Golden Compost: Washington Post Goes Soft On Film's Director

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Sometimes, newspapers bury the lede on purpose. Today’s Exhibit A? The Washington Post Style section profile of Chris Weitz, the director of the new anti-religious movie The Golden Compass. The Post’s anodyne headline was "‘Golden Compass’ Director Seeks True North." David Segal’s story takes eight paragraphs and a sentence before it gets to the point, why the publicity: The trilogy of books behind the movie "attacks the concept of organized religion -- more specifically, any religion that rules by fiat and claims an exclusive pipeline to the truth."

Weitz has done quite the comedy routine in defending the film. In a soundbite on CNN’s The Situation Room on Tuesday, he claimed: "I don’t think the books are a threat to organized religion. First of all, I think organized religion is strong enough to stand on its own. Secondly I don't think that Pullman is aggressively anti-Catholic or anti-religious." Come again? This is like Weitz claiming his American Pie movies weren’t about teenage sex.

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In his Post profile, Segal declared himself a fan of Weitz’s "terrifically creepy" indie film Chuck and Buck, and quoted people lauding Weitz’s incredible smarts, but he didn’t blink as he recounted how Weitz wears a T-shirt that metaphorically compares his critics to the Nazis:

When the cappuccino comes and he warms up, Weitz takes off his sweater, revealing a red T-shirt that in yellow letters says "Keep Calm and Carry On."

"It's a phrase from British propaganda posters during World War II," he says. "It apparently was all over the place. I saw it and loved it, so I bought about 14 of them and sent them to everyone doing postproduction."

For someone who’s hailed as terrifically smart, Weitz seems to be confused about his intentions: he doesn’t want the film to offend churchgoers, but he hopes more and more people read the atheist "masterpiece" from which it originates. Perhaps Segal should write that Weitz hoped the movie is bland enough to still make money, but he hopes viewers follow up by drinking in the strong God-hating brew from the books. Here’s the confusing paragraph:

Weitz, the son of a Jewish dad and a half-Jewish, half-Catholic mother, describes his own religion as "lapsed Catholic crypto-Buddhist." He has faith in some kind of supernatural explanation for the universe, which he says gives him an affinity for religion in general. Yes, he snipped out some of the more aggressively anti-religious elements of "The Golden Compass," most notably any mention of "church" in connection with the villains. He didn't want to offend churchgoers. And the more people who read a trilogy he calls "a masterpiece," the better.

How someone with an "affinity for religion in general" desperately campaigns to be in the director's chair for Philip Pullman's crusade ought to be a profound question for a journalist who's asking questions instead of composing gauzy press-release packet clips.

—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center.


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Methinks the wrong word is

Methinks the wrong word is being used in your title, Tim. Not soft. Hard.

eeew

thanks for that, Rog...I'm either laughing or hurling. :P

If Weitz says:

If Weitz says:

"I don't think that Pullman is aggressively anti-Catholic or
anti-religious."

He might want to take that up with Pullman himself, who said (emphasis added):

"I'm trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief... Mr. [C.S.] Lewis would think I was doing the Devil's work." (source)

The Chronicles of Narnia

The Chronicles of Narnia were one of my favorite book series when I was a child, and The Wheel of Time is currently my favorite book series. The Chronicles of Narnia contained a christian message (which I didn't realize until someone told me a couple years ago) and the Wheel of Time is blatantly Deist and more than once makes obvious arguements for Deisism. I'm not a Christian or a Deist. So I'm wondering what the big deal about an atheist equivalent of the Chronicles of Narnia being turned into a movie is?

Of course I've never read The Golden Compass, so for all I know it could be disgustingly foul, but I'm thinking the movie version is probably very sanatized.

Weitz thinks the books are good, that doesn't mean he agrees with the message, Like I said above, I think the Chronicles of Narnia and The Wheel of Time are good, and would readily encourage children to read the Chronicles of Narnia and would recommend The Wheel of Time to mature teenagers and adults but I don't agree with the religous messages of either series.

My point exactly..

AR, I had made a similar point in another thread, along with the idea of finding out for yourself. The books are not foul, any relation in them to a current religion is in the mind of the reader, and while of a dark nature, they are entertaining. The difference seems to be what is good for one group is not so good for another.

Joon???

Are you against the free market? Boycotting a store or a movie is part of the free market.

Many Christians do not want to support the Golden Compass mainly because of the author's CONTEMPT towards Christians and HATRED of GOD. Sorry if this seems unfair to you, but I am not sure why.

If conservatives are RIGHT, then liberals must be WRONG.
Thompson/Rice

Weitz thinks the books are


Weitz thinks the books are good, that doesn't mean he agrees with the message
-AtheistRepublican

Not quite, AR. He's not agreeing or disagreeing with the message. He's denying the message...the message that is stated by the author himself. (See my comment above for the two conflicting quotes.)

That's a whole 'nother story.

Er, maybe he just doesn't

Er, maybe he just doesn't see the message? Honestly, books being analogies for a larger truth is just bull, people see what they want to see in fiction. I saw an atheist message in 1984 very similiar to what The Golden Compass supposedly potrays, but we all know that the intended message behind 1984 was anticommunist, not atheist.

  Dude you have absolutely

 

Dude you have absolutely NO CLUE about how movies  are written or produced. Each "moment" in the script is poured over for both it's overt meaning and it's subtextual meaning. The "moments" I'm referring to take place BETWEEN the lines of dialog and deal with the specific thoughts and intents of each character. It would be impossible for Weitz not to "see" the religious hatred in the script. Reading IS fundamental, pally. You must have missed the part of the article that said,

"Yes, he snipped out some of the more aggressively anti-religious elements of "The Golden Compass," most notably any mention of "church" in connection with the villains. He didn't want to offend churchgoers."

