I enjoyed the fantasy aspect It's insanely violent in parts It had an impeccable cast, too plus the daemons act out the humans and their inner turmoil The issues however stem from director Chris Weitz having so much cliched dialogue and exposition in here but it does come together near the end There's lots of stuff in here about religious heresy which of course isn't surprising since this movie offended the Roman Catholic Church Freethinking, heretics, and putting aside centuries of teachings because of new discoveries are many of the main elements the story attempts to tackle Much of the movie's controversy from religion and authority as well as the source material killed a potential franchise This also tried to follow in the footsteps of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings Plus this script is unfortunately crammed with so much stuff it barely leaves enough room for the characters to be developed Even if the movie is considered an underperformer it did help necessitate New Line Cinema’s absorption into the Warner Bros. Discovery plus The tv series thankfully did a much better job adapting these books so it wasn't all for nothing Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/08/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Golden Compass

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