This movie was always going to be something of a disappointment to those (like me) who enjoyed and admired Philip Pullman’s book, and indeed the entire ‘His Dark Materials’ trilogy. Nonetheless, from the perspective of a children’s adventure movie, it is a creditable effort.
The religious elements of the book disappear from the movie, though only in name. We never hear the words ‘religion’ or ‘church’ but the connections between the ‘Magisterium’ (itself an explicitly religious term) of the movie and organized religion is obvious enough, from the garb worn by its priests to the iconography on the walls and ceilings. The genesis story is mildly disguised in its telling, but again, anyone over the age of 13 will be able to connect the dots. And it is a terrifying story, as good a critique of modern Christianity as one could hope for: the attempt by the church to sever the connection between children and their souls in order to render them obedient and safe from sin. Continue reading The Golden Compass