The Golden Compass (DVD)

I felt the trailers led me to believe this film was better than it actually turned out to be. As a massive fan of Fantasy genre I was Bitterly disappointed with the storyline as it explained very little and didn't encourage me to watch any further sequel. I suppose I should have read the book first, but I just never got around to it and now, after watching the film, I am never likely to. The film's strengths were the fabulous costumes and great acting. Its weaknesses was the directors assupmtion that everyone would already know the plot and the basic lack of direction. All in all, I felt that this was not at all what it was cracked up to be by the hype.

This is a great film, giving a pretty true account of the book. I have read all the books and I thought that the actors playing the characters were well chosen, especially Sam Elliott as the wonderful Lee Scorsby.

The CGI brings everyones daemons to life in a way that would not have been possible a few years ago. looking forward to the next instalment.

Whilst travelling on holiday The Golden Compass was an in flight film. I could not watch it as we were travelling with friends but from what I could see it looked a good family film.
When I got home I purchased the DVD via e-bay and was not dissapointed, all the family enjoyed it.

Fantastic film for children and adults. As a theatre person, I was enthralled by the beautiful costumes and excellent acting!

I visited our local cinema to see the Golden Compass accompanied with my wife, but to our bitter disapointment, the sound was too loud to bear for my wife.
Despite asking for the projectionist to turn the sound down slightly, it still was unbearable. Having obtained the dvd and able to control the sound we enjoyed the film very much, maybe not as good as the book, but very good.

We really enjoyed this film - the story is easy enough for the kids to follow and exciting enough for the adults. The animation is just fantastic - especially the polar bear! The film finishes very obviously leaving the door open for a sequel which we're really looking forward to!

Good film all round, kids and adults etc. Fine actors and some brilliant acting. Glad to have seen this film and would recommend that others watch it as well.

My husband and I rented this out on dvd first and both thoroughly enjoyed it. It it clever, funny and sad with an absolute battle scene between 2 polar bears. A good part for me was that it had S Elliott in as he is a wonderful actor and attractive too.
The only thing that disapointed me was the ending! I didnt realise that it was 3 parts and that I now have to wait a whole year to find out what happens next.
This is a cool movie and one that you need in your collection.

bought this DVD for a girlfriend after taking her to the cinema to see it.

whilst the film was ok wich was good during a polar bear duel i felt this was not the new fantasy trilogy that it was hyped up to be

not a bad watch but still not a new lord of the rings, but good for younger viewers.

I have not read the book so I can't comment on how close the movie follows it. However, as a movie, it is so poorly edited to be barely comprehensible. The whole movie seems like every other scene has been cut out. Characters and situations are not explained, relationships are not developed, and the plot is left with gaping holes. Fans of the book will, no doubt, be able to fill in the details. For the rest of us, I would not bother. This is a shame because the acting is good and well-cast. The special effects are equally impressive. If the movie had lasted another hour, it probably would have been terrific. Hopefully, a director's cut will be released some day that redeems this travesty.

Not too bad to watch when there is nothing else to do. I did enjoy it but as I have read the book a number of times I could tell there was lots left out from the it, but I suppose they couldn't include everything.

Such a good film, gripped all the way through, couldnt believe how its ends, leaves you wanting more :-)

i saw it in the cinema and wanted the DVD cheaper than in the shops.
I got it at a good price.
The love the film for the story as ive read the books and the film is fantastic.

I brought this as I am into fantasy films and having Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman starring is a bonus, plus this has Sam Elliott playing the part of "Lee Scoresby" another great actor who played the part of the "caretaker" in the 2007 film - Ghost Rider.

A Must see film.

looks better on the trailer than it actually was,bit like the first lord of the rings,in that most of film is introducing the characters,but not a lot happens,will have to see what the follow up is like.good entertainment for younger children i suppose

Really looked forward to watching it but I'm afraid I found it very dissappointing. It is a kids film really, I found the acting wooden and annoying. I haven't read the book though, but to be fair I don't think I would bother now.

My daughter likes it, says it is really good.There are a lot of top celebs doing voice overs, which makes it easy to understand, (so she says!!)

This is a great family film, it sits on the fence between just for under 12's, and everyone else. A little simple in its storyline, in relation to the book,but hey it that not the same as the potter films.Can not wait for the second film.....

Bought it coz I enjoyed the book. Thought the effects were very good, story a bit simplified, but overall I enjoyed the film.

I was expecting more excitement and really good graphics but this is definitely a child's film. It is good but won't appeal to many over 12s. There were great chunks of the book cut out and I think the film missed the main point of the book.

fab film,has you riveted to your chair.cant wait for the sequal.i,d seen it at the pictures and wanted to watch it again.acting is spot on and the special effects out of this world.a film that all ages can watch and enjoy.all the characters were very interestig and colourful.the child actors all played thir characters really well and made the film very believable.this is a film that will be remembered and watched endlessley.

The Golden Compass is a great family film, which you can watch again and again. The concept of the film is incredibly imaginative and intriguing as it is set in a parallel universe where all humans have their own 'demons' which are animals that must stay with the human. These demons are like a second body for the humans (If the demon gets hurt then so does the human).
It follows the life of a 12-year old girl who will not stop at anything to complete her mission, although i was dissapointed to find out that it was only the first in a trilogy so the ending was a bit of a cliff hanger. I can't wait for the next one to come out. I will definately be there in the cinema.

As a fan of the books, I eagerly awaited the release of the first film. As with almost all film versions of books, the conversion lacks impact. They also needlessly rearranged some of the scenes and removed some scenes which I feel are key to the story, and as such the film doesn't develop the characters as well as it could have done, leaving the viewer wondering why events are happening.

The daemons are done very well but their importance is not stressed as it should be and events at Bolvanger are severely understated.

Iorek Byrnison is also very well done and the scene with the other bears is awesome.

Conversion from book to film is always a difficult undertaking, and though done fairly well, most fans will be disappointed. Phillip Pullman seems to have conceded too much just to get the film done, and leaving out the last chapter to be put at the start of the second film makes it less likely that I would want to watch the sequel, not more as the director intended.

I think the film is good as an introduction to the story and I would hope that a viewer would get the book to experience the story in its entirety, as it should be.