Golden Compass

[marion11111]

>
> 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--
(SNIP)
> 
> 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


marion11111 responds - late to the party as always:

The books are amazing, but a lot of work!  I found I needed to give them full 
concentration and much re-reading.  They are worth it though IMO. I have to say I thought 
they were blatantly anti-church especially the last book.  This didn't really bother me since 
I am often unhappy with the church myself, but I know quite a few bookish adults who 
have read the whole series and tell me "I didn't see any anti-religious message."   Go 
figure.

To answer the original question about taking kids to the movie, I'd say don't worry about 
the religious message, but consider the level of violence. All religious references are 
removed from the movie and the enemy is just an authority group who want to take free 
will away from children to use for some other purpose not clearly explained.  The message 
kids come away with (according to my middle school students most of whom have NOT 
read the books) is that kids are strong and smart, free will is good, authority can be 
corrupt, and families and friends are important.  Yes, I actually had a boy say "authority 
can be corrupt."  One student thought it WAS a religious movie because of the talk about 
souls.  She said they discussed it at confirmation class and tried to decide what their own 
daemons would be.

If your kids are young, it might be a little slow and complicated for them.  And I know that 
I, as a child, would have been upset by the animal violence.  I was one of those kids who 
could watch any number of gunfights, etc with humans, but cried all night if a dog got 
kicked.

MAJOR SPOILERS HERE
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The Nicole Kidman character is pretty cruel to both Lyra's and her own daemon (animal 
helper spirits).  She smacks her own daemon and sends him flying and Lyra's daemon 
nearly gets choked. The polar bear fight was brilliantly done, but disturbingly realistic.  I 
was shocked and I'm a grown-up.

I often check a website called Screen-it when i wonder about a movie for kids.  The movie 
will be totally ruined for you since they spell it all out, but they leave no stone unturned 
and don't pass judgement.  Every little thing is tabulated from swear words to violence to 
sex to drinking to scary music, angry family scenes, dark rooms, disrespect, bathroom 
jokes, loud noises, bright flashes of light, etc.  Basically, anything that might make any 
child upset or any parent annoyed is counted and listed.  It's very easy to decide which 
movies work for your own kids.  And, honestly, they didn't pay me for that endorsement.

Hope this helps.