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blog (coffee shop)
by Just in case you haven't been forwarded one of the warning emails, there's a new children's movie coming out this December entitled The Golden Compass. Based on the first book of a hugely popular fantasy series written by British author Philip Pullman, the forthcoming flick has been steeped in controversy. Fans of the book series are, of course, concerned about the screenplay straying from the book on which it is based - but this movie is bringing out deeper held alliances than any book series could elicit (and yes, that's possible, no matter how much you like The Lord of the Rings).
Pullman, an avowed atheist, has worked into his books religious themes many consider to be "anti-God." (Although, I'm not sure how someone is supposed to be against something he doesn't think exists. I mean, being "anti-believing-in-God" makes sense, but "anti-God" just doesn't. How about we stick to "pro-atheist?") Combine this fact with the target audience of the upcoming film based on his works, and the zeal of religious conservatives in protecting their children, and you have a receipe for disaster - at least if you consider a movie that makes millions while tons of people complain about it a disaster.
Various Christian organizations have started to protest the film, calling for a boycott of the "pro-atheist stealth campaign." At the same time, atheists and anti-censorship groups are outraged at reports the storyline will be watered down to prevent the religious - particularly Catholics - from being offended.
My take? Rolled eyes and a slight hope the movie turns out to be great - not to shove it in the faces of the protesters, but because there is a serious shortage of good movies these days. Yes, I'm religious, but do I really think a movie made for entertainment is going to swing me? No. Granted, there are those who are so easily influenced that Hollywood could conceivably dictate their religious beliefs, but those kinds of people won't likely end up believing in what they "worship" any more than I follow NASCAR (i.e., not at all).
More importantly, it's entirely obvious people are very able to watch something in a movie and realize it doesn't reflect reality. This amazing phenomenon is sometimes called "fantasy" - and, crazy enough, this is a fantasy movie! If the movie turns out to portray God as being evil (and I'm not entirely convinced it will), then it becomes an interesting thought experiment. In other words, the small percentage of the audience who actually stop to think about any deeper meanings in the film would probably ask themselves, "what if reality reflected what I'm watching?" - not pull a u-turn onto the road to atheism.
So, sit back and enjoy the film. Hopefully it's a good one.
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3 Nerd-Its
Hypocrites
These idiots were probably pissed of when people objected to The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe for its pro-Christian themes.
Of course, they were probably the same morons whining about witchcraft in Harry Potter and completely missed that the books are intended as Christian allegory, and they're the same ones foaming at the lips to learn Dumbledore is gay.
If the movie turns out to portray God as being evil (and I'm not entirely convinced it will), then it becomes an interesting thought experiment.
Pullman's books (His Dark Materials) didn't portray The Authority (the "god" character) as evil. Rather, as decrepit and a bit naive. It's his regent, Metatron that's the evil dictator.
But it's a little difficult to see any of it as specifically addressing Christian beliefs. The Authority isn't the creator - he's simply the oldest of the race of angels, who seized power and then claimed that he had created everything. Whether the author is an atheist or not, I doubt that he's suggesting that he's revealing the "truth" behind reality - he's just telling a story and it plays with cultural symbols in somewhat unusual ways.
Steven Brust's To Reign In Hell used much the same pattern, and it was much more central to the book. Personally, I liked Brust's version better - but I haven't read it in twenty years, so it may just be aging well in my memory.
2 Nerd-Its
Getting a Grip...
While I personally don't read Sci-Fi or fantasy (my preference is either historical/archaeological fiction, or political thrillers), I still take my kids to see 'Harry Potter', and frankly I find them a good romp. I also will go to movies like Star Wars and I watched the Lord of the Rings trilogy with awe--even if they weren't completely true to the books--and yes, I'm quite aware they are Catholic Allegory. Narnia still holds a place in my heart as well--and the first film was quite good, IMHO.
People do need to get a grip--entertainment is just that, and nothing else. If one film will shake your faith, then you really didn't have any to begin with.
Combine this fact with the ... zeal of religious conservatives in protecting their children from being exposed to ideas they don't approve of
Fixed that sentence for you.
Seriously, though. Who the hell cares what some stick-up-the-twat helicopter moms think?
0 Nerd-Its
My thought
You can take your kid to it, but I won't be taking mine.
-1 Nerd-It
Golden Compass steers you wrong
A friend sent me info on this movie. I viewed the trailer. The Golden Compass definitely tries to make evil look very attractive. It seems to be an attempt to make witchcraft look heroic (there are animal "familiars" and other occult influences.) In this movie, the heroine is a little witch. According to the trailer, the movie's main message is that the truly brave will fight against God and never be his. This contradictory state of affairs -- claiming that God is the source of evil, and evil is the source of good -- is exemplified in a blog about the Golden Compass that I recently read. One respondent (MetricSU) tries to defend the movie by claiming we are related to apes and that this is solid science. Then he puts in the following, as if it establishes him as being reasonable, as being for good rather than evil, "Slavery is an abomination." Now, let's consider for a moment. Who is it who said slavery was an abomination? It was Jesus. (Luke 4) "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?" (Isa. 58-6) This is a blatant contradiction -- saying Jesus is bad, then quoting him to make yourself look good.
