I wanted to read the books before I watched this film, because I hear they’re phenomenal and I badly wanted to do a book to film comparison, but I never expected it to be nominated.

In an alternate dimension where people’s soul’s live outside their body in the form of “daemons,” Lyra (Dakota Blue Richards) is an orphan who is chosen to have a golden compass that can answer any question she asks it. Her best friend is taken by Gobblers, evildoers who are part of the dominating Magisterium, and she sets out on a quest to the north to find him. Accompanied by aeronaut Lee Scoursby (Sam Elliott) and a warrior polar bear Iorek (voiced by Ian McKellan), she begins her adventure with the golden compass. While this movie looked beautiful, it was utterly boring. There were very few action sequences and all set up and explanation for two more movies that aren’t likely to get made after this one’s lackluster turn at the box office. Even the “climactic final battle” of the film seems like it should have a minor scrap in the middle, leading up to a bigger fight (which I’m sure would have come in sequels). There are plenty of trilogies out there that blatantly set up the next film (Lord of the Rings, Narnia), but each film has an ending that is satisfying at the end of two hours. This one does not.

Nominations:

Best Art Direction
The beauty of this film is honored in both of its nominations. The drab tones of the orphanage, the sterile colors of the Magisterium experiment, and the clean, pure look of the snowy winter give every setting their own unique feel. However, there were a lot of far better looking films this year that make this one pretty forgettable.

Best Visual Effects
When I saw this nomination, I assumed that it was simply for its polar bears. However, the daemons are very real looking and unique visual effects characters and a lot of the scenery is effects as well. There’s a beautiful scene in which characters fly above the city in a hot air balloon/blimp thing that is stunning. However, I don’t think it stacks up to the magnificent Transformers.