The story follows a young orphan girl called Lyra who lives in a parallel dimension where people's souls are not inside their body, but instead take the form of an animal companion called dæmons.

But in this world there is a mysterious organisation called the Magisterium who want complete control over the entire population.
When children start going missing, Lyra must use a golden compass she is given and travel to the snowy North to save them.
But with warrior ice-bears, the evil 'Gobblers' and the powerful Mrs Couleter (Nicole Kidman) in the way, will Lyra succeed?

Turning children's books into big-budget blockbusters may becoming a regular habit for Hollywood, but this latest adaptation is certainly one to get excited about.

A perfectly cast handful of Hollywood's finest including Daniel Craig, Sam Elliott and voices by Ian McKellan give the film the necessary depth and believability.
But the surprise performance comes from newcomer Dakota Blue Richards, who shines in her debut role as the feisty Lyra.

Being a fantasy film, special effects are paramount and fail to disappoint.
Battling ice-bears, flying witches, and the dæmons themselves all blend into the live action (and vice versa) with non-jarring realism.
But it is their subtle use in location shots and elaborate settings that really gives the film the added dimension, and carefully brings familiarity to a fantastical world.

With first class acting, impressive costume design and well handled action, The Golden Compass should be a hugely entertaining winter film.
And mostly it is.

A terrific pace and simple evolution of the story keeps things interesting from the outset and rarely faltering throughout.
But a sudden and unexpected end to the film does leave a sense of frustrating incompletion.

Obviously there is more to come being the first part of a trilogy; but with pivotal climactic scenes that were glimpsed at in the trailers being cut in favour of a far less grand ending, the sense of closure required is simply not there when the credits start to roll.

And with part two not scheduled until 2009, it is a long time to wait.

7/10 - A cut ending cools an otherwise sizzling fantasy epic.