JagBytes

Issue date: 12/10/07 Section: A&E

For the past few weeks, word of controversy has circled the country as the release of "The Golden Compass" has gotten closer. Outcry from Christian groups has been rampant, along with blogs, e-mails, and newsletters urging Christians to "boycott" the film.

The controversy stems from an interview in The Sydney Morning Herald in 2003, where Philip Pullman (author of "The Golden Compass") said, "My books are about killing God."

On Friday, Dec. 7, "The Golden Compass" was finally released in theatres for all to see (or boycott).

The movie is loosely based on the book The Golden Compass, and is full of fantasy adventure.

Lyra Belacqua is a 12-year-old orphan who is very fortunate to have been raised at the august Jordan College in Oxford. Somewhat of a wild child, Lyra is a sassy, nosy young girl who always seems to wind up right in the middle of things. Her uncle, Lord Asriel, discovers a shocking photograph from the arctic, showing a "parallel universe" where dust is flowing down from the Northern Lights and into a man that is in the picture.

After discovering this photograph, Lord Asriel tries to get funding from the Magisterium (a dictatorial party that "controls what everyone can and cannot do") so that he can go to the North and investigate this "parallel univers." The Magisterium denies this request, but sets off anyways. In this magical world, everyone has an animal entity, called their "daemon," which are reflections of their inner self.

The daemon's of children can transform into different animals based on how they are feeling, while the identity of adult's daemon's are fixed in place and cannot change. These "daemon's" can fight each other, and if pain is inflicted on a daemon their human "owner" can feel the pain, too.

While Lord Asriel is away, Lyra is given an Alethiometer- a golden compass that reveals the truth, but only to the person who can truly read its many symbols. After Lyra discovers what this Alethiometer can do, and that she can actually read the truth, an entire world of magic is revealed to her.

This outrageous fantasy world is filled with all kinds of strange beings including humans and their daemons, warrior "Ice Bears," witches, and a race of people known as "Gyptians."

Although the movie is completely fantasy-based, the special effects in this movie are breathtaking. The scenery is incredible, and the "daemons" look so real when they are talking. The set pieces, wide shots, and overall cinematography are exquisite.

While the cinematography is amazing, some scenes are graphic, violent, and not suitable for children under the age of 13. This movie is very true to it's PG-13 rating due to sequences of fantasy violence. In one scene in this movie, two polar bears engage in an extremely violent fight where one polar bear rips the jaw off the other-not something you want your 7-year-old to see.

Overall, this is an incredible fantasy film, and unlike other fantasy films, it is short in length-only 113 minutes (or a little under two hours). "The Golden Compass" is another must-see movie this winter for families with older children.

If you're interested in information regarding the controversy that is surrounding this movie, please visit the following sites:

*Family Life Culture Watch



*AP article



*www.snopes.com



Running Time: 113 Minutes

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Release Date: 12-7-2007

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