[icwhatudo]

When money tracking firms greet opening numbers with “it’s not an out-and-out debacle” you know the film isn’t doing as well as expected.

[stevem]

I wouldn't have read this but for the Medved reference. He is a movie critic I ALWAYS read.

This movie never would have made my radar screen except for all the chatter about Pullman. This caused me to think a bit and have concluded that prominant atheists strike me as an unhappy lot. Yet, it's not just that they seem unhappy. It's more that they want for all day to share their unhappiness with as wide an audience as they can.

[DoughtyOne]

Other characterizations that are not good are "daemons," which are the human characters' animal companions or spiritual counterparts. They seem cuddly and friendly but they are in fact personal demons which Pullman does not really disguise.

While I don't think Mevid is mischaracterizing the intent of the author here, I do want to address the issue of these 'daemons'.

It is my opinion that these animal counterparts are more accurately described as the human's soul, in an external manifestation.  If the person has opted to adopt a good nature, the manifestation has a like manor.  If the person has adopted an evil nature, the manifestation reflects that.

I do not think it is accurate to describe these manifestations as a 'demon'.  The common perception of a demon is evil.  We don't all have evil natures.  I therefore object to the characterization of the outward manifestation of these people's souls, to be demons.  No, they are simply the outward manifestation of the individual's soul.

From my observation of the description of the author's intent, it is easy to accept that he may have wanted to depict everyone as having an internal demon.  That's not my perception.  I believe we have good and evil spirits (some would say our good or evil nature) telling us what we should do, but it is our choice what we do in life.  We are not controled by an evil demon, although we may virtually become one by the exercise of our own free will.  We can also become angelic by making choices based on what we believe is the rightous thing to do.

[lilylangtree]

Since I’ve already seen one movie this year, I’ve used up my allotment for 2007. If, and only if, I decide to see the movie, I’ll wait until next year.

[Axlrose]

Excellent advice.

I’d never knowingly watch something with an unbeliever message anway.

[tophat9000]

The bizarre thing is this guy Pullman claims he an atheist

But a true atheist would believe there is, no god, no, spiritualism, magical thinking, mysterious visions, no divination, no soul, but Pullman has them all and more

He just has traditional evil as good and good as evil

The guy doesn't sound like a true atheist but a believer on the Satanic side

[Calm_Cool_and_Elected]

ping

[sinanju]

Yesterday, I heard one caller-in on a radio show saying he took his young children to see the movie and it bored them silly. Impossible to follow and the CGI was cheesy.

[sinanju]

Though that same reviewer said Sam Elliot did a great job as a fantasy-world cowboy character—it was as if he was acting in a different movie.

[aruanan]

Other characterizations that are not good are "daemons," which are the human characters' animal companions or spiritual counterparts. They seem cuddly and friendly but they are in fact personal demons which Pullman does not really disguise.   

If he had read the books, he would see clearly that in Lyra's world the demons are a visible manifestation that in this world is the soul.

[aruanan]

But in this story, the things that are good are evil (the church is the Magisterion, the bad group trying to gain control of all) and evil is good (daemons and witches are allies.) 

This is a blatant misrepresentation. Even the church in this world has been quite evil at times. And the witches in this book have nothing to do with witches in the earthly scheme of things. Of course, the daemons have nothing to do with the popular idea of demons. The writer is really reaching on this one in order to try to prove a point.

No one should worry about the effects of these books on a kid's spiritual sensibility because there is nothing spiritually energizing or attractive about them at all, as good as they are as entertaining stories.