Dakota Blue Richards stars as Lyra, who is given the last Alethiometer that tells the truth in “The Golden Compass.”

Watching “The Golden Compass” makes you believe it was a fairly fascinating fantasy adventure in print.

The screen version — written and directed by Chris Weitz (“About a Boy”) from the first novel in Philip Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” trilogy — has the same problems and high points common to such adaptations.

The realization of some of the creatures and action is thrilling, but the source material was obviously complicated. A 432-page book — even one for young adults — is hard to compress for the screen.

“Compass” takes place in a parallel universe that looks like a futuristic Victorian world. There, people live alongside their daemons, manifestations of a person’s soul in animal form.

The young heroine of the adventure, Lyra Belacqua (Dakota Blue Richards) has a daemon named Pan, a shape-shifter. Adults like the mysterious Mrs. Coulter (Nicole Kidman) have to settle on theirs. Hers is a golden monkey.

Lyra lives in an orphanage. She was put there by her uncle (Daniel Craig), an eminent scientist at odds with ruling Magisterium, a dogmatic theocracy trying to stamp out heretical thoughts, like the possibilities of other worlds. Her uncle, believing there is a connection to those worlds in the north, where warrior polar bears live, heads that way. Shortly thereafter, Mrs. Coulter, a Magisterium agent, sweeps up Lyra, and eventually everyone ends up in the icy lands. Along the way, we encounter magical creatures and strange beings — a cowboy aeronaut (Sam Elliott), a beautiful witch (Eva Green) and an outcast bear (voiced by Ian McKellen).