The Golden Compass - Spoilers

[~Sarah~]

http://www.pluggedinonline.com/movies/movies/a0003536.cfm

An article from Focus on the Family

The Golden Compass opens British author Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, an award-winning but theologically controversial series of children's books. Though the series eventually finds two young protagonists and a supporting cast of witches, armored polar bears, scientists and angels confronting the Authority—a stand-in for God—those themes have been intentionally muted in this first cinematic act.

"How does one go about adapting a book that has controversial elements into a film that a very wide variety of people can enjoy, without betraying the original?" asks director Chris Weitz. "One tries to be clever about it. I realized that the overt stating of some of the themes in ... The Golden Compass would never—this is important to make clear—never ever get across the goal line. There isn't a wide enough audience for that—yet. If I wanted to popularize this series of extraordinary books and open them to a wider reading public than ever before, I was going to have to make some compromises."

Weitz went on to say that he hopes the film will be successful enough to allow him to direct the second and third installments without minimizing those stories' strident anti-church themes. "Whereas The Golden Compass had to be introduced to the public carefully, the religious themes in the second and third books can't be minimized without destroying the spirit of these books. ... I will not be involved with any 'watering down' of books two and three."

But even watered down, The Golden Compass is still awash in a twisted worldview and dark spirituality, the anticipation of which has prompted many Christian groups to point out the damage some of Pullman's themes can do. Even secular observers have noted that the film's thinly veiled ecclesiastical allusions can be spotted easily. Newsweek writer Devin Gordon noted, "While references to 'the church' are gone from the film, no one over four feet tall could mistake the Magisterium for anything but an oppressive theocracy." That notion is supported by church historian Dr. Quinn Fox, who observes, "The most telling aspect of His Dark Materials ... is that the Reformation never happened in the world of The Golden Compass. Indeed, Pullman's simplistically harsh view of the church and God posit a power-hungry, misanthropic institution out of control, and a detached, domineering God devoid of grace."

One of the film's visual high points has to be the sight of Iorek bounding through the snow in slow motion with Lyra burrowing into his shaggy white fur. And it's scenes like this, shown in most of the film's trailers, that have the power to spark interest and imagination in young viewers who might be unfamiliar with His Dark Materials.

Such warm and cuddly sneak peeks promise something this movie doesn't deliver. This epic journey to a world in which a theocratic agency kidnaps and tortures children is grim and joyless. The violence may be generally bloodless, but the tale's tone is anything but inviting. No matter what the ads may say, it fundamentally lacks the wonder and the splendor of C.S. Lewis' and J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy creations—not to mention their grasp of spiritual truth.

[~Sarah~]

