No Such Thing as Bad Publicity

I've been following with some disgust the Catholic smear campaign against The Golden Compass. I know I'm  a little late to the controversy, but that's because I've been busy doing something the critics at the Vatican were either too busy or too dishonest to do--I'm actually reading it.

I'm two-thirds of the way through the last book of the trilogy now, and I'd recommend the books to anyone. As I've read, the main characters have demonstrated nothing if not a driving hope for a better life and a deep and loyal commitment to the people who deserve their love. Pullman's clever and engaging style create a universe that's easy and enjoyable to immerse yourself in.

So if we're reading the same book and watching the same movie, how do Catholic.org and the Vatican reach this conclusion?

"The Vatican newspaper criticized the movie 'The Golden Compass,' saying the film depicts a fantasy world that is without emotion, without hope and without love."

It can only be because of the clear and intelligent way this book exposes issues not just within Catholicism, but within the greater whole of religion--organized or not.

Still, Pullman insists that his only agenda as a writer is to keep his reader turning pages. And in that regard he succeeds magnificently. It is easily the best fantasy series I've read this year.

The movie however, was dreadful. There were too many liberties taken with the original story, the characters were unconvincing and the dialog was hopelessly corny. But as film.com reports, controversy pays. Pullman should at least send the Pope a thank you card for the 500% spike in sales ten years after he wrote the books. You can't buy publicity like that.