"Time" rated it a "A-" and called it a "good, if familiar fantasy," saying "The find is Dakota Blue Richards ... who's both grounded and magical." Peter Bradshaw of "The Guardian" rated it 4 stars out of 5, praising Nicole Kidman's casting and saying it had "no other challengers as big Christmas movie." Leonard Maltin gave the film 3 out of 4 stars, and said that "Richards is persuasive" and that it "does a good job of introducing us to an unfamiliar world." Critic Roger Ebert awarded the film 4 out of 4 stars and called it "a darker, deeper fantasy epic than "the "Rings" trilogy (The Lord of the Rings), The Chronicles of Narnia" or the "Potter" films," saying that it "creates villains that are more complex and poses more intriguing questions. As a visual experience, it is superb. As an escapist fantasy, it is challenging ... I think [it is a wonderfully good-looking movie, with exciting passages and a captivating heroine."