“The Golden Compass” has two goals: to be a good film that attracts lots of viewers and be a faithful adaptation of the book. Overall, this movie is very enjoyable, and it achieves its goals. However, there are some weak spots both with the acting and plot.

For the most part, the actors are terrifically cast. Nicole Kidman, for instance, captures the essence of Mrs. Coulter in a very memorable performance with an elegant, gentle exterior, that slowly deteriorates as the movie progresses. At first she draws viewers in with her refined beauty. However, we soon see her evil side. Also, Dakota Blue Richards portrays the infamous Lyra Belacqua well, bringing alive her bravery, agility, and courage. She fits naturally into the role. At times, though, Lyra is obstinate and rude, which makes her less appealing. Finally, Freddie Highmore sweetly voices Pan's character. His vocal performance is charming as he displays the ­innocence of all of Pan's animal forms.

The film follows the plot of Philip Pullman's novel, with slight modifications. Some scenes are omitted so it is not too long. Luckily these scenes don't hugely impact the film.

The beginning of the movie seems rushed, with the first few minutes jam-packed with information from the book. This is confusing at first, and viewers may lose interest. The length is decent but if the movie had been just a bit longer, the characters could have been more developed. I felt that there ­wasn't really enough time to establish the strong relationships between them.

Visually, the film is excellent. The directors and producers craft a beautiful and believable environment. The daemons are amazing; Pantalaimon, the golden monkey, and the other children's daemons truly bring a magical quality. The Dust, too, is fantastic; it is depicted flowing out of those just murdered. Also, the armored bears are authentic and captivating. While the visual effects are ­fabulous, this movie may feel threatening to children. Animals and children are in constant peril. Additionally, there are many tense, violent scenes.

The ending is quite different from the novel. The book ends tragically, which is disregarded in the movie. Also the most ­exciting part of the book is not even in the movie.

Instead the movie ends on a positive note, with no one ­dying. There's no excitement, no thrill, no final piece to sum up the plot. However, it seems set up for a sequel.