The Golden Compass does the same thing. It steers children toward evil, trying to make evil look good. I would not take children to view it, any more than I would take children to any other movie that glamorizes evil.
This comment has 26 replies.
-1 Nerd-It
RESPONSIBILITY
I HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST 3 OR MORE WARNINGS ON WHY I SHOULD NOT SEE THE MOVIE "THE GOLDEN COMPASS". SO I STARTED LOOKING INTO SOME OF THE HYPE AROUND THE MOVIE. I PERSONALLY THINK PEOPLE HAVE ENTIRELY TOO MUCH TIME ON THERE HANDS ANYMORE TO WORRY ABOUT A FICTIONAL (THAT'S RIGHT) FICTIONAL BOOK. THERE ARE HOW MANY HORROW FILMS PRODUCED A YEAR ABOUT KILLERS, MURDERERS, RAPISTIST, AND YOU DONT HEAR A THING UNTIL SUDDENDLY IT A FILM THAT HAD SOME SORT OF RELIGIOUS ASPECT TO IT. PEOPLE PLEASE, DONT YOU THINK THERE ARE A LOT MORE THINGS IN THIS WORLD TO WORRY ABOUT, IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE MOVIE OR ARGREE WITH THE CONTENT THEN DON'T GO SEE IT. ALSO, I BELIEVE THAT IF PARENTS WERE DOING A BETTER JOB OF PARENTING THEN IT WOULD NOT BE SUCH A ISSUE ABOUT CHILDREN WATCHING THIS FILM. AS I SAID BEFORE IF YOU DONT' ARGEE WITH IT DON'T GO AND SEE IT. I HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT THERE IS JUST TOO MUCH READ INTO THINGS. IF THE WRITER OF THIS FILM IS ATHESIST, IS THAT NOT HIS RIGHT TO CHOOSE HIS OWN RELIGION. PEOPLE ARE SO WILLING TO ACCEPT DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS OUTLOOKS AS LONG AS SOME WHERE THERE IS "GOD". I'M A CHRISTIAN, I GOTO CHURCH, BUT I ALOS BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT. PEOPLE LOOK AT ATHEISTS AS TERRIABLE PEOPLE, WHERE IN FACT MOST OF THEM ARE REALLY JUST CONFUSED PEOPLE THAT QUESTION WHAT HAS BEEN TOLD TO THEM IS THE "WAY". THEY HAVE THEIR OWN THOUGHTS AND BELIEFS ABOUT WHAT & HOW WE CAME ABOUT. IF YOU ARE TO JUDGE SO QUICKLY ABOUT WHAT A PERSONS RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ARE, THEN I GUESS WE SHOULD COME DOWN ON THE NATIVE AMERICANS FOR THEIR BELIEFS IN THE GODS OF THE EARTH. I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE A LITTLE MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN ACTIONS AND NOT WORRY SO MUCH ABOUT OTHERS. IT'S NOT LIKE A DISEASE YOU WILL NOT CATCH IT IF SOMEONE BESIDE YOU DOES NOT BELIEVE IN GOD, IT DOSNT REFLECT ON YOUR BELIEFS SO WHY SHOULD YOU FEEL THE NEED TO REFLECT YOUR ON THEIRS. IT'S A FREE COUNTRY WE LIVE IN OR SO I THOUGHT. FREE TO WORSHIP AS YOU SEE FIT.
This comment has 12 replies.
1 Nerd-It
This isn't atheist
By the way - I just noticed that the entry is tagged "atheism". While Pullman is an atheist, the message of the trilogy is most definitely not an atheist message. If you think it is, then you don't understand what atheism is.
This comment has 5 replies.
1 Nerd-It
The following review is more accurate...
Here is a far more accurate review of the movie:
http://www.omniswami.com/2007/12/movie-review-dont-see-golden-compass.html
This comment has 2 replies.
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Manufactured Controversy of the Day by LordDilly :: NR8 :: Show
Amen to that. I am a theist, and I loved the comic book series Preacher that was chock full of blasphemy. A Texas preacher, imbued with the power of an angel/demon hybrid goes on a road trip to find the god that abandoned his creation to make him pay for his crimes, accompanied by his gun-toting girlfriend and hard-drinking Irish vampire buddy. Along the way they are beset by the Saint of Killers, an old West replacement for the Angel of Death, a secret organization protecting the inbred descendants of Jesus Christ, cannibal hillbillies, violent God-fearing (and chicken screwing) rednecks, voodoo in New Orleans, and the appearance of god to warn off the Preacher from his quest. People need to get a grip.