MOVIE CRITIQUE: "THE GOLDEN COMPASS"

******************************** ******************************** Greetings and Salutations to All my Kith and Kin and All the Ships in Outer Space: I just finished watching the Hollywood motion picture, THE GOLDEN COMPASS, on cable television's Home Box Office high definition channel, a good clean family movie I can highly recommend. The movie is based on the British novel, NORTHERN LIGHTS, by Philip Pullman. I remember reading about all the controversy from sundry church spokesmen who asserted that this movie was anti-religion and would corrupt children. But, I saw it as just the opposite, especially from the perspective of a member of The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-day Saints (i.e., the "Mormon" church). For instance, Latter-day Saints do believe that our Heavenly Father created numerous other worlds, much like this Earth, and we do believe in parallel universes and spirit beings. Doesn't the alethiometer depicted in the movie seem quite similar to either the Liahona described in our BOOK OF MORMON, or the Urim and Thummim described in our Holy Bible? Some of the fantasy in the movie actually corresponds to scientific "String Theory" in quantum physics. In my mind, there is no conflict between science and religion, but merely undiscovered data in both scholastic disciplines. Indeed, all of our religious ideas have a common source, but not every human has an equal level of comprehension, and thus, we are not united in our beliefs, but have many conflicting religions and sects. I enjoyed the scenery of the snow-covered Northern mountains, which reminded me of my days in Idaho and Utah. The story is all about children, animals, adventure, and fantasy. They even managed to get a cowboy into the picture, with what appears to be a Winchester 73 lever-action rifle! The ending of this movie definitely invites a sequel, and probably, a whole series. So, gather your little ones around you, send out for some pizza, and as a family, enjoy this wonderful movie. Pass the popcorn, please. Thank you. John Robert Mallernee, KB3KWS Official Bard of Clan Henderson Armed Forces Retirement Home Washington, D.C. 20011-8400 NOTE: "My unpopular and controversial personal opinions are independent of my Scottish clan." ******************************** ********************************