Why do you think he "SNIPPED" the more "aggresively  anti-religious elements" of the film, if he didn't SEE them? What we have here folks is an atheist troll flacking for the filth in this film, or an idiot who can't read. You do the math, I believe the former especially after the bunk about 1984 being "anti-commnunist". Roflmao. 

 

Hey Kieth.....

Dude you like forgot your scripture LINK in you LAST post.  Like are you LOSSING it.

Dude? ...Buddy....Pal?

I have a fish named Mohammad, and my son has a stuffed toy named Jesus.  The Muslims want my head and Kieth says I'm going to Hell. 

NO one was talking to you

NO one was talking to you LIAR. Airforce if you repeat this lie you're telling about me ONE more time I will have you banned.

I think somebody needs their

I think somebody needs their binky, and a "time out".

I used to be a thumb sucker...

But I'm willing to switch to "binkys" if they look like this....

"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...

Perhaps if you had some

 

Perhaps if you had some illiterate fool who can't even spell your name LYING about what you said or how you feel, you'd change your tune. 

By the way AIRFORCE 5_0 tard, my name is

K E I T H not Kieth and the word "LOSSING" has no meaning in the English language. The word you're searching for in that mentally deficient mass of  confusion you call a "brain" is "LOSING" as in "He's losing it". Your struggles with the English language make it clear to me WHY you don't know how to be baptized or much of anything else about the faith you allegedly embrace.  It requires READING.

 

keithie... You're

keithie...

You're awesomeness shows once again.

What a man....

ROFLMAO!

Kieth

Buddy...Friend...why are you being so un-Christian.  Calling me names?????

I think I'll cry!!!!!!!!!!You haven't a clue dude....Have you ever though I was misspelling your name on purpose. 

Look you can SCREAM and complain all you want.  I have never threaten you so GET over YOURSELF my little pillar of Christian love.  You remind me of the a young cop I knew down in Panama.He talked a big game during the build up to taking Down Noriega.  When the crap hit the fan one nigh and we took fire on our perimeter he pissed himself and hid behind the Hummer.  Get over yourself and you pampas pontificator of putrid poppycock. 

How is that for English zealot?  

I have a fish named Mohammad, and my son has a stuffed toy named Jesus.  The Muslims want my head and Kieth says I'm going to Hell. 

"pampas pontificator of

"pampas pontificator of putrid poppycock"???

That sounds like something Dr. Smith would say to the robot.

Liberal: a power worshipper without power. George Orwell

Trix

You can't beat the classics.  I think he is looking it up now.

I have a fish named Mohammad, and my son has a stuffed toy named Jesus.  The Muslims want my head and Kieth says I'm going to Hell. 

On misspelling names...

I thought the rule was: 'i before e except after c'. Sooo 'Keith' has been misspelling his own name? Or maybe there is more to the rule...

"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...

Another idiot who likes to

Another idiot who likes to poke his stupid mouth into other peoples business I see. Names don't follow the laws of grammar moron and you'd have to be stupider than a fifth grader not to know that. Maybe you should mind your friggin' business rather than taking every opportunity to show how dumb you are..

 "Maybe you should mind

 "Maybe you should mind your friggin' business rather than taking every opportunity to show how dumb you are."

I agree. Other people should not be trying to intrude on an industry you are monopolizing.

 

Kieth, don't you have a US

Kieth, don't you have a US Soldiers funeral to disrupt?

Hurry along now get your "God hates Fags" signs ready.

And while you're at it take your fake Christianity with you.

You are the most angry Troll I think I have seen on NB. And pathetic to boot.

"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...

It isn't "un-CHRISTIAN" to

It isn't "un-CHRISTIAN" to call a fool a fool, or in your case, as Idiot and IDIOT. The Bible, which you have already demonstrated that you cannot read, says, "Be ANGRY and SIN NOT". Where is the "sin" in calling a stupid LYING retard, a STUPID LYING RETARD? That's what you are you know. And it is YOUR fathers work that you seek to do for he is the FATHER OF LIES. That's the proof that you aren't "saved" because you LIE and you SLANDER. I NEVER said that ANYONE was going to hell for taking the Lord's name in vain, you lying reprobate. I said that you were ALL pretty sorry "christians" for Opining that Jesus would be fine with it WHEN JESUS IS THE ONE WHO SAID NOT TO DO IT. You stupid idiot. I also said that the DIFFERENCE between Christianity and Islam is that while it is a VIOLATION of commandment NO ONE WOULD DIE OVE IT. You lying 'CORKSOAKER! (say it three times fast and you'll understand)

Poured over by whom? You?

Poured over by whom? You?

  In one case. I worked on

  In one case. I worked on the pre-production version of a script that became known as Biker Boyz. The final version bears NO resemblance to anything I did though. Which in my vanity, I imagine is the reason for it's failure, LOL! 

