Early PRAISE for The Golden Compass! *whew*

The lucky reporter has seen A HALF HOUR of what he believes is completed footage (with Desplat's score, which he calls "lovely"). He also says that Kidman is pretty kickass (I knew it I knew it I knew it) as the villain, and that the film looks to be a holiday smash and a treat for kids and adults. Oddly enough, it's from FOX news which I thought would be at the forefront of the "boycott the GC because the books have atheistic themes!!" movement.

Here's the article:

Nicole Kidman Is Golden in Holiday Smash

Forget whatever you might have read elsewhere last week about Nicole Kidman in “The Golden Compass.”

This column told you a few weeks ago that Kidman was in a slump after the terrible performance of “The Invasion” co-starring Daniel Craig. But never in my wildest imagination did I think that would be interpreted into a story elsewhere that Kidman was finito. Ridiculous! My point was that the Oscar-winning actress, who’s not yet 40, has only made very interesting choices with a series of indie films.

Now comes Kidman in “The Golden Compass,” the first part of a trilogy based on very popular novels by Phil Pullman called “His Dark Materials.” New Line Cinema, the folks who brought you “The Lord of the Rings” is behind this one, too, with Mark Ordesky again taking up the reins. I’ve now seen about a half hour of it, and without a doubt, “The Golden Compass” will be the big holiday smash hit for which Hollywood is so desperate.

Click here to read: Christian Groups Claim Pro-Atheist 'Stealth Campaign' in Nicole Kidman Fantasy Film 'The Golden Compass'

Kidman is not the heroine. Rather, she gets to be deliciously sinister as an evil pot-stirrer who has a big plot point secret. She is also sensationally beautiful, wearing clingy full length gold lame dresses to slink around in, sort of Cruella de Vil at a swanky cocktail party.

And her co-star again is Daniel Craig, only this time their chemistry clicks. Since no one saw “The Invasion,” it should be easy to forget. Once this trilogy is a smash, that earlier film will make a good trivia question.

But above and beyond Kidman, Craig and winning preteen star Dakota Blue Richards as main character Lyra, “The Golden Compass” will be wildly popular for its special effects. It’s full of fantastic animals, all busy shape shifting, talking and clawing their way to the front of the screen. Yes, the gray tabby cat who follows Dakota around talks, and that’s not all!

From what I’ve seen, not only kids but adults too will want to go back and see “The Golden Compass” a second time for the menagerie alone.

Meantime, message boards on the Internet seem to be panicking that somehow “The Golden Compass” is being re-edited or changed in some way by the studio. But what I’ve seen indicates that director Chris Weitz — who still has two more episodes to go — is in charge, and that what’s coming is his vision. Nothing can change Ian McKellen as the voice of a wise (but dangerous) polar bear. I think when we see the finished product — scheduled to open in London on Nov. 27 — fans will be more than pleasantly surprised.

By the way, Golden Globe-winner Alexandre Desplat is responsible for the film’s lovely score. But I’m told that some popular music may make it into the final soundtrack, including Coldplay. After seeing the footage, I can tell you they’d fit right in.