The Golden Compass, directed by Chris Weitz (DVD)

Bibliographic Information:
Weitz, C. (2007). The Golden Compass. New Line. ASIN: B00139XZF4

Film Awards:
2008 BAFTA Award for Special Visual Effects
Academy Award for Best Visual Effects

Plot Summary:
The Golden Compass takes place in a world where everyone's soul resides in their animal companion, called a daemon. Lyra and her daemon, Pan, discover that a government organization has been kidnapping poor children to experiment on them. Among the missing children is her friend Roger. When her uncle leaves on a science expedition to find a mystical substance (with the unlikely name "dust") in the Arctic Circle, Lyra goes to stay with a woman, Mrs. Coulter, who works for the government. Although she seems to love Lyra, and treats her very kindly, Lyra soon discovers that Mrs. Coulter is part of the organization that kidnaps the children! She runs away, determined to find and save her friend. On her journey to the Arctic, she encounters both horrific danger and wonderful new friends (including an intelligent, armored polar bear).

Critical Evaluation:
This is a complex world, and it takes the viewer awhile to sort out what's what and who's who. It might not be a stretch to say that if you haven't read the book, you're going to be lost for the first 15 minutes. The acting is fabulous (Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman lend their considerable talents), and the scenery and special effects are gorgeous, so it isn't a hardship to get into the film, even if you are lost. Things become clear eventually, and just about that time is when the action sequences really take off, and you forget that you were confused. One nice aspect of this fantasy is that it avoids any of the traditional fantasy elements: the daemons, the golden compass, the dust, and the armored polar bears are all completely new and unique.

Reader's Annotation:
Can Lyra save the children from cruel experimentation with the help of her new friends?

About the Author:
Not applicable

Genre:
Fantasy

Curriculum Ties:
None

Booktalking Ideas:
Not applicable

Interest Age:
9+

Challenge Issues:
None. Although the book was challenged for its anti-religious aspects, the movie completely avoided the whole topic!

Reason Included:
This is a well-known and popular movie.