First Five Minutes of THE GOLDEN COMPASS

So I guess this movie is anti-God I hear? Might be a pass from me it's that's the angle. Somebody even gave me their DVD ticket for this I will toss.

Is it anti-God? I'm not sure, but from what I understand the books are to be more anti-church, than anti-God, to reflect the "dangers of dogmatism and the use of religion to oppress." That's not to say it isn't offensive to some as his books seem to be a direct attack on the catholic church, but then perhaps rightfully so. Not that unorganized religion is any better necessarily... Islam isn't that orgainized and well... but that's another story. Of course, SoMeonewhoShouldn'tbenamed probably is excited about this film.

Yeah, don't make your decision to watch the film based on it being an adaptation of one of the greatest fantasy novel series of all time. Base it on the controversial aspect instead.

It isn't anti-god, it's anti-"abuse of church power". I've read the trilogy twice and the theme is very much about the need to oppose those who would use religion as a club to beat others into submission, as well as the basic problems that the very idea of religion itself presents for human development. I think I'd call it "positive humanist" rather than anti-god, but then again I'm not religious at all, so I didn't find any of it offensive.

Every GODdamm time a movie or a book talks about religion, how come people freak out or are oppose to it or are scared of it?

Yes, religious people are scared of statements, ideas, or words spoken in books or movies against their belief.....why? why is that? Just because someone says, god doesn't exist, churches are bad, bla bla bla (I know it's not what is being said in TGC), doesn't mean that it's true or that it's a danger to your belief.

The problem here is that religious people feel so ''offended'' about thier belief it's as if nothing else exist and everyone else's belief don't exist except the true word of god (or which ever religion you believe). I'm talking to an extreme here but you get my message.

It's a movie people...like TreverT says, the write of TGC wrote this book to present different ideas one being that religion sometimes inforces people to act, push or impose things on people. Is it true? Maybe yes, maybe no.

If a religious person cannot sometime open their eyes to the world and understand that the freedom of speech exist and that some people don't believe in god or maybe they do but with a more open minded aspect of life, then I'd say that's what's stopping this world to evolve.

I'm sorry but these types of things just kills me. CNN has a ''good'' article on this movie but the headline of the artice says ''Is Golden Compass selling atheism to kids''...WTF is this horseshit??

It's just sad that we forget that IT'S A MOVIE PEOPLE, it's not a disctator pushing ideas on the world to undo what you believe!!!

Man.....it just kills me....And I hope people understand that it's not against the religious people I'm mad here, it's again the people who cannot keep an open mind about these things (even if your religious or not).

I think the biggest problem that the religious nutjobs have with this movie is that the writer of the books is an outspoken aetheist. It makes no difference to them how much they changed the themes of the movies, they're terrified that one of their kids will see the movie, want to read the books, and somehow be converted and lose faith. Dudes, if your faith is so shaky that seeing a movie rocks your foundation, then you got issues far beyond your kids seeing a movie based on a book written by an aetheist...

I agree. Although I don't consider anyone a nutjob unless they're holding an in-depth conversation with a blade of grass, I think it's a shame that open-minded people are growing few and far between these days and if someone feels a movie is offensive, they need to make sure everyone knows about it. I don't care. There were people outside one of our theaters Saturday for an advanced screening handing out religious fliers and will probably be there for it's opening this weekend. Again, I don't care. It's a movie. And before anyone says I'm a hypocrite for not accepting religious fliers when I'm talking about having an open mind about stuff, I ask why they aren't there every other day of the year? It's the fact common sense would tell you they're there because of a movie. I'll get off my soapbox now, but I'll leave on this food for thought: when Passion of the Christ was released, you didn't see athiest groups outside theaters handing out fliers professing their non-belief in God.

Can't wait to see this myself.

Oh yes, we are MUCH more openminded than those "religious nutjobs". Why, just read the posts above and you can see that. No anger, name-calling, or broad stereoptyping assumptions here. No sir. HERE, we are above all of that.

AHEM.

Freedom of speech is not a one way street. The "marketplace of ideas" is not some nice, warm, safe, tranquil picnic grove. It is more like an arena - and it should be. The makers of GOLDEN COMPASS have every right to make whatever kind of movie they so choose.... AND others have every right to REACT to that movie based on THEIR beliefs. That is the very essence of free expression. It doesn't simply mean that "Artist X" gets to say whatever he or she wants, and the rest of us just have to sit here silently. We all have our say.

And I never quite understood the "Its jut a movie" comment. Granted.. it is highly unlikely that any ONE movie is going to forever alter anyone's thinking. But what does that MEAN? If a movie was released tomorrow that powerfully, dangerously promoted racism, should we all yawn and say "Ah - its just a movie"? If a movie was released tomorrow that promoted abuse of women, or touted the glories of Nazi Germany, or which celebrated the notion of slavery, should we warn people not to criticize, or to keep their opinions to themselves? I don't think so.

Nor do I think that it makes sense to tell critics of GOLDEN COMPASS that they should be quiet, because it is "just a movie". That doesn't mean you have to agree with them. By all means - DISAGREE. But... "Its just a movie"? I don't get that. Sorry.

Shadow

PS - I think "defenders" of GOLDEN COMPASS also need to make up their minds. Do they agree that the DARK MATERIALS source-books DO attack religion, the notion of God, etc, but feel that such views have a right to be expressed, or do they want to argue that such an interpretation is unfair? They seem all over the place on that key point. Those behind the movie talk about toning down certain elements, to make the movie more palatable/commercially viable... what elements? And why tone them down?

How bout we don't make a decision and just go watch a movie because it is set in a different time or a place or world. I think that movies based on books (whether its religious based or not) usually have people who read TO much into certain aspects rather than just letting it be a movie. And by that i mean letting it entertain you or hold your attention for a two hour time span. People get to caught up in stupid crap.

shadowprime, defenders of this movie are all over the place, because their beliefs are all over the place. Just as it is a mistake to group all religious people in one category, it is a mistake to group "defenders" of the movie. Some are religious people who nevertheless adore the books, and others are secularists who don't mind the heresy.

I will "make up my mind", as you say, and go on record (I have before) with my position: it seems obvious that these books favorably depict characters who attempt to not only dismantle an oppressive religious institution, but to destroy God Himself. On an allegorical level, it is a story about children coming to grips with the idea that God is simply a myth.

I am not a religious person, and I see no problem with children exploring these ideas. I think it's valuable for children to think critically about these things. I understand why certain religious groups feel attacked by the books, but when you hold fantastic beliefs you have to be prepared to be ridiculed from time to time.

That said, I have seen the movie, and I must report: (1) the religious themes of the books (never strongest in the first novel) are almost non-existent in the movie, and (2) the movie is a complete POS. OK, maybe that is a bit strong, but my opinion of the film can be summed up with one word ("enh") and one gesture (SHRUG).