Watch me watch Lewis and Tolkien spin in their graves...

[agilebrit]

I just saw an ad for "The Golden Compass" that said it was "A brilliant fantasy in the tradition of Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia." YEAH. Because those two devout men would totally endorse a movie or book series whose author is an avowed atheist, and in which

Comments

[aadler]

Lewis didn’t deny the Christian connection; his objection was that of an educated man saying, “No, ‘metaphor’ means such-and-such, which definition doesn’t apply to what I’ve done.” (Or he may have been referring to allegory, I don’t recall precisely, but I remember seeing his position precisely explained.)

[texanfan]

Yeah. I'd never heard of this series until I started seeing trailers for the movie. It's a shame becasue it looked pretty but no way I'm going to it.

All the reviewer is seeing is big fantasy epic. Deeper themes, like anything past armor and magical creatures is obviously beyond him.

[aadler]

Yeah. They “only” kill a being who’s pretending to be God as part of an overarching work to insist that no God actually exists.

And, yes, the author is on record as vocally despising the Chronicles of Narnia (and C.S. Lewis as well) because he so violently despises Christianity.

It’s not intolerance to respond to intolerance by saying, “Well, I don’t like that at all.”

[wisemack]

*sigh* I keep seeing stuff about Pullman's books and that damned movie and my reply is always the same: GO READ WHAT PULLMAN SAID about his own writing, in what he himself said was the best interview he'd participated in.

http://www.thirdway.org.uk/past/showpage.asp?page=3949

And personally? I found the first book rather delightful, but the second went to a place that I found extremely unpleasant, and the third was just dreadful - creeped me out to the point that I will never EVER re-read it.

And the movie version? Nope, no way, no how. (My holiday viewing is going to consist of Atonement and that's about all.)

[texanfan]

Read the interview. I could pick it apart but I really see no point in doing so. From what he says about his own books I can tell they aren't the sort of books I enjoy. i'm not saying I must have a happy ending but I do prefer a satisfactory ending. I don't intend to see the movie or read the books. Even if the first of both is truly enjoyable I find it difficult to embark on the journey knowing I will find disappointment further down the road.

I do appreciate the link to the interview. As you say, it is always best to read what is being talked about for oneself and until now I was working from hearsay.

[yesthatnagia]

I read the series back when I was devout. (I'm not anymore, but that has more to do with other Christians than with any atheists or atheistic theories.)

Firstly, the children do NOT kill God. They kill the Metatron, who is PRETENDING to be God and is really not a very nice dude at all. And while Pullman himself despises Christianity, that doesn't show up in the books. What shows up in the books is a hatred of legalism and mindless obedience.

Personally, I'd see The Golden Compass over Narnia any day.