The Golden Compass

It seems like a movie intended only for those who have read the books. Many of the fantastic and unique things about the alternate universe setting are glazed over, never explained, and taken for granted. The most flagrant example of this: each human character in the story is accompanied by an alter-ego animal. (The animation for these animals is outstanding, by the way.) But the “rules” for this universe – the fantastic way that these people live with these animals is frustratingly vague. Do these animals represent the conscious of the characters? Their moral centers? The animals seem passive and only occasionally help their humans by issuing warnings, etc. I’d rather have R2-D2 by my side any day of the week. The story feels rushed, too. Seemingly large “chapters” get resolved too quickly. The build-up and back-story to a feud of giant talking bears is shorter than their wrestlemania showdown. Again, beautifully animated, but it’s hard to care when we’ve barely been given a change to get to know or sympathize with the giant talking bears. This is a mixed bag.