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Author Topic: Religious fervor about "Golden Compass"? Mike Sellars Film Handler Posts: 34 From: Robertsdale, AL., USA Registered: Oct 2006 posted 12-01-2007 07:15 PM                     Being in South Alabama as we are, we have gotten more than a few complaints from church groups about our pending release of "The Golden Compass". They range from stating that the author of the books the movie is based on is an atheist and the film is anti-Christian, to the point of the movie is that they kill God at the end, etc. Anyone else gotten grief for this film? We will show it, of course... but it may come with baggage. Mike  |  IP: Logged Steven J Hart Master Film Handler Posts: 282 From: WALES, ND, USA Registered: Mar 2004 posted 12-01-2007 08:12 PM                        A local Catholic priest has spoken to me about the film, volunteering to forward me all the information that he has received about it from his diocese. He would prefer not to see it played in our small community. I'm not scheduled to play this film on the break, so will wait and see what kind of box-office numbers it generates before deciding whether or not to play it. Steve  |  IP: Logged Daryl C. W. O'Shea Film God Posts: 3977 From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from) Registered: Jun 2002 posted 12-01-2007 08:19 PM                        quote: Mike Sellars the author of the books the movie is based on is an atheist Oh no!  |  IP: Logged Mike Spaeth Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1129 From: Marietta, GA Registered: Jul 2000 posted 12-01-2007 09:47 PM                        As I've explained to customers... Muslims/Jews aren't allowed to consume pork. So, when they order from Pizza Hut, they order Hamburger. They don't refuse to go to Pizza Hut because they serve pork. Likewise with the film. When you come to the theatre, if you're offended, don't buy a ticket for The Golden Compass.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-01-2007 11:55 PM                        We've been playing the trailer for several weeks and I have yet to hear anything except for "When is it coming?" I'm Catholic, so I'm kind of surprised not to have heard anything. But I think it's more because most folks don't give a shit about this kind of controversy. Only a few noisemakers do. The general public at large couldn't care less. If they want to see the movie they will, if they don't, they won't. By the way, it's the Catholic League, not the church itself, that is stirring up so much racket about this film.  |  IP: Logged Chris Slycord Film God Posts: 2986 From: 퍼항시, 경상푹도, South Korea Registered: Mar 2007 posted 12-02-2007 01:46 AM                     quote: to the point of the movie is that they kill God at the end, etc. [Roll Eyes] Apparently that's in the book but New Line insisted it not be in the movie.  |  IP: Logged Scott McGuire Film Handler Posts: 94 From: Elmira, NY/United States Registered: Oct 2007 posted 12-03-2007 12:11 AM                     I remember reading somewhere that this movie would do well but it also said that it would do even better if the relgion card came into play. As some one in the forums said i am just a projectionist so i'm really not sure.I think it will do better if people make it a contrversial film.  |  IP: Logged Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 12-03-2007 04:23 AM                        When will they ever learn: Controversy = Increased Ticket Sales. It's as immutable as Pi. It ALWAYS has the exact opposite effect of what they want. They keep doing the same thing and they keep expecting different results....just like crazy people. Just once I would like to see these bishops or Legion of Decency or whoever, come out and promote a film that they actually DO like; tell their parishers to GO SEE a movie instead of only opening their yaps whenever they think they've been offended. You ask a theatre not to play this film, then how about you help boost his ticket sales to compensate and get people to go see the film he WILL be running in its stead. Hmmm....fat chance that.  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-03-2007 09:40 AM                        Now it's official - the Catholic Church is NOT against this film. The USCCB has given it a rating of A-II, which is basically equivalent to PG-13. (The review will show up on the www.usccb.org/movies website when the film is released.) The USCCB review says the film is not blatantly "against" the church or religion, and that most of the anti- stuff from the book has been excised and/or would probably go over kids' heads. And they address the fear that the film will make kids want to read the books and/or interest them in atheism this way: The movie will provide a good platform for parents to -- here's a novel idea -- talk to their kids about such issues. It's only the wackos in the Catholic League (not affiliated with the church) that are condemning the movie.  |  IP: Logged Monte L Fullmer Film God Posts: 8367 From: Nampa, Idaho, USA Registered: Nov 2004 posted 12-03-2007 12:58 PM                     Sad, (and not meaning to swing this towards a religious/political discussion) that a leftist group had to create an issue like that - in casting judgement on something that they WANT the rest of the world to believe. Course, there are a-plenty of leftist groups out there that prob feel the same way on how things should run in general - trying to expose the truth so those exposed issues can be used as tools to be used in their favor with what they believe is RIGHT.  |  IP: Logged Blaine Young Master Film Handler Posts: 477 From: Kirkland, WA, USA Registered: Sep 2006 posted 12-03-2007 01:46 PM                     I did an inspection screening Friday in prep for the Saturday Sneak Peek. I didn't find it offensive or critical of any faith. I did find it somewhat confusing - I'm not familiar with the books, and they seemed to gloss over several points in the backstory to help me understand context. I understand some of that exposition may be overkill, but to simply build a world without any backstory and give brief snippets of "this is this" and "that is that" simply didn't help me much. One thing that really bugged me is that they seem to have this great propulsion technology - fusion, fission or whatever, but still required hydrogen to provide lift. And were still using steam trains. Huh???  |  IP: Logged Mike Blakesley Film God Posts: 12767 From: Forsyth, Montana Registered: Jun 99 posted 12-03-2007 02:36 PM                        quote: Blaine Young And were still using steam trains. Huh??? Well, that's just because steam enginges are automatically cool.  |  IP: Logged Frank Angel Film God Posts: 5305 From: Brooklyn NY USA Registered: Dec 1999 posted 12-03-2007 05:57 PM                        So TOTALLY, MONUMENTALLY true, Mike!!  |  IP: Logged Chad Souder Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 962 From: Waterloo, IA, USA Registered: Feb 2000 posted 12-03-2007 06:11 PM                     Golden Compass will bomb and it won't benefit from the controversy. It's PG-13 rating will be the death of it. They just narrowed their audience big time. The religious will likely take and may even deserve some of the credit for its failure, but it is that rating that will be most responsible.  |  IP: Logged Kurt Zupin Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 989 From: Maricopa, Arizona Registered: Oct 2004 posted 12-03-2007 11:32 PM                     Please explain how a PG-13 rating is going to kill this movie? An R rating would of killed this movie, but a PG-13 will only help it. This brings in the older kids/adults and parents still see it as being ok for their children. This movie will do mega bucks.  |  IP: Logged

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