The Golden Compass2007
The Golden Compass (2007)
TOMATOMETER
AUDIENCE SCORE
Critic Consensus: Without the bite or the controversy of the source material, The Golden Compass is reduced to impressive visuals overcompensating for lax storytelling.
The Golden Compass Photos
Movie Info
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Cast
as Mrs. Coulter
as Lord Asriel
as Lyra Belacqua
as Lee Scoursby
as Roger
as Serafina Pekkala
as First High Councilor
as Farder Coram
as Magisterial Emissary
as Pantalaimon
as Fra Pavel
as John Faa
as Ma Costa
as Iorek Byrinson
as Master
as Mrs. Lonsdale
as Second High Councilor
as Hester
as Tony Costa
as Stelmaria
as Billy Costa
as Kerim Costa
as Sister Clara
as Thorold
as Pantalaimon
as Librarian
as Ragnar Sturlusson
as Iorek Byrnison
as Younger Fellow
as Bolvangar Doctor
as Bolvangar Official
as Passing Scholar
as Hunt
as Daemon Puppeteer
News & Interviews for The Golden Compass
Critic Reviews for The Golden Compass
All Critics (198) | Top Critics (58) | Fresh (84) | Rotten (114) | DVD (8)
"The Golden Compass ultimately fails as a film in its broad strokes and inadequate scene development."
This plot may sound somewhat ludicrous on paper, but Pullman has created a logical, well-thought-out world that Weitz has brilliantly translated to the big screen.
Lyra surpasses the timid drone of Pan's Labyrinth or the Pevensies' do-gooder sap, she's brave, smart, and the best liar in the universe.
The Catholic League thinks it's anti-Catholic. Admirers of Philip Pullman's 1995 His Dark Materials trilogy think the film guts the backbone of the book. Me, I just think it blows.
Some of the material is wildly imaginative, some of it is just kinda silly. But it all looks good, and the kids are likable, [and] Kidman makes for an intriguing villain.
The Golden Compass is a blatant attempt to duplicate the success of the Harry Potter franchise. The only thing missing is richly imagined characters, a comprehensible story line, good acting, and satisfying special effects.
Audience Reviews for The Golden Compass
Its basic, nothing is explored to make this film something that the youth in modern day will enjoy and... They haven't.
Super Reviewer
It's deeper, darker, and much more engaging than the likes of fantasies like the Narnia franchise. The Golden Compass is beautifully made with effects that will leave you in awe, backed with impressive acting and a magical and ambitious fantasy storyline that blew my mind. It was never going to be a perfect adaption (it isn't). It's only jaw dropping and incredible if you've never read the books (apparantly), I didn't. The Golden Compass is not a bad movie.
Super Reviewer
To be honest I just didn't follow this, its like a cross between 'LOTR', 'Narnia' and 'Harry Potter' and frankly I'm getting so bored of it, there're just all the same. There's nothing new here as its all been done with 'Potter', magical animals, spirits, witches etc I just can't see how it can be rated. Sure the effects are nice and the animals look cool but that's it. The cast is pretty awful, or at least Kidman and Craig anyway, the rest is a top notch bunch of English actors but again that has been done with 'Potter' and 'LOTR', its seems to be the same classical English actors repeating themselves in a variety of silly fantasy films. I'm sure kids will like it, maybe, it is long and I think its boring so maybe not. Without knowledge of the book its all double dutch haha and I have never heard of it before the film. Best bit was the polar bear fight er...and that's it, I could almost see a legion of elfs and Hobbits coming over the hill hehe 'yawn'.
Super Reviewer
The Golden Compass Quotes
| Lyra Belacqua: | We'll set things right. We will. You, and me, and Iorek, and Serafina Pekkala, and Mr. Scoresby. And my father. We'll set it right, Pan. Just let them try to stop us. |
| Lord Asriel: | I propose to discover a world much like our own in a parallel universe. |
| Fra Pavel: | That is heresy! |
| Lord Asriel: | That is the truth. |