Product Details

• Actors: Marcus Harris, James Hayward Brinkley
• Directors: Jean-Pierre Isbouts
• Writers: Jean-Pierre Isbouts, William A. Schwartz
• Producers: Jean-Pierre Isbouts, Bill Schwartz, Cathie Labrador, Michael Rosenberg, William A. Schwartz
• Format: Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Koch Vision
• DVD Release Date: November 20, 2007
• Run Time: 70 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000V6I7M6
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #96,579 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Beyond the Golden Compass: The Magic of Philip Pullman" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.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 aims 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

Product Description

BEYOND THE GOLDEN COMPASS - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I've been reading, August 19, 2007

By 

Compusurge (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond the Golden Compass: The Magic of Philip Pullman (DVD)

I recently read information about this production and from what I can tell, this looks like it ought to be fantastic for Pullman fans. It's not planned as a 'behind the scenes / making of the movie', but instead is planned as a background historicial exploration of the characters, demons, and general storyline development, delving deeply into the work of Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials". It should provide a solid understanding for anyone planning on either reading the book or seeing the upcoming film release in Decemeber of Gold Compass.

Updated: 12/16/07

All the hoopla, the New Line suit mentioned in the other review, and this DVD HAS come to the market. It's exactly what I thought/heard it would be, a deeper exploration into Pullman's literature that provides further understanding of the characters, plots and sub-plots. All great literature deserves third party analysis, and this DVD is the first to provide such in good fashion, opening up thought, debate, etc. I do hope New Line makes more of this trilogy, as it's great reading, and well worthy of the kind of discussion that this KOCH Vision outsider's view is then peremitted to provide.

Cheers from across the pond!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Beyond's Golden Compass, January 13, 2008

By 

PR_Alien "The Pr_Alien" (East to LA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beyond the Golden Compass: The Magic of Philip Pullman (DVD)

Good DVD to view before watching the big screen movie.
Will give you a better idea on how and why it was made.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars DVD may not ship as expected, November 26, 2007

By 

Phillip Daquila - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond the Golden Compass: The Magic of Philip Pullman (DVD)

This DVD may be held up this week from shipping, based on the hearing before a judge in the copyright infringement claim.
New Line Cinema Corp. has sought a court injunction in its $10 million copyright infringement suit to block this documentary from being released.
This is not a review but I thought it may be helpful to customers to follow the news on this interesting story.