“The Golden Compass,” a film adaptation of the first book in a trilogy by author Phillip Pullman, is stirring unrest in some Christian souls.
Pullman is a militant atheist, and he’s made it known that he detests religion.
Just as J.K. Rowlings’ “Harry Potter” series grew progressively darker as she churned the books out, Pullman has things in his trilogy growing progressively more anti-religious.
The heroes of the story are engaged in a rebellion to kill God. In the third and final book, they succeed in their efforts.
Nicole Kidman, who stars in “The Golden Compass,” spoke with Entertainment Weekly about the film. She told the magazine that she was raised Catholic and that the Catholic Church is part of her “essence.” She added that she wouldn’t be able to do the film if she “thought it were at all anti-Catholic.”
The sweet result is that the religious message put forth in the film version of the book “has been watered down a little,” according to Kidman.
Based on the footage that I have seen, Christians are not likely to be offended by the movie. Still, the Catholic League intends to conduct a nationwide two-month protest of the film.
Christian groups are right to be concerned. The movie could lead children to read the books, which contain potentially faith-damaging material. Additionally, Pullman is an excellent writer and uses cliffhangers to induce readers to continue on to subsequent books in the trilogy.
But, in my assessment, a boycott is an ill-advised approach in this instance. Controversy has been a key element in film promotion over the past few years, with PR firms seeking to generate loads of it in the hopes of boosting ticket sales.
“Compass” is not as well known as “Potter,” but controversy will provide it with the publicity it needs to rise to a higher tier within the fantasy realm. This plays right into the hands of the studio.
Boycott or not, Christian organizations should focus on educating the public on the difference between the film and the Pullman books and encouraging parents in particular to monitor and guide their children in the selection of literature and media.
Faith and film have come together in a big way for another Tinseltown figure. Have you heard of Christian director Tyler Perry? Hollywood sure has.
With a production budget of only $6 million, Perry’s “Madea’s Family Reunion” grossed over $63 million. And similarly, with a production budget of a mere $5.5 million, his “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” took in $50 mill.
Most recently, the Lionsgate film “Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married?” clobbered George Clooney’s legal Oscar dreamer “Michael Clayton,” Cate Blanchett’s regal sequel “Elizabeth: The Golden Age” and Mark Wahlberg’s criminal thriller “We Own the Night.”
“Married”’s cast includes Janet Jackson.
The positive themed flick brought in $21.5 million as opposed to Clooney’s “Clayton,” which pulled in $11 million as did “We Own the Night.” Blanchett’s “Golden Age” took in $6.2 million.
It turns out that box-office cash has slipped for the fourth straight weekend. The best dozen films of the past weekend brought in $85.5 million, off 14 percent from the same weekend last year.
If there’s one thing that can make Hollywood find religion it’s the Almighty Dollar.
Did Nicole Kidman not read the entire series of books? Evidently not. How is she going to explain the 3rd movie? I’m sure her nice fat paycheck went a long way to ease some of that Catholic guilt. What a hypocrite she is.
Kidman is a hypcrite? lol, I think the hypocrisy of the Catholic Church is more astounding than that of Kidman if she exhibited any. The whole movie adaptation of the trilogy is now centred on something called the Magisterium and not the Catholic Church, ths is a shame since they need some serious criticism. The Catholic Church should spend time teaching the kids in the church some tolerance, loyalty, love, friendship and those things that make us human beings, something that seems to be eroding in the Church and while they are at it, they might as well start talking about condom use, homosexuals. A more intolerant group of people I have yet to find, no wonder they are tetchy about being criticised or questioned.
By the way, I am sure Kidman is enjoying her money, she has made enough through the years to put her middle finger up to the likes of you, Megan.
The Catholic Church is telling its members not to go see the movie, wow, how does that make them different from Pullman telling people to read his books and watch the movie. Let children be children, they will know soon enough whether there is a God or not. Look at George Bush, he is about to cause the world to implode in the name of God, isn’t he? the Middle-East, Africa are all in the midst of one war or another in the name of religion. As usual, the Catholic Church and its master, the Pope still don’t get it.
Warren — your post reads like little more than a cartoon or parody of Catholic prejudice, and the original post itself likewise. “Jimjam” broadsides are against cartoon stereotypes, not Catholics, the Catholic Church, or other Christians. But, hey this is “Hollywood” and not the real world.
Warren
The Magesterium is what or church calls the people in the Catholic church on whom we rely for guidance and teaching – starting from Pope Benedict, including Cardinals, Archbishop, Bishops.
Magesterium is not a fictional body made up by Philip Pullman.
I’m sad that Nicole Kidman decided to make this movie and sadder that so many people are taken in by non-factual anti-Catholic propoganda.
