"Golden Compass" Still Can Teach/Entertain

Hello, young lovers. So Rox and a friend went to opening night last night of the much-talked-about "Golden Compass" starring Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig (hot) and newcomer Dakota Blue Richards (smashingly gregarious!). Despite the fantastical scenery, talking armor-wearing polar bears, flying witches and some glorious scenery/special effects, "The Golden Compass" is getting more attention not for its use of fantasy, but instead for something very real: Religion. The film is based on "His Dark Materials," a trilogy of books by English author Philip Pullman, a self-proclaimed atheist. So, yes, if you want to take that route while viewing this then you can see how religious groups could be upset. The book and movie portray "The Magistry" as being the evil empire that wants to abolish free will and, apparently, free thinking. However, what Rox got out of the movie is that "The Magistry" could represent anything that kills or paralyzes human beings as we grow up from imagination, questioning the status quo or even open-mindedness of other cultures or beliefs. Dakota Blue Richards is an absolute delight playing "Lyra" who, as the prophecy says, is the last child who is able to read the one remaining "Golden Compass" -- a compass which, whenever asked the question, reveals only the truth. The interesting idea in the book and movie also is that each of us is assigned a "demon" which is our animal counterpart to our spirit. So a regal adult would have an eagle as his or her demon; a sketchy adult would have a rat as his or her demon (you get the picture). But for children, whose ideas, imagination and sense of self is still growing and flourishing, their demons change based on what they're feeling, what they're perceiving at any given moment. I believe the idea is that you can't teach an old dog new tricks so wouldn't it be great to have the perception of a puppy with the life experience of a, well, old dog?! Kidman is gorgeous and creepy; Daniel Craig is just HOT but barely has any screen time (wait for the sequel!); but the children, story and special effects truly are the stars in this movie. May I suggest you get past the hype and controversy and approach this as if your demons can still change -- with, dare I say, an open heart and an open mind?! TTGP gives "Compass" 4 pops out of a six pack...and a Six for just making us think!