Weekend Update: Riding The Coat-tails Of Frodo and Harry

It's that time of year again. The supermarkets are filling their aisles with stands for fruitcake ingredients. Shopping malls are interviewing male retirees with white beards and jolly dispositions, and Hollywood is distributing several silver screen gems to get you to part with your entertainment dollar. Here at Two Institutions, we like to be out front giving you a heads-up on what to expect before you pack-up the family and head to the discount matinee.

Due out in December is a film billed as a "narniaesque" children's adventure entitled "The Golden Compass". It is based on a series of children's books written by Phillip Pullman who was described by New Yorker journalist Laura Miller as "one of England's most outspoken atheists." The film has already garnered criticism from our Catholic allies in the culture war. Bill Donahue, president of the watchdog group The Catholic League has produced a video entitled "The Golden Compass Agenda Unmasked" which can be found at their website by clicking here.

I have had no opportunity to view the film, but I have watched its pre-release trailer which can be found by clicking here. From a philosophical standpoint, I have some serious concerns about this one especially as it seems to be pitting enligtened witches against an evil repressive "church-like" enemy called the "magisterium". Of course, the depiction of people having "daemon" spirit guides who appear to them as cute, cuddly animals is also very troubling. Whether this move should be viewed by your family is up to you to decide but at least be aware that this movie, from what I've seen, looks a lot more like Mordor than the Shire.