<!--QuoteBegin-Husky+Jan 3 2008, 06:47 PM-->QUOTE(Husky @ Jan 3 2008, 06:47 PM)<!--QuoteEBegin-->Dhu's post above is more important.
On another topic, the first of a series of fantasy books called "His Dark Materials" by a Philip Pullman has been filmed (I've not been following recent films, so forgive if I'm months behind).
It's called The Golden Compass. It's said to be anti-christian and anti-church (the books are said to be more so, while they say the film toned down these anti-christian sentiments). I have not read it myself yet, but one friend who has read the book, said it did have some points to make about how christianism was a mind-control based cult.
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I saw a really bad print of The Golden Compass off the net. Even without prior knowledge, I would have easily realized the anti-christian content, since the opening shot includes talk about the daeman souls existing outside the body and the machinating and stifling "magisterium" is introduced fairly early on. This is in contrast to I am Legend where I did not not realize the religio-political content until the 9/11 and "God's plan" reference at the end of the movie. Golden Compass requires Dialogue to move the action forward, in contrast to Legend where the "symbology" is more embedded and contextual. If Golden Compass is a reversion to Eastern/Heathen thought patterns (which I doubt), then this need for dialogue may be a sign. The Dialogue is empty and unnuanced and remains at assertion level; it does not act at the subconscious level as the symbology in Legend, possibly because Legend's Christian symbology resonates d/t familiarity while Compass' scientific/discovery symbology must necessarily start anew.
The gyptians (Eastern Gypsies) are shown as individualists on the sea, with minimal exotification. There is of course a perfuctory smirky individualist cowboy who rescues from the air. The fighting polar bear is possibly the native american personified, although native antagonists are also shown siding with the imperium. The Arabicized army fights on behalf of the Imperium. The imperium "laboratory" is located in the North; the deamons of the Imperium technicians are white lab rats. There is some confused dialogue about "free will" - supposedly embodied by the go-getter young girl protagonist. There is some posturing of the young girl as a Savior figure along with her father/uncle. Unlike in Heathen narratives, the imperium antagonists are shown as unconflicted (except in one instance where Kidman is shown assaulting her own daemon in anger). I suspect the Christian is most disturbed by the association of Animals with souls as well as the implications of the Imperium's experiments on children. Kidman's Daemon is mute. The girl protagonist is "meant to have" the compass of truth. The Imperium head appears a carbon copy of Ratzinger.
Of course, as has been noted, the entire science fiction genre falls under the religious configuration and is captivating solely for its entertainment value and not for any moral modeling that may be (feebly) attempted.
In summary, I feel that this movie is an atheist/scientific co-opting of the heathen narrative.
On another topic, the first of a series of fantasy books called "His Dark Materials" by a Philip Pullman has been filmed (I've not been following recent films, so forgive if I'm months behind).
It's called The Golden Compass. It's said to be anti-christian and anti-church (the books are said to be more so, while they say the film toned down these anti-christian sentiments). I have not read it myself yet, but one friend who has read the book, said it did have some points to make about how christianism was a mind-control based cult.
....
[right][snapback]76774[/snapback][/right]
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I saw a really bad print of The Golden Compass off the net. Even without prior knowledge, I would have easily realized the anti-christian content, since the opening shot includes talk about the daeman souls existing outside the body and the machinating and stifling "magisterium" is introduced fairly early on. This is in contrast to I am Legend where I did not not realize the religio-political content until the 9/11 and "God's plan" reference at the end of the movie. Golden Compass requires Dialogue to move the action forward, in contrast to Legend where the "symbology" is more embedded and contextual. If Golden Compass is a reversion to Eastern/Heathen thought patterns (which I doubt), then this need for dialogue may be a sign. The Dialogue is empty and unnuanced and remains at assertion level; it does not act at the subconscious level as the symbology in Legend, possibly because Legend's Christian symbology resonates d/t familiarity while Compass' scientific/discovery symbology must necessarily start anew.
The gyptians (Eastern Gypsies) are shown as individualists on the sea, with minimal exotification. There is of course a perfuctory smirky individualist cowboy who rescues from the air. The fighting polar bear is possibly the native american personified, although native antagonists are also shown siding with the imperium. The Arabicized army fights on behalf of the Imperium. The imperium "laboratory" is located in the North; the deamons of the Imperium technicians are white lab rats. There is some confused dialogue about "free will" - supposedly embodied by the go-getter young girl protagonist. There is some posturing of the young girl as a Savior figure along with her father/uncle. Unlike in Heathen narratives, the imperium antagonists are shown as unconflicted (except in one instance where Kidman is shown assaulting her own daemon in anger). I suspect the Christian is most disturbed by the association of Animals with souls as well as the implications of the Imperium's experiments on children. Kidman's Daemon is mute. The girl protagonist is "meant to have" the compass of truth. The Imperium head appears a carbon copy of Ratzinger.
Of course, as has been noted, the entire science fiction genre falls under the religious configuration and is captivating solely for its entertainment value and not for any moral modeling that may be (feebly) attempted.
In summary, I feel that this movie is an atheist/scientific co-opting of the heathen narrative.