Dakota Blue Richards in The Golden Compass (New Line)
Ever since I saw the giant armored polar bear at this past summer's Comic-Con, I have been looking forward to The Golden Compass (opening December 7 throughout San Diego). I was not familiar with the books but that big polar bear inspired my imagination and appealed to the kid in me. The Golden Compass (originally published in England as Northern Lights in 1995) is the first book in Philip Pullman's trilogy called His Dark Materials (the name is derived from a line in Milton's Paradise Lost ). The film arrives from New Line, the studio behind The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and the studio would like nothing more than to have Pullman's books launch a new, lucrative franchise. The books were hugely popular in England but have not caught on to quite the same degree here.
The Golden Compass involves a young girl named Lyra Belacqua (Dakota Blue Richards) who lives in a world where people's souls are manifested outside of their bodies in creatures called daemons, animal spirits that accompany them throughout their lives. As a child, this dmon can change form from one creature to another reflecting a child's still developing personality. But as a person gets older, the daemon settles into one form. Lyra's daemon is Pantalaimon, or Pan (voiced by Finding Neverland's Freddie Highmore) and more often than not he appears as an ermine.
Gary Harding
December 11, 2007 at 10:27 PM
I thought the movie was excellent! I can see how it was sanitized so as not to be offensive. I think it's a little bit of a stretch to say the Magesterium is the Church; you can make that connection, but it could as easily be a futuristic government body. I think, unfortunately, this will not be a blockbuster, but only because it much more a movie for thinkers, than for pure action lovers. The casting was perfect!
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concerned mom
December 11, 2007 at 11:00 PM
To the man who claims this is harmless. You obviously didnt see any interviews with the writer. He himself admitted that his whole purpose is to destroy or at least undermind christianity. Hrmless as it may seem, it can spark interest in the books and epose our kids to garbage. There is also a curriculum that scholastic offers for this movie for free. It is by no means harmless to our children.
Beth Accomando
December 12, 2007 at 05:36 AM
To the concerned mom... it sounds like you didn't see the movie you are condemning but rather are basing your comments on one statement made by Pullman in 2001 (about "trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief") and the remarks made by the advocacy group The Catholic League calling for a boycott. You should not judge the film based on the book because they are very different. You would be hard pressed to find the anti-Christian elements in the film that you say are in the book. And personally I think if kids want to read a dense, challenging book like His Dark Materials, it's a good thing. Why do people seem so afraid to trust their children with ideas? Just because they read something doesn't mean they are going to immediately accept the ideas on the written page. Plus so long as parents talk to their kids about what they are reading and seeing, and participate in active communication with them, then I think a book that makes them questions things can be a benefit. Plus I think both the film and the book end up championing values that are essentially Christian ones.
vijay krishna
December 12, 2007 at 09:21 PM
the movie is fantastic and not bad as others seei hope they make the sequels
J. Bloom
December 13, 2007 at 06:38 AM
I think the casting was excellent and the individual scenes were very well handled. The special effects were wonderfully effective, however, as a passionate advocate of the books I was disappointed by the simplicity of the movie. The story is much too complex to be handled so simply. I can see the potential as the first book is much simpler than the next two. I think that it is very important that the movies tackle the central ideas inherent in the books.
R. Haywood
December 13, 2007 at 05:14 PM
To Gary: So, the film is for thinkers, and liking the film means one is a thinker? Okay.
To Beth: You may not have read or seen an extensive interview with the author of the trilogy. Yes, organized religion has its problems and has done some harm, but nothing in comparison to what good has come out of it, especially for women and children, the poor, enslaved, and disabled. While concerned parents may not have seen the movie, but still be expressing alarm about, is the intent of the author of the trilogy to take down and destroy the entity that has moved the human race forward in its humanity and growth. The movie has been sanitized, but it will surely whet the appetities of the young for the books themselves. They are no Harry Potter, Chronicles of narnia or Lord of the Rings. Parents, beware!
Beth Accomando
December 13, 2007 at 06:05 PM
You say that "organized religion has its problems and has done some harm"--well that's an understatement. Would the Spanish Inquisition, the Salem witch trials and the Catholic Church's recent cover up of sexual abuse qualify as "some harm"? And to what organized religion are you referring? Just Christianity? Organized religion in some Middle East countries is responsible for very oppressive treatment of women.