 You'll hear it said in acting circles that the "moment" isn't about the words, it's about the underlying feelings and issues upon which the words rest. This is true. As it is true for acting, it's also true for writing. Back when I was on the Cosby Show the media made a big deal over the fact that Cosby had each script analyzed by noted psychologist Alvin Pouissant (sic?). Cos' explanation was that he didn't want America picking up the wrong things from the scripts, sub-consciously. What the media didn't tell you is that MOST scripts are "poured" over in that way. "Chuck and Larry" for instance was vetted by the Gay group G.L.A.D. before it would be approved for release. Now when you see the film there seems to be a healthy dose of "anti-homosexual" humor and attitudes represented and in this case, all who object to homosexuality are not necessarily portrayed as closet homosexuals themselves or hypocritical bible thumpers. Some are but some are not. There's a fair degree of balance there. This might even seem contrary to the idea of them proselytizing if they provide "balance". But the truth is that the Gays knew that the only thing that mattered is the "bottom line", no pun intended. Ultimately homosexuality is ACCEPTED by these "tough" N.Y. Firefighters and "bigots", meaning anyone opposed to homosexuality,  are rejected! 

Years ago major newspapers reported that Harvey Weinstein, then head of Miramax, vowed to GLAD that he would improve both the visibility and profile of homosexuals with his movies. Writers were then ordered to move the homosexual character into the "GUARDIAN" position within the script. What is the "guardian" you ask? lol. It's the KEEPER OF KNOWLEDGE. The character that has the Key to the main characters "dilemma". In Star Wars it would be "Obi-Wan" who trains the Luke in the ways of the force. The "guardian" character is above the judgement of the audience because it is their guidance that the main character seeks. What followed were My Best Friends Wedding and The Next Best Thing, both of which had homosexuals with wildly promiscuous lifestyles as the dispensers of heterosexual relationship "advice".

You might ask why does Hollywood spend MILLIONS on movies that they KNOW WILL FAIL? It's no secret that "anti-war" movies have NEVER done well at the box office with "anti-war" being the CENTRAL theme. Years ago leftists made "K-19 Widowmaker" starring Liam Neeson the movie tanked badly. It as all about these BRAVE submariners who buck authority and almost vanquish their enemies. Only problem was the stars of the movie were the RUSSIANS and the enemy was the UNITED STATES! The movie was rejected and only made 36 million. It cost a HUNDRED MILLION to produce. These people are trying to get out a "message" or series of "messages" and they are willing to throw gazillions down the hole to do it.  They know that every member of the NEXT generation they reach, is a victory. Our generation has largely let go of the traditions of the past but we still maintain to a degree, the taboos. They want to change that and their target is the youth.

Geez.

...nitwits running wild.

The word, properly used and spelled, is "pored".

Not 'poured'.

pored, por·ing, pores

1. To read or study carefully and attentively: pored over the classified ads in search of a new job.

2. To gaze intently; stare.

3. To meditate deeply; ponder: pored on the matter.

Unless you meant "dumped", which is probably what really happened.

For your next lesson: Kindly go and look up the differences between "home in" and "hone in". (Hint: one of these is equally incorrect.)

Thanks for clearing that up.

Now I can go to bed in piece.

Yeah, and I'M the grammar

Yeah, and I'M the grammar nazi... :-)

Yeah, but in a Major

Yeah, but in a Major Hochstetter kinda way.

I love it when some numbnutz

I love it when some numbnutz with NO life tries to criticize someone and doesn't know what the hell they are talking about. 

  pouredpour·ingpours 

v.   tr. 

  1. To make (a liquid or granular solid) stream or flow, as from a container.
  2. To send forth, produce, express, or utter copiously, as if in a stream or flood: poured money into the project; poured out my inner thoughts.

 The reference to POURING over material implies that ones consciousness like WATER "poured" over the entire script doofus. Meaning that each line of dialog and every theme and subplot was INFUSED with ones concentration, no different than "pouring out my inner thoughts". My inner thoughts POURED over the material. Nice try at embarrassing someone, next time you should perhaps read the original post and grasp the context before opining in error. 

Question

Dude you have absolutely NO CLUE about how movies are written or produced. Each "moment" in the script is poured over for both it's overt meaning and it's subtextual meaning.

Does this include Porky's?

Porky's is a pro-free

Porky's is a pro-free market screed if ever I saw one. Pee-Wee, Meat and the rest of the gang are shills for capitalism.

Really?

As I recall it was a boner and how to get laid movie.

"Is Mike Hunt here?..."

"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...

Joking! C'mon MM!  

Joking! C'mon MM!

 

Ohhhh! hehe...

I thought you were seeing something I didn't. Never know when you're serious or joking Amigo.

Seriously, are you joking now?

"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...

Amen to that, Brother Bal

But only after I looked up the word screed in the dictionary (those darn one syllable words).

Screed...

Screed--

"a leveling device drawn over freshly poured concrete"

Well balboa is the king of obscure referrences on NB :-)

"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...

Actually it does include

Actually it does include "Porky's". Porky's was an entertaining ode to hedonism. Characters espousing any type of "morality" were the butt of all of the jokes. Just like the new movie that's coming out in the Porky's "tradition" that shows the preview of the Priest holding a bible and yelling, "It's the devils music" and subsequently being PUCHED IN THE FACE by some college kid. That would be the crux of their message.

Kieth

Whats Puched???????  U now i Kant spel an al.

I have a fish named Mohammad, and my son has a stuffed toy named Jesus.  The Muslims want my head and Kieth says I'm going to Hell. 

Af... ROFL!

Af...

ROFL!

Good evening BT

Well he made his bed dear lady.....

I have a fish named Mohammad, and my son has a stuffed toy named Jesus.  The Muslims want my head and Kieth says I'm going to Hell. 

I hope they get your head.

I hope they get your head.

missing the point as usual

Christians are not out calling for the movie to be burned or for the book to be censored. If children want to read the book or if families want to go and see the film, oh well that's on them.

