The movie is based on the first book in a series by Phillip Pullman and this movie actually only covers part of the first book in a 3 book series. I have not yet read the books (notice i said YET), but understand there are some anti-religion statements in them, from what I've read they mainly deal with the power of organized religions in the political fields, not by saying religion is bad.
I guess when you start to warn people that when an organized religion becomes so powerful that it begins to invade every aspect of your personal life and you no longer have freewill or choice, then the said religions would say, "Oops they found out that we want total control." So at this point they organized religion would say, "Ve must put a stop to this movie."
But hey, I digress.
As a movie "The Golden Compass" is a very nice movie for the family.
Basically the story is about an alternate reality on an alternate Earth. The premise is that there are many universes and many Earths. One such parallel Earth a person's soul is not within the body but instead they soul lives in the form of an animal called a daemon, (for you religious zealots this is not demon, many people equate the word ``daemon'' with the word ``demon,'' implying some kind of Satanic connection. This is an egregious misunderstanding. ``Daemon'' is actually a much older form of ``demon''; daemons have no particular bias towards good or evil, but rather serve to help define a person's character or personality. The ancient Greeks' concept of a ``personal daemon'' was similar to the modern concept of a ``guardian angel'' --- ``eudaemonia'' is the state of being helped or protected by a kindly spirit.)
A child's daemon has the power to shapeshift until the child becomes of age the the daemon takes on a permanent shape. The daemon is linked to the person via "Dust." In my opinion and from others I have spoken with this "Dust" can be "Original Sin." But to draw the full conclusion on this I will be reading the book later on and checking out this theory.
Lord Asriel has brought back a photograph of a person and their daemon channeling dust from an alternate Earth, Lord Asriel wants to investigate this phenomenon further and gets funding from the university to seek out and explore the alternate Earths. A Young girl, Lyra, who we later learn is the daughter of Lord Asrial and Marisa Coulter, becomes the recipient of the golden compass to take to Asrial. The golden compass is a truthteller but only a select few can read the compass, Lyra is one of those few.
Marisa Coulter, working for the Magisterium, arranges for the kidnapping of orphan children in a government/religious experiment to seperate the children from their daemon/soul thus keeping them safe from dust. This is killing the children. Lyra's friend is kidnapped and she sets out to rescue him.
Alon the way she recruits the Gyptians (similar to Gypsies), A western type gunslinger, Lee Scoresby and an armored Polar bear, Iorek Blyrnison. They must find the children and rescue them.
As a side here, Sam Elliott plays Lee Scoresby and, in my opinion, is the most intriguing and fun character in the film. But I should warn you I'm a huge Sam Elliott fan.
The movie is full of action and adventure with beautiful cinematography as well as great special effects. Take the kids out to a great movie.
Cast
- Nicole Kidman ... Marisa Coulter
- Daniel Craig ... Lord Asriel
- Dakota Blue Richards ... Lyra Belacqua
- Ben Walker ... Roger
- Freddie Highmore ... Pantalaimon (voice)
- Ian McKellen ... Iorek Byrnison (voice)
- Eva Green ... Serafina Pekkala
- Jim Carter ... John Faa
- Tom Courtenay ... Farder Coram
- Ian McShane ... Ragnar Sturlusson (voice)
- Sam Elliott ... Lee Scoresby
- Christopher Lee ... First High Councilor
- Kristin Scott Thomas ... Stelmaria (voice)
- Edward de Souza ... Second High Councilor
- Kathy Bates ... Hester (voice)
- Simon McBurney ... Fra Pavel
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Comments: 31
Sad but true!
Anyway great review!
10 4 U
SEEDS OF ADVERSITY
Someone DIES at the end and you learn something stunning about Lyra's parents!
You ovbiously weren't TOO into the movie. I bet you weren't even paying attention to most of it. The book was nothing less of breathe taking and the movie was it's equal.
I'm tired of people bashing the movie.
And too all of the people who are not seeing this SIMPELY because of religion your quite dumb. It has some Anti-religion stuff, but it's more of a religious power taking over us and doing harm.
It's also a very touching story.
And rumors have been going around that they "kill god" when it's quite the opposite. They SAVE god.
Please read the book or see the movie before you form your opinions. Just like we don't beleive everything the news tells us, we shouldn't believe what other people tell us unless we've checked it out for ourselves.
Great article!
I've read all three books, and I agree with George both about the sanitizing difficulties that will arise with the other two books, and that the anti-religious angle is not the most successful part of the trilogy.
I had the same problem with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I'd already read the book so it was glaringly obvious that over half of it was left out.
Great review!
The controversy fascinates me, too, and it is reminiscent of the Harry Potter controversies. I read some articles about Pullman, and have cited a feature and a published conversation that he had with the Archbishop of Canterbury. He comes off as a man who has thought about theology and religion a lot, and is able to discuss it very intelligently and civilly with church leaders who can do likewise. (Click to my articles to find the cites.)
(Brandy, you just made the best case I've heard about why you should see a movie first! I might follow your advice in this case.)
I hope to enjoy the books as much. No CGI can ever equal a good imagination!
I loved the book! I expect to like the movie as well. The books are written by a self-avowed athiest. So? Are we as the church so insecure that we can't hear criticism from outside our walls? The author's supposed anti-Christian sentiments are basically a commentary on the church's tendency to want to legislate morality. We can't do that. We keep trying, but we can't. Spiritual beliefs are very indiividualistic.
What I really hate is that this book and movie are being banned by folks who likely have never read the book, or seen the movie. The director says he left out the anti-church parts anyway. I bet it's a rollicking good movie, and it will keep the viewer on the edge of her or his seat.
Please, go see it, with my blessings! :D
By the way, I also loved all the Harry Potter books. Any story where love triumphs over evil can't be bad!
I'm Christian. I see NOTHING wrong with it.
It's a movie.
I wish people would relax a little.
There are worse things in the world to worry about.
Great review!
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977200217
Enjoy!
I don't understand what all the religious fuss is about this. Too many people spouting off information that they nothing about.
As to what organized religion is getting its undershorts in a bunch about? I liked what the reviewer in the CS Monitor said:
"In short, Pullman doesn't tell his readers what to think, but how to think. And to think, period. This, I suspect, is what Pullman's critics really find unnerving."
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1207/p09s02-coop.html?page=1