SCI FI PI

Released Dec 26
Starring Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Dakota Blue Richards
Director Chris Weitz
Rating PG



Phillip Pullman’s remarkable alternate universe is rich and dark in the filmed translation – perhaps a bit too rich.

Whilst not quite Harry Potter, Phillip Pullman’s Dark Materials trilogy has been a staggering literary phenomenon, creating an ocean of devoted fans. The buzz surrounding the release of the first story, Northern Lights, as The Golden Compass was met with great approval, and now the wait is over. But was the wait worth it?

Yes.

Those of you familiar with the book will be very impressed by the translation. An enormous amount of complex information and storytelling has been compressed into just on two hours – quite the script-writing feat. Some twists and turns and motivations have been altered to fit within the constraints of the new medium, but in the main, it is painstakingly faithful. Although, the ending is... different.



It actually doesn’t quite reach the ending, so in a way it ends before it ends, giving those poor people who haven’t read Northern Lights a hell of a shock when the second film in the trilogy comes out.

If you remember the book in detail, you will be a bit thrown – the film is like a mosaic and collage of the novel – recognisable as parts, but altered in the connections. However, all this is forgiven by the lush cinematography and production design. The world pulsates with life that is not our own. Gas-powered zeppelins, armoured polar bears, three dimensional ‘photograms’ that come from projecting through glass spheres, these are all part of a variation on the ‘steam punk’ theme, with lashings of Victoriana.

If you haven’t read the novel, get ready for a wall of information. There is so much to learn and see – a world where the human soul has form – animal form, reflecting the character of its owner and walking and talking with that human in a special, private bond. Children’s souls, (daemons) are changeable, and only settle into one form at puberty.

It is a clever construction, and the animal forms play an excellent part as ‘thought bubbles’, mirroring or enhancing the interaction between the characters on the screen. In the way that someone in our world would blush when they feel embarrassed, people in this world will have their daemons fight when they argue.

The story follows the traditional route of a ‘chosen child’ discovering their secret power so they can fulfil a great destiny. In this case, it’s Lyra Belacqua, guttersnipe orphan raised in Jordan (looks a lot like Oxford) college. Her uncle is Lord Asriel, explorer and scientist, hell-bent on challenging the power and authority of the church-like Magisterium, who says that there are no such things as alternate worlds to be seen through the Aurora Borealis, and that the strange particles of ‘Dust’ that flow through all people from the Northern Lights is in fact the cause of original sin.



This is just the tip of the iceberg. If you’re a clever and observant child, you’ll get it. But if you fidget and rustle, you may miss out. So pay attention, and sit quietly.

Nicole Kidman is perfectly cast in her role as Mrs Coulter, the mysterious and glamorous woman who comes to take Lyra away from Jordan college. Striking costuming and hair accentuate a character that is a fascinating mix of Cruella de Ville (101 Dalmations) and Nurse Ratched (One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest). So pleasant in manner, so poised in appearance, and then occasionally, her eyes will stare a little too long, and the bottomless pit of her evil will reveal itself.

Unfortunately, with so much going on, her character can only be painted on in dabs, although one or two scenes are showstoppers. For a lot of the film she has to be a bit too much of a fictional character, to keep in tone with the grand events unfolding.

When you’re keeping up appearances in between scenes that depict armoured fighting polar bears, it’s tough. If you’ve never seen giant talking armoured polar bears fight to the death, now’s your chance. Great voice casting of Ian McKellen and Ian McShane make these CG creatures come to life, and the sound design of their roars and movements shakes you in your seat.

Their battle to the death is literally jaw-dropping.

It’s one of many battles. In fact, for a children’s picture, the amount of death is somewhat disconcerting. Luckily, when people in this universe die, it’s not with a spray of blood, but with a shower of golden dust as their daemon puffs out of existence. Makes for startling visuals in a dark snow-covered North.

It is this darkness and the complexity that may prove too much for your average cinemagoer. For those devoted to the books, not a problem, but for those new to the world of The Golden Compass, be ready to pay attention, and don’t expect a neat and tidy ending.