Christians are simply trying to spread the word that if you don't want to support anti-Christian content you shouldn't be sucked in to paying for it in the guise of a children's book/movie.

Kinda like the movie critics who all unanimously panned The Passion of the Christ and the folks who said they didn't have to see it to know it was bad.

There is a difference between boycotting and censorship.

"Missing the Point as

"Missing the Point as usual"? Really? I haven't posted anything in 4 months, your account is 2 months old. Have you even read any of my comments?

I'm saying you are being unneedfully outraged, but mostly I'm just defending Weitz. I'm thinking you are the one who missed the point.

the point

You made the same point every atheist makes re: Golden Compass. We all read Narnia so you should all read this book.

PS I'm not outraged. A simple boycott of something I dislike is not outrage.

Um, no that wasn't my point

Um, no that wasn't my point at all. *I* haven't read this book, I'm saying that not reading or watching it because there is an atheist message is silly, I'm not saying because I read Narnia you should watch/read The Golden Compass, that would be stupid. Not buying something you don't like isn't a boycott. I don't buy white chocolate because I don't like it.. I'm not boycotting white chocolate. You boycott things because you are trying to send a message, and the only message I can imagine that you are trying to send is that you think atheists shouldn't be allowed to have their fictional masterpieces turned into movies.

But, as I said earlier my real point is that attacking Weitz isn't fair. 

I am actually boycotting

I am actually boycotting white chocolate because it is a disgrace, an affront to the good name of real, true chocolate.

</s>

more boycotts:

diet soda

alchohol free beer

low sodium potato chips

economical sports cars.

all affronts to their "real" counterparts LOL

Funny video of Princeton

Funny video of Princeton students holding a "kegger" with O'Doul's and not telling anyone it was non-alcoholic:

 

http://www.funnyordi...

at work now so I can watch

at work now so I can watch it but I can't wait to get home, I saw a study in collage and they had a party with 2 punch bowls one had an empty bottle of vodka next to it and the other did not.    the people who drank from the bowl with the vodka bottle stated to act drunk and more drunk as they drank more, even though no booze was in the punch.   it was great, one guy was shocked and said he really didn't think he could drive home, and his bac was 0.0

 

really very funny

Am I being silly?

I'm saying that not reading or watching it because there is an atheist message is silly,

I'm a Catholic. So if I decline to read something because it's anti-Catholic I'm being silly? Do I not have the right to not read something that I believe is antithetical to my faith?

the only message I can imagine that you are trying to send is that you
think atheists shouldn't be allowed to have their fictional
masterpieces turned into movies.

No one is saying the book should not have been turned into a movie. No one is saying anti-religious books should not be written. What we are saying is that, having informed themselves of the content, people are certainly within their rights to not see the movie, and even to inform others and recommend that they skip it too. Movie critics do that all the time.

Speaking out against a movie is not censorship. Neither is a boycott. The message that a boycott sends is that people do not want to support or give their money to something they disagree with. It's as American as freedom of speech.

I'm saying that not reading

I'm saying that not reading or watching it because there is an atheist message is silly,

Yah, I'm sorry I meant to put boycotting not reading or watching. Evidently I'm suffering from foot in mouth today.

  Actually no one has a

 

Actually no one has a problem with atheists making anything. We are free to either see it or not. What people of good conscience have a problem with, is a campaign of stealth indoctrination against Jesus. I actually had a modicum of respect for the authors honesty in admitting that his books are about "KILLING GOD". I think that people who have an interest in "killing God" now, have a book to read and a movie to see. However, for these liars to DENY the purpose of their works, is where the diabolical nature of their acts come in. Much like the liberals telling you that they wanted to teach sodomy in sex ed to "keep gays from being beaten up" but when you see hidden tapes of the sex ed classes, they're advocating orgies, golden showers and FISTING! There is the agenda they tell you about and then there is their real agenda

 

And they use people who have already "sold their souls" to do it. Nicold Kidman claims to be some kind of Catholic, right? Really? How is that,  since a real catholic, just like a "real" Jew,  can't marry a non-believer? So obviously any relationship she ever had with catholicism is tangential at best. Think about Brad Pitt and Angelina! Remember when Pitt was pimping for stem cell research on the campaign trail back in 04? Does Brad Pitt strike you as intelligent enough to even know where to FIND a book on stem cell research? I mean, here's a guy who's never even PLAYED an intelligent character much less been one himself, but he's out there for stem cells? 

 

They won't let you ascend to the heights of a Brad Pitt unless you swear fealty to their liberal filth. You get a proverbial "knock on the door" once you reach a certain level and if you sign on , you ascend, even in the face of FAILURE and box office DISASTERS! If you say "no" the stream of "offers" dries up and they forget about you and go on to the next chump they can use. Think not? Recently when asked why he and Angelina were adopting all these babies from other countries yet were NOT MARRIED, Brad Pitt said that he and Angelina will get married, WHEN HOMOSEXUALS CAN! Now, why would two of the biggest names in Hollywoood, tie their futures and the futures of their family, to the HOMOSEXUAL MOVEMENT when neither of them are gay? They made a deal that's why. And it explains why Pitt is still considered a movie star although he has NEVER been "bankable"! His ONLY hit movie, in which he was the number one on the callsheet was SEVEN. After that his only boxoffice success was in the ensemble Oceans Eleven franchise, where Clooney is clearly the star! But he still gets that 25 mil per pic, with no discernable financial explanations for it! He makes more than MATT DAMON and the BOURNE trilogy was a phenomenal success! 

