It blows.

The set design and art direction is top-notch. But the pacing is WAY off and it ends before the book does — so two hours of staccato scenes mangled so badly, I wonder whether anyone who’s not read the book will even be able to follow what’s going on.

* gah! *

Still love — LOVE! — the books.

Even the little fourth book — an epilogue of sorts called “Lyra’s Oxford”.

Here’s what I said about them over at Sustain’d:

So… two observations:

1) If you want a movie to fail — if you’re really against a movie — then don’t complain too loudly about it. And most certainly don’t do it on the internet. The Passion of Christ? Awful, nearly pornographic film… would have been completely ignored on its merits. Then the religious wingnuts got in a snit and so _everyone_ had to see it. It was huge. At least for the first weekend, until word got out that the movie sucked. If you really don’t like the premise of a movie, don’t see it.

2) I’ve read — and greatly enjoyed — the entire His Dark Materials series. And you’re right: it’s written by Philip Pullman, an avowed atheist. It’s a wonderful and well-wrought tale about children who come into their own and fight evil. It’s beautiful in its imagery and execution, and I have no compunction in recommending it.

You see, it’s a children’s fantasy novel. And it uses magic. And all sorts of things familiar to children’s fantasy readers… but it also talks about religion and god and the afterlife — subjects rarely broached in the genre. And while I don’t much care for Pullman’s take on the Real God — or, perhaps what he’d say about my religion — he makes the same mistakes most atheists do when discussing religion. He underestimates the human spirit and its insatiable desire to reach for the divine.

Kill god? Oh… that must be some evil being _pretending_ to be god. God evil? Oh… that’s not my god at all.

The book is a wonderful yarn with myriad chances for engaged parents to discuss God and religiosity with their children.

After reading Snider’s review (C+) I would still say go see it. However, I watched it having read the books and knew everything going on. Eric makes a good case that this might be more difficult (and therefore, less entertaining) if you have not read them.

I teach my kids about all kinds of beliefs. I do not shelter them because later on they will become confused and wonder why I never informed them that there is a big world full of very different people. They will eventually have to choose for themselves what they believe, I cannot make that choice for them, no matter how badly I want to! All I can to is teach them the gospel and share my testimony with them, and pray that one day they will know for themselves!

That’s an excellent attitude, and it shows your children that you’re confident in your beliefs when you expose them to other viewpoints and let them decide. That’s the attitude I’ve taken with respect to religion, for example wanting my kids to learn about their Catholic heritage by taking them to Lourdes.

At the same time, I don’t want to be too hard on parents who are keeping an eye on what kinds of influences their kids are exposed to. For myself, I’d rather limit their exposure to violence (sold as entertainment) or to ads for junkfood/fastfood or cigarettes. So, this is not a simple question with a cookbook answer. Parents are to be commended for taking the time to think about what influences are appropriate for their kids.

I don’t understand why people get so fired up about this stuff. Do parents not realize what their kids are exposed to? Are they living under a rock? I teach my kids about all kinds of beliefs. I do not shelter them because later on they will become confused and wonder why I never informed them that there is a big world full of very different people. They will eventually have to choose for themselves what they believe, I cannot make that choice for them, no matter how badly I want to! All I can to is teach them the gospel and share my testimony with them, and pray that one day they will know for themselves!

Although Cheryl’s cousins would have led her astray!

We rely on other’s opinions to make many of our choices, thank goodness. I’d hate to have to read, watch or taste everything just to find out whether it’s good or not.

I think most people who have a brain don’t make their choices based on protesters or spam emails…although some do and that’s why they keep protesting and emailing!