The director of “The Golden Compass” has told fans that they can expect the movie’s sequels to contain more anti-religious themes which are not as evident in the first film.
Chris Weitz said the decisions that went into making the movie, which is based on the first novel of Phillip Pullman’s trilogy His Dark Materials, were all directed toward building a foundation for the sequels.
"The whole point, to me, of ensuring that 'The Golden Compass' is a financial success is so that we have a solid foundation on which to deliver a faithful, more literal adaptation of the second and third books," he said last Wednesday on his MTV Movies blog.
The movie, slated for a Dec. 7 release, has drawn fire from both the novel’s fans and critics alike for the intentional removal of anti-religious themes.
Supporters of Pullman’s work, including the National Secular Society, argue that “castrating” the series’ original themes detract from its core messages. Critics, meanwhile, contend that the “watered-down” version of the movie is a ploy to popularize the pro-atheist series toward children.
"Now, one thing that some of the extremists who have attacked the film are right about is that I would be happy if it made more people read the books — not because I am pursuing any sort of atheist agenda (this is a ridiculous idea), but because they are great works of literature, beautiful, permanent, and unassailable,” continued Weitz.
Weitz pledged to readers that he would not be involved with any “watering down” of movie adaptations of “The Subtle Knife” and “The Amber Spyglass,” which he understands to “tread in territory that is much more controversial than the first book.”
In the second book, "The Subtle Knife," one of the main characters, Will, is told he possesses a magical knife that can "defeat the tyrant,” which is identified as “The Authority. God."
In the final book of the series, "The Amber Spyglass," “God” is portrayed as a phony and liar. Will is told by two fallen homosexual angels that “The Authority” goes by many names including, "God, the Creator, the Lord, Yahweh, El, Adonai, the King, the Father, the Almighty,” although “he was never the creator.” “God” was just the first angel to be created from “Dust.” By the series’ end, the characters succeed in killing him.
“Whereas ‘The Golden Compass’ had to be introduced to the public carefully, the religious themes in the second and third books can’t be minimized without destroying the spirit of these books,” added Weitz
“If I sense that this is not possible, there’s no point my continuing to work on them.”
Watchdog Catholic League, one of the most vocal critics of the movie, has urged book publisher Scholastic Corporation to back off from participating in the production of the movie sequels.
Comments
If this movie causes Christians to lose their faith, then their faith wasn't strong in the first place. I think trying to make this movie and fail and keeping it from coming out proves the point that the church is tyrannical and controlling. Personally, I loved the movie, it was very very unique and entertaining. I will definitely be reading the books.
Scholastic has been apart of our schools for years. I can't believe they are such big supporters in these books and pushing them into our schools coriculm now. They would never put books or coriculms into schools by anti-muslims. Why that woud be offensive wouldn't it?! But I guess its ok , as usual, to offend Christians. Well, I for one will never buy their books again. And my kids better not be required to ever read these books as part of their coriculm. Not until the bible is required to be read as part of their coriculm.!
obviosly, the author was racist against religion, but the guy making the movie just wants to entertain people
HampsteadPete, how a movie that encourages self-esteem, and believing in yourself, compare to one that promotes atheism, and anti Christianity?
Have a Blessed Christmas
The movie is glamorized to make it appealing. But in Ezekiel 38 God describes Lucifer as this glamorious angel full of precious stones walking among the "fiery stones." But Lucifer was still cast out of heaven. It doesn't matter how spectacular it looks or what get fx effect are used a lie is still a lie, just all dressed up.
ChicagoMel -
Me neither - I always thought Dorothy just had a dream kinda thing.
I say let the movie speak for itself. It's fruitless to attempt to sanitize movies so as not to offend the sensibilities of religious believers. I say put it out there and let the public decide whether or not to support it. The church needs to clean it's own house before trying to " protect " us from the contents of a work of fiction. It's the sinful behavior of those within the church that profanes the name of God, i.e., pedophile priests,
adulterers, gossips, hypocrites, etc. You don't like the movie? Then don't go see it.
I don't recognize anything anti-God in the Wizard of Oz...not sure where that's coming from.
am i mistaken? when Christians were making an uproar about his books didnt he argue that his novels did NOT contain any anti-God sentiments? Now he's saying they do. What's up with that.
Dear christian4life, I was just wondering if you have read any of the books, such strident opinions make me think you must have, which part of the novels did you not actully enjoy? Regards, Steve
The writer of this book makes me sick to my stomach!!!!!! I hate his movies and novels with a passion!!!!!!!!!!!
Every time I read about some "anti-God" movie, I have to chuckle. What if Hollywood produced a movie for general consumption that had as it's main theme the idea that "everything a person needs in this world, they already have. What if the movie also pounded home the point that all the knowledge, strength, courage and moral direction we needed is already within us? What if in addition, the movie pointed out that all "great and powerful" supposedly supernatural powers were complete and utter frauds?
Do you think this movie would be panned by the religious, or do you think it would be so revered that it would be lovingly shown every Easter (at least it used to be). Have you ever watched "The Wizard of Oz?" Did you pay attention? It is probably the most blatantly atheistic movie ever produced, and it's right under your noses.
Go ahead and complain about Harry Potter,and other flicks, but remember the story you loved in your youth, and think about the message it teaches. When you think about it, it's pretty thinly veiled, isn't it?
Everyone have a great holiday!
Mr. Weitz thinks the key to financial film success is to stay as literal to a book as possible? Oh, yikes. How did he get to be a director?