Continuing its series of interviews with Golden Compass director Chris Weitz, the MTV Movie Blog has posted its second round of questions and answers concerning the controversial new film, opening Dec. 7.

Taking questions from fans, Weitz addresses some of the more divisive issues of the film, particularly its anti-religious themes. When asked about statements made by the film's author, Philip Pullman, that his aim is to "kill" God in the minds of his readers, Weitz insists that such claims are "wrongheaded," culled from "selective cutting and pasting" of interview material.

Continues Weitz, "I think Pullman probably has an issue with a certain view of God—which is to say, as a subject worth killing people over. In that regard, the institution that I think most closely resembles the Magisterium is the government of Iran. I think it's a shame that people are reacting to a movie they haven't seen by attacking a book they haven't understood."

Weitz also mentions Catholic League president Bill Donohue—who urges a boycott of the film—and states simply that he does not view the books as anti-Catholic. "My feeling about how some people have approached the intellectual and theological content of His Dark Materials is that they're refusing to deal with its variety and subtlety." Weitz also denies that the film's two sequels will be anti-Catholic: "What would be anti-Catholic would be to go out of one's way to attack people's beliefs."

Meanwhile, Mark Earley, the President of Chuck Colson's Prison Fellowship, said in a recent Breakpoint commentary that Christians should be prepared to discuss the film and Pullman's books: "If we really want to be able to speak out against Pullman's ideas, we must know what we are talking about … . Because when Christians start warning the culture about something dangerous, we often get a backlash. And it is worse if we are not prepared. If we just go out there and tell people, 'This movie is about kids who kill God!' we just get a reputation as ill-informed scolds."

In other movie news:

Fans review The Golden Compass (Bridge to the Stars)
Fan site posts early, spoiler-laden reviews

Angels and Demons delayed by WGA strike (New York Post)
Naomi Watts in talks for DaVinci follow-up

German film company takes on The 13th Disciple (Daijiworld)
Movie to tell story of Jesus' evil twin brother

Roger Ebert posts belated Best of 2006 list (Roger Ebert)
Pan's Labyrinth tops the list

Daniel Craig talks Bond 22 (Coming Soon)
007 updates on Bond progress, discusses Golden Compass sequels

McG to direct Terminator IV (Moviehole)
Christian Bale joins cast of sci-fi franchise

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