Christian groups slam new Kidman children's movie

by Tangi Quemener Mon Dec 3, 7:33 PM ET

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Christian groups are up in arms here over a new children's film starring Nicole Kidman and based on an award-winning novel by British author Philip Pullman, accusing it of being anti-religious.
ADVERTISEMENT

"The Golden Compass" which opens here Friday is the film version of "The Northern Lights," the first book in Pullman's "Dark Materials" fantasy trilogy aimed at teenage readers.

The books by confirmed agnostic Pullman trace the fate of a young girl, Lyra, as she becomes drawn into an apocalyptic battle of good against evil, meeting a host of strange characters along the way including a polar bear, voiced in the film by Ian McKellan.

Evil in Pullman's books is represented by the church, called the Magisterium, whose acolytes kidnap orphans across England to subject them to horrible experiments in the frozen northern wastelands.

"The Northern Lights" won Pullman the 1995 Carnegie Medal for children's fiction in Britain, and the final volume in his trilogy, "The Amber Spyglass" was the first ever children's novel to be awarded the prestigious British Whitbread Book of the Year award in 2002.

With its 180-million-dollar big budget movie, New Line studios is hoping to repeat the box-office success of its "Lord of the Rings" series.

And it aims to tap into the young audiences of cinema-goers who flocked to the five "Harry Potter" films making them big earners for Warner Bros.

But already "The Golden Compass" is whipping up the same controversy which saw the "Harry Potter" series based on the novels by British author J. K Rowling, accused by some on the religious right of promoting witchcraft.

The author's attack on organized religion has been toned down for the film, in a bid to attract as wide as audience as possible, something director Chris Weitz has acknowledged.

"In the books the Magisterium is a version of the Catholic Church gone wildly astray from its roots," Weitz wrote in the British Daily Telegraph.

But "if that's what you want in the film, you'll be disappointed," he warned.

However, the sanitized version of Pullman's book has failed to appease the Catholic League, which gathers some 350,000 members, and which has already been sending out leaflets denouncing the film.

"The Catholic League wants Christians to stay away from this movie precisely because it knows that the film is bait for the books," said president William Donohue.

"Unsuspecting parents who take their children to see the movie may be impelled to buy the three books as a Christmas present. And no parent who wants to bring their children up in the faith will want any part of these books," he added.

The League already took on the movie world in 2006 to denounce the blockbuster "The Da Vinci Code" and its central tenant that Jesus Christ had a child by Mary Magdalene whose descendants still survive today.

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops however has been more nuanced in its approach warning in a review of "The Golden Compass" of its "anti-clerical subtext, standard genre occult elements, character born out of wedlock, a whiskey-guzzling bear."

But it adds that "taken purely on its own cinematic terms, (it) can be viewed as an exciting adventure story with a traditional struggle between good and evil, and a generalized rejection of authoritarianism."

"The Golden Compass" will be released in some 3,000 cinemas and only 60 have so far refused to screen it, according to the industry daily Variety.

"It's this undisguised anti-religious theme that has numerous groups in a lather, but perhaps more of an issue for some ... will be the film's lack of exciting uplift and the almost unrelievedly nasty treatment of the young characters by a host of aggressively unpleasant elders," Variety added.

find something better to do......

The very best way to get a child interested in a book or film is tell them they aren't allowed to read or see it.......

Exactly, just makes people more interested in seeing/reading that material.

I wanna see it.

The Christain Taliban should grow some balls, shut the hell up and stop trying to run everyone elses lives.

Pfft good luck trying to get the kids to read and understand the books if they want them for Christmas. I personally loved them, but I can't imagine a young child taking an interest in them in the way they would something like Harry Potter. Young adults sure, but I would think that by that stage they don't need to be so damn sheltered. I've read plenty of young adult books far more extreme and influential than these books.

It's the same harry potter crowd. Did they prevent Harry Potter book sales? Did they prevent Harry Potter being a high grosing film? Or did they prevent the other films being high grosing?

I rest my case. They're nothing but babbling hypocrites; "Can't let kids read anti-religious books, only pro-religious books". "Can't let kids read harry potter, it's uhm.... Full of magic and violence, they should read the bible instead" - which in my estimation holds far more violence and magic than Harry Potter or Northern Winds.

