Director and Screen Writer: Chris Weitz
Novel: Philip Pullman
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Dakota Blue Richards
Voices: Ian McKellen (Iorek), Freddie Highmore (Pan), Kristin Scott Thomas (Stelmaria)
Spoilers ahoy!
Adapted from the much loved first book of the 'His Dark Material's' trilogy, written by Philip Pullman, 'The Golden Compass' is set in a parallel world to our own where (we are told by the movie) people's souls live outside their bodies in the form of animals, called daemons. We see the compulsively good liar Lyra (Dakota Blue Richards) get caught up with the mystery of dust, something her Uncle Asriel (Daniel Craig) seems to be in search of, and Mrs Coulter (Nicole Kidman) seems highly suspicious of. When Lyra's best friend, Roger, is kidnapped along with many other children by the 'Gobblers', Lyra begins an epic journey both in search of Roger and also to find out what 'dust' is.
There would have been two types of viewers to this movie: those who had read the book, and those who had not. I am afraid that both of these viewers will be/would have been disappointed. Those who have not read the book will have been confused by the fast pace, off hand references to major plot points and, of course, who exactly Lyra is. Those who have read the book will be disappointed that all the very important character development and story development is skipped for pointless extended scenes involving running around the streets, walking over an ice bridge (ooooohhh scary!!!!) and the fight scenes, not to mention inserted scenes, for example those concerning the magisterium who in fact play no part in the first book but are meant to be a looming threat.
So, where do I think they went wrong? Many other reviewers have attacked the actors. I heartilly disagree with them. I found all the actors and actresses superb for their roles. Where the script allowed them to, character interaction was spot on. The portrayal of the daemons I felt was adequate, though was not on the level that my imagination allowed. Alas! CGI can only go so far. The one exception to this statement is the voice of Iorek, given by Ian McKellen. Those who watched the early trailers released for 'The Golden Compass' may remember a very gruff deep animal voice for Iorek, very much inline with a vicious, regal, impulsive, very-strong-and-scary-to-a-little-girl polar bear. This was Nonso Anozie. New Line, for commercial reasons, changed this to Ian McKellen, who is more wise, sagely and, dare I say, GANDALFY! Bad New Line Cinemas. BAD! This is a movie, with characters. Those persons chosen to portray characters should be able to portray what that character is.
At fault, very much, was the director/screen adaptor Chris Weitz. The movie allows no adaptation of how Lyra's adventure evolves and therefore does not allow for her character development. For example, why are the 'Gobblers' suddenly mentioned in conversation between Roger and Lyra and never really mentioned again. Is the audience meant to understand and comprehend the importance of this plot point when it only lasts for a few seconds and pops up again much later? What about the link between a person's daemon and themself. Are we just meant to comprehend that another human is not meant to touch another person's daemon, that one can inflict pain through the other. This is never fully developed, so when Lyra faints when someone grabs her daemon, half of our cinema was left completely confused. Also, who exactly are the Gyptians and why exactly were they watching Lyra? To put it gently, short cuts were taken, to put it accurately, the plot at times was ignored.
Chris Weitz also does not seem to acknowledge that this is the epic fantasy adventure, which requires for linkage between going from one place to another. After all, Lyra journeys from Oxford in the UK to the 'North'. This journey was shown in snippets, each seeming disjointed from the other, so that we only get a small insight to the huge journey this little girl has taken. Those who loved the book will be completely outraged when they see that these snippets aren't even in the right order. Chris Weitz has definitely taken liberties with the sequence of the plot and added scenes, such as Lyra's scrambling through London factories being chased by the Gobblers (she is supposed to be caught by the docks, the most natural place for the Gyptians to find her). I have only given some examples here, but I have my mother ranting more at me from the next room. These shortcuts and snipping may have been forgiven if Weitz had not inserted scenes. For example, the Magisterium is simply a looming threat in the first book and had no place in the adaptation (much like Mordor is a looming threat in the first book/movie of LOTR but we don't get to see it until the 3rd!) .
This said, Chris Weitz is a promising director. There are some beautiful landscape shots. Scenes between characters, where they are allowed the time and the script is competent, are spot on and one can feel oneself beginning to be engaged by the characters. But unfortunately the movie jumps forward again and leaves you cold.
I could rant a lot longer, but I feel I am starting to knit pick into a scene by scene break down. I will finish with the thought that Chris Weitz may have been the right guy for the direction, but the script should have stayed in the hands of someone else (perhaps the previous choice of Tom Stoppard, who's adaptation was scrapped by Weitz in preference for adapting the work himself). I believe it may also have been a lot more promising if New Line Cinemas had backed off. I know it is important for a studio to look after its investment, but I believe the changes they made for commercial reasons may have ended up hindering the creativity of this film and its appeal, rather than helped it. They were deservedly punished when it did not open well and Enchanted kicked its arse. In the end, this movie, that could and should have been excellent, only reaches mediocrity.
