The Golden Compass

[Darklord Dave]

Just like Narnia, it's a fine adventure even if you don't get the writer's motivations for writing it.

And a totalitarian authority that tries to control the way people think makes a good villain.

 

[piccolodaimaoh]

I had tried reading the novel in '97 and just couldn't get into it.
After I heard Pullman's admission that it was a deliberate attempt to attack Christianity and was aimed at young people, I was disgusted.

If you want to make an anti religion book, or anti anything book go right ahead, but be up front about it, don't try and be sneaky and spike the punch. Especially to kids. If you want to be religious fine. If you want to be an atheist, fine. But I wouldn't want someone speaking to my child about the merits or flaws of either position.

Sorry, just needed to say that.

I totally agree that we shouldn't be trying to spike the punch for kids especially since they know very little enough to make an objective decision but in the same light what about the fact that as children we have the Pledge Of Allegiance. Children say the Pledge every morning staring at the flag and honestly have no idea why they are being made to do it or even what some of the words mean.

I believe as children we are faced with many influences and made to do many things that as adults we may decide was not right. As children we sometimes do not have a lot of choices which can be good and can be bad. As a literary book the Northern Lights is supposed to be excellent that is why it is held in such high esteem. The book was written as an alternative to Narnia, just like Coke has Pepsi. As a child I had to read Narnia and I liked it but I wish I did have the option to read The Northern Lights, because I probably would have liked it just as much.
I think we sometimes we think with our hearts and not with our minds. The Northern Lights might be anti-religion but is that so bad? I mean, God didn't create religion, we did.

 

[Eli26]

Awesome... I may just have to see it with those reviews.

 

[Memnoch]

I totally agree that we shouldn't be trying to spike the punch for kids especially since they know very little enough to make an objective decision but in the same light what about the fact that as children we have the Pledge Of Allegiance. Children say the Pledge every morning staring at the flag and honestly have no idea why they are being made to do it or even what some of the words mean.

I believe as children we are faced with many influences and made to do many things that as adults we may decide was not right. As children we sometimes do not have a lot of choices which can be good and can be bad. As a literary book the Northern Lights is supposed to be excellent that is why it is held in such high esteem. The book was written as an alternative to Narnia, just like Coke has Pepsi. As a child I had to read Narnia and I liked it but I wish I did have the option to read The Northern Lights, because I probably would have liked it just as much.
I think we sometimes we think with our hearts and not with our minds. The Northern Lights might be anti-religion but is that so bad? I mean, God didn't create religion, we did.

That last line is very resonant. I honestly don't think many people give younger kids enough credit. First you have to get through the books and just the 3 are about the size of all the Narnia books. Then you would have to interpret what you just read into an anti-religious thought. After that comes the point where a child would have the option to either accept it or say it's not for them. I think kids today are far too sheltered and everyone acts like one fall is the end of the world. If a kid wants to read the books or see the movie, let them. Then once they are done talk to your kid about what they read, don't let anyone do it for you and especially don't listen to people that always have a knee jerk reaction. All this being said I hope to catch this sometime over Christmas break and eventually read the books.

 

[piccolodaimaoh]

That last line is very resonant. I honestly don't think many people give younger kids enough credit. First you have to get through the books and just the 3 are about the size of all the Narnia books. Then you would have to interpret what you just read into an anti-religious thought. After that comes the point where a child would have the option to either accept it or say it's not for them. I think kids today are far too sheltered and everyone acts like one fall is the end of the world. If a kid wants to read the books or see the movie, let them. Then once they are done talk to your kid about what they read, don't let anyone do it for you and especially don't listen to people that always have a knee jerk reaction. All this being said I hope to catch this sometime over Christmas break and eventually read the books.

Thank you Memnoch. I agree kids should be given more credit not be as sheltered. I am not referring to pornography or ultra-violence, that is why we read A Clockwork Orange in high school, but all forms of thinking. I think a healthy mind should know both sides of the story not just what someone crams into their brain.
By the way I love Dr. Who and of course Billie Piper. David Tennant is a nice alternative to, say, Tom Baker.

 

[darthviper107]

All this being said I hope to catch this sometime over Christmas break and eventually read the books.

Good luck with that, I Am Legend comes out next week, plus sometime soon, National Treasure, and then AsVP on Christmas, it's a busy month.

 

[Memnoch]

Good luck with that, I Am Legend comes out next week, plus sometime soon, National Treasure, and then AsVP on Christmas, it's a busy month.

Yea, on the roaster is this, I am Legend in IMAX, Nation Treasure, AVP:R and anything else I missed in the past few weeks. Busy and poor making month to be sure.

 

[Memnoch]

David Tennant is a nice alternative to, say, Tom Baker.

It's funny you say that. I've always seen much Tom Baker in DT but apparently his Doctor was Peter Davidson. But yea, I think kids shouldn't be exposed to porn, ultra non realistic violence (there comes a point where all kids should be well informed about the realities of war and the like) but children should never be sheltered from literature no matter the authors beliefs or themes presented within the work. As long as you talk to your kids so they can internalize things for themselves and come to their own conclusions then you are doing all you can do as a parent. My approach to parenting will be to raise my kids like my parents raised me, only correcting the things that drove me mad about my parents. Won't ever try and be my kids friend though, that just never ends well.

