Exactly!

The Golden Compass has been quietly sitting in my school library for over ten years with no controversy. Then with the movie coming out, and this email circulating, students are now informing me that “they kill the Lord” in the book. How do these little children know this? Because their parents told them. And their parents know because they have read an email, not the book. Sigh.

I had a Golden Compass movie poster displayed and somebody tore it down!
That’s pretty ugly.

Some people are getting very nervous about this book/movie.

I wish it wasn’t causing such a stir, but I am grateful because it is getting me to read the books! I felt that the first book is a delightful FANTASY for older readers. No deities are killed, and the author’s personal religious point of view is his own business.

I did find it interesting that the movie ended at an earlier point than the book. There is a movie version of the book that includes scenes from the movie, and it goes all the way to the end, so perhaps they cut those scenes.

Dylan, I agree with you!

PJ, I’m glad you’re calling people on that. It really is just like when Harry Potter came out, and some people felt free to condemn it as anti-religious, pro-devil, etc. Craziness.

Kelly, don’t be trying to cool my love for Daniel. I’m only 5′4″, so I’m sure he’s the perfect height for dancing with me. And I agree–LOVE the daemons. Want one of my own right away. I took the quiz on the Golden Compass movie site to see what kind of daemon I’d have. I disagree–I would not have a monkey. I need to take the quiz again.

Patrick, thanks for the stats on Daniel. And for your clear jealousy over Brad.

Kelley, I agree that you can find all sorts of religious–or at least spiritual themes–in fantasy. And not just ones like Narnia. We all look for confirmation of our own worldview–whether it’s humanist, religious, atheist, whatever. I’m always willing to let fictional characters give me good ideas about how to live and think. I learn as much from them as from real people (who are so much more flawed).

Lady T, I have no quarrel with how the movie ends. Nor did it bother me how Peter Jackson broke up Lord of the Rings. Different media have different requirements–look at how much they had to cut out of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix to make it fit into two hours! I miss so much of the original story, but that’s why we have the books to turn to. Golden Compass does a good job telling as much of the story as possible in a short time. And I’d pay extra to see all the sequences with the armored bears. AWESOME.

Daflufster, do tell: why are you grounded?

Katie, you and Tom Brady? I hope Kelley will be a good sister and write that story for you for Christmas.