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.

Director:

Chris Weitz

Writers:

Chris Weitz (screenplay), Philip Pullman (novel)

Stars:

Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Dakota Blue Richards

Won 1 Oscar. Another 6 wins & 32 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nicole Kidman	...	Mrs. Coulter
Daniel Craig	...	Lord Asriel
Dakota Blue Richards	...	Lyra
Ben Walker	...	Roger
Freddie Highmore	...	Pantalaimon (voice)
Ian McKellen	...	Iorek Byrnison (voice)
Eva Green	...	Serafina Pekkala
Jim Carter	...	John Faa
Tom Courtenay	...	Farder Coram
Ian McShane	...	Ragnar Sturlusson (voice)
Sam Elliott	...	Lee Scoresby
Christopher Lee	...	First High Councilor
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Stelmaria (voice)
Edward de Souza	...	Second High Councilor
Kathy Bates	...	Hester (voice)

Storyline

It was no ordinary life for a young girl: living among scholars in the hallowed halls of Jordan College and tearing unsupervised through Oxford's motley streets on mad quests for adventure. But Lyra's greatest adventure would begin closer to home, the day she heard hushed talk of an extraordinary particle. Microscopic in size, the magical dust--discovered in the vast Arctic expanse of the North--was rumored to possess profound properties that could unite whole universes. But there were those who feared the particle and would stop at nothing to destroy it. Catapulted into the heart of a terrible struggle, Lyra was forced to seek aid from clans, 'gyptians, and formidable armored bears. And as she journeyed into unbelievable danger, she had not the faintest clue that she alone was destined to win, or to lose, this more-than-mortal battle...

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Plot Keywords:

orphan | parallel universe | quest | missing child | kidnapping | 

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Taglines:

"It is the Alethiometer. It tells the truth. As for how to read it, you'll have to learn by yourself."

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Genres:

Adventure | Family | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sequences of fantasy violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English Icelandic Russian French

Release Date:

7 December 2007 (USA)

Also Known As:

La brújula dorada

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$180,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£7,243,984 (United Kingdom), 9 December 2007, Limited Release

Opening Weekend USA:

$25,783,232, 9 December 2007, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$70,107,728

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$346,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Line Cinema, Ingenious Film Partners, Scholastic Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Early in production, the movie was aimed for a November 16, 2007 release.

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Goofs

When Lord Asriel is walking through the snow, before he gets captured, he reaches with his right hand to pull down his goggles at 40:58. In a closer shot also at 40:58, it shows him pulling them off with his left hand.

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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...

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Crazy Credits

On the DVD, the FBI anti-piracy warning is displayed with the Magisterium logo and has the Magisterium building behind the warning as a watermark.

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Connections

Referenced in The Nostalgia Chick: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2013)

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Soundtracks

Lyra
Written and Performed by Kate Bush
Featuring The Choristers of Magdalen College Choir, Oxford
Conductor: Bill Ives
With Thanks to Andrew Halls
Kate Bush appears courtesy of Noble and Brite Limited / EMI Records Limited

User Reviews

I loved it

I disagree this movie was a great success.... I can't wait till the next movie. Although I don't get why they call it demons. When they are their souls. I am a Christian and I love it.!!! You people should watch the movie. And all you haters should just chill. The fighting scene is pretty cool too. Peace. I also liked the site of the movie. In which you could find out what demon you have. The stars in the movies are also my favorite actors. At least most of them. Does anyone Know when the next movie comes out? If you do watch this movie.I would like to tell you that a big surprise will come. Sorry I can't tell you but it will be cool.