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Techtite's DVD Reviews! |
"A never-ending story? It is if it never really ends! Yet with great acting and superb FX, the trip is almost worth the voyage. Almost." --from the review ------------- Sidebar :: ------------- No Sidebar comments for this review. Yet...
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The Golden Compass
Click picture to order any DVD Edition A Review by TechtiteIt's hardly uncommon for a book to be slightly altered, for a family-friendly movie. When it comes to The Golden Compass, the whole story was altered. Why? Well, it's a story about a girl, her spiritual ferret, and her friend the talking polar bear...as written by an atheist. Yeah, see; this guy dreamed up a world of talking animals, animals who are your spirit in disguise, and magical compasses opening doorways to alternate dimensions...though he finds religion a leap of faith. Whatever, dude. The story's origins are a shame, because at its core, The Golden Compass had every chance to be the next Harry Potter saga, or at least, the next Chronicles of Narnia (ironic, since Narnia is a religious-centric fairy tale). The premise of this Compass: a parallel universe, far different than our own, where spirits of the humans walk alongside them as animal spirit guides. So magical and whimsical is this world: all the animals talk, especially the polar bears, who appear to be great warriors. It's a very visually stunning world, especially when the movie wishes to believe in it, and in a way, so does the viewing audience. It's just a shame that, oddly enough, the one person who'd wish we not believe in such nonsense, is the author of the book himself. Not that this is a mere FX filled fairy tale. The characters, and their respective acting talents, are very compelling. Marisa Coulter (Nicole Kidman) is an evil shrew who kidnaps children for reasons that are never made totally clear (the viewing audience is led to presume her reasons are revealed in a later story). The heroine is young Lyra Belacqua (Dakota Blue Richards), in a perfectly reverse-gender role for young girls who want a magical story whose lead character isn't named "Harry." Lyra possesses the unique power to use The Golden Compass...which, among other things, will answer any question the user desires. Various villains are either afraid of this compass power, or wish that power for themselves. Lyra must take an odyssey of sorts away from the only home she's ever known, in order to keep the compass safe, learn how to use it, save her world, and possibly, to fulfill her own destiny. Constantly at her side is Pantalaimon (Freddie Highmore), her "daemon," or in short, her spirit who walks alongside her. While often in the form of a ferret, it appears Pantalaimon can morph into whatever Lyra's "spirit" feels like appearing, depending on her mood. As an added intriguing aspect of these daemons; Pantalaimon is a part of her, and vice versa. Someone need only subdue her daemon to capture Lyra. This adds an intriguing added piece of suspense to the tale. On the one hand her daemon can explore places she cannot...though he must remain careful, or else both will die! Lyra's voyage introduces her (and us) to many intriguing characters. "Human" characters include the queen of the witches, Serafina Pekkala (Eva Green), who seems to have a connection with Lyra though that connection is not revealed (yet?). There's a cowboy sort of fellow named Lee Scoresby, played by, you guessed it, Sam Elliott. The fact that his "spirit" is in the form of an old west jackrabbit is an amusing added touch, as is the rabbit's old west accent. Yet the most powerful and intriguing character she meets is Iorek Byrnison (voiced by Ian McKellen), an exiled former leader of a warrior clan of Ice Bears. The side story of Iorek getting his rightful throne back may be too similar to Lord of the Rings' Return of the King for some, though it's still one of the most suspenseful (and best) parts of this first movie. Yes, you read that last part correctly: "first" movie. This is intended as a saga. I should warn you, in advance, that this is not saga written so that each part stands by itself, unlike most Harry Potter novels (or, to be honest, the Chronicles of Narnia novels). This story does not end. If this was a TV movie, it would be a series pilot. It's not...and that reduces the whole value of the movie, far more than any atheist author controversy. It's a great start to the story, though as an unfinished story, it just falters. Imagine if you had seen Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, with absolutely no guarantee the story would ever be ended. In Rings' case, the complete trilogy was guaranteed. For Compass...not so much. Yet with such great acting talent and equally great FX, it's a shame that the trip isn't its own reward...at least, not completely. Atheist authors notwithstanding, I'd like nothing better than to fairly and impartially see the end of this story, though I doubt I ever will. Then again; whose fault is that? They could've at least ended this story. They chose not to. If movie goers feel "cheated," it has nothing to do with atheists or religion. It has to do with good storytelling. Every story has chapters. They could've at least had the courtesy to more evenly complete this chapter. What makes all this so ironic is how in this case, the old cliché that "the book was better than the movie" doesn't necessarily apply. I never read the original novel and I see no reason to here; a review in itself, I suppose. A whimsical fairy tale written by one hand, while the author waves his finger at religion with the other? That just sounds a bit "off," at least to me. Whether people dare to dream religiously or whimsically or with faith or with childish whimsy; shouldn't people be able to believe what they wish to believe, or more specifically, to dream what they wish to dream? If this author's cryptic message is that we shouldn't believe in anything, who are we to believe in his story? Think about it.
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