 

And attacking Weitz is totally fair. No one made him try to make movies that end with "killing God", he decided that all by his lonesome. I was offered over 30,000 dollars per episode in a thirteen episode "arc", to co-star on "Will and Grace" as the inter-racial homosexual love interest to "Will". I declined. When I declined my management was VERY worried about the manner in which we said "no thanks". They ended up, without my permission btw, lying, and saying Keith has "other commitments". Well this is a small town and work of any consequence that would mandate turning down an offer of that magnitude would be known. It went around that I had a problem with playing a homosexual, which, while TRUE, was never stated by me or any representative and I was then "black listed". These people are serious my friend and they are light years ahead of your understanding in the field of cultural manipulation. Ask me some day why Rappers are in movies, allegedly because of their instant fan base, but yet white recording artists with FAR more record sales, are not, if you really want to learn about Hollyweird.

 

AthiestRepublican

Actually, it is not silly at all.  To put it simply; I had a boyfriend and a female friend who was very heavy.  I overheard my boyfriend talk bad about my girlfriend and her weight and that was it, I got rid of him in a second because he mistreated a friend of mine. 

I am a Christian.  I love God with my whole heart and I can not stomach people who oppenly proclaim their hatred towards my God, or write books about children killing my God, or movies about people who think my God is evil...... can't you see how serious that is, not silly, serious?  My love for God is so great I can not support anyone who is hateful to my God.  Now, that does not mean I fight them, or I ignore them, or I am rude to them, I just do not support them.  God told me, told us all, in Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren,  whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."  Imperfection asside, I try and do this because of my love for Him.

Amen Amber. Amen.

Amen Amber. Amen.

"I'm saying you are being

"I'm saying you are being unneedfully outraged, but mostly I'm just defending Weitz. I'm thinking you are the one who missed the point."

The QUESTION is why are you defending Weitz? Family friend? Are you on the payroll or do you share his atheist world view? I HOPE you didn't believe that mish mash of junk he gave as his religious "bona fides" a mish mash that left him believing absolutely NOTHING. So, why would you go out of your way to defend the man at the helm of this atheistic monstrosity? Why are you defending the enemy of God? And YES my friends he IS an "ENEMY" as is "Tom HanK's " and Ron Howard or did you think they set out to make a "religion is a lie" movie out of the goodness of their hearts. While the catholic church is a false system of worship according to their own bible, the underlying truth of Jesus is what their movie attacked, not just the church. They attacked the truth of Christ's sinless nature, thereby slandering Christianity as a whole. This is not an accident. Same thing with this movie, if this film just attacked the Catholic church, I wouldn't have a problem with that. People who are harmed by a particular system of worship sometimes grow up and write movies about it. But this film also while attacking the church, attacks the IDEA of God. In fact the third in the trilogy KILLS GOD. How you can find any common ground with them or find them worthy of defending after knowing that, is beyond me. I was once privy to a meeting of some of the biggest movers and shakers in Beverly Hills and Hollywood. I was living in Beverly Hills and the condo had a "rec room" where I used to play pool with an elderly gentleman named Ben, who had been a holocaust survivor. On this particular day, Ben was late, I practiced and then had to go to the bathroom. Bad food. I was in there a LOOONG time (sorry), anyway while I was in this bathroom that was at the far end of the rec room, a crowd of people suddenly came in. They brought chairs, chips and charts and graphs which I would see when I made my exit, TWO HOURS later! I was stunned, both by the guest list AND by the subject matter. Present were, the Atheists of America, Human Secularists of America, The Gay and Lesbian Alliance against Defamation, Act Up and several local Democrat politicians. The subject matter was REMOVING any vestige of the Christian Religion from public displays in Santa Monica and Bev Hills. But throughout the evening they continually referred to several movie and t.v moguls, who I won't name here, and alluded to their promised help in "Changing hearts and minds" against faith and people of faith. I stayed in the bathroom for two hours until they concluded their meeting and people actually started coming INTO the bathroom. You should have seen the looks on their faces, they KNEW that I'd heard the whole thing because no one had entered the bathroom. I got some "hard looks" but as I'm a pretty large muscular guy that usually is intimidating someone on film, I left unchallenged. These people HATE you . The stories that they love to tell are about how they grew up with RELIGIOUS people, "beating them over the head with bibles" and now they want to "strike back". Anyhoo, thought some would like to hear that P.O.V.

How many people would ever

How many people would ever think it was anti-Christian if you weren't there to tell them?

Perhaps when they see

Perhaps when they see children adopt DEMONS as personal friends and KILL GOD at the end, they'd get the point. 

Whoa...movies don't kill God

Hollywood is Fake, and Movies are not Real.

To me, a critique of a Movie is like an Art Critique...you paint something on Canvas that is in your head, and people casually react to it, if at all.

If this so called controversal movie ever makes CD or TV years from now, I might give it a view.  But complaining about the Fantasy of the book/movie/writer/director/actor is nothing more than talking about Fake people and imaginary images filmed 6 times until one image the director liked was selected.

Movies are only powerful if you let them be powerful, and if this movie was based upon history, reality, actual real events, then it might be worth discussing in the context of the representation of the Real historical event, and it's parallel with the perceived truth. 

It's a fantasy, it's entertainment, and to discuss it within the Religous context of Real Religions and Gods, is reaching beyond my reality or need to ponder  beyond 10 minutes after I leave the theater.  

