SummaryBased on author Philip Pullman's bestselling and award-winning novel, The Golden Compass tells the first story in Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. The Golden Compass is an exciting fantasy adventure, set in an alternative world where people's souls manifest themselves as animals, talking bears fight wars, and Gyptians and witches coexist. At... Read More
Directed By:Chris Weitz
Written By:Chris Weitz, Philip Pullman
The Golden Compass
Metascore
Mixed or Average
51
User score
Mixed or Average
6.0
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Top Cast
Metascore
Mixed or Average
51
30% Positive
10 Reviews
10 Reviews
61% Mixed
20 Reviews
20 Reviews
9% Negative
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
100
A darker, deeper fantasy epic than the "Rings" trilogy, "The Chronicles of Narnia" or the "Potter" films. It springs from the same British world of quasi-philosophical magic, but creates more complex villains and poses more intriguing questions. As a visual experience, it is superb. As an escapist fantasy, it is challenging.
75
It’s pure introductory adventure, meant to immerse readers in Pullman’s richly complicated fantasy universe.
User score
Mixed or Average
6.0
45% Positive
65 Ratings
65 Ratings
38% Mixed
55 Ratings
55 Ratings
17% Negative
24 Ratings
24 Ratings
Oct 31, 2020
10
This was an astonishingly good film. Without getting into any comparisons with its pop-culture-ordained rival, The Chronicles of Jerusalem (I mean Narnia), I will say this is the best fantasy movie to hit the shelves since Lord of the Rings. The story is explosive, dynamic and startlingly accurate if viewed in a historical sense. Dakota Blue Richards is the most talented child actress I have ever seen and is sure to become a huge star in the next ten years. She embodies courage, fearlessness, bravery and intelligence in a way that would make Harry Potter or even Hermione Granger blush. Her character is a forceful blend of guts and intelligence to the point that several of her actions throughout the story made my jaw drop to the floor, thinking "wow, this girl is CRAZY!" in awe and admiration of her strength and courage. For those of you who have not seen this movie, if you want to see a child actor rival virtually every A-list blockbuster star in Hollywood, Dakota Blue Richards is your girl. I was also happy to see Daniel Craig in this film, as he was great in Casino Royale and it was interesting to see him in such a starkly different role. He was stern, adamant and intelligent to the point of lunacy - and I'm looking forward to seeing his character more in the two sequels that are sure to come, despite what the crybabies and naysayers might think. Nicole Kidman put forth her best role to-date as the terrifying Marisa Coulter - a woman so cold and conniving and yet eerily welcoming it will make your skin crawl. She is as also as beautiful as she has ever been, which never hurts either. All in all, the only real complaint with this movie is that it could have been 30-45 minutes longer, but I only say that because we've been spoiled with the 2-3 hour epic journeys on which the LOTR and Harry Potter have taken us. But on a blank slate, this was an incredible 90 minutes of my life and this movie has permanently put itself on a pedestal in the history of film making. An absolute MUST watch.
Feb 14, 2016
10
This is a great movie based on even better books. Unfortunately, Christians only like freedom of speech when they agree with it. When they do not agree they whine like young children and demand censure.
60
Ultimately satisfying and successful version of the opening volume of the celebrated "His Dark Materials" trilogy.
50
Disappoints with its lack of character development and convoluted storytelling.
50
The Golden Compass is a snowbound mystical-whizbang kiddie ride that hovers somewhere between the loopy and the lugubrious.
40
A tepid, jumbled Hollywood fable whose final message seems to amount to little more than "Follow your dreams," or worse, "Stay tuned for the sequel."
38
Five minutes before The Golden Compass started, I was wondering when it was going to start. Forty minutes into it, I was wondering exactly the same thing.
Dec 25, 2015
10
Really liked the movie and bumped out that there's no sequel made, or atleast it's plans are still "on hold". I don't quite get the bad reviews either, as everyone's just trying to compare it to "Lord Of The Rings". It's not even meant to be anything like a 'next Lord of The Rings". Man, wish there was a sequel :)
Oct 1, 2013
6
As children's escapist fantasy goes, the film is not terrible, but does have an unfinished air about it. Also suffers from occupying similar ground as the Narnia, Potter and Rings films (over saturated), extra marks for bagging Kate Bush to sing on the credits.
Nov 29, 2016
5
Even with its great visual effects, an exemplary art direction, The Golden Compass is nothing more than just a medium movie, bad characters and a very weak plot.
Apr 25, 2013
3
Besides the horrible acting,the lazy writing and the stupid plot twist, the thing that bothered me most about this movie was the **** not going to spoil it but its really lazy. They literally ended it saying "We are going to make a trilogy and not conclude this movie right now because we are SOOOO sure it wil be succesfull!" Well thanks God it wasn´t because this movie deserves to die in silence.
Feb 11, 2013
3
What a pathetic adaptation. The casting was good though. The bear looked ridiculous. The fight scenes were censored and the whole narrative was turned on its head. Even the ending was changed to suit children.
Production Company:
- New Line Cinema
- Ingenious Film Partners
- Scholastic Productions
- Depth of Field
Release Date:Dec 7, 2007
Duration:1 h 53 m
Rating:PG-13
Tagline:"It is the Alethiometer. It tells the truth. As for how to read it, you'll have to learn by yourself."
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
Satellite Awards
• 5 Nominations
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA
• 4 Nominations
