The Golden Compass

[Thorvald of Lym]

Christian fundamentalists are in arms over the upcoming movie based on the first book in Phillip Pullman's award-winning His Dark Materials trilogy, The Golden Compass (Northern Lights in the U.K.). A number of Christian groups have raised objections over the books' portrayal of religion, denouncing Pullman on grounds similar to the Harry Potter witch hunt (hur hur). Criticisms aside, however, the trilogy remains one of the better fantasy series I've read, and from what I've heard, the movie will remain true to the book.

Anybody out there who has read the book(s) and/or plans to see the movie?

 

[downtown]

I think Christians have a better complaint with the Golden Compass than they did with Harry Potter, which had nothing to do with God

 

[MobBoss]

While from the previews I think the special effects are first rate, I really dont care to see a movie in which God is bad and must be destroyed.

And yes, the author has said that his book is intended as a direct counter to CS Lewis writings....so, just like Lewis had an agenda in his stuff; so does this.

 

[GoodEnoughForMe]

During middle school they were my favorite books. I haven't read them in years but am planning to again. I am guessing I'll like them but their simplicity will mean they won't be favorites anymore. I don't like a lot of fantasy anymore except LotR because of that.

I will only see the movie if it gets good reviews, because the guy writing it and directing it has directed and helped to write such classics as Nutty Professors 2, American Pie, and Down to Earth.

While from the previews I think the special effects are first rate, I really dont care to see a movie in which God is bad and must be destroyed.

It's debatable as to whether or not Pullman was directly criticizing religion or instead criticizing "the church" and those who use religion as a means to suppress.

 

[Masquerouge]

I don't remember religion-bashing being the most prominent feature of the trilogy.

 

[MobBoss]

I don't remember religion-bashing being the most prominent feature of the trilogy.

The church in the books is supposed to be a reference to the Catholic Church.

 

[LightFang]

I really liked the books and yes I can even see the Church being all pissy about it...

Yet they took out the religious aspect in the movies, if I recall correctly (or they said they would due to uproar). I think Pullman said something like "the point isn't that the church is evil; it's that whoever binds other people to their will using things (such as religion) is evil".

I probably won't watch the movie though.

But I wish I had a dæmon.

 

[Thorvald of Lym]

While from the previews I think the special effects are first rate, I really dont care to see a movie in which God is bad and must be destroyed.

Well, that doesn't come until later in the series, actually.
To me, the books never came off as portraying God as 'bad'; most of the attacks seemed focused on oppressive religious institutions and their dogmatism. And, to my knowledge, Pullman never intended to criticize a specific sect; he said that the message could be applied to any religion. He doesn't hate religion itself, but the oppressive organizations built around it.

I think Pullman said something like "the point isn't that the church is evil; it's that whoever binds other people to their will using things (such as religion) is evil".

Summed it up in one.

And yes, the author has said that his book is intended as a direct counter to CS Lewis writings....so, just like Lewis had an agenda in his stuff; so does this.

Hmm. From what I read, Pullman denies his book is an antithesis to Lewis... although he was fiercely critical of Lewis's stories and many of their messages (especially in regards to women and 'unbelievers').

 

[Kan' Sharuminar]

Looking forward to seeing it, as I loved the books.

Very interested in seeing how they remove the religious aspect of the films (particularly the third book), given that it seems to be the whole bloody point. I can only assume that the folk complaining about the religious storyline haven't actually read the book, as the finale gives a fantastically hopeful idea about the future of the Church. Or maybe I need to read it again.

 

[Verge]

It's been awhile since Christian fundamentalists voiced ecclesiastical exasperation over some sort of fiction. Give them a few days and they'll probably wind up griping that Ian McKellen's character promotes the gay and lesbian agenda.

 

[GoodEnoughForMe]

In the spoiler is a quick one line about early reviews and such, without giving away the plot.

Spoiler :

The early reviews are saying that the movie isn't anything special, and that the ending was essentially cut out, to many fans discontent.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

There have been a flurry of indignant emails on the LDS list serves to which I ma subscribed. My roommate (who has not only not read the books but hadn't heard of them until a week ago) has been up in arms. But a lot of the people to whom I have spoken have said, basically, "the church he describes is nothing like ours, so what's the problem?"

 

[Nylan]

I thought the issue was more of the "dumbing down" of the religious and philosophical points, which a lot of people seem to think as a creative way to sneak atheism to kids under the radar.

That's what Google says anyways. Google knows all.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

Well, I don't think that very many kids will see the movie and instantly decide to abandon religion. Unless parents are counting entirely on the media to teach their values to their children, there shouldn't be a problem. If the only reason your children have the same values as you is because you hide them from the alternatives, you are a bad parent, plain and simple.

 

[eazyhasaids]

Just to clarify some things on the Catholic churches feelings on the movie, the church isn't against the movie nor does it condone going to see it. The Church just wants parents to be aware of the possible meanings in the movie before they let their kids see it.

 

[Eran of Arcadia]

That's fair enough, I think. This movie (and more so the books) are the sort of thing it would be a good idea to discuss with your children.

But hey, if Christian parents have Narnia, why can't atheist parents have this, right?

 

[Esckey]

Because they think we're wrong and thus don't deserve to be treated on equal terms?


Think I might go see this movie just because it looks good, screw the religious/anti-religious overtones. Movies(and Media) don't control what I belive or think

 

[Irish Caesar]

I had never heard of the books or the movie until I saw this article on CNN an hour or so ago.

The church in the books is supposed to be a reference to the Catholic Church.

I'm sure it's small fries compared to what we've said about our own church... (one of) the greatest work(s) of Catholic literature (Dante Alighieri's Comedy) puts the three Popes who are contemporaries of the author in Hell together...

 

[Xyan]

I think the Christian fundamentalists are way over reacting.

If a true teaching cannot stand to challenges from alternative views, then they should serious question their own conviction.

Instead of complaining, they ought to think how they can share their thoughts more efficiently than to worry after how others are sharing theirs.

 

[warpus]

That's fair enough, I think. This movie (and more so the books) are the sort of thing it would be a good idea to discuss with your children.

But hey, if Christian parents have Narnia, why can't atheist parents have this, right?

I saw a german Narnia TV series (or parts of it anyway) when I was a kid, and I wasn't nowhere near smart enough to figure out that the lion was Jesus.. to me, it was just a lion... and I just wanted to know why it was in the closet.

That's how kids will take this stuff in. It's the parents that worry about the "messages".