The Vatican has condemned the new adventure movie “The Golden Compass” on the grounds that it believes the movie teaches people to be atheists and look down upon Christianity. Speaking through the l’Osservatore Romano newspaper, the Church said that “The Golden Compass” movie and the novel that it is based upon was ” the most anti-Christmas film possible,” and that it depicts a universe where “there is no salvation but only personal, individualistic capacity to control the situation and dominate events.”

The Catholic Church’s critical assessment of the picture follows a scathing call by the U.S.-based Catholic League to Christians to not see the movie because of its controversial aspects towards religion. “Golden Compass” director Chris Weitz removed all references to the Church from author Philip Pullman’s book when he adapted the material but that still isn’t enough for the clergy who still sees a slanderous connection between the movie’s evil Magisterium organization and their religious body.

In its first weekend of release the Nicole Kidman/Daniel Craig movie took in $26 million dollars. It has now fallen to third place and appears to be failing to earn back the cost of its immense $200 million dollar budget.

It should be a time when Nicole Kidman is making news headlines to promote her new movie “The Golden Compass” but instead she is looking to scratch out what she claims are untruths that appeared in “The Daily Telegraph”. The tabloid published a story claiming that the 40-year-old was spotted constantly spritzing herself with Jo Malone’s White Jasmine and Mint perfume while she met with the U.K. press to promote “Compass” recently. Kidman is a celebrity endorser for Chanel No. 5 and receives a handsome $12 million paycheck each year for serving as the spokeswoman for the well known perfume which the Telegraph’s story may have now placed in jeopardy. Kidman rang up her lawyers at Schillings and is now taking legal action against the paper for what the firm claims are “grossly defamatory” and “entirely untrue” statements in the original article. “We have been instructed to obtain an immediate retraction of such allegations and are taking separate action against the Daily Telegraph,” reads part of the statement released by Kidman’s council.

The “Moulin Rouge” and “Dead Calm” star has never been shy of protecting herself using the legal system. Nicole recently testified against an Australian member of the paparazzi that she claims hounded her and her family relentlessly seeking to capture intimate photos from her private life.

Whom do think is the leading Hollywood actress that makes the most money? “Pretty Woman” Julia Roberts would be a good guess but you would still be wrong. What about Angelina Jolie? You would still be wrong. Would you believe that it is Reese Witherspoon?

The “Legally Blonde” and “Sweet Home Alabama” star tops the list for the top actress earnings for 2007 according to “The Hollywood Reporter”. Even though her latest film, “Rendition”, failed to perform at the box office Witherspoon will command between $15 million to $20 million dollars per picture that she makes. She is presently making the comedy “Four Christmases” and is helping to produce a horror film called “Our Family Trouble”.

Angelina Jolie came in number two by making about the same wage that Witherspoon does. Cameron Diaz is number three with an average payday of about $15 million a movie. For Diaz’s work on “Shrek the Third” she is rumored to have made in the neighborhood of $30 million thanks to the profit sharing plan she and her co-stars shared.

Nicole Kidman was number four and Renee Zellweger number five with their $10 to $15 million dollar cost per movie. Rounding out the remaining top ten were Sandra Bullock (#6, $10-15 million), Julia Roberts (#7, $10-15 million), Drew Barrymore (#8, $10-12 million), Jodie Foster (#9, $10-12 million) and Halle Berry (#10, $10 million).