"Golden Compass" Fails to Glitter

Lyra (Dakota Blue Richards) and Iorek Byrnison (voice of Ian McKellen) in The Golden Compass

By: Thom

I entered The Golden Compass with fairly low expectations. After all, the anti-Compass hype from Christian activists portrayed it as the worst threat to our faith since Nero fed believers to lions in the coliseum.

After surviving what seemed like an eternity but was merely the longest two hours I’ve spent in a theater lately, I realized we as Christians need to stop protesting movies we haven’t seen.

To be frank, the movie is a snore, with apologies to most sleep aids.

The biggest problem? I couldn’t easily grasp what Lyra’s mission was. This, by the way, is crucial to young adult fantasy.

Dorothy wants to get home. Frodo wants to destroy the One Ring. The Pevensie children need to defeat the White Witch. Harry Potter must confront Voldemort—several times.

And Lyra?

Her mission has something to do with an alethiometer—the titular golden compass whose special effects are nowhere near as cool as the filmmakers must think; dust—which is either a metaphor for original sin or something like the spice from Dune ; battling polar bears—who evidently don’t bleed when their jaws are ripped off in a PG movie; and corrupt church officials, who last time I checked most conscientious Christians I know also oppose.

If I set out to design propaganda to lure children away from God, I would at least make it entertaining...

I get the sneaking suspicion the only reason this movie made $26 million its opening weekend was because of the controversy...

This wouldn’t be the first time audiences went to see a movie vehemently opposed by Christian groups. Earlier examples include The Last Temptation of Christ and The DaVinci Code, which out grossed The Passion of the Christ despite universally lackluster critical reviews.

Craig Detweiler, co-director of Fuller Seminary’s Reel Spirituality Institute, believes Christian activists have stirred up controversy surrounding the film for their own gain. He told Fox News, “In this era of the messy marriage of politics and religion, we desperately need more imaginative expressions of faith and doubt.”

Framed within the right context, Compass could actually be helpful. Detweiler explains, “It undoubtedly makes people question, but inspires them to look harder for more authentic religion. Pullman takes license in pointing out the scary, false gods and destructive idols we’ve created. In that sense, I think he’s doing a great service.”

As for me, here’s my recommendation: Don’t avoid Golden Compass because it’s thinly veiled, anti-Christian propaganda. Avoid it because it’s a bad film.

Besides, since Christianity has survived the Crusades, the Inquisition, and the Holocaust, to name a few real threats, it will surely survive this—and any other—movie.

photo & movie review courtesy culturebeat.com, 12/17/07