It's like the Casablanca Movie exchange.....

......"You don't like me, do you Rick ?" 

ans: "IF I thought about it at all, no, I probably wouldn't"

What good is a Free Press, if it is a False Press ?   David Foote  GoE

When people tell you that

When people tell you that the purpose of their work is to "kill God" you would do well to take them at their word. Sadly, what you're doing is juxtaposing your feelings for those of everyone else. If you're a "rock" that cannot be influenced by anything you say or read, do you really think that holds true for everyone? Upon what are the sciences of advertising and product placement based? Wasn't "piss-(the Lord's name) that exhibit where the crucifix was submerged in urine an INTENTIONAL offense? Or was it just anyone who didn't like PISS that was offended? Dude there are people who got paid MILLIONS to make you say what you said. That "doctrine's " been in the world since Dr. Spock and you didn't even know it! There are people at every company in the world deciding which COLORS on the LABEL will make you buy a product. There are exhaustive studies that show the efficacy of image advertisement and image association. When the pictures actually MOVE, i daresay the danger is multiplied.

I choose to be Influenced by

I can be influenced by what I read, "Stranger in a Strange Land" by R. Hienline, or what I see on TV "Myth Busters" but I don't get all upset over some Fantansy Flick, even if they based it on a Book that "Kills God".

Hollywood thinks too much of themselves, you can tell by the Academy Awards. 

I hike the Grand Canyon and let that Influence me, and it's a far better experience than Hollywood can put on a Flat screen with special computer effects.   You feel thirst, you feel pain, you feel Triumph, and it's yours, not some Actor faking it in front of a Green Cloth with Special effects blowing hot air on them.

I don't get to do my life in 8 takes, I get only one chance most of the time.   And Visual Ads on TV can certainly make you hunger for a Cold Beer and a Whopper with bacon,  but some people seperate their religion (out of respect) from Movies, and do not let the Wicked Witch of the West scare them into thinking anything.

Hollywood directors and the Images they produce are Entertainment .....they're Artist, not Diety's, they deal with film, actors, and camera's...... not Souls and salvation.   Harry Potter was Great, but no kids have been killed jumping off their house on a Broom......hoping hollywood wasn't lying.  

I enjoyed the "Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" but I didn't believe it for a moment after leaving the Theater.    

As you say "There are people at every company in the world deciding which COLORS on the LABEL will make you buy a product. There are exhaustive studies that show the efficacy of image advertisement and image association" ...But there are also companies blocking Pop-ups on Computers and people going to the bathroom when halftime is on.  They only reach those that allow themselves to be reached.  "Redacted" was a bitter failure as a movie, I don't watch what offends me, and others do the same. 

What good is a Free Press, if it is a False Press ?   David Foote  GoE

I don't disagree with you at

I don't disagree with you at all. As long as we're talking about "You and I". From what I've read from you I highly doubt that you would be swayed by these people in any way! And neither would I. The problem is, if I can say this without sounding elitist, "EVERYONE ISN'T AS STRONG AS YOU ARE". Most aren't even close. FYI.

Keith...Bring in un-supervised kids, and we have a problem

The young movie goer's are an issue, as they are impressionable....Enter Santa Claus....

How old were you when you realized who Santa Claus really was ?   A life's lesson, and sometimes it sticks with kids that the world is out to fool them, if they are not careful, they'll end up on a Snipe hunt one night. 

Some Foreigners actually think we have Cars exploding on our streets all the time, just like in the movies.  Die Hard 1,2,3 becomes a Documentary ?    The movies do reach across the oceans to un-sophisticated populations, some who then formulate  opinions similar to "the NASA Moon Landing was a fake".

Name the God Mohammed and re-release the Killer Movie, then lets identify the idiots that come forward.  

 

What good is a Free Press, if it is a False Press ?   David Foote  GoE

Excellent Idea

Golden Compass supposedly has within it a plot that humans are animals in a parallel universe.

Oooooh Let me be (o let him be)

Your Teddy bear.

On that...

You may want to do a bit of research before you say things like that. You are way off the mark there.

The Daemons are extensions of their soul. A familiar if you like. They come into being at the birth of a child, are a persons close companion, and act as an extension of a persons thoughts and actions. As to the killing of "god", well perhaps the director will or will ont include that in the third installment (if it is made) perhaps it will be a metaphor. Perhaps this all is much ado about nothing. It may have nothing more to do with reality than the "the force" does. I personally think people are reading WAY too much into this. It is fantasy, and nothing more.

Streeeeeeeeetch. Geez,

Streeeeeeeeetch. Geez, you're gonna pull something.

Tim, any chance at all that the reason Weitz "desperately campaigned"-- as you put it-- for this job was not for the chance to lead "Philip Pullman's crusade," but rather because he thought it would be a fantastic movie to direct and could lead to sequels and fame and fortune? Any?

Bal, My problem with this

Bal,

My problem with this movie is not so much that Phillip Pullman wrote these books to under cut Christianity in a seemingly benign way (although i do have thoughts about that, but I'll leave for another time).  He has a right to make an allegorical fantasy series as much as Lewis did.  But Lewis was always very upfront with what Narnia was and who Aslan was.

My problem is with the studio and the director going against what Pullman said himself by trying to pass off these movies as good fun and against a very vague and general "Religion" when it is obviously against Christianity.  As my late grandfather used to say, "Don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining".  If you're going to advertise and market something, at least be honest about what the message is.  Don't try to convince me that it's one thing when it's clearly the opposite.

