The Golden Compass Review

   I recently saw the movie The Golden Compass.  I took my three children and my husband with me.  Now, my husband and my kids had not read the book, and I had.  My youngest child had started the book and not stayed with it.  I loved the book.  The book was amazing.

  From my perspective, the book is way better than the movie and the movie was not in sequence with the book.  That being said, the movie was still good.  My kids loved it and now they want to read the book!

  This is a story of imagination, a parrallel universe with witches and magical polar bears. The aletheometer that only one child can read, and magical animals that are attached to us to love.  It is a story of snow, and ice and wintertime magic.  It suggests to the viewed that there are MANY parrallell worlds to ours with living beings.

  I am not big on the cowboy Sam Elliot, he kind of takes away the magic for me.  To suddenly have the southern accent show up in the middle of all of the proper british accents is kind of shocking.  However, his role is important and if you read the book first you will have more respect for him.

  For those folks who are having problems with this movie due to religious issues I really do not get it.  I would like to be enlightened and will listen. But, I really believe that the concept of having my soul as my Daemon who literally stands beside me and is my friend and helps me is quite comforting.  What a nice concept that is. 

   Who would not want to have a constant companion that you can trust with your life, forever. Literally.  Imagine having that.  It is hard to imagine.  This movie lets the viewer imagine such a concept. (The book almost makes you believe it is true)

    In this story, the people who live in this parrallel universe know their souls as their daemons.  I think that is beautiful.  I think those folks who struggle with religious issues in movies are obviously not confident in religion themselves.  For those of us who are strong in our beliefs, stepping out of ourselves and having an imagination is a wonderful thing.  It is a beautiful experience and one to truly enjoy.  The Golden Compass is just that, a beautiful experience of imagination.

  The child Lyra is on a journey to the north.  She is in search of Lord Asreal and Dust and Gobblers who steal children and remove children from their daemons.  To take away someones daemon is basically to steal their soul.  This is happening with children and Lyra is trying to find out why.  The story is full of adventure.  It is rated PG-13 for violence.  I appreciate this rating, but will say I saw worse violence in The Lion King!  Having read the book I expected far worse than it was.

For those who are saying the movie is not for young children, that is why it is rated PG-13!  The concepts are for older children.

  My recommendation is see the movie and read the book.  It is great stuff.  Then hug your soul.  You will feel better about your own life.