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

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