The books have been around since 1995 and have been given awards. The reason for its movie is due to they success of the novels. Not that I'd expect this guy to understand that, since he's using propaganda. Is his faith so weak?




I bet they didn't refuse to screen the passion of the christ...



Yet, no Atheist groups protested against passion of the christ being screened. Who's the one with the lack of faith again?

I've seen the trailers and i can't wait to watch it. The only problem is, our local cinema is indicating that it will be a 12 certificate so we can't take our four year old to see it.

I'd have to agree with you. and it's a person choice if he/she will react to the movie and let it affect his/her own decision in life..
pfff. so these so called "Christian groups" should sit back and watch the movie.

PG everywhere else, and I'm sure a cinema cannot change its certificate. Take her anyway, I doubt people would stop you. I mean, at 15 I got let into watch a few 18's, never got asked my age. Now, when I went to see 12's and 15's I was always ironically ID'd.

PG? That's good. When i looked it hadn't been released. Maybe it was like a TBA cert.

Mebbe. Your daughter probably won't really understand it, but it's not like you're seeing Golden Compass for her right

Whatever. The Church can whine and snivel all they want, it won't accomplish anything. It's a frigging movie grow up. It's not like they made a movie called "Christians Suck, Your Religion is Based on a Lie", then they could complain. Anyways, I see the Church as a perfect villain, considering what they have actually done over the years.

"It's okay for Christians throughout centuries to exterminate races and for their priests to rape little kids throughout decades, but trying to give the people the power to think and be individual, that's evil?"- Glenn Danzig

How futile.....

It is just as futile as trying to ban nude art. The very fact that they fear the movie will empty some seats in the Catholic churches around the globe should be the least of their problems...especially if it does.

hearing about the film makes me want to read the books again but i dont have them anymore

The christians that actualy take offence to a book of fiction should be laughed at. Really, how weak is there faith if these books/movie threaten what they hold as truth ie: the bible, another book of fiction. In my home town the Catholic school board has pulled the book from it's libraries. How scared are these people, it's a childrens book not Lucifer's biography.

No kidding! I bet they're afraid they might actually learn something...

Ezekiel 9:
5 As I listened, he said to the others, "Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity or compassion. 6 Slaughter old men, young men and maidens, women and children, but do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary." So they began with the elders who were in front of the temple.
Source - Biblegateway.com

Oh yeah, the christians have ever right in the world to think they're beacons of morality to judge others.

The supreme and all powerful creator of the entire universe is on their side, they can do whatever they want.

Christians are up in arms about this movie? Even more motivation for me to see it....

James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

I did like them, and it didn't affect my faith in the slightest. But my mother used to read books to me, and I understood them fine that way. I just couldn't read 'em. Think "Redwall". Those are hard for a kid to read!
Anyway, I read the books, liked them, and then found out that the author does not like God. He just doesn't like God. At all. So I think: Keep your friends close, your enemies closer.
I plan to know what those who would kill God are thinking.

And yes, watching the movie would get many to buy the books, and many would be horrified by their purchase. I checked them out from the Library. Haha. So much for money going to the devil!

Yeah... well... I totally thought it was "just a book". I'm good natured, and don't judge easily. But a hardcore Godhater writing a book about Godkilling is not a coincidence. Check the movie out from the Library folks! The world's resources laid at your feet: for free if you are a citizen.
The list will be humungo, but to prevent those Godhaters from getting too much money:
Boycott the Theater Movie
Check it Out for Free
Pass the info on
DON'T BUY THE BOOKS!!!

Satan plans each move carefully, and this movie is one big blow to Christianity (if lots ignore the warnings!)

1 Peter 5:8
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Acts 13:10
"You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?"

Acts 4:27
and do not give the devil a foothold.

I feel Insulted, besides, I plan to watch it. eventually...

Boycott the movie? Sorry, but us "Godhaters" are usually for freedom of speech and freedom of expression. Why are "Godhaters" not allowed to make money from writing fiction, while Godlover evangelists are allowed to make millions of tax free dollars from lying and conning people?

Please stop using that "Devil" excuse too, he's a complete fabrication, a scapegoat for christian hatred, an allegory representing the undesirable attributes of a person living under the church.

You hardcore christians need to get over your fear of artistic expression of ideas which dont fit your world view.

