The Golden Compass

Name: The Golden Compass
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy, Family
Released: December 7, 2007
Duration: 113 min
Rating: 51
Cast: Dakota Blue Richards, Daniel Craig, Nicole Kidman

2007

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 33 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 364 Ratings

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6.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 364 Ratings

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THE GOLDEN COMPASS

Movie Details & Credits

New Line Cinema | Release Date: December 7, 2007

Starring: Dakota Blue Richards, Daniel Craig, Nicole Kidman

Summary: Based on author Philip Pullman's bestselling and award-winning novel, The Golden Compass tells the first story in Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. The Golden Compass is an exciting fantasy adventure, set in an alternative world where people's souls manifest themselves as animals, talking bears fight wars, and Gyptians and witchesBased on author Philip Pullman's bestselling and award-winning novel, The Golden Compass tells the first story in Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. The Golden Compass is an exciting fantasy adventure, set in an alternative world where people's souls manifest themselves as animals, talking bears fight wars, and Gyptians and witches coexist. At the center of the story is Lyra, a 12-year-old girl who starts out trying to rescue a friend who's been kidnapped by a mysterious organization known as the Gobblers--and winds up on an epic quest to save not only her world, but ours as well. (New Line Cinema)… Expand

Director: Chris Weitz

Genre(s): Adventure, Fantasy, Family

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 113 min

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Awards & Rankings

20	#20 Most Discussed Movie of 2007

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert

A darker, deeper fantasy epic than the "Rings" trilogy, "The Chronicles of Narnia" or the "Potter" films. It springs from the same British world of quasi-philosophical magic, but creates more complex villains and poses more intriguing questions. As a visual experience, it is superb. As an escapist fantasy, it is challenging. Read full review

Philadelphia Inquirer - Steven Rea

If Weitz's Golden Compass feels, at times, too crammed with exposition and big set pieces, the film nonetheless works far more successfully than the first Potter pic - the leaden "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" - did translating its source material. Read full review

ReelViews - James Berardinelli

One key missing element: the world in which this story takes place never feels unique. We aren't drawn into it the way we were with Middle Earth or Hogwarts. In fact, with all the airships flying around, there are times when it feels like an extension of Stardust. Read full review

Wall Street Journal - Joe Morgenstern

Looks magical, seethes with elusive profundities and makes remarkably little sense, though the murkiness makes perfect sense on a shallower level. Read full review

The New York Times - Manohla Dargis

Has many of the virtues of a faithful screen adaptation and many of the predictable flaws. Read full review

Village Voice - Michelle Orange

In drawing and quartering much of the novel's intent, Weitz ends up with a film that feels not just unfinished but undone. Read full review

Rolling Stone - Peter Travers

Me, I just think it blows. What does it matter if you spend millions on a movie - love the talking, battling bears! - if the effects are cheesy, the story runs off on tangents and after watching the movie fail utterly to be the next Lord of the Rings, you just want to go home. Read full review

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User Reviews

AdamP.

Dec 3, 2007

Slow at first but picks up speed and leaves you really thinking.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

TerryC.

Dec 7, 2007

Ultimately there is no complex concepts to this, users say its a boring clunky execution, I say wrong, this is nearly perfect, the effects are astounding, the sound is stunning, it is an entertaining and totally great family fun.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

WarrenE.

Jan 4, 2008

I think the reason for low US gross is number one it stars a GIRL (Most male reviewers panned it and female reviewers loved it) and it requires you to think which is something of a lost art here (we keep electing crooks who are stealing us blind). I do not think the Christian Nazis are the I think the reason for low US gross is number one it stars a GIRL (Most male reviewers panned it and female reviewers loved it) and it requires you to think which is something of a lost art here (we keep electing crooks who are stealing us blind). I do not think the Christian Nazis are the problem as they do not go to Hollywood movies anyway. The only reason I went to see it was that the Pope said that I should not. Until then I thought that it was just another mind numbing fantasy for children like Lord (Bored) of the Ring. I fell asleep during the first LOFR movie and have not watched any of the sequels. GC was two hours long but only seemed like an hour. I have gone back and seem it twice more. Once to catch the details I missed the first time and again to analyze the story. I hope the sequels will not have to be dumbed down even more for the US audience just to get a higher box office.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful

AldenL.

Dec 8, 2007

Solid movie, with weak parts saved by Kidman and spectacular visuals. Story is streamlined from book, but mostly with success. Magisterium is a perfect 'alternative' to the Church; it's clear to any educated person what it's referring to and drives the plot nicely. Major Solid movie, with weak parts saved by Kidman and spectacular visuals. Story is streamlined from book, but mostly with success. Magisterium is a perfect 'alternative' to the Church; it's clear to any educated person what it's referring to and drives the plot nicely. Major downfall of movie, if there is one: the ending is completely botched, and without a reason for doing so. The story is already violent and tragic, so why do away with that last pivotal scene. Who are they protecting? Either way, strong film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

smijatov

Jun 10, 2012

I have never read the book or was any sort of a fan before I watched the film, I it certainly did not inspire me to want to read the books. In any case, "The Golden Compass" puts up a good fight trying to be a good fantasy epic, but it does not quite achieve that level or recognition. SomeI have never read the book or was any sort of a fan before I watched the film, I it certainly did not inspire me to want to read the books. In any case, "The Golden Compass" puts up a good fight trying to be a good fantasy epic, but it does not quite achieve that level or recognition. Some aspects of the film are very good, namely most of the technical aspects. Excellent production and costume design, along with a decent score and great visual effects provide for some of the films highlights. Unfortunately, the cinematography was totally off. It had this strange, airy quality to it, that made me feel as if I were watching a documentary or something. I cannot quite articulate it, but it definitely blocked me from being able to ever fully immerse myself into the story. It did not help how annoying the portrayal of the main character was by Dakota Blue Richards. Such an annoying kid. I've been told that she's supposed to be like that in the books too, but I just do not understand why. Who would want to read/watch such a miserable character. On the other hand, Nicole Kidman gave an amazingly appropriate, cold performance as Mrs.Coulter, which was another highlights of the film. But other than that, the film never quite tickled my interest to engage it fully, or be sad about the fact that the sequels have been cancelled.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

CaseyH

Dec 6, 2007

As a huge fan of the books, I was disappointed. The character development was nonexistent, the plot line was weak, and (surprise, surprise) they changed many things around that would have been better left untouched. This film should have been made longer in order to keep in important As a huge fan of the books, I was disappointed. The character development was nonexistent, the plot line was weak, and (surprise, surprise) they changed many things around that would have been better left untouched. This film should have been made longer in order to keep in important information. I can guarantee that if you have not read the books, you will not understand most of what is happening. The filmmakers succeeded only in creating a shallow, unfeeling, empty world with meaningless characters populating it... my advice? Pick up the novels, leave the film.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

GregB.

Dec 4, 2007

The book was dull. The movie is duller. It's no Lord of the Rings. It's no Blades of Glory.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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