The Golden Compass points away from controversy.

Last nigh I and other Philip Pullman fans went to see the movie adaptation of The Golden Compass, the first in a trilogy of theology disguised as innocent fantasy fiction. With out giving any thing away about the story I can tell you the books are a daring look at organized religion, the creation story, and the western ideas of God. The book takes place in world where the church controls all government, and where there is no science, but rather experimental theology. The corrupt theocracy is committing atrocities, which prompts one main character to set out to kill “The Authority” a.k.a. God. The trilogy has prophecies, Arc Angels and a Gnostic inspired episode in which another character like Jesus frees the souls in hell. It is from the daring themes that the books in the “His Dark Materials” trilogy get their impact.
The movie, not wanting to offend anyone took out all religious content leaving an enjoyable but shallow film. It is still worth seeing, but the omitting of the central theme of the books from the movie was disappointing. Moreover, it makes me wonder how they are going to continue and finish the story.
To the credit of the film industry the main character Lyra is a strong heroine in her own right just as she is in the books. At the center of this adventure Layra is at no point a damsel in distress, nor dose she have to be made masculine to be a daring and brave character.