Nor will I encourage a boycott of this film or the books. I prefer not to criticize something I haven't read/seen myself (which is not to say I'm against sharing my thoughts on why I would be disinterested in reading/seeing something) so I won't go into detail about what I've been told is in the book series. As a result there isn't a lot here that is directly spiritual, but there is a lot that can be inferred which is what I will focus on. The director has taken some criticism for omitting too much of this from his adaptation. I'm aware of Pullman's religious beliefs and have heard that they are presented much more strongly in the books than they are here.
The golden compass 2 imdb series#
The focus on Dust later in the story can actually be a little annoying, some of the story developments don't work as well as they should, and we clearly leave before the story is finished due to this being the first part of a series which has yet to be continued. Ultimately it lacks power in the emotions and themes it tries to deliver. Put everything together and you have a film that's enjoyable but not really impressive. The sound design sometimes leaves something to be desired as well.
The golden compass 2 imdb movie#
How did a song this horrendous get chosen for a major motion picture? I can suffer through some bad music in movie credits, but this one I couldn't shut off quick enough. I'm not especially enthralled with the music here, but that song in the end credits. The ice bears tend to look quite good as do the airships and other elements. For the most part it sells well through there are some moments, particularly with the animals (most notably the monkey) that look cartoony. As much as I like Sam Elliott his extreme western persona feels forced and out of place.ĬG is used a lot to create the impossible elements of the fantasy universe. The main exception is the airship captain. The characters feel realistic even when they are interacting with an unrealistic environment. A number of more famous names show up including Daniel Craig, Nicole Kidman, and even Christopher Lee. She's cute, tough, and believable despite having virtually no previous acting experience that I've seen. There are a number of stylistic influences not all of which feel like natural expressions.ĭakota Richards does a good job with her role as young Lyra. From mechanical spy bugs to airships that look like a cross between a blimp and an old-timey rocket I enjoy seeing the designs. A lot of the technology is reminiscent of steampunk and is intriguing in its uses. If there's one thing I really like about this film it's the clockwork design.
Why should the dust in Asriel's image be such a big deal? Because it's "Dust" not "dust," but while you can read a difference because of my use of capitalization, you don't get that just hearing the word spoken. My one complaint, minor as it might be, is that if you don't know going into it that “Dust” is different from the typical dust, and you happen to miss the line that introduces it as such then some of the early dialogue may be hard to put into proper context. I appreciate that about it viewers need to pay attention and think about what's going on in order to make all the proper connections. The movie gets these ideas across without being heavy-handed about it. He has a number of enjoyable fantasy elements rich in depth and complexity. Pullman's universe is interesting and magical. Lyra's mission becomes a rescue of the kids who are part of an invasive experiment. Along the way she uncovers the secret of the “gobblers” who are suspected of stealing children including her own best friend. Barely escaping from their clutches she embarks on an adventure to the North. She is excited by the findings of her uncle and upset at the Magisterium's attempts to assassinate him. Lyra is a young orphan and niece to Asriel. This “truth” excludes the existence of Dust so when Lord Asriel brings photographic evidence of the existence of Dust with a request for funding to venture to the other realities it reveals the Magisterium feels threatened. In one such reality the souls of humans are animal spirits known as “daemons.” An organization known as the Magisterium controls civilization and wants only their version of truth to exist.
Pullman's reality includes many parallel realities connected by something called Dust. I wouldn't go so far as to say I was pleasantly surprised, but neither am I completely put off by what is in the story. I was eventually convinced to see it for the purposes of being able to talk about it in a review. As a result I had little interest in seeing "The Golden Compass " initially. He has much disdain for authors I respect and is known to be outspoken against my faith. Phillip Pullman has plenty of fans, but he also has a notorious reputation. TheSimpsons Treehouse of Horror episodes.