Further up and Further in

Lisa was looking up theatre locations for the Da Vinci Code, released in most of the world around the 18th/19th of this month, and found, to her astonishment, that the release date in India is as yet undetermined. Then we recalled a meeting we attended in the church of a friend of ours a few weeks ago (a Protestant church) where a young man who was giving a talk said, interestingly enough, that his friend's faith was shaken after he read Da Vinci Code. Apparently there are quite a few protests being staged by Catholic groups (and other Christian, Hindu and Muslim groups that are supporting them) to oppose the release of the film. We just thought it was funny because it's pretty obvious that neither the book nor the film were a part of Dan Brown's doctoral dissertation on symbology and a Great Conspiracy. It's fiction. Not a cause to be losing faith.
There was a hunger strike started by a Catholic group in Mumbai, and the group's general secretary states that the purpose of the hunger strike was to show the extent to which their feelings have been hurt. Hmm. Somehow I think it doesn't pull as much weight as Gandhi's hunger strike. The strike lasted about 2 days, and they believed their strike to be victorious, though the police did prevent them from burning effigies of Dan Brown.
I have to say that the Christians here seem to have a bit more of a persecution complex than they do in the States, which they may have good reason to hold, since only 2% of India is Christian. Still. Losing faith over the Da Vinci Code? Maybe Christian church leaders in India could point out that the work is fiction and the movie is far from a documentary instead of raising such a scandal about it. Which may result in more people going to see the film (if ever released) out of sheer curiosity.

You'd be surprised at the controversies the movie has created in the United States, a country founded on decidedly Christian values. It wouldn't suprise me, then, that a country of over a billion people with a 2% Christian population would feel religiously threatened.

My advice: read the book. And then, read it a second time, a few months later. Having read it a second time this past week in preparation for the release of the movie (May 19th, in VA), I felt decidedly deflated and disappointed by the vapid prose and predictable formulaic plotline. Any incredulity I might have felt the first time over any sort of challenge to theological status quo was completely overshadowed by the self-righteous tone in which the author pens forth his factual 'claims.' Any belief I might have had that he had stumbled across a millenial controversy was shattered.

And the movie? I hear it's boring. Except for Paul Bettany and Gandalf. If you love Paul and Gandalf, then I guess it's worth it.

On a completely unrelated side note, I attempted to watch "Long Pants" before I was interrupted by my coworker. Alls I can say is, (other than it's funny, of course), it's so ADD. I can see why you like it. :)

I watched The Da Vinci Code last night. I haven't read the book. I actually guessed the ending pretty much from the very beginning. I enjoyed it. But, it's not a movie I will purchase for my own collection. It did make me want to read the book--but not desperately. More like, "Yah, that'd be interesting, when I get around to it."

Ha ha, poor you I saw the movie last week! I originally objected to Ian Mckellan playing the part of Teabing, but he actually did a good job. Have I mentioned how much I love Paul Bettany? Except I don't love his skinny butt and this is the second movie I've seen it in all it's skinny white glory! Yay Paul Bettany!

Bean! I remember, you loved Chaucer just as much as I did and Megan was soooo grossed out by our mutual love for lerpy men. At least his butt's not hairy, right? =D

Our hopes have been dashed to pieces. Check this out. We were going to see the film today in Chennai, since last week we read that it would finally be released on June 1...tepid reviews aside, we wanted to see the protesters, be a part of the excitement, the thrill, the danger, right? Yeah, so our fine state of Tamil Nadu has banned the film. I'm not sure I'll be interested enough to seek out the film when I get back to the States.

That is interesting that there is so much opposition to the movie. Of course, there's a fair amount of opposition here in the states, too.

And I don't really get it, quite honestly. I'm Catholic and I liked the book and am planning to see the movie (and am really hoping that they make a movie for Angels & Demons, which I thought was even cooler than The DaVinci Code).

Even though the book is fiction, it is definitely getting people (especially Catholics, I think) to learn more about the history and traditions of their faith. Overall, I think that is a very good thing. :)

Katie, thanks for the Catholic perspective. Here in India, a lot of people are jumping to the aid of the Catholics in the attempt to aid them in banning the film, and that may be the best thing that has happened because of the "scandal". They're afraid that the uneducated among the Christians in India will believe that the movie is true, but if they are believing that American movies depict reality, I say we have a bigger problem on our hands :) I am also a Christian, and found the book an interesting read, but...I try avoid getting sucked in to the conspiracy theorist camp unless I have some good evidence of a conspiracy. That usually doesn't come from a fiction novel. Poor Dan Brown. I hope the money and fame was worth the trouble for him.

Hey Asian Keng! I'm glad I have a person who loves Paul Bettany as much as I do. I just wish if I had to see a butt in a movie that it was Antonio Banderas (sp?) or someone like that. Maybe we'll see another Dan Brown novel turned movie starring somebody latin and sexy. But then you wouldn't like it, (no lurpy men) too bad. PS Rice sucks! love ya!