In an example of commerce kicking the crap out of principle, The Golden Compass director Chris Weitz said the he removed anti-religious themes and a more downbeat ending from the movie so he could rake in a few more Benjamins. The novel, written by godless heathen Phillip Pullman, is more direct in setting up church and/or religion as the bad guy, but Weitz had an eye on the box office and wasn’t having any of that nonsense. Of course, that didn’t fool the Catholic League, who sees right through those shenanigans and is calling for all men of little and big faith to stay the hell away.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Weitz said that he removed all negative religious and Christian elements because, “to me that was about not being aggressive and offending the individual audience goer who might be religious.” In other words, an offended customer is not a repeat customer. This is not the only area where the almighty dollar ruled Weitz’s heart and mind. The ending of the movie stops three chapters before the end of the book. Weitz said that he did that so there would be a more box office-friendly ending. At least he admits it and doesn’t throw in anything about artistic decision or some such crap.
The Catholic League is still calling for a boycott. They think the movie is just a gateway drug to the hard stuff, Pullman’s god-hating books. Their website states, "Though the movie promises to be fairly non-controversial, it may very well act as an inducement to buy Pullman's trilogy, ‘His Dark Materials’.” The kids start by smoking a harmless joint and the next thing you know, they’re freebasing. The good news is, no one is being forced at gunpoint to watch fantasy movies… yet. Those that don’t want to go are welcome to skip at and try to convince others to do the same. Those that want to be exposed to talking polar bears and other unnatural Hell spawn, buy your ticket and bring your friends. As long as Chris Weitz gets paid, that’s all that matters.
