The Golden Compass Review

Went to the premier of this here in Tampa last night. I was really looking forward to seeing this and all excited because I had gotten free passes. Boy was I sure disappointed and so was my husband! Granted, we're two older adults  (I'm 40 & he's 53) but we both have enjoyed other "children's" story's in the past.

I went into this not knowing anything about the story as I have never read the book. Maybe that would have made a difference. The basic plot is that there is a parallel world where there are witches, gypsies, talking polar bears (I kept waiting for them to break out the Coke and start singing) and children with "demons" . Those are the talking, shape shifting animals that are always with them. The adults have them too, they just don't change form. Now, I'm no conservative, Bush loving, bible thumper but if they get upset over Harry Potter, then they should have a field day with this.

The movie starts with a narrator telling us about the different types of people/animals living in this world. The main character is Lyra, a girl who's uncle is interested in time/space travel to other worlds. There is a Ministry that wants him to find a way into these other worlds so they can take over the galaxy. Then children start disappearing. Next Nichole Kidman shows up and asks to take Lyra with her to the north. Before Lyra goes away, she is given a Golden Compass and told not to tell anyone she has it. The big deal with the compass is that if someone asks it a question it will show them the truth. Other characters show up like Sam Elliott as a pilot and a polar bear they find working/in prisoned in this old mining town. The quest is now to find the missing children so everyone heads out to north. Along the way, they find a frenemy of Lyra's who was kidnapped and now very sick. Why? Because his "personal demon" had been taken away from him. (If someone's hurt, their demon hurts too). At one point someone says "You cant live happily without your demons" . Also, there's a scene where Nicole Kidman slaps her demon which is a  monkey and all I could thing about was why would she do that when it would be like slapping herself? Anyways, I wont give away the ending but I will say that they left room for a sequel which I WONT be going to see.

For this to be a children's movie, there's little action, lots of talking and talking, and characters that you could care less about. I'm so glad I didnt have to pay 8.50 to see this.