The Golden Compass

Golden Compass

Directed by Deborah Forte

New Line Cinema, 2008. 113 minutes. Fantasy film.

ISBN: 9780780680166

Reading/Interest Level: PG-13

Curriculum ties: Morality

Booktalk Ideas: Lone missions: Talk about the mission of Lyra and how she’s the only one with the knowledge/ability to find the missing children.

Challenge Issues: Anti-religious

Challenge Response: First Defense File

Reader’s Annotation:

When children begin disappearing, Lyra attempts to find and save them from the terrible organization that is conducting horrendous experiments.

Plot Summary:

In an alternate reality, humans and souls are separated, with the soul housed inside an animal’s body which the people call dæmons. Children are going missing, being taken by the Gobblers, but no one knows who the Gobblers are, or how to stop them. One day, Lyra, an orphan, notices an official of The Magisterium try to poison her uncle. She explains what happened just in time and her uncle tells her to hide just before her uncle gives a presentation about Dust, a particle that The Magisterium doesn’t want mentioned.

That night at dinner, Lyra is introduced to Mrs. Coulter who appeals to Lyra’s sense of adventure and suggests that Lyra travel to the north with her. Lyra agrees enthusiastically, but as she gets to know Mrs. Coulter further, realizes that the woman is far different from what she realized, she is actually working with the Gobblers, and has snatched away some of Lyra’s friends. When Mrs. Coulter and her dæmon attack Lyra, she and her dæmon escape out an open window and run away.

She is picked up by a group of  Gyptians who treat Lyra well and are heading to rescue the missing children. Lyra continues to meet various characters, including an armoured bear, on her quest to rescue the missing children.

Critical Evaluation:

This film had a lot of things going for it, namely the casting and the special effects, but also a lot of things going against it such as being a book adaption and the controversy surrounding the book and its themes which carried over into the film.

The acting was excellent, but with veteran actors like Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Christopher Lee, and Sir Derek Jacobi, how can you be surprised? For the time, the visual effects were top notch and did receive various awards, though they don’t quite meet today’s high standards.

The biggest problem the film faced is what most book to movie adaptions face, how do you cram so much stuff into just 113 minutes? The movie felt a little rushed and didn’t develop the characters as well as it probably should have. Since I haven’t read the book and can’t compare, but there were various instances where I felt like I was missing something. It wasn’t bad enough to hamper my understanding of the story, but I could tell they were rushing through events to pack as much into the movie as they could.

Overall, an enjoyable experience and one that shows that kids can do what adults cannot.

About the Director:

Deborah Forte is an award winning producer and creator of family movies, children's television programming, websites, software, interactive games, apps and digital products. Her productions have won over 150 awards including; an Oscar, 5 Emmy awards, The Humanities Prize, 11 Cine Eagles, among other prestigious awards.

She is one of the foremost producers of quality family programming across platforms and screens and considered an expert on children's and family media. Her productions are among the longest running TV series and with global appeal have sold in over 60 countries.

Deborah formed Scholastic Media in 1997 and as its creative and business head, has produced, marketed, and distributed key Scholastic IP on screens and through consumer products globally. Her TV productions are among the longest running and highest rated in children's television including Clifford the Big Red Dog®, Goosebumps(TM), The Magic School Bus®, I SPY®, Word Girl, Astroblast, and movies include The Golden Compass, Tuck Everlasting, The Babysitters club and The Indian in The Cupboard. Deborah is a frequent speaker at industry events.

-from IMDB.com director page-

Justification of Selection:

Though a controversial film, just because it presents different religious views doesn’t mean it should be ignored. This film is based on a book series that, when teens watch it, may lead to them reading the books. The film also won a BAFTA and Academy Award for its visual effects.