These are my personal notes on the movie "The Golden Compass" which I saw in theatre a few months back.  I wrote this post after the movie, but didn't get the chance to post it yet.

No doubt you've already heard about the movie "The Golden Compass".  It's based on the first book in a trilogy written by Phillip Pullman who is a strong atheist.  There has been much debate by Christians over the book and the debate has grown since the release of the movie.  We're not talking the typical Hollywood movie buzz, rather some very heavy discussions on anti-Christianity.

One article suggests that the producers of the movie tried to keep the religious themes to a minimum (to the great disappointment of the National Secular Society who stated:

"We knew from the beginning that the producers of this film intended to leave out the anti-religious references. We think this is a great shame.").

If you actually spend some time reading some of the interviews with Pullman you can find online, you will find the man is a confused individual.  First he denies being anti-Christian, then he promotes himself as anti-Christianity:

1. The author, Phillip Pullman, denies his books are anti-Christian
2. In an interview published in the Washington Post (Feb. 19, 2001), Pullman states:  "I'm trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief..."
   

 
Personally, I found the movie blatantly screaming anti-Christian themes.  Even if you are not Christian you would hear it (AND understand it).  It was so loud with it's messages that I was actually pulled away from enjoying the story on some level.  Some Christians would probably tell me this was the Holy Spirit at work, but I would disagree.  I think because Pullman tried so hard to drill his messages into the viewer, you sit there wondering why certain pieces of the movie are in the movie at all!

If I were the average person, I'd give the movie 3/5 stars.  It's got decent special effects and I guess I'll admit a somewhat okay story line.  But movies like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings are far, far better.  Being a Christian, however, I give it a 0/5 and I have to chuckle a bit at Pullman because I think he made a dumb move by being too aggressive with his campaign such that his messages made the movie a two-hour pathetic excuse to convince people what he believes is right.

At least with C.S. Lewis and his Narnia storyline, Lewis doesn't try to drill his message home repeatedly.  If you are trying to convince someone that what you believe is true, a successful delivery of your message should be attractive and subtle.  C.S. Lewis pulled it off, but Pullman's storyline is remotely attractive and far from subtle.  

People always complain that Christians are bible-thumpers.  I say Pullman is the worst bible thumper ever to walk the planet.  But instead of thumping non-Christians over the head to make them believe in God, he is taking the bible and whacking Christians across the face.

When I think of Pullman, here are some words that come to mind: Intolerant, bigot, extremist, fanatic, and even prejudice.  Honestly, is that the kind of person any parent, regardless of belief system, would encourage their children to support by watching the movie? 

Here is a summary of the key messages one will easily get from the movie:

• Humans have souls which exist inside us
• There are alternate universes and in the universe where the golden compass takes places, human souls exist outside of the persons body in the form of an animal, this animal is called a "demon"
• Your demon is your best friend
• The main girl (Lyra) has a demon named 'Pan' who constantly changes animal form.  Pan is usually some kind of cute, fuzzy creature and gives advice.  Lyra doesn't always listen to her demon, she usually does what she wants.
  
  It's interesting that Pullman chooses the name 'Pan'.  Surely there is some greater meaning behind it...(Likely it relates to Pan the greek god.  Pan is the Greek god of nature, lust, and the masculine generative (sexual) power. If you read up on Pan, you'll find he's all about seduction and getting his freak on with his freaky self if you know what I mean...  There is also a notion that Pan is the giver and taker of life.  All of these themes are quite anti-Christian.
  
  
• Your demon and you are connected physically.  If one gets hurt, both feel it.
• Witches, non-believers, and gypsies are your best friends and will protect you
• The leaders of Christianity ("the magestrate") are all corrupt
• As you grow up, your demon stops changing forms.  Your demon chooses a form and keeps it.
• The ultimate goal of Christians is to split your demon from you (a process called indecision), which results in a brainless, emotionless existence - this way way, the magestrate can easily rule because everyone is dumb and indecisive.  Ie. you need your demon to live life to it's fullest and to be fully human
• One Christian in the story (actress Nicole Kidman) is self-abusive (slaps her own demon, which hurts herself)
• The hero of our story is a girl named Lyra.....Liar...Lyra...Liar...Lyra....uhhh...yeah...the hero is a liar = a sinner.
  

I honestly wished I never went to the movie, save for the fact that we should be aware of these types of tools people will use against other peoples beliefs.

To be honest, Pullman did a fairly decent job at crafting a good, fictional story that will attract many people, though if his goal is to, as he says, convert people away from Christianity, he could have done a much better job.  Regardless, the movie will achieve it's goal with some people who are easily swayed.  It will also do much more damage than Harry Potter could ever dream of.  Harry Potter is like an episode of Teletubbies compared to Pullman's story.

Pullman knows this too.  In an interview published in the Sydney Morning Herald (Dec. 13, 2003), Pullman stated:

"I've been surprised by how little criticism I've got. Harry Potter's been taking all the flak. I'm a great fan of J.K. Rowling, but the people—mainly from America's Bible Belt—who complain that Harry Potter promotes Satanism or witchcraft obviously haven't got enough in their lives. Meanwhile, I've been flying under the radar, saying things that are far more subversive than anything poor old Harry has said. My books are about killing God."

People who should not see this movie include those who have not made Christian profession of faith and people (especially children) who are unable to make decisions for themselves.  You need to be of either strong character and will or good Holy Spirit vibes to see this movie.