2007: The Golden Compass

Though it could have done with a bit of work on the screenplay to make the whole thing a little more stringent, compact, focused, and also to put a little more weight on expository elements, this fantasy film about a teenage girl fighting the prevailing totalitarian powers (not unremindful of religious organizations in general and the catholic church in particular), is engaging, clearly shows the audience where all the money went and, most importantly, has shitloads of talking animals in it, including what appears to be a ferret. A talking ferret, oh readers! Just the right thing for a rainy Sunday afternoon. (7)