a brief review of the movie by the Archbishop of Denver, Charles ChaputSympathy for the devil: thoughts on ‘The Golden Compass’By Archbishop Charles ChaputDenver, Dec 12, 2007 / 11:59 am (CNA).- When the first Harry Potter movie arrived in theaters several years ago, many Catholic families had divided views about the film. Some enjoyed it as an innocent and intriguing fantasy. Others avoided it because of its emphasis on magic. But the screen adaptation of Philip Pullman’s book, “The Golden Compass,” which opened in Denver on Dec. 7, will likely produce far more agreement. No matter how one looks at it, “The Golden Compass” is a bad film.There’s just no nicer way to say it.I saw it at an 8:30 evening showing on Dec. 8. The theater was largely deserted. That may be a trend. While “The Golden Compass,” released by New Line Cinema, ranked No. 1 in box office revenues on its opening weekend, it took in only a modest $26.1 million. The three “Ring Trilogy” movies grossed between $47 and $72 million on their respective opening weekends, and “The Chronicles of Narnia” had opening revenues of more than $65 million.In fact, secular critics have been less than kind to the movie, and for good reason. It’s long, complicated, and despite a very gifted supporting cast and wonderful special effects, the story is finally lifeless. Much of the movie takes place in the polar north, and the iciness of the setting is a perfect metaphor for the chilly, sterile spirit at the heart of the story.Anyone expecting a playful children’s fantasy would do well to look elsewhere. There is nothing remotely “playful” about this movie.As many readers will already know, Philip Pullman is an atheist, and “The Golden Compass” — the first book in his trilogy “His Dark Materials” — is a calculated counter-story to Christian-based fantasies like “The Lord of the Rings” and “Narnia.”“The Golden Compass” takes place in a parallel world similar to earth, but dominated by a sinister quasi-religious authority known as the Magisterium. This powerful elite seeks to “protect” people — for their own good — by shielding them from scientific knowledge, represented by the movie’s mysterious cosmic dust and a truth-telling piece of technology called an “alethiometer” (or golden compass).More specifically, the Magisterium abducts young children and literally kills their souls, thereby extinguishing the spirit of free thought and inquiry.The aggressively anti-religious, anti-Christian undercurrent in “The Golden Compass” is unmistakable and at times undisguised.The wicked Mrs. Coulter alludes approvingly to a fictional version of the doctrine of Original Sin. When a warrior Ice Bear — one of the heroes of the story — breaks into the local Magisterium headquarters to take back the armor stolen from him, the exterior walls of the evil building are covered with Eastern Christian icons. And for Catholics in our own world, of course, “Magisterium” refers to the teaching authority of the Church — hardly a literary coincidence.The idea that any Christian film critics could overlook or downplay these negative elements, as some have seemed to do, is simply baffling.Strangest of all — and in striking contrast to the Harry Potter and Narnia stories — is the absence of joy or any real laughter in the movie. The talented child actress who plays the film’s leading role is hobbled by a character that is uniformly unpleasant, rebellious, belligerent and humorless; the kind of young person described by one of my parent friends as needing a “long timeout.”Obviously, parents are the primary teachers of their children. They need to use their own best judgment about whether a film is suitable for their families. But I’ll certainly be encouraging my own friends to put their Christmas cash to better use.In fact, maybe the most cynical and insulting thing about “The Golden Compass” is that its makers would offer this cold, angry, antireligious fable as “holiday fare” in the midst of a season built around the birth of Jesus Christ. That’s certainly worth a letter to the people at New Line Cinema. With two more books in the Pullman trilogy as possible sequels, it might be helpful if they heard from all of us.New Line Cinema:E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 310-854-5811 Address: 116 N. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048 Fax: 310-854-1824another articlehttp://www.pluggedinonline.com/thisweekonly/a0003516.cfm

[NeuroTypical]

I saw this great flick again last night, bringing my wife with me this time. She really enjoyed it too. We both agree it is a bit ham-fisted in it's portrayal of the one-dimensional character of the bad guys. But it's a fascinatnig setting with great characters, superb effects, with a unique story about what souls are.

I hope they make the next film or two, because I want to see The Authority (The God of that world) overthrown and defeated. We get the sense he's not a very nice god, and any good Christian would feel comfortable fighting against him and dethroning him.

I've got the book on order at the library, and I'm looking forward to reading it. The supposed athiest agenda of the author is completely missing from the movie.

“The Golden Compass,” released by New Line Cinema, ranked No. 1 in box office revenues on its opening weekend, it took in only a modest $26.1 million. The three “Ring Trilogy” movies grossed between $47 and $72 million on their respective opening weekends, and “The Chronicles of Narnia” had opening revenues of more than $65 million.

And whenever numbers are talked, I always like to point out that September Dawn has made less than $1 million to date. Can I get a W00T!

The aggressively anti-religious, anti-Christian undercurrent in “The Golden Compass” is unmistakable and at times undisguised.

The Archbishop of Denver is full of hogwash. Or, at least, he's exactly as correct as if the same charge was leveled against the Harry Potter movies.

The wicked Mrs. Coulter alludes approvingly to a fictional version of the doctrine of Original Sin.

I watched the movie twice, and didn't pick up on this. The movie does blame her and her daughter's troubles on a culture that is not charitable towards unwed children, but that's about the strongest example I could find.

