The Golden Compass, a book review

[sweetsweatyfeet]

Not the greatest movie for me---and from a plot perspective---it's just stupid. But let's keep in mind it's an adaptation of a huge and comprehensive book so little more could be expected. My biggest disappointment was that it's portrayal of Christianity wasn't as critical as the books. I was hoping for a stronger atheistic message for young people to consider.

[mEtAlMaNiAc787]

childrens book my ass, what child read 400 pages, or better yet what child read?

i could hardly read the thing myself lol!!!!!!and dont get the wrong the book was the shit!!!!!!!

[musedancegracesing]

@mEtAlMaNiAc787 I read it when I was 11!!! Actually i read it in 4 days!

[Boudiga]

@mEtAlMaNiAc787 I just wanted to say, some kids and some adults are able to read books rather quickly. Some can't. Some times its a learning ability other times is interested. I got the through all three books in a month. However 1 book from my past which was only 90 pages took me two months. It was horrible and boring.

[mothersfreakout]

I've read the golden compass. I LOVED it! I'm reading the 2nd one right now it's really good also. It's called the subtle knife. I wish the golden compass movie would have a sequel but I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon, the 1st one didn't make enough money.

[duffywoody]

LOl the speakers so far away its as if the trees are the ones talking

[charmed6057]

This Priest gives a poor description of the book. For those who haven't read it, they wouldn't know. But the idea of His Dark Materials, I think is good, and should set well for theory which it does.

[charmed6057]

Philip Pullman has actually said he never really liked the idea of the book being call a children book, but rather a Young Adult(14 +) and Adult book.

[johnleopoldtwice]

Didn't rate Twilight, loved who is charlie keeper? by m alexander and a big fan of china mieville.

[octopusnumber]

...Why is he so far away from the camera...

Did nobody help him?

[nomasnadie]

Eventhough I'm an agnostic I listened to your reasonable and well informed review and I enjoyed it. I love it that you recommend parents to read with their children, because that's good in many levels. You treat the book as the work of fiction that it is, regardless of the author's intentions and implicatures. I think your review is great because you refer to other religions with respect and good will. Really, you're a true gentleman.

[WildGoose1129]

I found Pullman book to be very interesting. I have read all of his books and I find that the so called "preaching" of the autor added made the story in the last two books more interesting. And as for christains and chatholics complaining about the first movie this only just the begining. I to am an athiest like Pullman and found nothing to be offended by, its a fictional book in a fantasy world. If you don't like it go and read your violent, bigotry bible than go ahead.

[Deathrune456]

'bigoted'. The princibles the bible teaches oppose violence and bigotry towards others, but go ahead and ignore the words of christ over the writings of those can inconvienience us for the sake of your arguments.

[lilltube]

We know that few parents are going to read these books with their children. A trilogy will be made from them and many souls will be turned away from religion and possibly lost forever. The objective of the author was to convert the reader and now the viewer.

[Beezleboston]

I like this review. I don't like MJED1978.

[Beezleboston]

Koran sucks, so you can go rape your 30 wives and then blow yourself up, you terrorist.

[benchwarmerbenji]

This is a very good review. It is truly sad when you see people attacking the trilogy without even reading it. A very informative, and yes, INTELLIGENT review!

[samisspoonman]

Fantastic review. Very informative without jumping to ridiculous 'over the top' conclusions. Nice setting as well.

[yimababwe]

There is a book i've read called the Bible, which blatantly attacks all other religions. It says they are tools of Satan. I think we should all try to keep the children away from this book because it promotes bigotry.

[secularscholar]

Here are a few Catholic Scientists.

Nicolaus Copernicus the Heliocentric Universe (priest;Erwin Schrodinger Wave Mechanics;Antoine Laurent Lavoisier Revolution in Chemistry;Andreas Vesalius Anatomy;Enrico Fermi Atomic Physics;Marcello Malpighi Microscopic Anatomy;John von Neumann the Modern Computer;Gregor Mendel inherited genes (Catholic monk; Alexander Fleming Penicillin;Louis Pasteur the Germ Theory of Disease;Georges Lemaitre, Catholic priest "Big Bang"

[secularscholar]

jazzx proves the priest point perfectly. Everyone has heard of the Galileo case but nothing else. Many don't even know that Galileo received all of his data from Copernicus a Catholic priest in good standing with the Church. There have been countless scientists from all denominations and religions.

