IMDb > The Golden Compass (2007)
The Golden Compass
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

The Golden Compass (2007) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 112 | slideshow) Videos (see all 19)
The Golden Compass (2007) -- The Golden Compass - Trailer
The Golden Compass (2007) -- Nintendo DS, PC, Wii, Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, PSP
The Golden Compass (2007) -- Controversy surrounds the new film, "The Golden Compass," over whether it teaches children an anti-religious message. Charlie D'Agata reports.
The Golden Compass (2007) -- In a parallel universe, young Lyra Belacqua journeys to the far North to save her best friend and other kidnapped children from terrible experiments by a mysterious organization.
The Golden Compass (2007) -- In a parallel universe, young Lyra Belacqua journeys to the far North to save her best friend and other kidnapped children from terrible experiments by a mysterious organization.

IMDb Holiday Movie Guide

Overview

User Rating:
6.3/10   50,429 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 11% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Chris Weitz (screenplay)
Philip Pullman (novel)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Golden Compass on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
7 December 2007 (USA) more
Tagline:
"It is the Alethiometer. It tells the truth. As for how to read it, you'll have to learn by yourself." more
Plot:
In a parallel universe, young Lyra Belacqua journeys to the far North to save her best friend and other kidnapped children from terrible experiments by a mysterious organization. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 3 wins & 26 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(417 articles)
New Moon Director Chris Weitz is Hiring The Gardener
 (From Collider.com. 22 November 2009, 10:43 PM, PST)

Summit Reinvigorates Weitz Into Making More Films
 (From FilmSchoolRejects. 22 November 2009, 10:05 PM, PST)

User Comments:
A real let down more (608 total)
US TV Schedule:

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for sequences of fantasy violence.
Runtime:
113 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Some scenes were shot in Norway, in places such as Bergen and Svalbard, but none of the actors were allowed to perform there, as the producers couldn't find an insurance company that would allow crew members to walk around with shotguns and because the actors could fall ill due to the extreme temperatures. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: When Iorek, with Lyra atop of him, is bounding across an arctic plane, the CGI breaks down for a second, for his left hind leg flickers as he runs. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Serafina Pekkala: There are many universes and many Earths parallel to each other. Worlds like yours, where people's souls live inside their bodies, and worlds like mine, where they walk beside us, as animal spirits we call daemons.
Stelmaria: Are we going to see the child?
Lord Asriel: I should think so.
Serafina Pekkala: So many worlds. But connecting them all is Dust. Dust was here before the witches of the air, the Gyptians of the water, and the bears of the ice. In my world, scholars invented an alethiometer - a golden compass - and it showed them all that was hidden. But the ruling power, fearing any truth but their own, destroyed these devices and forbade the very mention of Dust. One compass remains, however, and only one who can read it.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Starz Inside: Fashion in Film (2008) (TV) more
Soundtrack:
Lyra more

FAQ

How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
Where is the ending?
more
303 out of 560 people found the following comment useful.
A real let down, 6 December 2007
3/10
Author: adam-1494 from United Kingdom

Having seen the Golden Compass I can honestly say Im hoping they don't make a follow up.

The story was truncated beyond the necessity involved in translating a book to film, the intricacies of the characters (especially Lyra) were swept over with a series of single scene expositions, that despite the talents of all the actors involved failed to accurately portray their persona's or motivations.

Whether or not you agree with Pullmans subtext in the book or not, the film failed miserably to deliver any semblance of the authors story.

On the plus side the Daemons and other effects were expertly achieved, fantastically voiced. The actors did their best with what came across as a disjointed, amateurish script. Key plot hocks were evaded, key sub text elements were missing and the directors clear priority of not offending any member of a dogmatic organised religion shone through the entire production.

In a few words: Great actors and effects in an unworthy script that was neither a faithful production of Pullmans work nor anything other than a flawed attempt to achieve box office takings.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (608 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Golden Compass (2007)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
know of any easter eggs on the dvd? KpuzzlerS
Christian / Anit-Christian Etc. stillboredinyuma
Can anyone who's seen the stage play version of the book ... ollie-rocks
Seriously, WTF miamiboy728
I heard this made US$300million++ profit internationally kingfisherofthesea
Mrs. Coulter wasn't really Lyra's mother was she? LycanGirl90
more

Recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Adventure section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.