The Golden Compass stars Nicole Kidman (Mrs. Marisa Coulter), Daniel Craig (Lord Asriel) and Dakota Blue Richards (Lyra Belacqua). Sir Ian McKellen offers some voice work. It’s directed by Chris Weitz (American Pie 1 and 2, producer; About a Boy, writer; ), who also adapted the screenplay from Philip Pullman’s novel of the same name.

As you might already know, The Golden Compass is a subject of controversy in the Catholic Church, with the highest authority, the Pope himself, calling it a “godless” movie. It seems to have shown some early promise then tanked in North America, but is doing well overseas.

I have to say that while I have a copy of the book from years ago, I haven’t read it. But the movie’s story – which supposedly toned down the religious elements – struck me as being very odd, and I think I can see why the Pope calls it “godless”.
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The Golden Compass, starring Nicole Kidman as the villainess Mrs. Coulter, had a lackluster opening the first weekend, and even poorer this past weekend – trumped by Will Smith’s I Am Legend and even Alvin and the Chipmunks.

It probably doesn’t help that the movie has been the subject of Christian religious controversy. Recently, Catholic bishops in the U.S. asked that a review of the movie be removed the website of the Catholic News Service.

Word is that the movie eliminated some of the relgious elements that the book had. While I haven’t seen the movie, it appears that this decision actually did more harm than good – though it’s possible I’m mistaken.

I received a hardcover copy of the book in the mid-90s, but misplaced it and thus never read it. The book cover and the movie trailers are very visually rich, and on that basis alone would I watch the movie, regardless of any controversy. A clip is shown below, and galleries are available at the official Golden Compass movie site.