What's The Deal About The Movie The Golden Compass?

The Golden Compass is based on the book by the same name which is part of a trilogy by Phillip Pullman.  Some Christian groups feel the books are anti-religious and have begun a campaign to warn people not to take their children to see the movie.  They say that if children see the movie, they will then want to read the books and they don't think kids should be exposed to that.  

I've read all three books and I thought they were just really good fantasies.  My personal opinion is that people are getting a little hysterical about the whole thing.  Younger kids will probably not even get the religious themes of the books.  I guess it's something similar to how some people reacted to the Harry Potter books.

I personally have not seen the movie.  However, many of my friends have and they said that it is ok in the beginning, but gets worse during the second half of the movie.  I have read the books that the movie is based on, and although I can see why so many people say it is anti-religious, I also think that the books were very good, and that maybe you could see the movie.  If not, i recommend the book series.

I do think people get hysterical about the movie also.  But I believe it's just because the bad guys look closest to say the..Pope, or catholics.  But the movie can't be that bad, because the bad guys aren't just going after little boys--they go after all kids!  So there you go! Shows equality!