The Golden Compass (PG-13, 2007)
common sense media says
Ambitious fantasy is too intense for young kids.
parents & educators say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this action-packed fantasy based on the first book in Philip Pullman's best-selling trilogy will feel threatening to young children. Animals and kids are in constant peril, and young kids will be upset by the threatened separation between the animals (daemons) and their humans. There are also many tense, violent scenes (chases; fierce, growling animals; shooting), as well as a fairly graphic battle between two enormous polar bears (one knocks the other's jaw off). And there's a major clash between children and adult troops that includes guns, arrows, swords, clubs, chains, hooks, and explosions. The main character is a 12-year-old girl who goes up against evil forces to save her friends. Although some religious groups have urged a boycott of the film based on its allegedly anti-Christian content, there is no specific language or imagery related to Christianity.
Violence:
Weapons used in battle scenes include guns, arrows, swords, clubs, chains, hooks, and explosions. Lyra witnesses an attempt to poison her uncle; in a brief scene, children are frightened and grabbed by shadowy thugs. When Lyra escapes Mrs. Coulter, she's chased by several security men; confrontation between rebels and security guards (who have snarling Dobermans) is tense, but the guards back off. Warriors accompanied by snarling wolves shoot at and capture Lord Asriel, leaving him with bloodied face. Two mechanical bugs hunt and attack Lyra and Pan. In a fit of anger, Mrs. Coulter hits her monkey daemon, causing it pain. A violent severing of child and daemon in a laboratory causes visible pain and screams from both subjects. A very intense fight between two polar bears includes some graphic and disturbing violence (one bear whacks off the other's lower jaw, then drops him dead).
Sex:
Nothing explicit, but the fear of children growing up and becoming rebellious during the transition from preteen to teen insinuates a concern with puberty and sexual awareness.
Language:
Minor language includes a few uses of "hell."
Consumerism:
Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Polar bear Iorek Byrnison appears drunk and drinking.
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author13
kid, 12 years old
kid, 12 years old
Its Alright
This movie's just OK.Its really violent though. But otherwise, its a pretty good movie.
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A.M.
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
Awesome!!! :D
It has some interesting themes. Instead of good vs. evil, it's freedom vs. control.
nicole kidman was awesome, but dakota blue-richards is what makes the film. She's a good role model for girls and boys. Although she lies a lot (ironically her character's name is Lyra pronounced lie-ra), her intentions are always good.
The daemons were really cool and the special effects/ battle action sequences amazing.
I wish they stayed a bit more true to the book, but hey, it's a good family movie.
Note: My mother is an experieanced parent and did not like the film because it had too many "evil" themes, but I loved it personally!
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SweeneyCat
teen, 14 years old
teen, 14 years old
Disapointed greatly!
I was in love with the book series, no matter what some people say, and COULD NOT WAIT for this to come out. When it finally did. I almost walked out halfway through. The director messed up everything for no purpose at all and cut off the entire ending!!! WHY???!!!
If you are a Compassy, please don't see this.
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Pandy831
adult
adult
Scary cliff hanger
There were parts that were too scary for me!
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Dreamwriter
adult
adult
Great messages, some may pass over the heads of little ones.
I still am hoping to read the books series, because this was a great movie. Work has had me real busy lately.
Other than the violence, I think kids would be able to handle this movie just fine. It is admittedly, a little on the dark side, but I believe holds some truths that you can discuss with your kids who are cognitively over 12 and capable of abstract thought. Discuss with them the role of the Magisterium, and what a daemon could symbolically represent in the life of a child. I think it's important to emphasize that one has to keep with them their imagination, no matter how old they are. Children are going to face establishments/institutions in the world that try to hinder or 86 there ability to be curious and question the world around them. To be close-minded like Magisterium is to find one's self in a concrete world of dullness and blind obedience. Thus, why it may be hard to discuss these ideals over with younger children. Still, the power of imagination can be encouraged at any age, old or young, and the is the movie to help encourage it.
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jcpilot
parent of 10 and 13 year old
parent of 10 and 13 year old
Entertaining for kids, but a poor movie.
This was a typical "good versus" evil movie which disappointingly, left the end hanging for a potential sequel. The is some violence (arrows into chests, swords hitting bodies), but no real gore. Bottom line: action-packed but leaves you hanging.
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movies4
teen, 14 years old
teen, 14 years old
Beautiful and crafted very carefully!
Was it a disappointment? Yes, but was it so dissappointing that you shouldn't see it? No. It was violent, and exciting. Yes, it didn't fallow the book exactly (when does a movie based on a book ever fallow it perfectly?) including that it didn't have an ending, just a cliff- hanger. Nicole Kidman was amazing as Mrs. Coulter; scary, but beautiful. Same thing with Daniel Craig as Lord Asreil; strong and terrifying.
The armored bear, Iorak was amazing and looked as if he would jump right out of the T.V.
The book was crazy and very heart- breaking. The movie, sadly does not have the big twist as it did in the book (if you've read the book you'll know what I'm talking about.
See the movie, but don't flip out if it isn't what you're expecting.
Younger viewers: WARNING: The PARENTS are the bad guys, do not let young children see.
