Beyond the Golden Compass - The Magic of Philip Pullman

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Beyond The Golden Compass - The Magic Of Philip Pullman (Timed Perfectly To The National Theatrical Release Of The Golden Compass Starring Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Eva Green And Sam Elliott, And Sure To Be This Holiday Season'S #1 Feature Film, Beyond The Golden Compass Unlocks The Astonishing Truths Hidden Inside The Pages Of Philip Pullman'S Best-Selling Fantasy Novel. The Cutting Edge Film Examines The Secret Codes And Symbols Of The Gothic Worlds Created In The First Part Of Philip Pullman'S Enchanting “His Dark Materials” Trilogy) - Dvd .com ---- Separated into short segments that would be perfectly suited to a classroom setting, Beyond the Golden Compass not only serves as plot explication for the one third of Philip Pullman's sci-fi trilogy, His Dark Materials, but also introduces scientific, religious, and historical background that will enhance one's understanding of the book's themes. Though cheesy special effects litter the documentary, this filmic guide contains interviews with Pullman, British literature professors, and with Golden Compass expert Laurie Frost, spliced between scenes from the upcoming film and related archival footage and photographs, such as that of zeppelins, aurora borealis, and the Industrial Revolution. Focusing in the beginning on character and plot, one wonders if this film will spoil imagined visions constructed from reading the book, though later forays into the principles Pullman s to discuss, such as the difference between corrupt organized religion and spirituality, serve to clarify tension developed in his epic story. Helpful background information, for example the history of astrolabs and compasses, offers learning material to those who are already expert, though one needn't have read the book to benefit from viewing. Towards the end of the film, the trilogy's themes are contextualized in a fascinating section about the history of Oxford University, which inspired so many great fantasy stories, such as Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Beyond the Golden Compass, though slightly dry at times, does a good job of showing how Pullman's conflation of good and evil transforms the archetypal format into something that urges children to make their own informed decisions in an increasingly complex world. –Trinie Dalton