ROTTEN TOMATOES: Golden Compass Author Doesn't Care for Narnia, Lord of the Rings Comments

Golden Compass Author Doesn't Care for Narnia, Lord of the Rings

by Jeff Giles | November 05, 2007

Summary

It won't reach theaters until December 7, but The Golden Compass -- which adapts the first installment in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy -- already has some people up in arms, and the author doesn't seem to mind one bit. Back to Article

(81-100 of 141 posts) | Reply

oldnoakes writes:
on Nov 07 2007 10:11 PM

to rizzleg:

thanks for the quote! It really re-inforces my point about Pullman being a prick about his betters. Tolkien infantile? That the most ridiculous claim I've seen about the Lord of the Rings. Complaints about too much description, exposition, or even the prose being somewhat dry at times, are somewhat reasonable. But the subject matter is serious, and the character's interactions lack nothing but romance. Tolkien writes amazing tales of hope, friendship, and courage. Romantic love is not the first thought in an epic quest/ or world wide war. I don't think other fantasy writers explore the subject of war as well as Tolkien. Maybe if they fought for their country like Tolkien and had their friends die, they would understand the relationships that arise and the sense of loss or sorrow even in victory.

The detail of the maps, the back history, the languages are all details that many readers appreciate. Tolkien's stories are more real and have depth because of these details. His stories are not some pulp stories you can just fly through, too many people they are more substantial and satisfying than most fantasy written since. Even if the characters are diverse creatures: hobbits, dwarves, elves, etc. all are essentially humans in different skin yet very accessible.

Tolkien was trying to write an epic for England, his works are faux-historical stories/legends, and his books are like the epics Beowulf, Illiad, the Odyessy, or the Medieval Romances he loved so much. The only thing that makes the Lord of the Rings not a true epic is that fact that it's a prose work.

For better or worse Tolkien popluarized the fantasy genre. He brought it to a more adult and widestream audience. Even if his works didn't influence today's fantasy, there would be no market for Harry Potter, Eragon, or His Dark Materials. These series probably wouldn't even have been published. If they had they would probably have the cult status of H.P. Lovecraft and the like, not the bestseller status they enjoy.

I think Pullman's story/concept is fairly original,(especially the first book) but very preachy in it's atheist/iconoclast way. I didn't buy the character of the nun or her story in the last book. And the whole "love" thing between Will and Lyra bothered me because they seemed pretty young for that. I think the non-readers that see Golden Compass might be impressed but the other films (if made) will leave something to be desired.

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oldnoakes writes:
on Nov 07 2007 10:18 PM

to: dao_yu

Thanks for bringing up Tolkien's (and many other people's feelings) on allegory. I agree whole-heartedly. I was going to bring it up, but all my posts are too long as it is!

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justawitch writes:
on Nov 09 2007 03:22 PM

In reply to this comment (#1252542)
Christians just can't handle anyone not being or wanting to be a Christian, or believe what they believe, or do as they do. Get over it. I left the church at 16 and found something much better

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ivandrago writes:
on Nov 09 2007 04:43 PM

I'm very disappointed that nobody has spouted religious scripture yet.

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arcadefire325 writes:
on Nov 09 2007 05:37 PM

just ignore the catholic league. they do this to very movie and it makes tons of cash. i think that we should be able to bash all religions.

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chrisdaco2 writes:
on Nov 11 2007 12:13 AM

I'll see it just cause I'm a fantasy sci-fi nut and my beliefs are strong enough to not be swayed one way or another by anyone.

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N720MF writes:
on Nov 11 2007 11:29 AM

All I have to say is the Catholic League needs to worry about like, priests fondling children and **** like that.

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ennui79 writes:
on Nov 11 2007 09:04 PM

I'm all for books converting children to atheism. More room in heaven for me!

I'm joking, I'm joking.

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MaryRoxSox writes:
on Nov 12 2007 09:01 PM

The movie looks great, even if the book isn't. It works both ways, right? Usually the book is better, perhaps the movie might be better in this case. AKA taking out all the anti-christan stuff and keeping the good old fantasy!

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demosthenes0 writes:
on Nov 14 2007 09:59 PM

i seriously doubt many actually read the source material for this. im pretty disappointed in the simplification of what was actually said. reading the transcript, Pullman doesnt like the Narnia books for the way they seem to make growing up a terrible thing, and something that should be punishable. if you read the books, this seems to simply be a philosophical disagreement, hence he is unsatisfied with the way that Lewis answers the big questions. its not a disagreement with the depth of quality of the writing. as for LOTRs, while i agree it is a great story, and there is meaning and lessons to be derived from it, it really is more or less a simple adventure story. theres a bad guy and the good guys go and stop him. most of the detail in the book is Tolkiens history of Middle Earth, which I admire for him being able to come up with so extensively. but it doesn't address any real political, social, or philosophical questions. at least not in any real direct or definable way. that's not to say they aren't great books (having just finished The Golden Compass, I certainly prefer LOTRs as a written work), but I understand his critisisms and he doesn't simply call the books naive, as is claimed in the article.

either way, in the long run it's only a movie. i'm just excited to see the coca cola bears fight.