Organized Christian religion has also used such Biblical references as the following to justify not providing women with equal rights:
"Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression."--1 Tim. 2:11-14
Yes,religion and sometimes even organized religion have done good in the world. But I do not see any harm in raising questions about religion, faith and god. If you are a person of faith, such questions should do little to shake that faith and you have the freedom of speech to rebut any arguments made by people like Pullman.
Let me also point out that organized religious groups called for the banning of Harry Potter books because they were dangerous and harmful, and yet you seem to see no harm in Harry Potter.
As a parent, I applaud any author who can engage a child for a thousand pages, and make that child think and question. The only danger is children who read (or watch movies) in a total vacuum with no chance to discuss the ideas and stories they have encountered with their parents or other adults.
If you have concerns about a book or movie it is your right to voice those concerns but your arguments are much stronger if you have read the book or seen the movie. But the bottom line is that Pullman also has every right to express his views as well.
Andrew Fickling
December 13, 2007 at 10:00 PM
I sit completely with Beth. Maybe I am only a 14 year old boy, but I certainly have a voice of my own, and a right to express what I wish. To any parents who may be morally against this series, I suggest you first read, then critisize. I have read the first two books of the trilogy, and am enthusiastically beginning the third. I think in most ways that others have expressed, that the plot of the movie is just too simple to represent the books, but it still does one of the best jobs it could in only 113 minutes. I hope that watchers of the film are propelled towards the books, and that in reading them they also question certain things. Because really, what harm has ever come from asking questions, and learning?
Emma Kreiner
December 14, 2007 at 12:52 AM
I'm going to see the film tonight, and I have to say "Bravo!" to Beth. I'm a Christian. I believe in God. But that doesn't mean that I condemn the books. They express one man's view. They are a metaphor, and the Church has most certainly done it's harm in the world. They honestly need to get a hold of themselves and own up to their past stupidity rather than trying to justify it. That won't work anymore. People are too well informed. The books are just books. They say 'fantasy' right there on the side of the book.
If you're a very concerned Christian, I wonder if you've let your children read or see movies for fairy tales. Have you ever read the actual Grimms' stories that most of those Disney movies are based off of? If you can let your children watch those, you can let them watch a watered-down version of this book. The books are not out to destroy the world as you know it. They're just there to make people think and question. And as Beth said, if you have faith, then these shouldn't effect you. If you don't want your kids believing in them or whatever, then sit down and discuss it with them. Hiding them from it is only delaying the inevitable. Their faith will be questioned at some point in their life, over and over again. Mine has. And if you can expose them to that while they're young, they can be prepared for later.
It's just a movie. The world will not revolve around it. It's there for entertainment. That's it's primary function. Phillip Pullman has his views, just like everyone else has theirs. He has every right to express those. I applaud him for making a series which forces one to think about belief, God, and the Church. Even if they aren't directly spoken of, it's not hard for your thoughts to wander in that direction. Questioning can be helpful, not harmful, if you handle it right.
Give them a chance- movie and books both.
Beth Accomando
December 14, 2007 at 02:07 AM
Kudos to Andrew for understanding, even at the age of 14, that asking questions can be a good thing. And thanks to Emma for her thoughtful post as well.
todd
December 14, 2007 at 11:02 PM
oh boy looka dis!!
as we all scwabble over the effect this movie will have in regards to people's view toward the church and religion in general.......i can't help but laugh!!
what!ever!!! folks!!!!.....if you wanna hide your head in the sand (or a bible) then go ahead....you aint hurting anyone, i guess......ok,sure, a bunch of people go into a building on sunday and meditate on doing the right thing....fine...good......
.... but if your gonna try to prevent kids today from seeing the truth....
what's that you ask??
that we are all ONE..... every human, animal, plant, the air, the water the planet..,we're one...is that a religion??
dogmatic religions that i've watch during my time on this planet have stifled our true natures!!...they've told us what to believe...what to do and when and how to do it....when are we gonna say enough is enough!!!!.....mystery surrounds us!!....nobody knows why were here!!.....not the priest down the road..not the rabbi in jersulem, not the mullah in his mosque....
they pretend to know...but they don't any more than you or i do....
stop seeing the authority in your life as the truth and make truth your only authority!!!
