Golden Compass -- to those who believe in God

[Merrida]

Let me preface this with: I'm a person of faith, and I DO believe in God.

Now, I pose a question to anyone who has had the fortune (depending on your viewpoint) of a pre-screening, I'm curious as to what you guys (& gals) think of this flick, both as a visual piece of art, and also for the true message behind it. For anyone who doesn't know yet, I'll leave a space because here be spoilers:
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. This movie is about: The death of God.


Any takers?

[Your_Crazy]

I'll have to read the book first.

[Merrida]

Originally Posted by Your_Crazy

I'll have to read the book first.

Always a good idea since books seem to lend quite a different legend to the film production. I'm always curious to see who is going to figure out from the movie just what this film is truly, deeply about. It's a lovely cinematic presentation and Nicole Kidman is delicious eye-candy in anything/everything she's ever been in, as well as a superb actress. She's got everything desirable in every facet of her life as far I can figure it out.

Regardless,....to those rare few who will actually understand the true scope of The Golden Compass, I just can't help to wonder how it will affect those who do believe in God, and what it means to be God, to watch a movie that is about,....the death of God.

[Dan C]

I've just recently learned of this movie and what it's about.

Urban Legends Reference Pages: The Golden Compass

For some reason I think this will be better received than Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ"... which is a shame.

[Merrida]

Originally Posted by Dan C

I've just recently learned of this movie and what it's about.

Urban Legends Reference Pages: The Golden Compass

For some reason I think this will be better received than Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ"... which is a shame.

See? I tooooldchooo!

I was really wondering how long it would take for people to figure out just what this movie was about.

Gosh, I hate being right,....


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[maverick]

Passion of the Christ was incredible. I grew up Catholic and heard all the anti-semitic hype about that one. I saw it myself and I don't think, other than having satan played by a woman, Mel Gibson took any liberties with the story. Though extremely gorey, it sounded and looked just like I would imagine the stations of the cross would look when I heard them over and over as a kid.

Just to play devil's advocate (pun), why is this movie any more controversial than any other movie about a belief system? Why is a lack of spirituality bad? Is it any less offensive to have kids watch movies where their dead relatives come back as ghosts or have God's angels come to Earth to dictate the season of a baseball team so a child's parents' failed marriage will reunite? Seems like the popular religions are allowed to have all the stories they want, but opposing ideas are "controversial".

[Merrida]

Oh, oh, oh, I know the answer to this one!

Uhm,.....nothing.

Okay, maybe that's less of an answer and more of an opinion. Personally I think there is absolutely not a darn thing wrong with a movie, book, or verbal citations that lack spirituality. I also don't think there's anything wrong with any and all of the above that tout anti-spirituality, multi-deity belief systems, monotheistic belief systems,....likewise, not a problem with any of the above that posit views, interpretations, or belief systems of any kind. Along those lines, you'd also find my just as "supportive" (as in "Constitutionally given rights) of any media delivery system spouting positions from Hitler to the Bible Belt.

Soooo, my comments had more to do with wondering who would either understand it, know about it, have read about it, or maybe knew about it beforehand. My post was made merely to peak conversation in others who were aware of the messages cloistered deftly within the presentation.

Pierini may even agree with me on this one (but if he does, someone will have to hold my hand and calm me down)....but many movies are great productions, irrespective of any intended "messages" garnered. Books, movies, conversation, music,.....I don't have to agree with any message to find interest, education, or the simplicity of enjoyment.

Half the time, the more controversial the material, the higher the ratings, the greater the interest. In the case of the Golden Compass, I was just curious as to those who were familiar with the material (not to judge it).


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Originally Posted by Merrida

Pierini may even agree with me on this one (but if he does, someone will have to hold my hand and calm me down.

I cannot agree or disagree with something I don't understand and your posts on this thread are too deep for me Merrida. I'm really a recoverying meathead and, other than the Passion of Christ, the last good movie I saw was Nacho Libre.

I won't be seeing this one because I generally don't go to movies at this ho-hum stage of my life.

[Merrida]

Originally Posted by pierini

I cannot agree or disagree with something I don't understand and your posts on this thread are too deep for me Merrida. I'm really a recoverying meathead and, other than the Passion of Christ, the last good movie I saw was Nacho Libre.

I won't be seeing this one because I generally don't go to movies at this ho-hum stage of my life.

Oh I didn't mean you'd agree with me about the movie. I meant I feared/suggested you may actually agree with me conceptually, on you know, like a theoretical level, hypothetically speaking and what-not,.... that media, in and of itself, can oft be enjoyed without the "need to know" messages.

I'm also in a ho hum stage of life (it happens when we reach geezer age, eh?) and I'd much rather wait for the DVD to come out so that I not only can hit the pause button every time I have to use the powder room, but also so that I can save what precious hearing I have that remains without having my auditory senses assaulted manically in a movie theatre. (When I have to bring the same "gear" to a movie theatre as I do to shoot,....something has gone terribly wrong).


