Despite a few changes and rearrangements, the overall plot of the movie is remarkably faithful to its source material, the first installment of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. It doesn't finish the book, however, and--much like The Fellowship of the Ring did--leaves the viewer hanging in anticipation of the next film, The Subtle Knife, due in 2009. So even though The Golden Compass is impressive--especially with its spot-on cast and terrific visual effects--we probably won't know its full emotional impact until the story is complete. --David Horiuchi

The Golden Compass (New Line Platinum Series Two-Disc Widescreen Edition)

• The Spiderwick Chronicles (Widescreen Edition)
• The Water Horse - Legend of the Deep (Two-Disc Special Edition)
• Jumper
• 10,000 B.C.
• Beowulf
• Aliens vs. Predator - Requiem (Unrated Edition)
• Untraceable
• The Seeker - The Dark is Rising
• Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (Widescreen Edition)
• Hitman

While the movie itself made for decent science fiction, the story line will definitely feel like a slap in the face to any person well versed/educated in philosophy or theology. The author made no effort to hide his anti-catholic and atheist viewpoint. I'd skip this and buy something with a better message (like Chronicles of Narnia).

All I know is that the result was flashy, heartless, and boring. For the sake of Sam Elliot and the goddess Nicole Kidman. Wonderful, fantastic ideas that appeared on the big screen like toys in hurried images. Heck, even for that cute little new girl.

Soul-daemons. But as that time three years ago was my second time going through the trilogy, I still like to think I had a decent memory of them along with a decent opinion. What we are left with is a rushed train of lovely cinematography, scenery, and special effects that accompany an equally rushed plot. Other worlds. Yes, there is a lot of story to get into this movie, but making that the priority left me cold toward these characters who were weak in the book and utterly two-dimensional on screen. I promise, I tried my best to like this movie, for the sake of those books.

They all did their best, but frankly this movie was fluff, and it's hard to work with fluff. Maybe it was a tragic result of playing it safe by removing all blatant references to religion. I'm sorry, but while the director was having fun with the camera, the audience was confused by the random jumping from scene to scene, plot to plot. Coulter, Will, the whole gangto be on the weak side of characterization, a few hops from being completely two-dimensional.

I'm hardly an atheist, but I had appreciated the story's urge for free thought, free will, and a keener look at authority. Talking bears. The smidgen they put in here was all too welcomed, but not enough to give this movie proper heart and soul.

How could they take such thought- and controversy- provoking books and turn them into fluff. Maybe I'm just a whiney book purist. STILL, I thought the story and theme to be on another plane entirely, certainly enough to make the books as famous as they are and even flesh out an entertaining movie.

Texas as a country. So maybe it was a tragic result of putting a plot-based rather than character-based story in a movie that led to all story and show and no emotional depth. At the risk of offending fans, I always felt Pullman's charactersLyra, Mrs.

True, it's been a about three or so years since I've read Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy, the books upon which this film is based, if you didn't know. I felt like I was an infant teenager being instructed in the ways of generic fantasy.

Average Video Bit Rate: 22.63 Mbps. (BonusView) PiP Secondary Encode. Disc size: 48,426,421,480 bytes. Movie size: 25,958,633,472 bytes. Running time: 1:53:17. DTS 5.1 1509Kbps 24-bit. Movie size: 21,609,013,248.

Contains moderate to heavy application of Digital Video Noise Reduction (DNR) VC-1. VC-1 BD-50. Version: U.S.A / Region A. DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 24-bit.

impugned "mother church", well, I saw no such evidence to validate those claims. Because we did. It's too bad their noise prevailed in making this film so unpopular. We found the characters to be both complex and sympathetic.

Her friends (rescuers and defenders) may have their agendas but they also sincerely help her. Potter was all the rage. The young lady (Lyra). The polar bear warrior king was (voiced by Ian McKellen) was perfect as her loyal protector with a history that needed to be resolved. was a treat. Why.

The story is very intriquing and well paced. I'm sure the nay-sayers are delighted in their results. Now, thanks to that rabble, I'll have to read the books to get to the finish of the tale. No surprise there. Life got in the way and many moons later I finally viewed the film on DVD, a rental to boot.

As I don't own this film (a problem I'll rectify soon) I have to forego with explicit descriptions and character's names since it has been a few weeks since we viewed the film. Her rescues, escapes and minor triumphs are all worthy of acclaim. Despite that it left its mark on me.

I'm glad it was rated PG13 because it had a few rough spots (the polar bear warriors fighting was particularly savage). As for the complaints that this film (and the books). I have to say, I'm not sure why this film has so many mixed reviews when I, my wife and college age daughters all loved it.

I've read the complaints about this film and was prepared for the worst. That's not so terrible but this franchise deserved better than it received at the box office. I had to give this film a pass when it first came out even though I wanted to see it.

I never heard of the books but then as far as i knew young Mr. She was payed with just the right amount of precociousness and innocence as well as drive to make her the perfect foil for adults who disregard youth as simply precocious and naive.