This story was brought to my attention by my daughter. There has been much written in the press and on Gather about Hollywood's theatrical version of The Golden Compass, based on the first in a trilogy called His Dark Materials written by Philip Pullman. I thought this writer in The Boston Globe presented a true picture of both the book and some religious organization's attempts to slander and boycott the movie.
Click Here to read the article.
And if you have not read the book, at least read this article before deciding whether or not this movie and the book on which it is based is truly what religious leaders are claiming it is.
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Comments: 53
I'm also glad you published it to "GATHER Discusses Tolerance", at nohate.gather.com.
A true Christian or Catholic IMO wouldnt be threatened by these movies. From what I understand and from one of my gather friends....John Knight...who again IMHO is a true christian....he not only accepts the questioning of the church but welcomes it....how do you know your faith is real unless it can stand a little controversy.
If a movie like this changes the mind of a "devout" christian or catholic...then I guess they werent that devout.
BTW, it is not only Catholic churches and schools who are opposed to this movie. Our protestant churches and the council of pastors are also recommending to avoid this film.
As far as symbolism in children's books, mostly all good children's literature is based on important human themes. These books are no exception. And it's a shame that you would not go to see a film because some church leaders are telling you not to see it. I am seeing the movie in Boston in a week, by invitation of Charles Schwab and Co., Inc. with whom we do business. They are sponsoring it as their holiday movie/get-together. I don't think Chuck would do that if it wasn't a good movie, or based on a significant book. Not that that in and of itself should prompt you to see the movie. But I would encourage you to read the books - they are beautifully crafted and very well written.
Above all, make up your mind for yourself. Don't let other people tell you what to do - that's the main point here.
OK, since you've told me not to, I won't.
Just kidding! Thanks for the link to the article about his movie. Until now, I didn't know anything about it, except that Nicole Kidman was in it. I've seen a magazine ad for it, and that's it. I doubt I'll catch the movie until it comes out on DVD, but until then it sounds like I might add another three books to my holiday reading list.
Thanks again, Sheryl! :)
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
And you're right, unfortunately, about a large number of people never even investigating this because religious leaders are spewing venom against it. LIke reading a book, or seeing a movie loosely based on the book, would ever instantly turn them into atheists! Unbelieveable. And kids who do the same will probably never even notice the religious references at all - they'll be too enthralled with the talking bears! : - )
I'm going to see the movie next Saturday. Not because I like fantasy movies (I actually hate them) but because of all the drama and I want to make my own opinion. I'll probably like the talking polar bears too though...... That was the other reason I want to see it.
I think you'll like it - I've seen clips on YouTube and the CG is amazing! Iorek, the hero bear, is a little daunting, in fact. May be a bit scary for younger kids. I'm really having a hard time imaging Nicole Kidman as Mrs. Coulter - she's NOT a nice character at all in the book and I love Kidman as an actress - just may make me not like her very much from now on.
I'm half-way through the third book. It's a very spiritual series. The idea of the soul is central not only to the meaning but to the plot. The characters constantly face complex moral problems.
And, she is so perfectly evil. I mean, in all the commercials, she is perfect - like a queen - but you can tell she's perfectly evil. Delicious!
Well, I plan on going alone, so I hope I can handle a scary hero bear.... Maybe I should take a small child so I don't look like I'M the one that's scared.
And despite what I've said previously, I'm thinking I'll probably see the movie too.
And make up my own mind.
Lainie - I LOVED Kidman in the Woolfe movie. I think she's one of the best actresses around. I remember seeing her for the first time in an Aussie movie about girls at a boarding school and thinking, this person is amazing. I hope she stays in acting.
The Last Temptation of Christ was so low budget that it relied on church protesters for ALL its advertising. It worked!!!
I loved the article as well. Thanks for posting a link to it.
I just saw the movie last night and I was delighted. This movie, despite the screenwriters attempts to smooth over the underlying message of the books, brought up a very important theological topic: Free will, and abuse of authority.
I have to go out and recommend this to all of my friends with older kids - especially teens. This is exactly the type of "revolutionary" topic that will get teens and young adults interested in exploring the boring old topic of religion - give them something to sink their teeth into, and let them mature into their faith.
K. Gnash - excellent point - I noticed the stress given to free will and authoritative control, also, in the movie. Even though they toned down the church references, they did not sell out as I had feared they would - they actually got to the heart of the matter by emphasizing those main points in the movie.
I have started re-reading the trilogy, and still cannot 'see' the anti-catholic bias that the uninformed speak of... :D
: - )
I think the Church has tried to frighten and guilt people into believing in God by making Him this sinister judge who criticizes and questions every action you make and ultimately judges you at the end of your life to see if you are worthy but as it says in John 8:4 "God is love." In fact, I find it almost laughable the massive number of criteria the Church lays on its members to attain 'eternal life' when Jesus only mentions ONE criteria on judgement day for heaven or hell and here it is for all you who are interested...
"But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 "All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
34 "Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' 37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 'And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 'When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' 40 "The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'
41 "Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.' 44 "Then they themselves also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?' 45 "Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' 46 "These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
You'll notice of course that there is no talk about whether you believed in God, whether you went to mass every Sunday, or if you fasted during Lent. That is because all of those criteria are not criteria at all, but it should be noted that they are still important because they are a means of expanding our love for each other and a way of making our love that much more pure and powerful.