The Golden Compass

[richyoung]

Sigh... the hysteria gets tiring sometimes.

Several folks in my office have become self-appointed "information" dissiminators of the religious-hysteria kind.  They subscribe to every church and religious group newsletter known to modern man. We are constantly deluged with all kinds of notifications for some new satanic invasion via music/movie/tv/book/game.  From Pokemon to Popeye, Hannah Montana to heavy metal, and Dig Doug to Donkey Kong, we are going to spontaneously burst into flame at any given moment.

Oh teh noes!!!!  Christians exercising both freedom of religion AND free speach?  OFF TO THE CAMPS WITH THEM!

Jeez, you should have been around for the Rings / Narnia fiasco.  Someone (actually several someones) were circulating several "notices" about how watching Rings would reverse the earth's rotation, send you to hell, and cause cause little children in the farthest reaches of lower Africa to develop huge festering sores.  Why?  Well, lemme tell ya!  There's witches and warlocks and magic and creatures and it's just really really bad and we don't like it because someone sent us an email saying not to so why are you questioning us about it okay!?

Oh teh noes!!!!  Christians exercising both freedom of religion AND free speach AGAIN?  OFF TO THE OVENS WITH THEM!

[richyoung]

I want to make a rule for those morons. 

Yes, I'm sure you would.  Too bad that whole "first amendment" thingee is in the way...

[Brad Johnson]

Sigh... the hysteria gets tiring sometimes.

Several folks in my office have become self-appointed "information" dissiminators of the religious-hysteria kind.  They subscribe to every church and religious group newsletter known to modern man. We are constantly deluged with all kinds of notifications for some new satanic invasion via music/movie/tv/book/game.  From Pokemon to Popeye, Hannah Montana to heavy metal, and Dig Doug to Donkey Kong, we are going to spontaneously burst into flame at any given moment.

Oh teh noes!!!!  Christians exercising both freedom of religion AND free speach?  OFF TO THE CAMPS WITH THEM!

Jeez, you should have been around for the Rings / Narnia fiasco.  Someone (actually several someones) were circulating several "notices" about how watching Rings would reverse the earth's rotation, send you to hell, and cause cause little children in the farthest reaches of lower Africa to develop huge festering sores.  Why?  Well, lemme tell ya!  There's witches and warlocks and magic and creatures and it's just really really bad and we don't like it because someone sent us an email saying not to so why are you questioning us about it okay!?

Oh teh noes!!!!  Christians exercising both freedom of religion AND free speach AGAIN?  OFF TO THE OVENS WITH THEM!

Come down off your cross.  It's only built for one and he's already there.

Brad

[Perd Hapley]

Come down off the cross.  It's only built for one and someone's already there. 

Such as? 

[richyoung]

Come down off your cross.  It's only built for one and someone's already there.

Brad

Actually, there were THREE there, and no reason more couldn't be erected....

[Brad Johnson]

Come down off your cross.  It's only built for one and someone's already there.

Brad

Actually, there were THREE there, and no reason more couldn't be erected....

So you're into crucifying those who don't agree with you?

Brad

[Perd Hapley]

Rich, the song says, "There's room AT the cross for you," not "ON the cross."   


But who's this guy who's on the cross right now, though? 

[seeker_two]

I'm interested in seeing it, but I don't want my money going to make Pullman or the moviemakers pockets..... 

Solution: Buy a ticket to another movie & sneak into "Compass"....

[Brad Johnson]

Jeez, post about people taking things way too far and other people respond by taking things way too far.

How apropo.

Brad

[Iain]

Jeez, post about people taking things way too far and other people respond by taking things way too far.

I'm pretty sure this is an irrational reaction to the suggestion that we sneak into the movie, much as that is very naughty.

[Brad Johnson]

Jeez, post about people taking things way too far and other people respond by taking things way too far.

I'm pretty sure this is an irrational reaction to the suggestion that we sneak into the movie, much as that is very naughty.

Hadn't even seen the "sneaker" post before writing that reply (was posted at the same time).  Go back a couple more posts.

Brad

[Iain]

I was trying to lighten the mood. We'd just had insinuations of crucifixion.

Your Mike Irwin quote did make me laugh though.

