Golden Compass

[Carol]

Susan wrote:
> 
> I have not seen the movie - but would like to hear from those who
have..is it any good? Is it scary? My kids would like to see it, and I
don't want to have to go and look at it first...
> 
> The series is considered agressively anti-Christian. 

Carol responds:

that's what I've heard, too--that the author is an atheist who's
trying to counter Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and other Christian fantasy
authors withan anti-religious perspective. I have no idea how accurate
that perspective is, however, as my only exposure to the film was a
preview during a TV show about the effects of global warming on polar
bears. (The last shot of a starving female bear is burned into my
mind; I can't say the same for the preview. All I got out of it was
that three companions, a girl, a boy(?) and a bear were wandering
around in the snow and a female villain was trying to prevent the girl
from finding the Golden Compass. I may have even that much wrong.)

It looked harmless enough, but I haven't read the book. I have no idea
how violent it is or what its themes are. If both the protagonist and
villain are female, it might appeal more to girls than boys despite
the genre, or boys in their early teens might not want to see it
because they think they can't identify with a female protagonist. (I
don't know; I'm just guessing based on that little teaser.)

Carol, not tempted to see the film herself but curious about what
others think