The Golden Compass Is Great But Not Quite Golden

Yes everyone is so excited for Nicole Kidman right now with the birth of her baby girl so as a fun tribute I decided to rent “Golden Compass”.  I’m not really sure what I was expecting but I am pretty sure that I didn’t get it.

If you’re not familiar; the basic premise is that there are many different worlds that are barely separated.  In this particular world people walk around with their souls in the form of animals that they call demons.  At the center of this story are of course Nicole Kidman’s character, Mrs. Coulter, and a spunky little girl named Lyra portrayed by Dakota Blue Richards. 

I had to major problems with this movie.  While entertaining I couldn’t tell whether Kidman’s character was really the villain you feel they are trying to make her out to be and if it was really a children’s movie then shouldn’t it be a little more child themed?  Don’t get me wrong I think the kiddies will like it if for no other reason all the animals talk and the heroine is a little girl but some of the wording and themes just seemed a little adult to me. 

Plus I know one of the new things is to leave you hanging for the sequel (think Lord of the Rings) but I like for my movies to well end at the end.  I appreciate that Hollywood is looking to make as much as they can from a story they feel could be a franchise but after 2 plus hours watching a movie I don’t the feeling like I’m stuck waiting a year to two for who knows what.  I feel like I wasted my time and should have just waited and done it in one 4 hour lump sum.  If you do the math it just makes more sense.  4 hours or 2 hours plus 395 days at 24 hours per day equal more than I care to count and at least I would know the real end (unless they are going for three movies instead of two).

As far as extras I didn’t get any.  Once again I think it is because it was a two disc special edition and of course I only got one and my local rental store which is another blog altogether. 

So my advice is that if you have kids this might be one that you would like to buy but unless you are just a big Kidman fan or really liked the story then renting is the way to come out golden.