But you forget, the mainstream religions are worse than Stalinism-Russia.

So until the religion dies, it won't ever change.

Also... I can't be bothered clicking back and quoting him, Donmar... So you can kill god hmm? Not so powerful now huh Is your faith so weak you fear that other people don't believe in the same as you? How sad for you.

The difference between the hatred and murder of children, babies, men, women and the old due to god in the OT compared to the loving god in the NT. The reason he turned from atrocious and malevolent, to a loving warm god... Was because he got laid inbetween the OT and NT.

So, in my estimation of this. Hardcore christians need to get laid. Big time. Maybe they'll be less annoying then.

My faith is too strong to let a movie or book sway me either way. Any good Christian should be the same.

Tell it to jesus crybabies!

wow.....i read these books years ago and read the first 2 again this past month. i don't know anything about Christianity so it was hard to for to understand the hidden meanings in the book. still...... what makes no sense is that narnia didn't have so much controversy around it ( and it was a Christian film). but because golden compass doesn't promote Christianity, the Christian fanatics go crazy about it. New line cinema even tried to water down the anti-Christian themes in the book for the film( which made the books fans mad of course). and besides it is a childrens book. those books were kinda of hard to even follow for me, esp the third book. i doubt little children will know what the hell is really going on in the books. Pullman might have been an athiest, but the characters in the books don't kill god. they kill an angel who claims to be god.

Bashing this watered-down movie version of a story that tells the tale of how PEOPLE within the church system have and can abuse their power in a totally wicked way is a little like defending priest who rapes a child.

Indeed there is a vast distance between critisizing religion and critisizing corruption and misuse of religion.

I just saw the movie, while I am sure the book is far better (they usually are) the movie completely sucked. The only part I really admired was Iorek Byrnison. What a courageous bear. I didn't see anything anti-christian specifically, but you could say the religious mindset all around. I never understood why christians got first dibs on the atheists .

The BIG problem with the Golden Compass is that it was written by an Atheist for the children of atheists.
Now understanding that they do not believe in the existence of any god, what would be the logical conclusion of the Quest of the book to kill God?

Answer if you are atheist child - There is no god, there are only those who believe in gods that not only should be but have to be killed.


Snopes - Urban Legend - True

after watching all the trailers and clips.. i don't think Dakota does a good job portraying Lyra. plus i always picture Serafina as a beautiful exotic witch. the lady in the trailer doesn't seem to fit Serafina at all. I think they did a bad job at casting but can't really say for sure till i see the movie tonight

Good news. I hope it is a huge flop.

^ why?

Urban Legend check - True

Because it's got anti-christian themes?

Of course. Christians only want pro-religious films that are often anti-sematic (passion of the christ for example). Which is fine if you want to kill the non-religious/believers (Which is taught through the bible, and thus to children from young ages. Just look at the middle east, christian countries were pretty much the same a couple hundred years ago). But have it the other way around then -gasp- that's immoral! THINK OF THE CHILDREN!

They're proving the noval true though, in their ignorance. 'Destroy anything that takes away the religious' authority, so no one questions you while you tell people how to think. Instead of letting them think for themselves.'

No one argued against Narnia - in a large organised group. It's funny, Atheists are fine in their beliefs. The religious are not so comfortable in their own, and as such oppose anything that goes against their religion - often killing people. What does that tell you? That faith is weak if you're alone? Or there's nothing their to fuel their own faith, apart from opposing things they don't like.

^ i agree Chokmah. just because it has anti- christain themes doesn't mean it such an evil movie. don't let hollywood or any other books get in the way of your own faith. i don't believe in god and watched narnia. i thought it was a good fantasy story.
and also... once again, the children DON'T kill God in the end, they kill an angel claiming to be God.
here are some interviews of phillip pullman if anyone wants to see his views on the controversy around his books.
maybe it will clear some things up.
trust your children
His agenda
Religion and Theology

I read the article. I am not surprised at all. Christians b***h about anything that offends them. I still can't believe I'm in the same religion with these idiots. I'm also not surprised that it's Catholics that's doing most of the complaining.



That's why I respect Pagans. They don't whine & moan about anything like that.

I don't believe it incites atheists to murder god followers.


Though you bring up an interesting arguement... Are you also against the bible? The very same bible that justifies genocide... Rape... Slavery... Murder... Killing little babies... Hatred... Discrimination... Worship of a lying drunk common criminal...

