"The Golden Compass" Begins Filming

The first book in the His Dark Materials trilogy has begun filming. One of the best works of fantasy in my lifetime, the three books have sold some 9 million copies worldwide, a great start for a substantive, thought-provoking spin on Milton's "Paradise Lost" wrapped up in a highly entertaining tale of witches and talking bears. It may someday rank with "The Lord of the Rings," "Alice In Wonderland" and "The Chronicles Of Narnia" (not a favorite of mine) as classic fantasy works and I don't say that lightly. One indication of how unusual this tale is: the filmmakers had to deny that anti-religious elements of the story had been taken out. (Usually, of course, you deny that any anti-religious elements have been put in.)