i finished watching the golden compass a few days ago and on the whole, i really enjoyed it. i thought it did a better and tighter job of telling the story than did the book. also, the changes they made from the book made the story better. most importantly, the movie left out something bad from the books ending and so the movie concluded on a happier more hopeful note.

i did have some major criticisms however as concerns casting. iorek byrnison is a great character but i absolutely didn't like ian McKellen cast as his voice. what? that's not Gandalf! sam Elliot as scoresby did not work for me either. Christopher lee made a quick cameo as some head figure in the magisterium but how can anyone see him as anything other than Saruman the white when the roles are so similar?

lyra (the main character) grew on me, Nicole Kidman and Daniel craig were well cast, and so was eva green as Serafina the witch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHYoOGfBObU