1. Comment #96519 by Zakie Chan on December 10, 2007 at 5:00 pm

Hmmm... correlation does not equal causation. I would be willing to bet that if anything, the "boycot" just caused more people to go see it out of curiosity.

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2. Comment #96520 by NormanDoering on December 10, 2007 at 5:02 pm

"All we heard from the chattering class over the past few weeks was that our boycott would have the reverse effect of enticing more people to see the film," said Donohue.

Maybe it would have the reverse effect if the film company featured Donohue in future TV and print ads that challenged viewers for being bigoted and closed minded enough to listen to Donohue?

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3. Comment #96522 by Goldy on December 10, 2007 at 5:06 pm

And ease up on demonizing Catholicism-no other religion has done more to promote human rights, science and goodwill

Heheheheheheh! Liked this!

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4. Comment #96523 by Diacanu on December 10, 2007 at 5:07 pm

*Shrug*
Meh, I never had a horse in this particular race.

Saw it yesterday *wavey hand*.

Visually breathtaking, no big "oomph", scenes, no quotable lines, unsatisfying cliffhanger ending.

I'll check out the sequels.
Not great, but good enough to make me come back for more.

Not gonna strive for it to "win", over politics.
There are bigger fish to fry.

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5. Comment #96525 by JamesDB on December 10, 2007 at 5:12 pm

Donahue is the douchebag that is being talked about in one of this sites members avatar that says
"free speech for all, even douchebags"
I always just find it hard to believe that people keep listening to him. Only a group as close minded as christians could use him as their spokesman and think its a good thing.

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6. Comment #96526 by steve99 on December 10, 2007 at 5:12 pm

They conclude this after one weekend in the USA?

Many films like this have gone on to make profits over the longer term, and also based on overseas sales.

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7. Comment #96528 by Mroberts3 on December 10, 2007 at 5:14 pm

Donohue concluded: "Let this be a lesson to militant atheists like Pullman: keep your hollow beliefs to yourself.

The same could be asked of him. They are only "hollow" because they aren't HIS beliefs. He wasn't out protesting the Narnia movies, but a movie that is basically just a mirror opposite is somehow evil.


what angers me is the way these people are out to ruin even something as simple as a children's movie.

I am an atheist and I loved the Narnia books. I saw the first movie, and will almost certainly see the next ones. You don't see me having a fit and boycotting them because of the religious symbolism. Why can't they do the same, and just let people who want to see a movie have a good time?

As a side note, these complaints remind me of the Islamic groups who scream and yell that cartoons, or naming a teddy bear is an affront to Islam. Why is every little bit of criticism (even in a children's movie) so bothersome?

Reminds me of how I (and probably most others) get most offended by criticism or rebuke when it is TRUE. If someone criticizes me, but I think its unjustified, I just ignore it and let it go.

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8. Comment #96530 by Don_Quix on December 10, 2007 at 5:15 pm

It is the #1 movie in America and grossed $25 million over the weekend. I'd hardly call that a flop. Worldwide I imagine it will almost certainly turn a substantial profit. Not counting DVD sales.

I haven't read any of these books or seen the movie. From what little I have heard and read about it on the Internet, I don't really see how it is "anti-religion", other than it depicting authority figures trying to control peoples' lives (a common theme in fantasy fiction). It sounds like it takes place in an alternate universe. I think the Catholic League was successful in setting up a strawman which they then successfully knocked down.

And ease up on demonizing Catholicism-no other religion has done more to promote human rights, science and goodwill

This guy is living in a fantasy world much grander than any of those depicted in the movies.

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9. Comment #96531 by Diacanu on December 10, 2007 at 5:16 pm

*Bothers to skim the article*

All we heard from the chattering class...

Damn, that phrase makes my flesh crawl.

I haven't run into anyone any damned good who uses the phrase "chattering class".

Utter "chattering class", I'm not going to bother anymore, you're my enemy, and that's that.

Sounds harsh, but 32 years is long enough to decide the matter methinks.

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10. Comment #96535 by kraut on December 10, 2007 at 5:21 pm

"And ease up on demonizing Catholicism-no other religion has done more to promote human rights, science and goodwill.""

How ignorant can one person be? ignorant of the bloody history starting from instigating hatred against jews during the council of nicea through the violence against the catherers, the church supported actions against the slavic people by the "Kreuz Ritter", the fights and bloody mindedness of the Knights Templar in palestine, the bloody conversions of the native south american tribes supported by the jesuits, the church supported 30 year war, the witch hunts in europe, the actions of the inquisition, the fights against reason and knowledge, from giardono bruno to galilei, and last but not least the concordat with the Nazi Party in germany and their proclamations towards sex, hiv and homosexuality, their actions of covering up thousands of cases of child abuse by their priests world wide - all very supportive of human rights, science and goodwill.

Is he ignorant, stupid, a liar or all of the above? I CONCLUDE HE MUST BE AN UTTER IDIOT TO SPOUT SUCH FALSEHOODS DESPITE A WEEL DOCUMENTED SORDID AND VIOLENT HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

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11. Comment #96536 by Don_Quix on December 10, 2007 at 5:26 pm

Is he ignorant, stupid, a liar or all of the above?

The pope has indirectly apologized for some of these things, so the church is completely free from all guilt, liability, and responsibility to its victims now.

Anything he hasn't apologized for is all the fault of those evil atheists. ;)

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12. Comment #96537 by Blazeguard on December 10, 2007 at 5:26 pm

Must we use 'Meh' ? It always has the snear and wavey hand. Like it's smart or something.

Perhaps saying that you thought it wasn't great, but you could see a sequel....

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13. Comment #96538 by Diacanu on December 10, 2007 at 5:31 pm

Blazeguard-

Must we use 'Meh' ?

Yes, "we", must.

I write how I talk, and I talk in the way that feels comfortable to me.

I've been using "meh", since before I ever encountered the internet, so I couldn't care less who else uses it, and what vibe they give off that you associate it with.

If a movie isn't a thumbs up, or a thumbs down, I'm going to use the wavey hand.

And if it isn't "yipee", or "pee-yoo", I'm gonna use "meh".

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14. Comment #96541 by BMMcArdle on December 10, 2007 at 5:32 pm

One of my golfing buddies, an older guy (65), who teaches 'religion' at a local catholic school part-time, told me he went to see the movie on saturday night. He started by saying that the church had a problem with it, but after watching it, he couldn't tell what the fuss was all about. He talked about the special effects, and how each character had their own animal and such. But the funny part was that after he and his wife left the movie, he asked her what it was about. "Um, a polar bear?" was her reply, which is exactly how he felt about it.

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15. Comment #96546 by Diacanu on December 10, 2007 at 5:37 pm

I couldn't see the overt connection to catholicism either.

I only saw a message of questioning ALL bloated authority.

Methinks the catholics do protest too much.

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16. Comment #96551 by Blazeguard on December 10, 2007 at 5:43 pm

I was at the opening opeing of Hellboy which I thought was great. At the end, a friend called out to another across the theater as the lights were come up. That friend introduced me to Meh. Hand wave. Sneer.

Yuck. I think I'd really have to despise something to use 'meh', so that's were I'm coming from.

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17. Comment #96553 by Durandal on December 10, 2007 at 5:46 pm

This movie didn't make money because the market has been overloaded with obtuse, bloated fantasy films since LOTR (it was the catalyst, though, not part of the problem; LOTR is awesome, of course). They're wringing out the children's book section for every last drop of cash-in potential.

It has nothing to do with the message or any boycott; we're in the midst of a fantasy meltdown. It happened in the eighties, it will happen again. Plus the movie just plain sucks. Not always a reason that a movie loses at the box-office, but sometimes reason breaks through to the masses.

And believe me, only $26M over an entire weekend at this time of year for this kind of overhyped blockbuster is utter failure. No other way to slice it. Also realize that this movie will lose 50% of its take next weekend. Golden Compass 2 will be DTV or non-existent.

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18. Comment #96569 by GSP on December 10, 2007 at 6:03 pm

This is all pretty funny to me. Besides Don Quix's valid points, lets not forget that these same people called for a boycott of the Da Vinci code, and that movie went on the become one of the highest grossing (if not the highest) films of all time.

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19. Comment #96581 by Frankus1122 on December 10, 2007 at 6:24 pm

I saw it with my class today. No one backed out or said they couldn't go. The general reaction was that they did not like the movie because it was not the book. There were too many parts left out and the parts that were left in were skimmed over. It looked good, but the story was not all there.
There were whiffs of objections from the class before seeing the movie about the 'controversy'.
The theme of the movie regarding the questioning of the Authority is not one to shy away from. It really bothers me that some people are afraid to ask questions. The idea that there are ideas that should not be thought is beyond stupid. Willful ignorance is the one thing that infuriates me. I mean it gets me really angry.
"I don't know and I don't want to know."
What do you do with that? You can't reason them out of it because they have said they are not willing to be reasonable.
That makes me think violent thoughts.

I have to go calm down now.

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20. Comment #96605 by quill on December 10, 2007 at 6:42 pm

Er, it may not be earning that much, but it's still the #1 grossing film of the week.

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21. Comment #96611 by Inferno on December 10, 2007 at 6:47 pm

Maybe it flopped simply because it's a bad film? Oh, no that can't be it!

Oh, and the reason Invasion and The Brave One flopped is because they had women in the leads.

Please!!!!

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22. Comment #96619 by ChrisMcL on December 10, 2007 at 7:00 pm

I joined a group of about 20 atheists who went together Sunday to see this film. The theater and the entire cineplex was mostly empty on this Sunday afternoon.

The movie makes absolutely no reference to Catholicism or Christianity or even atheism. I don't know why these religious meatheads give a care about a movie that is no more religious or irreligious than Star Wars.

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23. Comment #96625 by cal_mertes on December 10, 2007 at 7:11 pm

What ever happened to "Teach the Controversy"?

And what right do they have to impose their religious beliefs on us?

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24. Comment #96658 by gameguy on December 10, 2007 at 7:57 pm

I went out and saw the movie, it was fscking great and I hope that it does well enough that the make more.

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25. Comment #96678 by Goldy on December 10, 2007 at 8:21 pm

From the Independent

What complaint?

Sir: The Golden Compass (Performance Notes, 8 December) seems not to have enthused the critics. Its main claim to fame seems to be "a storm of protest from the Catholic church", actually from an obscure American group called The Catholic League. I am not aware of any statement from any Catholic body of any authority or repute on this film, nor mention in a Catholic publication, not even mild interest, much less "storms of protest".

Revd Bernard O'Connor OSA

St Mary's Priory, Birmingham

Other Comments by Goldy

26. Comment #96783 by Jason P on December 10, 2007 at 10:38 pm

I enjoyed the movie immensely. I would recommend it to everyone. It was certainly flawed, but it did a pretty good job of capturing the book and certainly made a very entertaining film.

The opening in the US is somewhat disappointing, but nothing catastrophic. Obviously mixed review hurt it, as did the boycott - good word of mouth could help it a lot. As importantly, it is making bucketloads in the overseas markets it has opened in, and it has yet to open in many countries.

Clearly the boycott did have an effect - it knocked out such a huge proportion of the Narnia-going population that those who are seeing it out of curiosity over the controversy couldn't nearly outweigh it.

The criticisms of religion are clearly still in there. I shake my head at how dense someone would have to be to deny their existence. Apart from all the angelic, saintly, and other religious imagery that decorates the Magisterium's buildings, there is the Magisterium itself (a clearly Christian name), whose functionaries wear high collars, robes, and medallions. They condemn scientific inquiry as "heresy." Any version of the truth which conflicts with theirs is shut down. Mrs. Coulter talks about Dust coming into the world because our ancestors made a mistake by disobeying The Authority. No, it doesn't say Church, nor does it yet say Sin. But aside from that, what more could you want.

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27. Comment #96791 by Don_Quix on December 10, 2007 at 11:00 pm

No, it doesn't say Church, nor does it yet say Sin. But aside from that, what more could you want.

Is there a burning bush? If there isn't a burning bush then forget about it!

Just kidding. I'll probably go see it this weekend ;)

Other Comments by Don_Quix

28. Comment #96795 by briancoughlanworldcitizen on December 10, 2007 at 11:27 pm

My wife, daughter and I saw it and loved it. it seems odd to consider a movie that in it's first weekend grossed $81M worldwide, and was considered the number 1 release as a "flop".

Then there is the issue of placing such a comment in context. How are other movies doing, are general expections being met, or is their a broader malaise?

Still, I suppose they are about $100M+ short of covering their investment, but with a whole cinema run to complete, and DVD release, wouldn't that add up to massive money? Any studio directors in the building?

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29. Comment #96829 by kintaro_crab on December 11, 2007 at 1:46 am

hmmmm i didn't like it, i thought the continuity could have been much better meh

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30. Comment #96832 by jaf on December 11, 2007 at 2:00 am

I suspect the film's PG-13 rating had rather more to do with keeping families away than any boycott by superstitious fuckwits.
It's downright censorship.

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31. Comment #96855 by RascoHeldall on December 11, 2007 at 2:38 am

The film made $26million in TWO DAYS and that's a FLOP?!?

Just the sort of typically sharp and accurate analysis you would expect from a fundy theist. I know we're not supposed to treat religious inanity as indicative of a lack of intelligence, but sometimes it just is, isn't it?

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32. Comment #96861 by hungarianelephant on December 11, 2007 at 2:51 am

And ease up on demonizing Catholicism-no other religion has done more to promote human rights, science and goodwill.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Brilliant satire!

Other Comments by hungarianelephant

33. Comment #96870 by Christian on December 11, 2007 at 3:09 am

Donohue concluded: "Let this be a lesson to militant atheists like Pullman: keep your hollow beliefs to yourself.

Well, 'hollow' is still several orders of magnitude better than 'full of shit'.

And ease up on demonizing Catholicism-no other religion has done more to promote human rights, science and goodwill." [/Orwell]

OK, now it makes more sense.

Other Comments by Christian

34. Comment #96886 by CJ22 on December 11, 2007 at 3:51 am

"I haven't run into anyone any damned good who uses the phrase "chattering class"."

Agreed. The phrase belongs on the junk-pile along with the word "brigade". It's anti-intellectual bullshit, and anybody who deploys it should have their limbs removed with a rusty spoon.

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35. Comment #96892 by brainsys on December 11, 2007 at 4:07 am

Is it going to flop? Well yes if you read the UK reviews. Mostly bad. The reason - too much flash CGI and not enough substance. In other words the novel had been watered down so much and little added beyond FX to replace it.

UK religious folk wisely kept mum on the subject hence robbing the film makers of the controversy option.

Now a full blooded adaption may have done somewhat better. Will Hollywood take the hint?

Other Comments by brainsys

36. Comment #96894 by mmurray on December 11, 2007 at 4:09 am

Interesting he only wants atheists to `ease up' on demonizing Catholicism -- so we can keep doing but just not so often ?

That letter from the Independent is rubbish. I saw a post on imdb by someone whose (Catholic) school had sent letters home to all parents advising them not to send their kids to the movie. There was also a report about the catholic schools in Canada pulling the books from the libraries while they reviewed them.

Michael

Other Comments by mmurray

37. Comment #96901 by steve99 on December 11, 2007 at 4:22 am

Is it going to flop? Well yes if you read the UK reviews. Mostly bad.

Not sure I agree. Mixed reviews, but they include some stunningly good ones.

Also, although not doing as well as hoped in the USA, the film seems to be on course for being a success elsewhere in the world, taking $81 million outside the USA.

It certainly is not a flop. Well, not yet anyway.

Other Comments by steve99

38. Comment #96959 by Ty_Webb on December 11, 2007 at 6:53 am

It appears that this Bill Donohue chap could do with some work on his spelling. For example, he appears to have misspelt the word "impede" by instead using the letters p, r, o, m, o, t and e.

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39. Comment #96965 by Michael P. on December 11, 2007 at 7:16 am

Not that I really care, but the Catholic Church should be concerned about a BS right-wing splinter group like the Donohue League of America pulling more weight than the US Conference of Bishops, who did NOT denounce the film. At least they actually WATCHED the film.

He reminds me of the handful of teachers I had at Catholic schools as a kid who acted even more holier-than-thou than the priests. Ignorant, ignorant, ignorant...

Other Comments by Michael P.

40. Comment #96967 by Durandal on December 11, 2007 at 7:19 am

Some people seem to have difficulty understanding the box office and what a certain amount of money over a period of time means.

A $26M take in the first weekend (that's three days by the way, not two [Fri. Sat. and Sun.]) for a film that cost in the neighborhood of $180M is an outright loser. It doesn't matter if it was the "#1 grossing movie of the weekend." That only means it made ever so slightly more than whatever else was playing that week.

Also, this film opened on 5,600 screens nationwide. That is heavy, heavy distribution. And $26M is not much to show for that. This film was supposed to be BIG. It did not deliver.

There are several reasons for this, and the boycott probably had almost nothing to do with it. Since 2001 we have had fantasy adaptations practically shoved down our throats. The wild success of LOTR and the Potter films opened the floodgates for anything and everything with a wizard and some bizarre creatures running around.

Also, some of the more successful adaptations that have come before Golden Compass have been in the public consciousness for almost fifty years (in the case of LOTR and Narnia) or have caught on like wild fire for the general public (Potter). The Pullman books simply do not share this pedigree.

We're in the midst of a fantasy burnout. People are simply getting tired of all of these fantasy adaptations that continue to offer little more than diminishing returns. (And there are still more on the way!). It has almost nothing to do with God, boycotts, or atheism. It has to do with studios making the same lame-brain decisions they've been making with predicable regularity since the establishment of the studios.

I understand the desire here to negate the assertions of Mr. Donahue. The fact is that he is wrong about the boycott destroying the box office of this movie. But he is absolutely right that it is a failure. To argue otherwise comes across as misplaced desire to just prove another priest wrong about something. Look at the facts and realize that this movie has simply failed with the majority of audiences.

More B.O. info:

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=goldencompass.htm

http://www.chud.com/index.php?type=news&id=12842

Other Comments by Durandal

41. Comment #96970 by epeeist on December 11, 2007 at 7:23 am

Comment #96967 by Durandal

We're in the midst of a fantasy burnout. People are simply getting tired of all of these fantasy adaptations that continue to offer little more than diminishing returns.

Does this mean we might get less of the Marvel Comics films as well? You can only hope.

Other Comments by epeeist

42. Comment #96972 by phasmagigas on December 11, 2007 at 7:26 am

boycott or not, im happy i didnt actively not see narnia because of its supposed christian symbolism. its something i didnt even think about. The religious mind truly can be poison.

i watched narnia as i enjoy the story anyway and i was interested to see a new adaptation of something ive seen on the (small) screen several times. Im not familiar with the pullman stories so just havent felt the inclination to watch the movie, i'll wait to rent on DVD.

that nasty BD only want to say the boycott worked so hes in the news, so hes right, so hes having an effect, as often with the religious their motivations are as selfish as the genes which they seem to be afraid of.



Other Comments by phasmagigas

43. Comment #96974 by Durandal on December 11, 2007 at 7:29 am

Well, that's a parallel trend that may also meet its comuppance soon enough. But Iron Man is looking amazing for next summer, don't count that one out.

Other Comments by Durandal

44. Comment #96975 by steve99 on December 11, 2007 at 7:31 am

But he is absolutely right that it is a failure. To argue otherwise comes across as misplaced desire to just prove another priest wrong about something. Look at the facts and realize that this movie has simply failed with the majority of audiences.

It is far too early to say. The box office takings outside of the USA have been pretty solid, and if they carry on as they have, then the film will make a good profit.

Of course it may not, who knows? But poor ratings in the USA does not necessarily mean failure or even lack of profitability.

Other Comments by steve99

45. Comment #96986 by irate_atheist on December 11, 2007 at 7:58 am

They must be gutted to have taken 'only' $26million in the first weekend. In their position I'd be crying all the way to the bank.

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46. Comment #96998 by JemyM on December 11, 2007 at 8:29 am

[quote]Donohue concluded: "Let this be a lesson to militant atheists like Pullman: keep your hollow beliefs to yourself. And ease up on demonizing Catholicism-no other religion has done more to promote human rights, science and goodwill."[/quote]

Uhm... uhm... uhm? Who's demonizing catholicism, Pullman or catholics? It's an organization based on an old book with dirty old men who gets power out of making people retarded.

Other Comments by JemyM

47. Comment #97000 by Jack Rawlinson on December 11, 2007 at 8:40 am

Hmm. From what I've gathered, the film hasn't done so well because... err... it isn't a very good film. Still, a little fact like that isn't going to stop the god-botherers clutching desperately at straws, I suppose. They're good at that.

On the other hand, 26.1 million in the first weekend is hardly a flop.

Other Comments by Jack Rawlinson

48. Comment #97002 by Jack Rawlinson on December 11, 2007 at 8:45 am

...although having just read Durandal's comment about the film costing 180 mill, I guess 26.1 really is a bit of a downer after all! I had no idea they'd poured so much money into it.

I'm finding it hard to care too much about this really, since I can't stand fantasy stuff anyway. Well, apart from the Gormenghast trilogy, which is much more than just "Fantasy". :-)

Other Comments by Jack Rawlinson

49. Comment #97004 by steve99 on December 11, 2007 at 8:55 am

They must be gutted to have taken 'only' $26million in the first weekend. In their position I'd be crying all the way to the bank.

They have 'only' taken $26 million in the USA. Outside the USA they have taken $81 million. Not bad, really.

Other Comments by steve99

50. Comment #97006 by irate_atheist on December 11, 2007 at 9:01 am

49. Comment #97004 by steve99 -

They must be devastated. To only recoup 1/3rd of estimated total costs in two whole days, well, a real flop. Damn, I wish I could fail so well sometime.

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