Nicole’s “Golden Compass” Controversy
Have you heard all the buzz about this movie? I don’t think it’s very appropriate to kids … read the synopsis I got from imdb.com:
It was no ordinary life for a young girl: living among scholars in the hallowed halls of Jordan College and tearing unsupervised through Oxford’s motley streets on mad quests for adventure. But Lyra’s greatest adventure would begin closer to home, the day she heard hushed talk of an extraordinary particle. Microscopic in size, the magical dust- found only in the vast Artic expanse of the North -was rumored to possess profound properties that could unite whole universes. But there were those who feared the particle and would stop at nothing to destroy it. Catapulted into the heart of a terrible struggle, Lyra was forced to seek aid from clans, gyptians, and formidable armored bears. And as she journeyed into unbelievable danger, she had not the faintest clue that she alone was destined to win, or to lose, this more-than-mortal battle
Apparently, it’s not about the “magical adventures” it claims it is- based on a fantasy trilogy written by Philip Pullman, “Dark Materials”- an avowed Atheist.
According to 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.”
Maybe you should leave the kids at home for this one … if you go to see it at all.
Has anyone heard anything else about this?
Related Posts:
- Trailer and posters for The Golden Compass!
- Nicole Kidman at the Golden Compass premiere in Sydney 12/15
- Nicole’s children don’t call her mom.
- Nicole Kidman = Box Office Poison, Part 2
Everyone needs to calm down about this movie. I read all three books of the trilogy, and they are amazing, in fact some of the best stories I have read in a very long time. I am an agnostic, and I read christian stories, what is so bad about christians reading non-christian stories? Take a chill pill and go see it - I cannot wait to see it, although I could do without Nicole Kidman in there….
The obnoxious thing is that Nicole Kidman, around the time she was getting married to Keith Urban, kept going on and on about having a traditional church wedding and how deeply religious she is……blah. Whatever.
I agree with manda. I don’t like the idea of anyone moralizing my movies, just let the stories be what they are and if you don’t agree with their message don’t go see it! This movie is much less aggressive about sinister adults than the Series of Unfortunate Events movies and is a great story!
I read this trilogy when I was like 11 or 12, I’m 20 now and I do not feel like it was inappropriate for me at that age, and by what I’m reading it seems like no big deal, I cant even imagine what you might be thinking about when you say kids should not see it… The book was a great read and after all it’s just fictional.
And manda I hope you enjoy the movie I’m exited about it but at the same time the trailers I’ve seen for it are sooo far away from what imagined the whole story to be like that I might not go see it just to not change my idea about it but who knows it might be even better than the book!
I won’t go to see it just for this reason~
http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp
(And of course, because I can’t stand looking at that blonde-haired circus clown anymore.)
I saw the previews and thought it looked good. I’m glad I didn’t read the books - otherwise I’m sure the movie would be a big disappointment since they’re never as good. Not sure why you wouldn’t want to bring the kids??
i agree these are my favourite books! the best adventure books. i would recommend them to anyone however old! beautifully told - i’ve met not a soul who hasn’t loved them…..
Oh yes, cover your children’s eyes!
How about this - take them to see the movie, and ask them what they think of it… I bet they will see it as a beautiful film, and will not speak the “hated” word (atheism.)
i saw the screening this weekend and i really loved the movie. i think kids would like it a lot too. i want to read the books now and can’t wait for the other movies to come out. i didn’t feel any anti-christian or anti=religious vibes throughout the whole movie, but i also wasn’t looking for them.
I think it’s getting the press not because the Author is an atheist but because his books have an underlying theme of hatred toward God. As for why CHILDREN should not see it why not let them watch Silence of the Lambs or Saw then and ask their opinions of murder and depraved humans? Parents should protect their children there is enough darkness in the world without sugar coating it into a movie and handing it to your kids.
I’ve also read the trilogy, and honestly, I don’t really see anything anti-religious about any of it…it’s just a fantasy book…
Also, I read the books when I was a teen, and also re-read them now that I’m a bit older and I’m not sure I would classify them as “children’s” books anyway. The whole story is very complicated and Pullman’s writing is very mature, I think.
Plus, the movie is rated PG-13 (which I think is good, again, having read the books).
Honestly, I’m really, really excited for Friday. It had better be good.
I read the books when I was younger, and I loved them. Now that I’m older, I am pretty much a deist, but I was Christian at the age that I read the books and didn’t notice any anti-God themes. I think that although they are or may be there, that didn’t influence me either way in my beliefs. And, Erin, comparing Silence of the Lambs to the Golden Compass is ridiculous. I may not be Christian anymore, but I still believe in a God, and I don’t find these books to be in any way “depraved.” If you have not read them, I suggest you do, and I hope that you will find that it is just another opinion. Just because you and some other people are Christian doesn’t mean that the people who aren’t are evil or hateful people and should be censored. If you have read them, then maybe you shouldn’t let your kids watch Alice in Wonderland or The Wizard of Oz either if you’re worried about underlying themes.
