If you liked Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, or The Chronicles of Narnia, you’ll fall in love with The Golden Compass. The special effects are mind boggling and so realistic that they captivate your eye. And the story keeps you involved and wanting to know what will happen next. Adapted into a screenplay and directed by Chris Weitz from a novel by Philip Pullman. This movie captures the audience. Staring the likes of many brilliant actors including Nicole Kidman as the devilish Marisa Coulter, Daniel Craig as Lord Asriel, and the unforgettable Dakota Blue Richards as the adventurous Lyra Belacqua who is given a priceless gift of the golden compass, the aliethiometer, the truth teller, the very last one in existence.

In a parallel universe where the hidden creatures rule the world, witches fly high in the sky, Ice Bears rule the North, and humans souls walk along side them as animals. Lyra Belacqua, played by Richards who might I add puts on a amazing performance, soon discovers that she holds the fate of the world in her hands when she is given a priceless gift of the golden compass, the truth teller, the last one in existence. In the story it is prophesized that there is one who understands the compass, but who? The adventurous Belacqua begins an adventure as the always brilliant Kidman’s character, Mrs Coulter’s, little apprentice, until discovering Mrs. Coulter’s hidden secret; she is part of the Gobblers, the group of people who stole Lyra’s best mate Roger along with many other innocent children. Lyra and Pan escape and cross paths with the Gyptians and the great John Faa, lord of the Gyptians, played by Jim Carter, who have been watching over Lyra and Pan since they left home. Faa’s advisor Farder Coram, played by Tom Courtenay, explains to Lyra how to ask the alethiometer questions and how to interpret its responses, and after running into the beautiful queen of the witches, Serafina Pekkala, who tells Lyra that she is the subject of the prophecy that concerns the fate of the world and where the missing children are being held, Lyra soon understands that she is meant to be on this journey and soon learns the secrets of the golden compass. You are in for an epic adventure. 

The ending of a movie, in my opinion is what makes the movie good or bad, in this case the ending is the only part that isn’t that well done, it leaves the viewer hanging and wanting more. Fortunately this did not effect my overall judgement of the movie as per usual. It is understood that it’s meant to lead to a sequel so with that considered it makes sense, however it could have been done in a much better way so as to not leave us hanging. The writers ended it too abruptly which leads us into a ‘what happens’ state, giving us that impatience for the sequel that we all dread. I realize they do this to keep us hooked, but this just makes people like myself want to go buy or borrow the books.

This movie is defiantly worth the rent but even more so is more than worth the purchase. It’s available in Blu-ray, as well as regular double or single DVD. The single disk includes your usual special features, but the double is the one you should pick up, because not only does it include the special features but it also includes a feature length audio commentary from the writer/director Chris Weitz, 11 “making of” featurettes inclusive of “The Armoured Bears”, “The Adaptation” and the “Production Design.” You can also find photo galleries and theatrical and teaser trailers in this brilliant collection. It’s filled with wonderful secrets and hidden stories for the fantasy and movie lover alike that will entice you to watch it over and over.

For more information and other fun stuff visit the website at http://www.goldencompassmovie.com or pick up the movie and watch it of course.