2403 ( )

Although the sets and costumes are well-done, and the actors are competent, the story-line was tendentious and full of holes. It is possibly the result of adapting a book, but the editors & director should have patched it better.
I never achieved any suspension of disbelief. ( )

This movie's main issue is its lack of an ending -- but few people dare hold that against, say, "Empire Strikes Back". Other than that, it is a great fantasy adventure, building a compelling world which only very occasionally fall a bit flat (the witches, for all of Eva Green's enormous charisma, never quite feel like they fit to me). Really a shame that it never found its audience, as this could have been the start of something very special if they had gotten to finish the story.

Also, where else can you see Ian McKellen and Ian McShane fight to the death in polar bear form, I ask you that. ( )

Lyra sets off on an adventure to rescue her friend Roger when he is kidnapped by the gobblers having to run away from Mrs. Coulter, meeting an aeronaut, hiring an armored bear and teaming up with the Gypitans. The characters are well developed mostly visual through the movie, but they are consistent with Pullman's descriptions in his book. The plot is done well, holding the watchers attention throughout, viewers that are familiar with the books may be disappointed since everything is not included. The setting is done through great visual effects and fits perfectly with the descriptions that are given in the book. Overall this is a good adaption of Pullman's book and would be good for a public library video collection aimed at teens and readers of His Dark Materials Trilogy. ( )