Darth Dutch

PS - I'm a Christian and I

PS - I'm a Christian and I do plan on seeing this movie and not boycott it. 

Bal and I have talked about

Bal and I have talked about this at length, I don't care if it is anti-christan, i have 3 words for you.........fighting polar bears

They're advertising and

They're advertising and marketing an entertaining fantastical movie. That's what they want people to come away with. They don't want people to come away from this thinking "That Christianity...what a sham!"

I thought I read somwhere

I thought I read somwhere last week that the script was "tweaked".

this is one reason

See Bal this is one reason why Christians think the left in this country is semi-fascist.

An author writes a book blatantly to bash Christianity. A film director picks up on the story and morphs it into a children's movie - then flat out denies the origins of the story.

Christians decide to *politely* step away and not give monetary support to the story, while allowing anyone else to freely watch it.

Liberals attack us for disliking the story and practically insist we go and watch it even when we don't feel like it.

I'm insisting you go and

I'm insisting you go and see it. I think the "controversy" surrounding it is ridiculous.

how is that fair?

If I said you had to go see One Night With the King because the Bible stuff was toned down and it was really just a love story on the surface...

Would go out and rent it tomorrow or would you refrain because it sounded like a stupid movie?

Would you read the Book of Esther to see for yourself or would you browse the reviews to get a gist of the story?

Should I really have to pay 10 bucks for a movie I have no interest in seeing? How is that freedom?

He didn't say anything like

He didn't say anything like that! You are argueing against something no one is saying. This is a classic example of the strawman fallacy.

please read

These are Bal's exact words:

I'm insisting you go and see it

I'm asking how he has the right to insist I pay for a movie I don't want to watch.

Huh, wow how'd I miss that.

Huh, wow how'd I miss that. I'm sorry.

Update: Ok evidently I was just reading Balboa's mind.

I think bal was being

I think bal was being sarcastic.

YIKES. Sorry, that should

YIKES. Sorry, that should have read I'm NOT insisting. I don't think you have to go see it. But it's still a pointless controversy.

It's only pointless to

It's only pointless to someone who doesn't have a stake in it.  To people who feel Christianity is being maligned or misrepresented, then there is a point to disagreeing with the movie or not wanting to support it financially and benefit the author, director, etc.

Darth Dutch

all is forgiven bal

I thought you were nicer than that, but your comment was out there so what was I to think?

:D

We'll just have to agree that we disagree. Either way, the film will make millions and my little voice won't matter, so it's all bacon.

"pointless" controversy?

what if the movie made references to people of a different skin color as being "bad" or "stupid. And since it's a kids' movie, they're purple. Think the message would still be "pointless" controversy? Or if there's character couples of an obviously similar gender, being hunted for sport since they're "evil", and the movie cheers this on-even if they weren't exactly human, you think that would be allowed to get by without massive criticism?

You know as well as Ido that these would *not* get by without serious boycotts, and possibly outright bans-if they were even allowed to be made in the first place. The only difference is the group or ideals being set up as "wrong" in the film's universe. So in effect, "pointless" is very very relative. To say one controversy over thinly disguised propaganda is more point-full than another smells of an arrogant belief that "any belief that is not mine is not important" which is exactly what most faithless project upon the faithful in blatant hypocrisy.

What this boils down to, as a measure of tolerance, it would be a good idea to respect the opinions of a minority (the truly faithful) before calling any controversy regarding religion as "pointless".

WELL SAID mate, well said.

WELL SAID mate, well said.

People tried to insinuate

People tried to insinuate that in Phantom Menace the different aliens were representative of racial stereotypes. No one really cared. There were no boycotts.

Yes but the people making

Yes but the people making the "insinuations" had NOTHING to do with the FILM! You act as if some bible thumper read a synopsis of the film and said, "hey that's against God in some strange fashion that only I can detect!" That's not what happened.The author of the book was found on record COMPLAINING that there hadn't been ENOUGH of an OUTCRY concerning the SUBVERSIVE nature of his book! He whined that people were all upset about the Harry Potter series which was TAME compared to his filth, because HIS books were about KILLING GOD!  

 

 How on earth can you act like a movie doesn't have the messages it was INTENDED to have!? Do you really think that the author had ONE message for his trilogy of books but the movie studio which paid MILLIONS OF DOLLARS to make these books into a movie and ALSO paid to PREVENT anyone else from making these books into a movie, did so with the idea of ignoring the books CENTRAL PREMISE?  That's patently absurd as the old curmudgeons would say! They wouldn't have a movie if they did that! No offense but unless you're a skilled "reader" as in professional script dissector, you wouldn't even be able to catch all of the anti-religious/morality themes that are still there, since the themes were created from a "whole" and "redacted" to what you'll end up with! That's just silly to imply that people who have made enough money to live several LIFETIMES by manipulating the hearts and minds of people are somehow unable to do their jobs. Ever seen anyone cry while watching a film? They didn't cry because of the "words on the page", pally. They cried because of the underlying thoughts and emotions beneath the words. And while YOU were amazed at the people in the audience crying at say, "The Rookie", "The Natural", "True Grit", "Awakenings" or some other heart tugger, the people that made it sat in the back of the audience with clipboards, CHARTING the progress of the EXPECTED EMOTIONS throughout the script. These clipboards chart each "moment" of the script along with the corresponding "time signature" of the film. As handkerchiefs begin to be raised towards eyes  the assistant with the clip board, checks off a box. No cry, no check mark. Same for laughs. When they don't GET the reactions that they PLANNED TO GET, they create "focus" groups to find out why. Ever seen those people near the Mann theatre in Hollywood giving out the "free passes" to screenings? Well nothing in life is free, bud.