 

[Darth Caedus]

It's funny you say that. I've always seen much Tom Baker in DT but apparently his Doctor was Peter Davidson. But yea, I think kids shouldn't be exposed to porn, ultra non realistic violence (there comes a point where all kids should be well informed about the realities of war and the like) but children should never be sheltered from literature no matter the authors beliefs or themes presented within the work. As long as you talk to your kids so they can internalize things for themselves and come to their own conclusions then you are doing all you can do as a parent. My approach to parenting will be to raise my kids like my parents raised me, only correcting the things that drove me mad about my parents. Won't ever try and be my kids friend though, that just never ends well.

I would like to think as my kids and my slaves and me as their slave master. I mean what's the point of having kids if you can't make them do stuff for you? Like scratch my back, get the remote, fetch me a beer; THAT is why people have kids.

 

[fool_of_a_took!]

Cant wait to see it!

I'm an LOTR fan (no ****?), and I'm glad that the success of LOTR is giving us some new films in this genre!

 

[metaphorge]

Saw it, loved it. Where's our Hot Toys Mrs. Coulter? ;D

Hey New Line....get your head out of your ass!!!

Golden Compass is a complete bomb at 26 million opening weekend. Get PJ on the phone today and finalize the deal on The Hobbit and the prequel/sequel whatever.

Time for Hollywood to wake up....stop making films that attack American moral values...the people have spoken with their wallet!!!!!

I hope they finish the trilogy. This is the sort of film America needs... films that make people THINK and QUESTION, not blindly do what they're told (which, to me, is and will always be the ultimate American value). Masterfully done, and it seems to be doing well internationally, so there's hope yet.

In any case, how does LOTR exemplify a value set that differs substantially from that found in The Golden Compass? Have you even seen the film?

I think we sometimes we think with our hearts and not with our minds. The Northern Lights might be anti-religion but is that so bad? I mean, God didn't create religion, we did.

Quoted for truth!

 

[metaphorge]

Speaking of... THIS is awfully nice:

I suppose I know what I'll be getting in April.

Noble Collection is really impressing me with their stuff, between this and the Cryptex from DaVinci Code and the Potter stuff.

 

[gideon]

Unless the box office revenues from this film pick up mightily during the Christmas season, I fear this trilogy will have only one chapter. One things for sure - this is not the LOTR bonanza that New Line was searching for.

Its a well known fact that the next Babe Ruth never is.

 

[Agent0028]

I just finished reading the book so I'll go see the movie later this week or next. I'm excited to see it, I really enjoyed the book. I definitely don't think the first book had an anti-christian slant to it, more of an anti-church slant to me. And I completely agree with Picco's statement. I've heard it gets a little more "anti-christian" as the series goes along so I'm really interested to see how I react to them.

Also that Alethiometer looks awesome. I may have to get that.

 

[Jair]

I heard the movie did really well overseas in box office recipts but unfortunately the movie was in the 150million to 200million to film, produce and market, so as much as I'd like to see the films continue, the best we may get is the extended directors cut


Evan

 

[Les Walker]

Saw this Friday night. Was OK...not great.
Saw it as an objective viewer. No expectations.
Three things stood out. Nicole Kidman is a good actress and was in a story far more intricate than the rest of this movie...
The movie didn't really start til the Bear shows up.
And, it was rushed.

It LOOKS great! Kudos there. Great effects. I want that big red airship, but with Sam Elliot running it, rather than that other blah one.
Story was just weird. Not a strange enough locale somehow. Too much like some story at Oxford or somewhere. Not fantasy enough in some places, then too much in others. The animal thing started grating somehow, because the world they were in was not conducive to them to me.

Odd feeling when I left. I didn't hate it, and love all the mythology involved in the story (LOTS of iconography from World History used to interesting effect, both cultural and idealogical), and, I can see where someone who doesn't get the subtleties would be offended. I was not. It is a fairy tale. Those don't usually offend me.

I say to those that have chips on their religious shoulders (and I am quite a passionate spiritual person), get over it. It is only a movie. And, a lot of what is said in it, happened in history anyway. Sorry. It did, and still does happen. So that didn't bother me.

Somebody somewhere is always trying to tell me/us/whoever how to think. Old news. I am a free will soul myself. Hence the Founding Fathers of my country. BLAH BLAH. I won't bore.

Hope there is a sequel, but my first thought out the door was, there won't be. If not, too bad. Another movie might make it all work better as an entertainment.

 

[El Roranous]

The Golden Compass!

I saw this last night and I loved it! I thought there was another thread on this subject but could not find it. I really hope they make some sequels because the story is far from over.

 

[BadMoon]

Re: The Golden Compass!

I saw this last night and I loved it! I thought there was another thread on this subject but could not find it. I really hope they make some sequels because the story is far from over.

Here you go Rory. https://sideshowcollectors.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27441&highlight=golden+compass

 

[El Roranous]

Re: The Golden Compass!

Here you go Rory. https://sideshowcollectors.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27441&highlight=golden+compass

How did I miss that?! Thanks Badmoon. A mod can delete this thread.

 

[BadMoon]

Re: The Golden Compass!

How did I miss that?! Thanks Badmoon. A mod can delete this thread.

No problem.