"The Golden Compass" (film) points to controversy

[katty]

The Golden Compass points to controversy

article excerpt: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20071130/golden-compass-religion/

"I think it's a tempest in a teapot," Forte said Friday. "What we find interesting about our film is we've made this wonderful epic adventure story for families. ... We encourage parents to make their own decisions."

"The Golden Compass" arrives at an opportune time. Books by atheists are best-sellers, Hollywood studios are plumbing the fantasy genre for the next big franchise, and movies exploring faith are finding a place at the multiplex, if not always box office success.

The Pullman series follows the release of the first movie based on Christian author C.S. Lewis' "The Chronicles of Narnia." Both feature epic battles, talking animals, polar bears and a wardrobe. But from there, the works diverge.

Catholic author Sandra Miesel is among those who call "His Dark Materials" the "anti-Narnia." Miesel co-authored a forthcoming book, "Pied Piper of Atheism: Philip Pullman and Children's Fantasy."

[villager]

1. and yet, alas, the film may be tanking:

"My box office gurus are telling me that New Line Cinema's holiday tentpole The Golden Compass is going to be a huge bomb. They predict an opening domestic weekend starting today only in the high $20s million from 3,528 theaters. That's disastrous because, with a pricetag of $200+ million without P&A costs, the fantasy epic should be making a minimum $50 million debut. Not to mention that the studio has spent big bucks marketing the heck out of the PG-13 pic based on UK author Philip Pullman's young adult book trilogy His Dark Materials.

"Problem is, Golden Compass has sparked the ire of the Catholic League, which is calling for a boycott of the film by parents with children due to Pullman's supposedly anti-Christian notions. It's the kind of action rarely taken by the Catholic League against a movie, not even last year's The Da Vinci Code. Worse, it cements Nicole Kidman's status as box office poison.

"The pic couldn't even muster big audiences for its Wednesday overseas opening; it debuts day and date in 27 markets this weekend."

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/bob-shayes-big-gamble-wont-pay-off-golden-compass-looks-leaden-this-wkd/

[Mike03]

4. Hmmm. Not sure what the effects of this will be.

The Christians boycotted and protested Martin Scorsese's minor masterpiece THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST. My recollection is that the film didn't do well upon its release; I'm not sure how it did in subsequent years on VHS, DVD. But Criterion saw fit to give it the royal treatment in its series of modern masterpieces.

Some very popular films have been boycotted as well, such as MILLION DOLLAR BABY.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

11. I saw it and while I like the book a lot, the movie just wasn't very good

(I thought). It's a shame because even if people aren't seeing it because of the poor reviews rather than because of the "controversy", I'm sure the religious zealots will crow victory.

[Lorien]

2. Why is Pullman's lack of belief in a diety even an issue?

does he PROMOTE atheism in his series (I tried to read them back when they were first published,but found the characters to be less than engaging)? Hell, I used to work in the film industry, where about half my co-workers were monotheists and half were atheists. The only people who made an issue of it were the hardcore fundies, as usual.

[katty]

3. concur-why does Mitt Romney have to talk about religion?

the fundies live for this stuff.

[MissB]

6. Well, in the story, his characters

kill "God" in the third book.

That may be behind the uproar. :rofl: Through the second book, the characters gather and then in the third book they finally seek to actually wage war on and destroy God.

The actual death of God was pretty funny - the kids came across the ancient crate containing a very old being (God) that was being quietly moved away from the battle. They open it, and God pretty much disappears into thin air - by disintegrating.

I could see where the religious folks wouldn't like the storyline.

[Lorien]

12. But if it's possible to kill it then it can't be God

by the definition of "God" by most cultures.

:shrug:

[niyad]

5. they had to pick on something after harry potter.

[MissB]

7. My kids can't wait to see the movie.

I'm glad I bought them the series. They're about halfway through the second book.

[warrior1]

8. I'll bet

it makes what it cost and more.

[Reader Rabbit]

9. Our students chose the book for the Sci-Fi/Fantasy book club selection...

...last month. They all loved the book, and now we're taking them on a field trip to see the movie. We've heard nary a peep from parents, and the kids didn't see anything religiously offensive in it so ...:shrug:

This is just the latest manufactured outrage from the fundie fruitbats.

[Mike03]

10. The Noble Collection is betting big bucks on this film, as they did

Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Batman and Superman.

They own the licensing rights to design, build and produce high quality collectible replicas of things in the movie.

They do remarkable work. Many of their replicas are crafted from Sterling Silver or sometimes Gold. Sometimes they are wrong--they produces replicas from The New World, and I don't think they sold many of them.

I have to say, the compass looks awesome. I may collect them even if I don't see the movie.