A character smokes, and the Armored bear drinks silly.
Dakota Blue Richerds shines as Lyra (her debut)
See it!
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lizzie3276
teen, 17 years old
teen, 17 years old
good for 9+
This movie was terrible and ruined the book--which is FANTASTIC. I was so disappointed. And everyone should get over the religious thing. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BELIEVE WHAT YOU READ!!
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love2
parent of 19 year old
parent of 19 year old
lots of vilonce
great movie
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12Bows
teen, 14 years old
teen, 14 years old
Disappointment
The film has only one violent scene where the polar bears are attacking eachother. But overall, it's not that bad. In my opinion, the movie was really good until the ending. I know that they were trying to make you think and all, but, it makes me upset that they haven't yet made a sequel. It's disapointing that they would get you all excited and make you anxious about the next movie. But all along, there wasn't ever going to be a second movie.
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Evrybdy44
adult
adult
I enjoyed the movie
I truly enjoyed this movie. It was fun. I wanted to check it out after all the buzz about it being anti-christian As a Christian I wanted to make up my own mind, and honestly I didn't get that from the movie at all. I do know that the author wrote it as the "non religious" version of CS Lewis' Chronicle of Narnia. But even those books when reading are not readily pro religious to a child reading. Of course the views of both authors are reflected upon dissecting of the story(CS Lewis a staunch christian and Pullman an unabashed atheist and/or agnostic) We see this as adults who look deeper, but children do not dissect the text of a book they read for deeper meaning often. It's fun and it's fantasy. No more and no less.
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Ph0chiz0
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
Captures the first book wonderfully... for the most part...
Just like Harry Potter, they casted exactly the right actors for the job. The images of the book (book one in my all-time favorite series), we're wonderfully recreated, if not somewhat rushed, and watered-down by the Catholic Church. Now I'm not going to go into religious matters, but this really is a great movie...
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Dedic8d
adult
adult
Ok movie, but the Christian hype is very far-fetched
I have seen this movie, and I cannot believe the ridiculousness of some of CSM's Christian reviewers' comments.
I'd like to offer a few FACTS about this movie so that readers can make an accurate judgement:
- There is no Adam, Eve, or God in this movie, so Adam and Eve DO NOT kill God, as another reviewer (who has not seen the movie) suggested.
- Characters in this movie DO NOT have "demons." They have "daemons." Please research the difference before making a judgment about their roles.
- There is nothing -- no scene, image, language, or other aspect -- related to Christianity in this movie. This is a fantasy movie, and that's all.
If we read Shakespeare though a biblical lens, we could call him anti-Christian (bed tricks, immoral clergy, etc.). If we watch Spongebob through a socio-sexual lens, he and Patrick Starfish are gay lovers, perhaps seeking to meet up with Tinky Winky from the teletubbies for some kicks. It's all paranoia. Watch the movie with an open mind, and it's just an okay flick, not an abomination to Christ...at all.
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ohya
parent of 14 year old
parent of 14 year old
should be PG
disturbing and bad movie
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♥UndeadRainbows♥™
kid, 13 years old
kid, 13 years old
Good!
Wish they'd made the sequel! Action-packed and exciting, I actually enjoyed it! I loved Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig's characters, and thought it was very heartwarming. Good movie.
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Verde
parent of 12 and 18 year old
parent of 12 and 18 year old
LOVED the book, the ruined the film.
I definitely think this is not appropriate for kids younger than 10-12. I also do not want to debate the religious controversy surrounding the books. My agnostic opinion is that these stories, as novels, were fantastic. I read them as an adult, and wished I had them as a kid. They are beautiful, full of heart, made me cry, and offer up a fierce heroine surrounded by incredible supporting characters. It makes you think, and think hard, and that's a good thing no matter what.
All that being said, I made it about 1/3-12 way through the movie and I turned it off. They simply ruined the story, and completely dumbed it down. It's a lot to try and reduce down to a movie script, and I know much has to be cut and stripped out or adapted, but they just blew it. If you are inclined to watch this film, skip it and read the books.
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ashadoodle
adult
adult
Good movie, but a little violent
I really loved the book this was based on, and the movie was not disappointing (ps most of the religious controversy was cut out)
This was a beautiful movie, but it was a little violent. PG13 is good, but know your child. (In one scene, two bears are fighting and one's jaw is ripped off.)There is some wine/brandy, but no heavy drinking or promotion of such. Other than that, no real complaints.
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boofala
teen, 15 years old
teen, 15 years old
I Liked this movie very much.
This is a very excellent movie. I read the books also and know that it is very... Awsome! anybody who says it is off (because it is somthing different than their religion) should've known about the movie. I mean... it's just fiction. But an amazing fiction at that.
This is a wonderful movie to see where Lyra takes a big step away from her homey Jordan Colledge, into an adventure.
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PirateMonkey
teen, 16 years old
teen, 16 years old
Afraid of the Controversy?
All I am going to say it this. Whoever made this movie completely changed the order of the book and cut out the entire ending to avoid all the "controversial" bits about anti-religion. I saw the movie before I read the book. Now that I have actually read His Dark Materials, the filmmakers disappoint me greatly.
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