.....it'll never happen.....every year more and more are waking up!!! to this incredible, wondourous gift we've been lucky enough to experience..
hey folks!! wake up now!!!
the evolution of the human race is in progress....if you wanna cling to old ideas go ahead...we're just gonna leave y'all behind!! the dogs may bark but the caravan move on!!!!
wwwwhhhoooaaa!!!
love todd
JackBlack
December 17, 2007 at 03:49 PM
I have yet to read the books however i did see the movie and trust me if you have a child that can understand the underlying meaning of the movie then they will have a hard time believing in god as I did when I was younger. Quantum physics can really mess with you once you understand the basics, it can bring your mind to challenge the existence of god, but in the end a person will ether find god or not and no movie book or amount of church will do that. I do not attend church nor do i believe fully in the bible since it was written by man, however I have strong morales and I don't believe, I know that there is something greater out there watching over us. If you asked me two years ago I would have told you I do not believe in the least bit in any god. I know you are dieing to say that I'm going to H@#$ but that would not be for to decide. Before you do think of this you have to have your church and bible, you need that structure telling you what to do and what to believe why is that?
Ashley Weidner
December 18, 2007 at 03:52 AM
Yes, indeed, lets stop the youth of our future from being exposed to these ideas, cut them off from empowering choices that will shape their own future, because after all, we know best, don't we? Sound familiar? Does to me, I have read Northern Lights, the book on which the film is based from cover to cover, aswell as the sequel. It never denies the existence of a God, in fact in my reading advocates the existence of a higher being. Does it have to be God. Why? Do we need someone's name to do good in, I give love and compassion and integrity in my own name. I am not afraid that the next generation of the human race will be wiser, more evolved and enlightened, and more awake than the this current generation. I do not fear this, I expect it, it is my mission to make sure it happens!! See pieces of literature like this book as what they are, rungs in our ladder of awakening, to resist it is to make it stronger, to charge it with more energy, more Dust.
Gary Harding
December 18, 2007 at 10:20 PM
PERHAPS this is what Pullman wanted by writing this trilogy: a lively conversation, a debate!
Gary
Beth Accomando
December 19, 2007 at 01:40 AM
YES!
Jake (Firedraikke)
December 19, 2007 at 05:39 PM
I'm not a religious person (I'm atheist) but I still attend the local Catholic church, I love to observe people. During one mass, the priest actually recommended people to read this series and watch the movie.
I read this series back when it came out, and I still haven't gotten tired of rereading it nor discussing it. It is a extraordinarily well written series with tons of symbols. I really wish that more effort had been put into this movie.
Noel
December 22, 2007 at 08:31 PM
Has nobody here noticed that the ONLY good person in the entire series within the church is a nun who LEFT? Proclaiming to the effect of that it is all a bunch of stupid hogwash.
Look, there is a difference between the norm and propaganda extremism. Anyone who fails to recognise this is still a just a vulnerable child because they skipped out of some critical lessons in the road of life.
Steve P
December 26, 2007 at 04:33 AM
Make a second movie? They don't make a sequel on a movie that lost money, right? It was a joke, and it did refer to the Church.
a mother
December 31, 2007 at 01:02 AM
Beth,
you are extremely deceived with this whole situation. I have studied the books and seen the movie. The whole attempt of this movie was to "kill God in childrens minds. You say that firm believers like myself should not be shaken by these lies, but that is not the issue! Childrens minds are like sponges and cannot be exposed to evil such as this! the movie is pure evil from the devil and it is VERY clear. You are telling people to have an open mind and actually study this material. have YOU ever studied the bible? have you ever been to church? I would assume the answer is no. if you want to go telling everyone what you belive is the truth, i challenge you to know what the other side of the story is. I pray for people like you.
a mother
December 31, 2007 at 02:04 AM
sorry but i need to add in one more thing...
"Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he shall not depart from it."- Proverbs 22:6
this means that you should train up your child in the way that you belive. If you are a christian mother you should not be giving your child wrong ideas. that will make them question their belief and could reverse all the work you have put in to train them!
Ben
January 01, 2008 at 04:51 PM
I am so very sorry for all of those who have allowed and even advocated closing the minds of their children. I guess we need a good book burning ceremony soon to rid us of all this rubbish that provokes any thought at all. Hitler would be so very proud. If you think that the comparison is either a stretch or unfair, maybe you should realize that unless we learn from past mistakes we are doomed to relive them. I am unsure of when the killing of the nurturing of ideas first began but think of all of the great loss this world has suffered because of these ideals. We most likely lost 500 or more years of knowledge at Alexandria and it was for the same reason, to be able to control the thoughts of the people. I was raised Irish Catholic and was quite put off when I asked questions of thought that were not only not answered but I was looked at as being a fallen child or back-sliding just for asking. I hate to be so mindful of our past as the Human race, but not all that long ago the Reformation began to try to rid us of the oppressive nature of religion. The problem remained the same only the players changed. It is the loss power over its subjects err.congregation that is most feared. To this I say shame on you all that feel this way and may God have mercy on you.