When a warrior Ice Bear — one of the heroes of the story — breaks into the local Magisterium headquarters to take back the armor stolen from him, the exterior walls of the evil building are covered with Eastern Christian icons.

True enough. The building looks like something you'd find during the middle ages or inquisition - the exception being the halos were not around the Saints, but around their daemons. But this hardly makes the film aggressively "anti-religious". It's an alternate universe for Pete's sake. The concept is hardly new. Star Trek did it back in the '70's - remember the evil and bearded Mr. Spock?

And for Catholics in our own world, of course, “Magisterium” refers to the teaching authority of the Church — hardly a literary coincidence.

Maybe this'll come out more in his book. But it sounds like it's the equivalence of a fantasy film where the bad guys are "The Correlation Committee" or maybe "The Quorum of 12", but other than that, there's no resemblance to mormons. Forgive me if I fail to quake in my boots and don't worry much for the souls of the kids who watch the movie.

Strangest of all — and in striking contrast to the Harry Potter and Narnia stories — is the absence of joy or any real laughter in the movie.

The Archbishop saw what he wanted to see. The opening scene is that of kids happily playing and getting in a mudfight and laughing. There's a funny scene where everyone is marching off to war, and our heroine is chattering away at a thousand miles an hour about her girlish take on things. The American aeronaught has the wit and twinkle in his eye of Mark Twain, and his wisecracking jack rabbit daemon is very good fit. Heck, even the armored bear has a good line that provoked a chuckle.

Obviously, parents are the primary teachers of their children. They need to use their own best judgment about whether a film is suitable for their families.

Very true. And I won't be taking my kids to see this, because they're a bit young for the themes and violence. They haven't seen Harry Potter or LOTR either. The Narnia movie sat ok with them, just barely.

In fact, maybe the most cynical and insulting thing about “The Golden Compass” is that its makers would offer this cold, angry, antireligious fable as “holiday fare” in the midst of a season built around the birth of Jesus Christ.

By no means at all can the movie be considered 'antireligious'. It has more religion in it than Harry Potter. It's just given out as the faith and prophecies of the Witches.

But anyway, I find this criticism somethng that can be levelled against just about any hollywood movie that comes out during the holidays. But if the Archibishop was looking for something to be righteously indignant about, he should have seen the preview for "Alien vs. Predator -requiem", featuring (I kid you not), a Christmas hymn singing about Christ.

[Guest HEthePrimate]

This morning while riding the bus I saw a woman reading The Subtle Knife (the sequel to The Golden Compass). It occurred to me then that maybe one of the reasons that Pullman's books don't bother me is that the god they are trying to dethrone is not the same God I believe in and worship. In fact, the Authority doesn't seem much like Heavenly Father at all--if they want to dethrone that guy, more power to them!

Would it be controversial if someone were to write a book in which the (good) characters try to kill or dethrone the bad, philandering god Zeus? Am I an atheist because I don't believe in Thor (no, I'm an a-Thorist! ).

His Eminence, Daniel the Primate

[~Sarah~]

This morning while riding the bus I saw a woman reading The Subtle Knife (the sequel to The Golden Compass). It occurred to me then that maybe one of the reasons that Pullman's books don't bother me is that the god they are trying to dethrone is not the same God I believe in and worship. In fact, the Authority doesn't seem much like Heavenly Father at all--if they want to dethrone that guy, more power to them!

That's kindof how I feel about watching it, I don't really have a problem with the actual watching of it because the god portrayed is not my God, I just don't want to give the guy my money.

[Maya]

We were there saw it and we all think it could have been better... it was a bit flat. Just when it kind of started it was the end... so there sure will be more coming. I put this in the same category as Harry Potter and other imagination things. No harm to see it I think.

I just wish I could get in contact with a GOOD wrighter and he/she could write my books in good language... they would be something else

[Still_Small_Voice]

And whenever numbers are talked, I always like to point out that September Dawn has made less than $1 million to date. Can I get a W00T!

That is very good news to hear.