A Golden Compass That Only Points South?

While I'm blogging about movies, I guess I might as well weigh in on The Golden Compass. The film, which is to be released in December, is an adaptation of author Phillip Pullman's novel of the same name. Pullman is an outspoken atheist (and a preacher's kid...what is it about them!) and his "Dark Materials" is a series of stories that the author has all but admitted are a secular humanist reaction to C.S. Lewis' pro-Christian children's books.

The novel The Golden Compass questions the validity of belief in God but the film's distributor, New Line Cinema, promises that these elements have been stripped from the movie's screenplay. One of the stars, Nicole Kidman, has also stated that she would not participate in an anti-Christian film as she is a practicing Catholic. Some evangelical leaders have asked their fellow Christians to take a "wait and see attitude."

Other Christian leaders, however, fear that, regardless of how the film is scripted, the movie will lead to increased sales of Pullman's books, which will not be redacted--this seems to me to be a well grounded concern. My son will not watch the film and the book will never set page in my home.

However, all of the controversy has generated buzz for the film which will undoubtedly lead to increased ticket sales. I'm not sure how to address the issue without "stirring the pot" but it is an unfortunate side-effect.