Early reviews are in and Nicole Kidman shines as the villain in the kid’s classic The Golden Compass.

“The Golden Compass” also gives Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, previously trapped in the awful “The Invasion” this year, to redeem themselves nicely. It turns out that they make a good onscreen couple after all, even though they’re really not onscreen together in “Compass.”

Kidman, in particular, is back to business, slithering around, having a grand time as Mrs. Coulter, the nominal villain in little Lyra’s bizarre world where everyone has a “daemon” or talking animal by their side that represents their personality.

The Golden Compass opens December 7th across the nation.