And so the countdown begins.
A lot of people are anticipating the movie adaptation of Philip Pullman’s first book in the trilogy, His Dark Materials. However, this movie is being heralded by a lot of controversies. Protests are increasing about the atheist content of the book and most fear that even the “watered-down” version of the book in the film will still be inappropriate for children.
However, I note that most people who’re protesting the movie and the trilogy are those who haven’t read the trilogy IN ITS ENTIRETY. Now, it is common sense to think that the opinion of someone who’s not even read or seen what he’s proclaiming judgment over does not have the same credibility as someone who did read and see it.
Most are making a fuss about God being killed in this trilogy by two children. Let me quote from the third book of the trilogy, The Amber Spyglass:
Will and Lyra didn’t stop to look; they stumbled over the rough ground at a crouch, intent only on getting away unseen.
But they had to keep their heads low to see where they were treading and avoid twisting an ankle, or worse, and thunder exploded overhead as they ran, so they couldn’t hear the screeching and snarling of the cliff-ghasts until they were upon them.
The creatures were surrounding something that lay glittering in the mud: something slightly taller than they were which lay on its side, a large cage, perhaps, with walls of crystals. They were hammering at it with fists and rocks, shrieking and yelling.
And before Will and Lyra could stop and run the other way, they had stumbled right into the middle of the troop…
…The cliff-ghasts heard Lyra’s exclamation of dismay, and their flat heads all snapped around at once.
Will sprang forward and slashed the knife at the nearest of them…
…”Will,” said Lyra behind him, “will, look at this…”
She was gazing into the crystal litter. It was unbroken, although the crystal was stained and smeared with mud and the blood from what the cliff-ghasts had been eating before they found it. It lay tilted crazily among the rocks, and inside it…
…”He must be so old - I’ve never seen anyone suffering like that - oh, Will can’t we let him out?”
Will cut through the crystal in one movement and reached in to help the angel out. Demented and powerless, the aged being could only weep and mumble in fear and pain and misery, and he shrank away from seemed like yet another threat.
“It’s all right,” Will said, “we can help you hide, at least. Come on, we won’t hurt you.”
The shaking hand seized his and feebly held on…
…but as Lyra reached in, too, to help him out, he tried to smile, and to bow, and his ancient eyes deep in their wrinkles blinked at her with innocent wonder.
Between them they helped the ancient of days out of his crystal cell…but in the open air, there was nothing to stop the wind from damaging him, and to their dismay his form began to loosen and dissolve. Only a few moments later he had vanished completely, and their last impression was of those eyes blinking in wonder, and a sigh of the most profound and exhausted relief.
Then he was gone.
Source: The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman, chapter 30: The Clouded Mountain and chapter 31: Authority’s End
Obviously, Lyra and Will did not kill God. He died.
I just cannot emphasize this enough. READ FIRST BEFORE PRONOUNCING JUDGMENT. Do not simply rely on what other people say that you must believe in. For all you know, they haven’t read the books and are merely repeating what others have told them who also did not read the books. It only perpetuates ignorance and it’s unhealthy.
What annoys me most is not the protests, because people are entitled to it, but rather the clamor for banning the film. I mean, if a movie or a book is offending to a group of people, it should be banned altogether? Are they really arrogant to think that what offends them should not be seen by other people who’re not offended by it?
Okay, the most common defense here is that they do not want their children seeing this film. Then just tell their children not to read or see it. Simple, isn’t? But wouldn’t it be better if parents just use this opportunity, if they want their children to grow up religious (although I have to clarify I’m pretty much against indoctrinating children with religion and I think it’s better to leave the decision to them once they’re already of age to be able to decide for themselves what religion they want to have or if they want to have a religion at all), to discuss the meanings and implications of the movie than simply telling them, “don’t watch this” or “don’t watch that because I tell you so”? Wouldn’t it be better if we encourage free thinking in children than merely making them submit to our decisions?
Better a doubt than blind obedience, I’d say (click on the link to read more of my views about this upcoming movie and the controversies surrounding it). Better a thinking person than an incurious robot.
And since I’m very much anticipating this movie, I just can’t help but search for more blogs/articles about it. Here are some of the links that I’ve found, both writing positively and negatively about the movie.
The Golden Compass Controversy from BabyCenter: MOMformation (honestly, I expected that this site will contain more anti-Golden Compass movie comments. But surprisingly, I’ve read the more mature comments in here. And these are coming from parents! I recommend that you read this)
CBS ‘Early Show’ Guest: ‘Killing Has Nothing to Do With Atheism’
The Golden Compass from Myth and Mystery (Winning quote from this post: “The book has been out for a decade. Now, suddenly, it’s news. Why? There’s a movie. The only conclusion I can reach: The people who tend to protest books don’t read. At the very least, they don’t read the books they are protesting. They rely on television, Hollywood advertisements, and hearsay to form their opinions.” ‘Nuff said)
“Golden Compass” raises religious debate
‘Golden Compass’: Selling Atheism to Kids at Christmas Time
The Golden Compass from Where’s The Sanity?
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman from Little Blog of Stories
The Golden Compass and the Catholic Church from Barry Koltnow’s Hollywood - the celebrity talk blog
Boycott The Movie “The Golden Compass” That Features A Child Killing God
Gather information first before forming a conclusion, that’s the way to do it.
