Golden Compass

AGDLynn · #1 12-07-2007, 11:51 PM

Awesome!

carnation · #2 12-08-2007, 09:52 AM

I heard that the movie was good but the books...I've heard that Philip Pullman is a raving atheist and makes the clergy the bad guys in all his movies. I read part of the Golden Compass before giving up on it and it sure did seem to be going along those lines.

Drolefille · #3 12-08-2007, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carnation

I heard that the movie was good but the books...I've heard that Philip Pullman is a raving atheist and makes the clergy the bad guys in all his movies. I read part of the Golden Compass before giving up on it and it sure did seem to be going along those lines.

The first book isn't as much of an attack as the rest, and the movie has toned it down.

But somewhere in the second book it goes from a general comparison to an outright hate for organized religion and the Catholic Church rather specifically (The Magisterium).

But, I did enjoy the plot in the first two, the third was too.. well something. I didn't get through it, and I'm a reader.

KDAngel · #4 12-08-2007, 05:58 PM

While parts of the movie sound interesting, I refuse to see it support Pullman (the author of the book) who blatantly says "My books are about killing God." And the Golden Compass is no difference.

The primary villains of the trilogy (of which GC is part) are the Magisterium (a renamed Catholic Church) and the Authority (known to you and me as the Lord Almighty).

And while the company that made the film said they pulled the Anti-Christian parts from the film, I'm surely not going to support it and support Pullman in doing so. And by NO means am I an uber-Christian. I just can't believe this is the kind of movie we're letting our children go see when we know what it represents...

Drolefille · #5 12-08-2007, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KDAngel

While parts of the movie sound interesting, I refuse to see it support Pullman (the author of the book) who blatantly says "My books are about killing God." And the Golden Compass is no difference.

The primary villains of the trilogy (of which GC is part) are the Magisterium (a renamed Catholic Church) and the Authority (known to you and me as the Lord Almighty).

And while the company that made the film said they pulled the Anti-Christian parts from the film, I'm surely not going to support it and support Pullman in doing so. And by NO means am I an uber-Christian. I just can't believe this is the kind of movie we're letting our children go see when we know what it represents...

Honestly, the movie will probably have little remnants of the book as far as those issues.
It's less an attack on Catholicism/organized religion and more of a criticism of an all powerful theocracy.

Scandia · #6 12-08-2007, 08:26 PM

It was okay. And that goes for both the movie and the book.

In the movie they did show the questioning of authority and the dangers of institutions that engage in mind control and try to get rid of anyone whose beliefs are different- like some religious organizations have done in the past. But they did not have any overt criticism of religion.

Although IIRC, they only do some analysis in The Golden Compass book and they get to the downright criticism in the two sequels.

I prefer Narnia.

Munchkin03 · #7 12-08-2007, 09:32 PM

I was talking with my mom today about this movie. It seems that there are a lot of fundamentalist Christians picketing the movie at the hometown theater.

Hooray for their 1st Amendment rights and all, but I don't really have any respect for someone who would encourage others to boycott a movie they haven't seen, which is in turn based on a book they haven't read. Doesn't it actually make more sense for someone to read the book/movie in question, and then form their opinion based on it, instead of bashing it based on whatever the pastor of the moment has to say about it? That doesn't make much sense to me.

Drolefille · #8 12-08-2007, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

I was talking with my mom today about this movie. It seems that there are a lot of fundamentalist Christians picketing the movie at the hometown theater.

Hooray for their 1st Amendment rights and all, but I don't really have any respect for someone who would encourage others to boycott a movie they haven't seen, which is in turn based on a book they haven't read. Doesn't it actually make more sense for someone to read the book/movie in question, and then form their opinion based on it, instead of bashing it based on whatever the pastor of the moment has to say about it? That doesn't make much sense to me.

I agree with you, but thankfully the actual Catholic Church has stayed out of the issue. And most of us ignore the Catholic League. They're a few wafers short of a Mass.

Pope · #9 12-08-2007, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drolefille

And most of us ignore the Catholic League. They're a few wafers short of a Mass.

This made me chuckle.

Drolefille · #10 12-09-2007, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pope

This made me chuckle.

Thanks Pope, you're cool.

Btw, you don't photograph well. Try some cucumbers on those bags under your eyes. Or a little Oil of Olay maybe!

Drolefille · #11 12-09-2007, 01:08 AM

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/movies/07mv242.htm
From the Catholic News Service's review of The Golden Compass

Quote:

Is Pullman trying to undermine anyone's belief in God? Leaving the books aside, and focusing on what has ended up on-screen, the script can reasonably be interpreted in the broadest sense as an appeal against the abuse of political power.

Will seeing this film inspire teens to read the books, which many have found problematic? Rather than banning the movie or books, parents might instead take the opportunity to talk through any thorny philosophical issues with their teens.

The religious themes of the later books may be more prominent in the follow-up films which Weitz has vowed will be less watered down. For now, this film -- altered, as it is, from its source material -- rates as intelligent and well-crafted entertainment.

James · #12 12-09-2007, 02:23 AM

Its a really nice looking movie. The production values are high without being annoyingly obvious.

DaemonSeid · #13 12-09-2007, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scandia

It was okay. And that goes for both the movie and the book.

In the movie they did show the questioning of authority and the dangers of institutions that engage in mind control and try to get rid of anyone whose beliefs are different- like some religious organizations have done in the past. But they did not have any overt criticism of religion.

Although IIRC, they only do some analysis in The Golden Compass book and they get to the downright criticism in the two sequels.

I prefer Narnia.

I agree...don't know if I can sit thru 2 more.

did enjoy the bear getting his jaw knocked off...heheh

nikki1920 · #14 12-10-2007, 09:38 AM

The fight scene with the bears was worth it. It was a good movie. I'm all for allowing people to excercise their free will, and that seemed to be what the Magisterium was trying to prevent people from doing.

AlexMack · #15 12-13-2007, 02:31 AM

Ugh, have none of you read Paradise Lost for christ sake? That's what he's basing a lot of his material on, not just his hatred (justified I think, in some ways) of organized religion.

Go read Milton, then read the damn books before you judge this.

So lame