Lisa Bongi reviews: The Golden Compass
First Impressions for the Bongi review
Beautiful. If a movie could sell itself just on the way it looks, this would be the way to go.
Nicole Kidman (evil) versus a whole range of British acting talent (mostly good guys). Vincent Price is onscreen for about 10 seconds - presumably they needed a quick shorthand for “evil empire”
What is the power source for the magical technology?
Does Sir Ian MCellan have some sort of hold over the fantasy movie industry? He’s in everything
Sam Elliott as a airship-piloting cowboy?
Y’know… this might have worked better as a mini-series. There’s obviously HUGE amounts of backstory here. If (like me) you haven’t read the book, then all you can do is look at the eye candy (and if the set design doesn’t win an Oscar then there’s no justice)
3.5 Bongi stars