Oh yeah... But that golden compass is horrible compared to the bible!!!!! The bible is far more disgusting and disturbing.

You see, you're the kind of religious person people can get on with. You may have the same religion as them, but you don't seem to think in the ways they tell you to think. You respect others beliefs and don't lose your own, something the christians who're complaining are afraid will happen to them.

---

It's a shame they didn't explain what the gobblers were, or why Lyra wanted to go and find Lord Esriel or why Lyra was taken to the PolarBear king, or even how she learned the symbols (or tried to), like in the book. But apart from those things, it's a great movie. I thought the acter playing as Lyra was a good find, with her whild hair. She may not be as feisty as Lyra in the novels, but she's a timid person in life and it's her first film. So you can't expect her to be suddenly a grand acter and portray Lyra in every way.
I didn't like Pan's voice either =/ Too whiney.

Aflac:
(Sorry it's not a real quote, UM is being gay and loading up the "board message" even though it's been over 30 seconds.)

What can you expect from people who don't think for themselves. If their authority tells them different, tells them propaganda, then they'll believe it. Because they're scared and bigots to actually read the novels.

Looking forward to The Subtle Knife~ .

Ehn. Some christians'll always feel the need to be self-righteous and holier than thou. It's just their way of telling us they love us

Yeah!

There's no reason though for people to back into a corner though and be quiet about it.

I'm going to the movie in a few hours... I seriously hope there are protesters there... I love to have amusement while waiting for my movie to start.

Meh, you're more patient than me. I'm all for freedom of expression, but start preaching to my face while I'm minding my own business and I'll punch them.

Nothing more annoying than people trying to get into your mind to tell you how to think.

What? I'm going to let off on them! Not going to hit them though... I don't need to be locked up for hitting someone in a public place.

Haha, well, looking innocent and being a great manipulater sure does have its advantages

I wonder if they're gonna be out and about again when/if The Subtle Knife is released. I can't remember if they were out and about then the second Harry potter was out.

It doesn't incite the same reaction though when you speak your mind.

Most likely they will. There was still people here whining when the 5th Potter movie came out.

Haha, crikey... There was a little when the first movie was released, but nothing really of notice after that. Although England isn't really all that christian, compared to the USofA. I'm not too sure how Scotland, northern Island and Wales stand up compared though.

But, Blair stated he went to war with Iraq 'cause god told him the same thing Bush did or something to the similer ( ), but never spoke about it 'cause he knew people would see him as a loon. Which, we would have done. Seeing as we have a better seperation of church and state (thanks to King Henry VIII) status than we used to.

So I think that shows the religious status of England. Slightly. Shame about all our PC crap.

William Donohue and his Catholic league take offense at any minor criticism of christianity, interpretting it as a vicious attack on Catholicism. After all, it was the king of christianity for hundreds of years until the protestant reformation.

I can see why now that christians would hate this film... It tells the truth about their awful being.

The Magisterium is a bigoted group who is willfully ignorant to the ever expending science that would debunk their sad mythology. In their quest to silence such heresy the Magisterium employs assassins to murder those who would seek the truth; 'teachers' to brainwash innocent child through violence, repeated abuse and to kill any free thought of the innocence of a little boy or girl. Their existance is a cancer in the film... Without doubt the Magisterium is a depraved group of vile men and women who seek to create more copy cat drones like they are, with the sole purpose to control all and to silence or worse those who are with the courage and bravery to speak up against such monsters.



It was a wonderful movie to watch. A tale of a girl seeking truth because it is there, it's told in heart warming scenes of bravery, questioning those who would want you to shut up, and taking on a number of challenges because it is the right thing to do. A fight for the freedom of thought and for the truth to be known. I would watch this movie again and I sincerely look forward to the next movies.

^yepyep. magisterium only wanted to cover the truth of other worlds existing and to try and stop dust from collecting on children in the most brutal way possible. and like you said kratos,,,,,, this was a story about a girl finding the truth and challenging danger and overcoming her fears to save her best friend from danger.

btw...was anyone kinda like..."wha...." in the ending? i clearly remember seeing scenes of what looked like the book ending in the trailers and tv spots but that ending was cut out and replaced by a bad cliffhanger.