 

 After collating the notes from the focus groups they usually rewrite the ending or part that seems to block the expected emotion. Perhaps they'll put in a few more triggers, which are things planted in the script to make you identify with a certain character, this is done if they need a character to appear more sympathetic. It could be any of a hundred things that they discover that if changed, will "unlock" those tears, or laughs. This is the depth to which your emotions are manipulated in film. And it is designed to work on you even when there is no nefarious motive involved, it works just to get you to laugh or cry.  Or smoke the cigarrets that the lead character smokes! Did you know that the until as recently as five years ago, stars like Sean Penn,  received extra compensation for smoking in scenes even if it WASN'T SCRIPTED?  This money came from the Big Tobacco pally. Remember in the eighties and early nineties when EVERY lead character had a cigarrette dangling from his mouth? Why do you think that might have been?  People ARE sheep and sheep are EASILY led and MIS-led. Make no mistake about it.

Lucas isn't a racist and

Lucas isn't a racist and had no agenda. Unlike Pullman,an admitted Christianity hater, writing a trilogy about killing God.

He has a message. There is no denying that, so stop trying.

Well, for once, the rich white man is in control. --Montgomery Burns

He has a message. Fine. But

He has a message. Fine. But I don't think anyone's in danger of being lured into something against their will or without them or their parents being aware of it, just because they see this movie.

I guess this is where we

I guess this is where we will part ways, because there are a whole many people that soak this stuff up.

Well, for once, the rich white man is in control. --Montgomery Burns

Bal, some people cared.

Bal, some people cared. There was plenty written about it.

For example.

 

Hows that atheist? He

Hows that atheist? He insisted she go see a movie she dosetn want to see. She suggested he go see one he dosent want to see? How is that a strawman?

Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!

Bal, the arthor has said

Bal, the arthor has said that he wrote the books as a "counter" to the "Chronicles of Narnia. The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe." He specifically said his books were about "killing God". Now just how non-christian dose it have to be for you? I for one would never support anyone or anything, with my money, that promoted such an idea. 

Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!

I agree with Bal. I recently

I agree with Bal. I recently watched "V For Vendetta" and came away with less-than-expected Bush-Bashing, and it wasn't that bad of a movie. Except, of course, for the stellar acting of Natalie Portman and the creepy Elrond guy from "The Matrix". I know these are fighin' words, Bal, but Portman cannot act her way out of a Spago doggy bag.

I plan on seeing this movie, suffer through Nicole Kidman, and decide for myself. My main concern is not the anti-Christian angle, but that this movie is being touted as the next "LOTR", "Narnia", and/or "Harry Potter". That tells me it might be a bomb.

Me to, in fact..

Me to, in fact.. considering it was the government in V was doing the anti-America bashing... well I kinda assumed the America bashing was supposed to be seen as propaganda by the bad guys. Not to mention the at least partial justification for becoming like your enemies to defeat them seemed a bit like an arguement against the left saying that Bush is moving us closer to fascism.. but uh, thats a little off subject

Though I actually thought V for Vendetta was a pretty bad movie, so I kinda don't regret not seeing it on principle for so long.

Yep. It was a forgettable

Yep. It was a forgettable flick. As forgettable as "Closer", but at least Natalie wore stripper outfits in that movie, unlike the Sinead O'Connor look in "V".

Yeah? Well, YOU'RE

Yeah? Well, YOU'RE forgettable, stupid-face.

Ok, president of the IBTC

Ok, president of the IBTC Fanclub. (Itty-Bitty-Titty-Committee)

Aw...OK, good point. :-)

Aw...OK, good point. :-)

but that this movie is

but that this movie is being touted as the next "LOTR", "Narnia", and/or "Harry Potter". That tells me it might be a bomb.

LOL I agree, Roger. It's being built WAY up there.The trailer is on the DVD of a movie I just bought, and it's probably 7 minutes long. To hear the hype, you'd think it was all three that you mentioned rolled into one.

It's kind of like when they tout one as "the feel-good movie of the year." Snooze-time.

 

Blasphemer!!!

Blasphemer!!!

Calm down balboa...

Yeah NP is hot, but there are hotter! That's right I'm talking about Christina Ricci !! They could almost be sisters, now wouldn't ya just love that!?

"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...

Wow.

Er...That water must have been awfully-cold, or something, from the looks of things! ;)
JMR

Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul.

No wonder it was the top hit in a google search! :-)

"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...

Christina has a

Christina has a certain...quality, I can't doubt that. But she's not in my top 5.

Talk about a man with STANDARDS!!

Amigo, you MUST post a picture of your significant other. Unless 'she's' a dude (not that there is anything wrong wiff dat) <barf>

"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...

Oh, well, I thought we were

Oh, well, I thought we were talking in the abstract Hollywood frame of mind. I'm not saying she's ugly or that I wouldn't date her if I could, or that my girlfriend is hotter. I'm not, I would, and she isn't. :)

I thought we were talking make-believe world.

Man it must be snowing in

Man it must be snowing in Hell, Candance. We AGREE. 

And I say that that is

And I say that that is fine.  The director and marketers are trying to get it out to as wide an audience as possible.  Just don't deny what the movie is ultimately about.  Or at least don't deny what the authors intent in writing the books is about.  Pullman has said it is specifically anti-Christian.  The director said it is not anti-Christian.  The director should at least acknowledge that much.

Darth Dutch