Movie News

God-botherers attack new Kidman film

Fri 30 Nov 4:20 PM

Nicole Kidman's new film The Golden Compass has been attacked by religious groups in the US for being anti-Christian and promoting atheism among children.

The fantasy blockbuster, released in the UK next week, is based on the first novel of Philip Pullman''s His Dark Materials trilogy.

Although many of the anti-religious themes have been watered down for the film, the Catholic League believes that the film will encourage children to read more of Pullman's atheist literature.

"Pullman is hoping his books will fly off the shelves at Christmas time," said Catholic League president and CEO Bill Donohue. "It's a deceitful, stealth campaign."

However, the film has attracted criticism from some critics for sanitising the story under pressure from right-wing God-botherers in the US.

But star Nicole Kidman denies the charge, telling the Daily Telegraph, "I don't think it warrants this alarming response. I'm a Catholic and I didn't feel it was anti-religious when I read the screenplay.''

An outspoken atheist, Pullman also laughed off his critics. "This must be the only film attacked in the same week for being too religious and for being anti-religious and by people who haven't see it," he said.

The anti-religious themes get progressively stronger through the trilogy, so this could be just the start of the controversy.