Worrying that this could also be an issue at the Cineplex, the filmmakers have taken great pains to make The Golden Compass amusing, exciting and grand without ever raising anyone's hackles.

NPR: This Season, the Scrappy Heroes Are Wearing Skirts

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart may be brief Berman recalls a few tracks getting accidentally erased during the recording process in his friend's basement but at just 34 minutes, it begs to be put on repeat.

NPR: The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart: 'Contender'

Yet, encouragingly, donor governments have so far been at pains to promise that tsunami-related aid will not be at the expense of existing aid budgets.

ECONOMIST: Asia's tsunami