Movie Review

As promised in our Book of the Week post from November 20, 2007 we’ve prepared a movie review for The Golden Compass which is still in theaters.

Our group left the theater happy and has had time to mull over how well the movie compared to the book.  Many had recently read / re-read all or some of the trilogy before seeing Philip Pullman’s fantastical parallel universe brought so beautifully to the big screen and overall were very satisfied.  As is so often is the case with books made into movies, there are deviations from the book.  This includes a happy ending where there wasn’t one, but overall New Line's production kept with the integrity of the classic novel’s plot and characters.  Even Mrs. Coulter’s character with her dark hair, eyes and personality, whose impression has stayed with so many readers young and old through the years, came through equally as wicked as Nicole Kidman’s fair-complexioned characterization in the movie.

We drew a stalemate concerning what age movie goers would appreciate the fantasy epic’s adaptation. We agreed the movie may not show as well to a person under the age of 10 and it could enchant viewers up into adulthood with its complex characters and a fascinating, and at times all too familiar, plot.  References to philosophy and literature are abundant which count as a draw for many, while perceived anti-Catholic and atheistic themes may have kept some away, hurting the chances for cinematic adaptations of Subtle Knife or Amber Spyglass. 

We hope, as did other younger movie goers in nearby seats, we’ll have the pleasure of seeing more of Lyra’s world on the silver screen and that Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials will continue to enchant an ever growing audience of readers.