I’m gonna see it anywho! =P
I am getting so sick of people buying into all the crap about this movie being anti-religious. I read these books when I was in grade school and I loved them, in fact they are some of my favorite books ever and no they didn’t turn me into an atheist. I think people should start thinking for themselves and stop believing all the hype from magazines and newspapers that are just meant to stir up some controversy. I am so excited to see this movie and if I had kids I would bring them along with me in a second. After all, this is a children’s story, stop being so sensitive people!
I would imagine there are many atheists/non-believers and generally religiously confused people in the world who make films, paint pictures, take photographs, sing songs and make television programmes:- Possibly more than those with firm enough religous beliefs to call themselves something, be it muslim, christian, catholic or whatever… does this mean that children shouldn’t be exposed to any products of their imaginations for fear that it may somehow ‘rub off’ on them? Is there a call for works of art with a message promoting a religous belief or thanking god to be for adult ears and eyes only? Question your fear first before instilling it in your children.
I have not read the books, but have heard that at the end the kids kill God. That doesn’t sound like anything I would like to support with my $$$$.
Religious fanatics are NUTS. They just love to get on anything that is obviously fantasy for whatever reason. FANTASY, folks. If you’re worried about your kids getting wrong ideas or whatever, THEN YOU HAVE MORON KIDS. Or you just refuse to explain things to them. Were there actually cases in the 50’s or whenever when the Superman comics came out and kids tried jumping off buildings to fly? LOL (If there really were any, they deserved their fate. HAHA) I think I’ll own this [hopefully series] movie because of the controversy. heh
I don’t see why kids can’t watch…I suppose if you had a sensitive child you might wait until they are older. But, I babysit for friends all the time, various aged children 18 months -
13 yrs, and everyone of them except the toddler has seen all Lord of the Rings films. They loved them and are always excited when a new fantasy film comes around. Besides they are kids - the atheist buzz isn’t going to interest them. Just the exciting special effects and characters. Trust me, kids aren’t quite as deep or intelligent as us adults.
Any movie can have religous or anti-religous themes if you look at them the right way. Narnia is supposed to be pro-Christ, but you don’t notice that theme unless you are looking for it. I think all the fanatics should read the books themselves, and then decide. I thought His Dark Materials trilogy was ok, but I will probably wait for the DVD.
Chelsea I never said to censor the movie I have no problem with people seeing it. I was saying people should check out the movie first and not just take their kids to see it. I know I am conservative I even think Harry Potter is too mature for young kids I think a lot of it is too scary. But every parent needs to decide what they think is right for their own kids.
If there is a question as to the meaning behind the movie then parents should see the movie before taking their children to see it. I bet all of you are liberal democrats. You all think let your children do whatever they want, you’ll sit back and watch, because heaven forbid people say anything is WRONG.
“protect children”- emmmm mass generalisation! I have children and don’t ‘let my children do whatever they want’…letting children (obviously the age of kids seeing the film in question or reading the books would be around the 7/8+ mark) watch or read a children’s fantasy that has already been put through censors and classified is hardly ‘letting children do what they want’. Get a grip and relax. I have more of a problem with mainstream music using the N word and ‘bitch’. This is more of a moral threat to that age group as this is what they are taught to aspire to. Non religious people have morals too you know.
I’m not stating an opinion for or against the movie, but I’ve read a few blogs about this from both sides. When the movie was being made, the production companies altered it so that the religious implications wouldn’t be there as much. The author ok-ed it and has stated that he’s happy with the film. A lot of people are worried that after seeing the movie, that a lot of children will want to read the books, where the religious themes are not toned down as they are in the movie. The books were also said to have been written in response the the Narnia books.
Oh my effin’ god! Religious folk need to calm the heck down and focus on REAL problems. All the ultra-conservatives freaked out about the Harry Potter books too. Like Manda said above - I also read everything - and if I find something I don’t like, well, I avoid it. I don’t try to control everyone else’s viewpoint.
One of the first posts on here was from Kim, saying “The obnoxious thing is that Nicole Kidman, around the time she was getting married to Keith Urban, kept going on and on about having a traditional church wedding and how deeply religious she is……blah. Whatever.”
So, just because she is acting in a movie that is upsetting religious folks, she can’t be religious herself? So when Kevin Spacey played a murdering psycho in the movie “Seven”, does that mean he believes in murder? She is an ACTRESS, she is paid to portray a CHARACTER, that doesn’t mean she has to believe everything the movie stands for! It is entertainment and fiction, get a grip!
The fact that websites keep reporting that Phillip Pullman is an atheist is really annoying me, because what on earth does that have to do with anything. I have read all three Dark Materials Books, which are really really amazing and very educational. I think it is totally appropriate for children, after all, if we are going to teach children about christianity shouldn’t we also offer an alternative view of society and religion? You can’t force children or adults into a belief so I hate that fact that people seem so unwilling to let children make thier own decisions about what they believe.
Christian groups had this same problem with Harry Potter, it is totally insane and uncalled for. All I can say is that they mustn’t have very much faith in thier religion if they think one film or book is going to bring the entire thing crashing down into oblivion…