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[Dan C]

Originally Posted by maverick

Just to play devil's advocate (pun), why is this movie any more controversial than any other movie about a belief system? Why is a lack of spirituality bad? Is it any less offensive to have kids watch movies where their dead relatives come back as ghosts or have God's angels come to Earth to dictate the season of a baseball team so a child's parents' failed marriage will reunite? Seems like the popular religions are allowed to have all the stories they want, but opposing ideas are "controversial".

I don't have any problem with opposing ideas, different belief systems or lack of spirituality. I don't have a problem with movies about such, in fact I enjoy many of them.

I do however think it's pretty low to target children with such movies that are in effort to undermine a generally good thing (spirituality and belief in God).

My comment about Passion of the Christ was to point out that it caused a lot of people in Hollywood to snub their nose at Mel Gibson. He caught a lot of flak and created a lot of controversy with his (generally good) Christian ideals. Now we have an anti-Christian theme (targeting children) and I bet few (if anyone) in Hollywood or any other media outlet speaks out against it.

[maverick]

In all fairness though dan, I doubt The Golden Compass will be quite as overtly religious as Passion of the Christ.

[Dan C]

That's because it is an anti-religious theme.

But what's wrong with religion anyway? As long as it teaches righteousness, moral value and generally good ideals, be it Buddism, Hinduism, Judiasm, Islam or Christianity; why should anyone have a problem with it? And why would it be more accepted to undermine a good thing, than to teach it?

I just think it's interesting to note that with all of the civil liberties groups and all the talk of religous freedoms, there seems to be a double standard with Christianity.

[Dan C]

Another interesting side note, at work yesterday I received an email from a customer in Egypt. The first thing the email said was "Happy Christmas"

Now why is it that a person in a [mainly] Muslim country (who is also probably Muslim) would not think twice about wishing an American a "Merry Christmas" yet in America it's considered politically incorrect to wish a stranger the same in fear that they do not celebrate Christmas?

[Merrida]

Originally Posted by Dan C

That's because it is an anti-religious theme.

But what's wrong with religion anyway? As long as it teaches righteousness, moral value and generally good ideals, be it Buddism, Hinduism, Judiasm, Islam or Christianity; why should anyone have a problem with it? And why would it be more accepted to undermine a good thing, than to teach it?

I just think it's interesting to note that with all of the civil liberties groups and all the talk of religous freedoms, there seems to be a double standard with Christianity.

There's nothing wrong with anti-religious movies, anymore than there are good things to be found in religious movies. Movies are a medium through which all sorts of things can be expressed.

With the Passions of the Christ, other than blood factor which apparently for some reason shocked and surprised so many people. (That's what comes from watching too many Cecil B. DeMille movies). The Passions was put out there exactly what it was. No surprises.

The reason I brought up the Golden Compass was how it cloaked anti-God themes (I'm not going to say anti-religion because there are so many religions, such as those who worship multiple deities, and those that worship other than God.....the most common thread which doesn't support my argument is: God has no father, and any religion which believes in "a God" to kill him destroys not only God but any subsequent religion enbased within).

I knew what this movie was about quite a while ago and what's funny to me is how (and I'd like to know how and why) all of a sudden it's hitting the news tracks all the way up to CNN as if they're just discovering the hidden messages (and let's face it the beautiful and brillaint Nicole and fancy effects are a way to gild the lily of truth).

I think that's why some people may dislike this movie. Because the message is HIDDEN, unlike Passions (which was overt). I don't think anyone likes feeling duped. You bring your kids to this beautifully visual cinematic event only to find out (if you can figure it out) that right from the get go you will get messages which culminate to the jist of the flick which is that it's about: The Death of God. Some parents may take issue with that, feeling misled.

For the record, as a person of faith who believes in God I'll still see it, because I can suspend my disbelief and I can enjoy movies, books, and theatre merely for what they are without having to believe in the message. Besides, Nicole Kidman looks steamy in that gold dress. (That silly Tom Cruise trading her in for Kate,...d'uh).

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[LiftGirl]

Originally Posted by Dan C

Now why is it that a person in a [mainly] Muslim country (who is also probably Muslim) would not think twice about wishing an American a "Merry Christmas" yet in America it's considered politically incorrect to wish a stranger the same in fear that they do not celebrate Christmas?

I'm Christian, but one year in college I had a Jewish roommate. In the spring, she'd wish me Happy Passover, and I'd wish her Happy Easter, and neither of us was offended or upset. Why can't everyone be like that? Even if you don't celebrate Christmas, can't you appreciate the sentiment of someone wishing you happiness? If you don't celebrate Chanakuh, can't you still appreciate the nice sentiment behind someone saying Happy Chanakuh?