This is the first in a trilogy (yes, trilogy for those of you who didn’t read the book and wondered about the movie’s ending) based on the works of author Philip Pullman. The story takes place in a magical parallel England where a person’s soul is more than just an idea or sensation, its an actual being that takes the shape of an animal and never leaves its human’s side. These soul-animals are called daemons and they can speak, act and think independently of their human-counterpart. That said, the daemon and its human are inexplicably bound – kill one and the other dies as well and when this happens, the daemon becomes a cloud of glittering dust that seems to have magical properties of its own.
Unfortunately, this magical world is controlled by the Magisterium, a secretive and less-than-noble organization that would prefer free-thinking and individualism be a thing of the past, glittering dust included. So, when free-thinker Lord Asriel discovers evidence that suggests this glittering dust is the key to parallel universes, the Magisterium has no choice but to try to get rid of Asriel before he can spread the word.
Enter Lyra Belacqua, Lord Asriel’s niece and quite a feisty one at that. Lyra fears nothing and has a deep affection for mischief and exploration. After Lord Asriel leaves on an expedition to explore the glittering dust idea further, Lyra is given a strange and mysterious gift from the Dean of Jordan College – an Alethiometer – thus the name of the movie: The Golden Compass. This device allows those who can read it to see the truth in any situation. Only very special people can read the Alethoimeter and Lyra is of course, one of those chosen few.
In Lord Asriel’s absence, Lyra becomes friends with Mrs. Coulter (played by Nicole Kidman) who seems to be quite an independent free-thinker herself. But Mrs. Coulter has another agenda – one that Lyra discovers threatens the very fabric of their existence.
What follows is a brilliant adventure across some amazingly magical places. Lyra begins to learn more about the Alethiometer and discovers that she has a purpose much bigger than she had ever imagined. The story is exciting, the graphics and CGI quite intoxicating, making The Golden Compass a must-see for shojo girls who still have a little magic in their heart.
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