THE GOLDEN COMPASS

haven't gotten the chance to read the book yet, but the film does have my interest..... all the controversy surrounding it had me steering clear for a while

I saw this on Wednesday. It was pretty good. The actress playing Lyra is great. All the rest of the characters were cool, but the story seemed a little... jagged and the end was anti-climatic. I know its the first in a trilogy, but there was no sort of urgency as there was in LOTR Fellowship of the Ring. I do agree that I do want to know what comes next but I can wait, where as LOTR, I left the theater really wishing I could fast forward a year to see the next installment. I get why the "religious right" would hate this material, seeing as its main point seems to be about free will and free thinking.
There is a line in the movie where Nicole Kidman talks about the magisterium and how they are there to tell people what to do in the right way. Make your own opinions on that one, but that sounds alot like organized religion to me.

I'm very anxious to see this film. I am a lifelong Tolkien fan and an atheist, but that never prevented me from enjoying the Narnia books, as it clearly prevents some Christian's from being able to enjoy The Golden Compass. Perhaps where we differ is that I have never felt the compulsion to force my opinions or beliefs on others contrary to what our aforementioned counterparts in the religious right usually tend to do. I've never felt the need to bolster my own opinions by manipulating others into seeing things my way.

The same idiots who condemned the Harry Potter franchise as means of corrupting the youth with visions of magic an witchcraft, are likely to be up and arms about this film as well, and despite the author's intention to have children question the existence of god, it's still an entertainment property, and anyone with common sense shouldn't allow themselves to be rattled by it.
In my humble opinion those who protest this film on this basis can feel free to sit at home and watch something else. I am sick to damned death of the notion that because SOME people choose to believe in an elaborate faerie tale, that the rest of us are bound to kiss their asses about it on a constant basis and walk on eggshells for fear of offending them.

Please, by all means, live as you choose to live, believe as you wish to believe, but as soon as you start judging entertainment material based on how closely it fits with your religious affiliation, I think it's safe to say you're taking things a bit too seriously.
If so called "Right Wing/Christian" groups spent as much time devoted to helping the needy, or curing the ill as they do bitching about films and video game content, it might be easier to take them seriously. As it stands though I think I'm better off getting my moral fiber from fantasy films an comic books as from those reactionary hypocrites.

Hear hear! Seriously. Normally I hate "Me too" comments, but that was one of the most perfectly written commentaries I've ever had the good fortune to run across. Jolly good show, Scythe!

the Church (albeit in another dimension) is a fascist authority

What an absurd concept. No church of any religion within history has ever do anything wrong?

Church are always right they have never stolen, killed, or abused anyone. Never burned people at the stake, never started wars in the name of their god, there authorities have never inappropriately touched children, and 6,000 years ago they rode dinosaurs.

And if you believe that I have used car (albeit in another dimension) I'll sell you.

Who Freakin cares if the Religious people are offended. What? you mean in other dimensions or planets people have to be nice and holy and they have to abide by good religious standards? Hell no!!! Life on other worlds or dimensions may not agree with ours. So put a sock in it, Religious Geeks.

TreverT is right about scytheofluna being right.

(little Mel Brooks there for you all - here's another one)

I bring you these 20 (crash as he drops a stone tablet) er 10, 10 Commandments!

Ha! My own belief is that Moses smashed the real Commandments so he could make up his own.

My comments are more about the film to movie adaptation than any religious issues.

I understand that movies can't contain all the detail as brilliantly described in a book, but the Pullman books can't each be compressed to under two hours without significant loss of content.

And that's what The Golden Compass has suffered. The Golden Compass has lost some of the book's adult themes including death and has really become a children's film.

I feel the film was too fast paced and jumped straight from one act to the next with no breathing space. If I hadn't read the books I'd have been completely lost. A 2.5 hour running time would have been preferable and it is proven that modern cinema audiences are willing to invest up to three hours for a good fantasy book adaptation.

The religious component in the book is underlying and important. It shows what power such an organisation could have if unchallenged. But it focuses more on religious establishments rather than religion and Christianity itself. Adam and Eve are almost fact in The Northern Lights. I don't believe that the story isn't anti-religious at all and certainly isn't anti-Catholic.

Overall though this was a good adaptation of the first book in the Pullman series - The Northern Lights and I look forward to the two sequels. But please, please, please go for longer running times and add in more of the book content, especially as there is increasingly more story in the next two books and as some content was trimmed from the end of the first film.

Not going to into the whole relgion offence thing.. I have read the books and consider myself some what of a fan.. After now seeing the movie I will have to say I am fan of that one as well.. it ended before book 1 ends (read the book if your curious) but it was good watch none the less and well worth to see for a fan and no fan of the books =)