A few of us went to see Firewall over the weekend. It was pretty good ... I wouldn't make Harrison Ford mad ... but before the movie, they played a preview for the soon-to-be-released movie version of The DaVinci Code. Oh joy!
People ask me why I have a problem with the book and now the movie. My answer:
First, it is based on the premise that Christianity (especially Catholicism because the protestants and Orthodox don't seem to exist in the story) is a lie perpetuated to keep men in power and oppress women. "It's just a story!" you say? Well, the Dan Brown doesn't think so. He put the infamous "fact page" in the book so that people would think that the story is at least based on fact. Even if you don't believe Brown's claims, why would you buy it and say "I am interested in books that bash my faith. Heck, I'll even give you money so that you'll keep making them!"?
There is a big difference between learning about people that oppose your beliefs and helping them do it with your money. It's good to read something like this book so that you can explain why you dislike it, though, so get it from the library or borrow it.
Second, it is horribly written. It follows the theory that if you put a cliffhanger at the end of every (extremely short) chapter, people will keep reading. And it works. I read DaVinci during the ride to St. Louis for STE Conclave 2004 and it flew by.
Also, what passes for dialogue in the book is basically Brown's pontifications to the reader. The characters talk like they are reading out of history books. I'm not saying that people who like the book are dumb or anything. It's just not the most challenging thing you could read.
So, what do you do if you are an avid opponent of The DaVinci Code (like me)? Well, I have a few ideas:
1. Like I said, don't support this kind of crap. Hollywood has been making some "Christian" movies because people are paying to see them. Don't go see the movie. You will be pressured and questioned about it, but in that case ...
2. Tell people why you are not a fan. That means, yes, subject yourself to the book so you know what you're talking about. It's not even necessary to check out the books debunking the book (though that may help). We know that the book/movie are attacking what we believe. That's a good enough reason to boycott it.
3. Protest? I don't think so. Don't give it the publicity. Instead, maybe people could do some sort of underground campaign: homemade t-shirts, blogging (hint hint), etc. all with a some catchy slogan and logo. I'll work on it.
Anyway, so that's what I'm thinking right now. Give me some ideas and join the fight against garbage.
I'll leave you with my brother's evaluation of the preview:
"Tom Hanks with semi-long hair ... gah ... freaks me out."
2 comments:
Barb Nicolosi has a great suggestion for combatting Da Vinci Code: Get a huge group together and go see Over the Hedge, which comes out the same day. Hedge might be pretty dumb, but from a theological and religious aspect, it's soaring high above Da Vinci, and the best way to talk to Hollywood is through it's pocketbook.
That's brilliant!
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