Lyra Belacqua (Dakota Blue Richards) is an orphan who lives happily in Jordan College, Oxford, playing with local boys and terrorizing the professors. However, when Lyra overhears scholars discussing a plot against her uncle, Lord Asriel (Daniel Craig), that involves a mysterious substance called "dust," her curiosity is roused. Soon Lyra is in over her head as she uncovers the frightening plot and a whole new world of possibilities. Nicole Kidman stars as Marisa Coulter. And Ian McKellen lends his voice to an animal creature.

Angela Yeager noted in December's Salem Monthly that "This big-budget fantasy starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig is already being boycotted by some Christian groups so the big question is whether this will pull in a ton of money like "The Da Vinci Code." The Catholic League is leading the pack of folks boycotting the movie. In a FOX News transcript of "The Big Story with John Gibson and Heather Nauert," Bill Donahue, president of the Catholic League, admits that he has not seen the movie, but knows that its intent is to direct kids towards atheism. The full transcript is available at here)

Director Chris Weitz told FOX News in a rebuttal: "Certain people have misread the books and haven't seen the movie and [are] telling people not to see something that they misunderstood."

Despite the controversy, only a handful of theatres nationwide have decided to pull it.

"The Golden Compass" opens today and is rated PG-13. Regal Movieland 7 (Downtown Salem) and Lancaster Mall Stadium 11 will both be showing it.