[jazzx251]

"Prepare them for a lifetime of intelligent faith ..."

I'm sorry - what was a fairly balanced review for the most part came apart ... like you said .. when you started getting preachy!

You quote scientific achievements of believers but fail to mention that guys like Galil .. I won't even finish his name, you've heard it before. Your church once denounced as heresy any scientific finding that contradicted its interpretation of the bible and had the scientist arrested.

[Anyday0]

It's finally good to see a Christian with an open mind and also one who has actually READ the material. Thank you, and pass the word. This trilogy doesn't deserve the beating it has received without a just reading. Appreciate the unbiased review.

[eliot508]

P.S. - Glad to see ya here too!

[gemininer]

I have not read the book or seen the movie yet. But I already saw a lot of fiction movies, and you are not supposed to believe it. That's why it's called fiction. How can anyone convince someone to be an athiest by proving his/her point with the existence of the evil realm? It does not make sense. You cannot say "I do not believe in God, but I believe in satan.".

[DBR21]

I like his cool composure. :)

[charliepops]

I didn't agree with anything you said in this video, however, you put across a very strong argument and I really admire you for doing so.

I'm an Atheist who would gladly listen to anything you have to say.

[kingcanti]

Why the hell are you outside? Im sorry Father, but seriously, you being outside is just distracting. I mean its clearly cold. I bet you'd feel a lot better if you were inside. You being outside adds nothing to the review.

Who reviews a book outside?

Whatever.

Maybe Im the only one who finds it distracting.

[observingwatcher]

Actually, if you read the book or at least saw the trailer for the movie. The snow kinda matches it. ;)

[kingcanti]

If thats what the Father was going for then I cant question it. I hvnt read the book, but I thought the movie looked kinda cool.

[madmysticwarrior]

Yeah the first Book and the movie takes place with the girl hero going to the north pole. Cool snow around the preacher

[observingwatcher]

Father, if what you said is true about the second volume, then I'm better off reading LoTR or Narnia (which was harshly, if not, unfairly criticized by Pullman himself. Look it up.)

[1Hope4All]

This is true.

I have the movies but I thought they were too violent.

I love the Narnia series. I can't wait for the new movie coming out in Feb or 2008, I think that's the date. The trailer is due to come out TONIGHT (Dec 4th) at 10:30 PM EST!

[DBR21]

Try sparknotes. It's faster to read, if you can't get the book, and is non-bias. I used it for my other school books. He does try to kill God, it's not just rumors.

[1Hope4All]

I would not waste my money or time on any of those books. I would never buy them for my child either. I would NOT give this athiest my money.

There are more ways to learn the faith.

[karatechess]

There is a movie coming out about it.

[TITARNYA]

if i remember correctly in a christian teaching i was told that the first angel fell to earth after displeasing god and others followed. that they set themselves up in our world - like god in pullmans book. he does not attack spiritual beliefe only false/ blind belief. thanks for reading the books before you made up your mind.

[observingwatcher]

The problem with the books is that first angel there had no Creator and that somewhere in the series it speaks about how there is no afterlife and promotes an atheistic philosophy concerning it.

[TITARNYA]

It doesnt promote heaven or paradise. it leaves you to decide what happens in death. the children release the dead so that their spirit joins the universe - to be reincarnated? to join a higher power?

[observingwatcher]

Hmm... I don't know. I didn't read the books, I sorta just read the synopsis from wikipedia. However, if it was really hinting of some form of higher power, how come a detail such as that hasn't been mentioned in the synopsis? It could've reduced the amount of religious scrutiny.

[Amamelina]

This was so beautiful. I plan on showing this to my mom.

[cfell]

I thank God for your ministry... thanks, Fr. Jeffrey!

[havock89]

Thanks for this video Father.

[mootpointilism]

VERY well said. Thank you for this.