Any chance that we could all consider most of this page Godwined and move on? Time perhaps to discuss gnosticism? Or the evils of CGI, don't care which.

[Brad Johnson]

Or the evils of CGI, don't care which.

Okay, but if anyone mentions how much they liked the "fixed" version of Star Wars, there's gonna be trouble...  

Brad

(back to the purpose of the thread, the CGI in Compass does look pretty amazing...)

[Perd Hapley]

I've heard that part of the trilogy's plot involves God being killed.  Can anyone confirm or deny?  If so, is this regarded as good or bad? 

I'm interested in seeing it, but I don't want my money going to make Pullman or the moviemakers pockets..... 

Solution: Buy a ticket to another movie & sneak into "Compass"....  

Or, just rent it, when it comes off the new release shelf.  All they care about is how much it grosses in theatrical release.  How much of the rental even goes to Pullman or the producers, anyway?

[Perd Hapley]

Come down off your cross.  It's only built for one and someone's already there.

Brad

Actually, there were THREE there, and no reason more couldn't be erected....

So you're into crucifying those who don't agree with you?

Brad

Huh?  In context, richyoung was the one on the cross.  Chill, Brad. 

[seeker_two]

I've heard that part of the trilogy's plot involves God being killed.  Can anyone confirm or deny?  If so, is this regarded as good or bad? 

I'm interested in seeing it, but I don't want my money going to make Pullman or the moviemakers pockets..... 

Solution: Buy a ticket to another movie & sneak into "Compass"....  

Or, just rent it, when it comes off the new release shelf.  All they care about is how much it grosses in theatrical release.  How much of the rental even goes to Pullman or the producers, anyway?

Why chance it?....  

[Brad Johnson]

Come down off your cross.  It's only built for one and someone's already there.

Brad

Actually, there were THREE there, and no reason more couldn't be erected....

So you're into crucifying those who don't agree with you?

Brad

Huh?  In context, richyoung was the one on the cross.  Chill, Brad. 

Too late.  Already have.

Brad

[Perd Hapley]

Then keep an eye on the local used book stores, or score a used copy from the internet.  Easy enough. 

[Iain]

During the final battle, the Authority is carried away from the Clouded Mountain on the orders of Metatron. He is imprisoned in a crystal box, which keeps him alive but trapped. Lyra and Will free him with the subtle knife, not knowing he is too weak to survive outside his box. He drifts apart and dies in a moment of happiness and peace. In Pullman's universe, 'death' signifies becoming part of everything* (as did d?mons and the ghosts in The Amber Spyglass).

Taken from our own Authority - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authority_(His_Dark_Materials)#The_Authority

So that brings in to question all those 'and they kill God' objections I've heard.

* I didn't mention gnosticism randomly.

[Perd Hapley]

Going by Wiki, then, there is no actual God in the Dark Materials universe multiverse?

[Ben]

Well I must be slow-witted. Having been raised Catholic (albeit fairly non-practicing nowadays), I didn't really see anything pro or anti religion in The Lord Of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia. I just watched them for the great entertainment value they provided me. Having seen the trailers for The Golden Compass, I will probably watch it for the same reason.

[wooderson]

Going by Wiki, then, there is no actual God in the Dark Materials universe multiverse?

There is The Authority - a Godlike figure who is first among angels, having claimed the title of 'God' long long ago in a galaxy far, far away.

This is the most direct Paradise Lost parallel - Satan claims that God has no authority because he didn't create the other angels, he just happened to exist first and seize power.

[wooderson]

Movie's not bad - starts out pretty slow, does a terrible job of explaining what's going on, and I wouldn't take children to see it by any stretch (lots of fighting, lots of killing - though it's handled so that young'uns might not know exactly) - and an armored bear fight that's way too hardcore for kids under nine or ten.

[wooderson]

funny - but not exactly safe for little eyes:
http://content.ytmnd.com/content/3/e/6/3e621738b7fe09ccb101532a9336f033.jpg

[Sergeant Bob]

Okay, but if anyone mentions how much they liked the "fixed" version of Star Wars, there's gonna be trouble...   

Brad

I, personally, like seeing Tie fighters sliding down their strings when on the attack.