The Golden Compass

2007-Fantasy

The random hype this film got by religious folks reached even myself due to a random chain E-Mail of all things.
This film is as blasphemous as Ice Age/Land Before Time (evolution) or Harry Potter series (witchcraft) and Little Mermaid (worship of demigods). Get off it you fools! Sure the book dives into the whole anti organized religion and all 'Free Thinkers' (i.e. elitists that think they are better than everyone else not as smart as them) are glorified.
What we have here is a writer using a hot button issue and putting it on a book knowing people would be interested on his anti-Vatican/God views. No different than Bill Shakespeare or Hemingway.

Synopsis:
The the infinite Galaxy's there are infinite universes parallel to our own. Some have slight differences and others extreme (nothing new to comic book readers). In this universe souls are not inside the person but beside him, called Daemons. This universe is ruled by a tightfisted Religious organization named Magisterium, and instills a Monotheistic god and looks down upon science and forces control.
Lyra (little orphan girl) is set for a task to find/rescue her kidnapped friend and meet new comrades discovering the mysteries of the Golden Compass and a prophecy yet unrevealed.

All-in-All:
It is interesting that a book that received so much notice about anti religion, and that the Movie tried to keep the religious tones to a minimum. What you do get is an interesting coming of age movie with a grander/epic Sci-Fi/Fantasy tale. I enjoyed this film for its visuals (all polar bears must wear armor from this day forward!), average acting, and amazing war sequences keeping the violence true and harsh but maintaining the PG-13 rating without having tons of blood and decapitations. I liked the film, though it felt like it was all set up and not a complete film (duh! i know its a trilogy, but c'mon, that doesn't excuse a solid tale with tied up loose ends) but I do enjoy the perfect blend of children's story and Sci-Fi/Fantasy with balls!

Riko's Rating: B