Shannon Costello

Individually and as a body, Christians have made a lot of mistakes. I am thinking about inquisitions and witch trials. I am thinking about hating people who think differently. These are the things Philip Pullman reacts to. They are valid objections, worthy of a thoughtful answer.

In his trilogy Mr. Pullman pictures an intolerant church, one that prefers power to truth and will stop at nothing to maintain that power. The Golden Compass is able to clearly convey his ideas, though “Christian” terms such as “church”, “God” and “original sin” are replaced with “Magisterium”, “(the) Authority” and “dust”. Like book 1 of the same title, then, the movie adequately prepares the way for the rest of the story.

Overall I thought the movie was quite well done. It is a coherent reflection of the book. I think talking animals are very hard to do well in film, but the talking daemons here were convincing where they could have been silly. Other special effects were equally well done.

My biggest complaint will probably be withdrawn after the entire trilogy is out: the last chapter was cut off. Two characters who are dead at the end of the first book are still alive at the end of the movie. But I suppose the actual ending is pretty intense. If I were the director I might want to save it as well…