Enlightened
January 01, 2008 at 11:00 PM
A Mother,
Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he shall not depart from it.- Proverbs 22:6
Does this excerpt not completely embody the entire idea of the antagonists from the book/movie? You might as well write:
"Take away a child's soul and thirst for knowledge when he's young and he won't question authority when he's older."
I hope I am around long enough to see the demise of organized religion, which is in progress now (Pullman would have been accused of and tried for blasphemy 200 years ago). Imagine a world where wars are not based on ideas and all people are encouraged to think freely. Oh, the strides the human race will take in enlightenment, technology, and morality when our future leaders are not required to follow antiquated dogma.
a mother
January 02, 2008 at 03:40 PM
enlightened,
u are an athiest, i am a christian, im not wasting my time with you because we have two different opinions, and there is nothing i can say to stop you on your destructive path
Beth Accomando
January 02, 2008 at 06:42 PM
To "a mother,"
I hate to disappoint you but you are wrong--I was raised Catholic, went to church, got married in the Catholic church, had the Bible read to me growing up as a child, and am not an atheist. You say the movie contains "lies" and that it is "evil," but that is just your opinion of the film and books. I have enough faith and trust in my child to let him watch any movie that opens his mind. He's not a sponge that merely soaks up everything. He has a brain and he thinks about what he sees and more importantly he talks to me about what he sees and asks questions. If he sees something that conflicts with my beliefs, then I can explain to him why I believe differently. I don't want him to believe in things just because I or someone else tells him to.
I am not telling people what to believe. I am only giving my opinion of the film. See it if you want and believe what you'd like after seeing it. I think the fact that the film has stirred discussion is a good thing.
Thanks to all from both sides of the issues for posting.
Sam
January 03, 2008 at 06:34 PM
Enjoyed the movie - wasn't expecting it to be like the book. But my concern was the pronounciation of the word daemon - one would expect it to be pronounced "daymon" as opposed to demon. To me this was a big mistake the producers didn't think of as this could very well put of parents taking their kids to see a movie where one's soul is thought of as demonic ?
bob johnson
January 06, 2008 at 11:55 PM
Christianity and Atheism aside, it was just not a very good movie. Too violent for kids and not interesting for adults. Any sequel will play to small numbers.
Irritated fan
January 11, 2008 at 06:05 PM
Ok, I understand how some parents, especially the fanatically religious ones, are concerned about the effect the movie could have on children. May I ask you though, what is your job as parents if not to lead your children through life? If you cannot even teach your children the difference between life and reality is it fair to blame another person or persons for your own failure? Yes, I am a Christian but I ask you fellow believers, would you rather expose your children to these ideas under circumstances where you might explain it to them or let your children find out on their own when you have no control or input? Don't be naive, our children will be exposed to this one day. Is this so bad?
sensible believer
January 11, 2008 at 06:33 PM
"Irritated fan" is correct. Perhaps stated a bit too bluntly for some readers but still correct. I agree. Parents, our responsibility is to guide children. They will ask questions. Many of them will be hard. Many complex and confusing, but they must be answered. You are only hurting your children by sheltering them from information. When young you will be there to help them understand. They'll learn of it one day. They'll form their own opinion. You can decide if you want to be a part of that or not...
One last thing to think on, if you never question can you ever truly understand?
Beth Accomando
January 11, 2008 at 06:37 PM
I would like to thank the last two people for their comments. I wish more people felt that way.
Aaron
February 18, 2008 at 04:23 AM
I have just finished all three of the books. What wonderful works of art. When I first picked up the books, from the children's section no less, I thought I was in for a very easy read. How mistaken I was! The many layers of the book made every day worth getting up for.
I have not seen the film yet, but I am sure that it would be very difficult to tackle and portray the many facets that are in the book. However, I'm excited to see the first when it comes out on DVD and the second next year in theaters.
This story has taken my thought process about organized religion to another level. Pullman's fluidity really makes you think about the concept. However, if one set of books by one man is enough to shake your entire life's worth of testiment for a religion, I would venture out to say that your belief was not that strong to begin with.
Beth Accomando from San Diego
February 18, 2008 at 05:54 PM
Well said Aaron.
The film is a nice visual complement to the book but doesn't capture its richness or complexity.