Christine
I must agree with Fed — Warren’s comments certainly read like those of someone who hasn’t troubled to learn anything about the Catholic church before attacking it. That, I believe, puts you on the same par as those who attack Harry Potter or The Golden Compass without reading them. Before I go further, let me just say that I *have* read all three books in the Dark Materials trilogy.
To address your points:
1. The Magestarium *is* the Catholic Church. Do your homework.
2. I teach at a Catholic school, and I constantly try to imbue my students with the values of tolerance, loyalty, love, and friendship. If you’d like to have a look at our religion curriculum, I’d be happy to send it to you. I think you’ll find it centers on those values.
3. I find it interesting that you criticize the entire Catholic church as “intolerant.” How many Catholics do you know personally? Something like 50% of the world is Catholic. Do you really think you’ve met an adequate number of Catholics to judge the entirety of the church’s members as “intolerant”?
4. Judging from what I’ve read from Nicole Kidman, I don’t get the sense that she’s putting her middle finger up to anyone.
5. The Catholic church is not telling anyone anything about the movie, at least so far. There are Catholic groups that are, but that’s not the same thing.
6. I do agree with you on this one point: children do have to decide for themselves what their faith will be. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t learn about faith. Regardless of what you teach them, they’ll come to their own place in the world. Teaching faith isn’t about indoctrination; it’s about giving kids a basis to stand on if they choose to remain in the church.
7. George Bush isn’t Catholic, and would probably have a hard time making the world “implode.” Explode, perhaps…
8. True, many wars are in the name of religion, but if you dig deeper, they almost all have political motivations. Religion is a means to an end for these people, a way to motivate people to fight. If they didn’t have religion, they’d choose something else.
9. I’m assuming your use of the word “master” is meant to be derogatory. I don’t know of any Catholics who would call the Pope their “master” anymore than an American is obligated to call the president *his* “master.” The Pope is the leader of the church just as George Bush is the leader of the USA. Just because you don’t like Bush, you’re not going to renounce your AMerican citizenship. And while I’m not commenting about the pope either way, just because a person dislikes him is not a reason for renouncing one’s faith.
I’m sorry, but ignorance annoys me regardless of where it originates. And what particularly annoys me is ignorant people who accuse large groups (eg, Catholics) of ignorance and intolerance based on a small minority. You should hope people don’t judge all secularists based on you.
I appreciate carynswark comment. I am happy there are people like him. It makes the world a good place to live. As for me, I choose hope and life over death.
After reading several articles about “The Golden Compass” I have decided not to allow my son to see it. I was disappointed in Nicole Kidman’s choice to take part in this project. It is an obvious attempt to encourage young people that they do not need God or at least the version that they have been taught thus far.
I am very shocked that a person with a Catholic background would be a part of a film that so agregiously disrespects the church and its leader Jesus Christ, albeit abstractly, yet dangerous none the less.
Deliver us from Evil – a documentary on the Catholic Church’s ‘tolerance’ (hahaha)
^_^ You tell him carynswark!! Your my hero.
Its people like Warren that makes me want to poke out my eyes.
I am not a catholic myself, but I know some people who are, and they are one of the kindest, loviliest bunch I have met.
People who sumerge their heads into propaganda bullcrap and launch themselves into senseless, unfounded attack rage against a group they know nothing about irk me to no end.
I think that sadly Nicole Kidman , Daniel Craig and the young girl starring in the movie are either utterly ignorant , or utterly stupid or simply maliscious , if they insist that this film is not anticatholic. You really need to have no brain to not realise the agenda behind the 3 books and the movie. Also they must be totally wanting in moras if they support what books 2 and 3 say. What’s worth is that they are being very proud and irresposible.
I agree with everything carynswark said before. And I would never encourage any children or adults to watch so grose and dark a movie. I have now decided that I will never again watch a movie where Kidman or Craig star unless they admit their error to the world and try to repair with deeds the harm that will come from the movie. Also I’ll do my best to transmit these views to all the people I know and boy! I do know LOTS of people. Mariely Toro
I think that sadly Nicole Kidman , Daniel Craig and the young girl starring in the movie are either utterly ignorant , or utterly stupid or simply maliscious , if they insist that this film is not anticatholic. You really need to have one of these 3 problems to not realise the agenda behind the 3 books & movie and the dishonesty behind the way it’s being presented to the children and entire world. Also they must be totally wanting in morals if they support what books 2 and 3 say. What’s worse though is that they are being proud and irresposible.
I agree with everything carynswark said before. And I would never encourage any children or adults to watch so grose and dark a movie. I have now decided that I will never again watch a movie where Kidman or Craig star unless they admit their error to the world and try to repair with deeds the harm that will come out of the movie. Also I’ll do my best to transmit these views to all the people I know and boy! I do know LOTS of people.
Nicole Kidman leads a puzzling and disturbing life.
God help her.