The Golden Compass (DVD)

Having converted most of my old video collection to DVD I was thrilled to find this film gem in digital format. If you watch this in widescreen format, it really does the battle scene great justice; coupled with surround sound, you'll be gripped by the amazing cinematography. I would recommend the director's cut that includes scenes about the relationship between the lead character and his estranged wife and helps you to understand the motivation behind his decision. The run time is 183 minutes for the directors cut and 120 minutes for the cinema version. I was, however, disappointed by the lack of extras, which any fan of this classic would expect to be included. There's only a 20-minute interview with the director and other shot "making-of" vignettes.

i was pleased with the delivery but unfortunatley the dvd had foreign sub titles which spoilt the film i did try to get this sorted but ran out of time before seller passed on his address to return the dvd for a refund.

Well the film i had was a copy and i'll be honest for the price i paid i'm not surprised! However the film played well throughout and i was able to enjoy the film. I've read the books and therefore i enjoyed the film. Role on the next one.Cheers
Aled

Fake DVD............Ebay unhelpful..........took ages to get refund from Paypal......out of pocket for postage returning fake DVD to seller.

This is a very good flick if you have nothing to do, or are sick of Harry Potter movies. However, Harry Potter fans should also watch this film as it is a great movie. Well worth watching!

Awaiting explanation of why an item won in the auction cannot be dispatched despite being paid for on PayPal

Anyone missing their Potter fix, or after a little magic in the festive season would do well to give 'The Golden Compass' a go. Despite the naysayers the film is full to the brim with excitement, action and best of all Magic. If you haven't read the book make sure you pay attention in the first 5 minutes as a lot of scene setting is made, with basic explanations of the terms you're going to hear a lot of in the next 1 hour 50 minutes. Dust, a strange substance that seems to surround humans, is feared by the Magisterium, an organisation that is determined to control everything. They will do anything to destroy Dust, and the evil influence they believe it has on humanity. Central to all this is a young 12-year-old girl called Lyra, though she has no idea or awareness of her importance. She's more than happy running around the streets of her alternative world's Oxford, with the Gyptian children and her friend Roger. But there is danger on the streets - 'Gobblers' are rumoured to be taking children, and Lyra swears to roger that she will come after him if he's ever taken. You can guess what happens next! In the ensuing journey, Lyra meets a host of characters, from Texan aeronaut Lee Scoresby (perfectly played by Sam Elliott), the witch Serafina Pekkala, to the giant talking polar bear Iorek Byrnison. With these new found friends she sets out to save Roger and in the process discovers a dark terrifying experiment being carried out in the cold of the Arctic... As can be seen there is a lot to squeeze into this film, and it's in fact suprising how much the makers have managed to get on the screen from the book. But it is at a price. The pace at times is so fast it will be bewildering to anyone not already familiar with Lyra and her world. And for those who have read the book you will feel that there is a lot missing from the many scenes that have obviously been cut to make room for everything else. Here's hoping a director's cut will make it to DVD! The casting is near perfect and despite a slight high school play feeling at times, Dakota Blue Richards makes for a very convincing Lyra (and is in fact far less arrogant than she seems in the books at times). The disturbing Mrs Coulter is perfectly embodied, with Nicole Kidman on top form, and Daniel Craig is suitably gruff as Lord Asriel. But the real winners here are the Deamons, physical representations of the soul that take the shape of animals. Though at times they (and particularly the bears) look a little too CGI'd for the most part the characters seem to have literally stepped off the page and onto the screen. 'The Golden Compass' isn't the best film ever made nor the best adaptation of a book to film - but it's still a rip-roaring journey through a fantastical world you just wish you could go to. And if they ever make the following two books into sequels you might just get that chance...

this was a family entertainment film. the children loved it. age 9 plus . a nice story. well produced. well filmed. animation was exciting. a bit of violence but it was crucial to the plot. made me read the book.