For the children's fantasy adventure The Golden Compass,
Alexandre Desplat delivers his most sweeping score to date -- this is music rich in ideas, approaches, and textures, and if at times it moves in too many opposing directions, it nevertheless derives consistency from the depth and purity of the composer's vision.
Desplat's bold, richly appointed melodies are ideally matched to the symphonic grandeur of the arrangements -- the action themes crackle with energy and suspense, and even the more intimate moments benefit from the larger-than-life scale, underlining the epic drama of the onscreen narrative. ~ Jason Ankeny