Film Review: The Golden Compass (2007)

Not all popular fantasy book series are created equal, and fans of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy learned this lesson the hard way with the release of the 2007 film The Golden Compass. Intended as the first part of a new trilogy to rival the success of The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, the film instead emerged as one of Hollywood's more spectacular failures. Despite its high ambitions, it struggled to resonate with audiences and critics alike, ultimately failing to capture the magic of its source material.

The film's plot is based on Northern Lights, the first novel in Pullman's trilogy, which was published in 1995. In the United States, it was released under the title The Golden Compass. The story unfolds in a parallel universe that bears a certain resemblance to our own, yet is infused with fantastical elements. In this world, humans possess souls that manifest as animal companions known as "daemons." These daemons can change shape until their human counterparts reach puberty. The protagonist, Lyra Belacqua—portrayed by Dakota Blue Richards—is an orphan who resides at Jordan College in Oxford alongside her daemon, Pantalaimon (voiced by Freddie Highmore). The narrative kicks off when Lyra uncovers a conspiracy against her uncle, Lord Asriel (played by Daniel Craig), an adventurer intent on journeying to the North Pole to investigate "Dust," a mysterious substance that could unlock gateways to other worlds. As Lord Asriel departs for his expedition, Lyra embarks on her own adventure to rescue friends who have been abducted by a shadowy group known as the "Gobblers." Throughout her quest, she faces opposition from Mrs. Coulter (Nicole Kidman), a mysterious woman with a seemingly sinister agenda, while receiving assistance from an array of eccentric characters including witch queen Serafina Pekkala (Eva Green), Gyptian king John Faa (Jim Carter), Texan aeronaut Lee Scoresby (Sam Elliott), and armoured bear Iorek Byrnisson (voiced by Ian McKellen).

Produced by New Line Cinema—fresh off its success with The Lord of the Rings—The Golden Compass was an ambitious project with a budget of $180 million. This financial commitment is evident in its impressive CGI effects, which were groundbreaking for their time and resulted in several memorable sequences, particularly in the film's latter half. The general concept of reconstructing Pullman's universe is equally commendable; it mirrors elements found in Harry Potter, presenting an alternate reality that features familiar settings like England but is adorned with Edwardian-era fashion and steampunk technology, including zeppelins as a primary mode of transport.

However, despite these visual triumphs, the film cannot escape serious flaws stemming from Chris Weitz's script. Best known for his work in comedy, Weitz attempted to adapt a relatively lengthy novel in a manner that would appeal to a broad audience—especially younger viewers—while striving to remain faithful to the original text. This resulted in a compromise that ultimately failed to satisfy anyone. The film is bogged down by excessive exposition and information overload in its opening segments, which can feel tedious and uninspired. As it progresses, it shifts abruptly into action sequences while introducing numerous new characters in quick succession, leaving viewers disoriented.

Another significant issue lies in how the film navigates Pullman's critique of organised religion. An Oxford scholar and outspoken atheist, Pullman crafted his trilogy partly as a response to C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, which embodies Christian themes. The Magisterium—a repressive institution clearly modelled after the Catholic Church—plays a central role in His Dark Materials. However, recognising the potential backlash from religious audiences, producers chose to tone down Pullman's criticisms in the film adaptation. Although characters representing the Magisterium are still present—portrayed by Derek Jacobi and Christopher Lee, actors specialised for playing villains—their roles are diminished compared to their literary counterparts. This intervention alienated some devoted fans while simultaneously inciting boycotts from Christian, and especially Catholic, groups, resulting in disappointing box office returns in the United States.

Perhaps the most glaring flaw in The Golden Compass is its lack of a proper ending. Weitz deemed the conclusion of Pullman's original novel too dark and opted for an abrupt finale, leaving the unpleasant task of covering novel’s finale in next film. This leaves many plot threads unresolved, but also frustrates audiences who expect closure from a cinematic adaptation. The film ends without delivering even a satisfactory cliffhanger, leaving viewers bewildered and unsatisfied. This frustration was compounded when New Line Cinema later faced financial difficulties and ultimately decided against producing sequels.

The reasons for The Golden Compass's failure are manifold. Cultural influences in America at the time were still heavily shaped by religious conservatism, which may have hampered its reception among certain demographics. Additionally, Weitz's creative choices did not resonate well with audiences or critics alike; Dakota Blue Richards' relative inexperience in her debut role contributed to an overall disinterest among cast members—including Nicole Kidman—who seemed more memorable for their extravagant costumes than their character portrayals.

Despite these setbacks, fans of Pullman's work refused to accept defeat. Their perseverance led to a more faithful adaptation of His Dark Materials through a television series that aired on BBC and HBO from 2019 to 2022.

In summary, while The Golden Compass presents itself as a visually stunning fantasy adventure with an intriguing premise and rich world-building, it ultimately falters due to significant narrative shortcomings and compromises made during adaptation. Its inability to deliver a coherent story or compelling conclusion has solidified its status as one of Hollywood's notable misfires within the fantasy genre.

RATING: 4/10 (+)

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