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phloide writes:
on Nov 16 2007 11:13 AM

In reply to this comment (#1265148)
[quote] Christians just can't handle anyone not being or wanting to be a Christian, or believe what they believe, or do as they do. Get over it. I left the church at 16 and found something much better [/quote]

see, I find this statement absurd. I consider myself a Christian (though a little on the heretical side) and read any and all kinds of documents - Christian, Occult, Atheistic, and documents relating to views very contrasting to my own. Yes, some people throw a fit when something is done that offends their sensibility (look at the atheists who went out of their way to remove the cross from the Los Angeles city symbol - sort of like blowing up Buddha%u2019s in Afghanistan...) Ad hoc-ing an entire demographic like this (%u201Csuch and such group can%u2019t handle%u2026%u201D) is quite close-minded and is the source of a lot of ignorant bantering.

Personally, I may see the movie just cause I like Sci-Fi - I know its philosophical origin may be contrary to mine, but I don't mind. It won't distroy me. If it open's my mind to things that I haven't thought of, great. It is good to have things that lead one to examine their own perceptions. but then again, I saw Battlefield Earth.

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kja.8 writes:
on Nov 17 2007 01:15 PM

i read this series when i was ten, and i wasn't all that impressed. it certainly didn't convert me to atheism. despite what most people think, not all children will fall for everything they see. as a child i could determine what i believed, and what i thought was moral. i really have no problem with the author's opinion, but only if he keeps it up to interpretation or better yet to himself. jrr tolkien hit the nail on the head about allegory, and that's seriously all these books are. really. its all about opinions and beliefs- everybody has there own, and everybody should just accept that and move on. absolutely nobodies right, nothing can be proved, and everything is just opinions no matter who says it. attacking people for their personal beliefs is only a last resort for the desperate. that being said, pullman should try some humility, that man is pretty damn arrogant to think he can criticize the work of some of the forrunners of a genre he tries to succeed in. of course, thats only my opinion...

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Poofyfinger writes:
on Nov 19 2007 12:50 AM

In reply to this comment (#1252434)
Well, I'm not.

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Paralyzer writes:
on Nov 21 2007 01:06 AM

people should be free to make up their own mind.if people wanna go up against the film,best of luck but im going to check it out. i loved some of the books themes and it would be nice to see how they get interpreted them for the screen and how theyve tried not to offend the christian masses

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Paralyzer writes:
on Nov 21 2007 01:13 AM

people should be free to make up their own mind.if people wanna go up against the film,best of luck but im going to check it out. i loved some of the books themes and it would be nice to see how they get interpreted them for the screen and how theyve tried not to offend the christian masses

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O_W writes:
on Nov 23 2007 06:15 PM

In reply to this comment (#1257323)
Im asumming you havnt actualy read the books....

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O_W writes:
on Nov 23 2007 06:25 PM

it pisses me off that they are changing the northern lights as to not offend Religous people. people who are saying parents shouldnt take there kids to watch this are basicly proving that there religion has problems. what are they scared of?

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AlexParadise writes:
on Nov 26 2007 06:01 AM

His Dark Materials is, in literary terms, a towering work of children's fiction, the depth of which is quite dazzling at times.

The greatest literary achievement Tolkien offers with Lord of the Rings is making a very tender homosexual love story between two midgets the obsession of millions of young men the world over.

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BadKarmaAR15 writes:
on Nov 27 2007 09:38 AM

In reply to this comment (#1252888)
Witherwings....I used to be a born again Christian, but I am now an atheist, so I'm quite familiar with the people and rhetoric from both sides of the fence. With that in mind I must say, for a Christian, you certainly exemplify a rare and remarkable sense of balance and understanding. I think everyone from both sides of the fence can learn a great deal from you about tolerance.

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luckyleaf writes:
on Nov 29 2007 07:32 AM

Although Pullman's venom is directed mainly at christian beliefs, he has publicly stated that his goal is to destroy ALL concepts of God. So it seems to me that anyone who has any belief in a higher power is being attacked. It doesn't matter if you are christian, jew, muslim, buddhist, wiccan or satanist. (I include satanist because obviously if you have chosen one side you must believe there is the other.)
He has also publicly stated his agenda is to indoctrinate all young people to atheism. He does this not only through this trilogy but also through a DVD released in England that features children talking to other children about why they have chosen atheism.
If Pullman had written these stories aimed at convincing adults I would not have a thing to say about it. But he didn't. He has chosen the most vulnerable and impressionable audience. Children.
I personally choose to not see or support this movie or read the books. I make that choice as an informed adult. Further I will not see any movie in any theater while this film is showing. My concept is simple. Strike back were it hurts. No profit....No sequel. I invite everyone who agrees with me to do the same. And for those of you who do not agree with me I respect your right to your opinion. Let us agree to disagree.
If you would like more information on this movie, the author, and the books I invite you to visit www.centerfortruth.com. Click on all the links at the bottom of the opening page. After you have done this you will be able to make up your own mind

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