THE EDITOR, Sir:

The controversy surrounding the recent release of the movie The Golden Compass wasn't very encouraging to the film's commercial success.

The film's stars, academy-award winner Nicole Kidman, new James Bond 007 star Daniel Craig and newcomer actress Dakota Blue Richards, all gave great performances in this fantasy adventure story. So why the controversy?

In The Gleaner's Mind and Spirit section, the article by Mark Dawes dated December 15, 2007 reports that for many Evangelicals and Roman Catholics, the release of The Golden Compass in cinemas in the United States was not merely the unveiling of another movie but another blow to Theological Orthodoxy and an invitation for viewers to embrace atheism.

Obviously this statement has a quotation in the article by the same religious society. However, the film doesn't give any hint or reference to author Phillip Pullman's so-called personal views on atheism.

The Golden Compass has fallen into the same situation as the Harry Potter novels by JK Rowlings, with news of proposed book burning and boycott of the movies. The fact remains that these are fantasy adventure movies, just entertainment.

I am, etc.,

BALDWIN COLLINS

New Market

St. Elizabeth