Da Vinci plot may get new twist to placate Catholics

[emad]

August 08, 2005


By Dalya Alberge, Arts Correspondent



THE film version of The Da Vinci Code is attempting to reduce the offence that the best-selling book caused to Roman Catholics.

Sony Pictures, the studio behind the film starring Tom Hanks and Sir Ian McKellen, is reported to have been so concerned that it has consulted Catholic and other Christian specialists on how it might alter the plot of the novel to avoid offending the devout.

Film officials have held talks with Catholic groups and other organisations despite Dan Brown, the author, insisting that “it’s only a novel and therefore a work of fiction”, The New York Times reported yesterday.

The Catholic League is calling for Ron Howard, the film’s Oscar-winning director, to include a disclaimer acknowledging that the movie is fiction.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,170-1726165,00.html

[KittyWampus]

1. Hey Ron, Go For The Controversy (It's Contrived). This Is A Best Seller.

here at my family's Inn, we see people reading this all the time STILL.

I have a hard time believing it's that offensive to people who are secure in their faith.

IMO, there are some agitators READY to take offense, chip on shoulder at the ready.

[Benhurst]

2. Looks like this will be one to see ... NOT. NT

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

3. There is an article in the NYT about this too.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/07/movies/07waxm.html?

[asjr]

4. We are on our way. Has anyone

here read the parody of the Da Vinci Code called the Asti Spumonte Code? Can't remember the name of the author.

[Richardo]

8. Best copycat title so far: The Givenchy Code

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0743496132.01._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-dp-500-arrow,TopRight,45,-64_AA240_SH20_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg :rofl:

Everyone has weaknesses. Graduate-student Melanie "Mel" Prescott's happen to be haute couture shoes and complex codes, and who knew one would be the key to staying alive. When Mel first received a coded message from the tall, dark, and scary stranger, she thought one of her friends was kidding her, especially after she decoded the message, which read, "Play or die." But Mel quickly discovers the message is no joke and that she has somehow become involved in a real-life version of the Internet game of Play.Survive.Win. Now Mel is going to need all of her code-cracking skills, and the help of sexy Matthew Stryker, if she wants to stay one step ahead of an assassin who won't stop playing until Mel is dead. A fabulously fun heroine with a math-geek's mind and a passion for fashion outwits and outplays a ruthless killer in the latest ingenious literary creation from Kenner, whose sharp sense of wit is the perfect accessory for this chic blend of chick lit and thriller.

[asjr]

11. The titles are really funny. I will have to look up this one.

[MadHound]

5. Why do we have to put up with this kind of stupidity?

I'm sorry, but I'm getting sick and tired of having to deal with some Christians persecution complex. This is a work of fiction, it is well known to be a work of fiction, yet here we have another media outlet feeling that it has to pander to Christian sensibilities about this piece of fiction, and in the process, screw up what could be a great movie. Geez, if you take out the plot line that Christ had a child, and the villiany of Opus Dei, you're going to lose most of the punch of the book.

Here's hoping that Ron Howard refuses to appease these folks. The book has sold twenty five million copies, and has been read by countless more millions. I would say that with that kind of fan base, tell the oh-so-offended Christians to take a hike, the film is following the original plot line.

Just another example of Christianity's attepmt to control everything we read, see, and listen too. Sad to say, but in many instances they're successful.

[Southpaw Bookworm]

6. I agree

What is this story without that particular plotline?

And as someone above mentioned, how insecure about the validity of your faith are you if you're concerned about a work of fiction? Or, perhaps the idea that large parts of their religion are politically-inspired mythology hits too close to home?

[KnaveRupe]

9. "What is this story without that particular plotline?"

National Treasure.

A mindless (but fun) action-adventure movie with a flimsy conspiracy plot.

In other words, exactly what Hollywood gives us every freakin' summer. Yawn.

[sui generis]

10. the church has always had a problem with "dangerous ideas"

whether they have any basis in fact or not.

it was quite acceptable to show this Jesus guy getting tortured for two hours with blood spraying through the air in slow motion in Mel Gibson's gore flick, but not in the Da Vinci code.

Ironic that it is for all the same reasons they list in the book itself. I sure hope Ron Howard is just paying lip service, but actually sticks to his guns.

[Southpaw Bookworm]

27. I keep remembering a quote

I read once upon a time, somewhere. It was something along the lines of "The Catholic Church: The people who opposed the fork." I wish I could find the context of this.

[shrike]

19. Unfortunately, people believe this kind of stupidity (spoiler alert)

Hook, line and sinker. I'm not saying Howard should alter the film (he's got the rights to the story, then film the story), but people take this book VERY seriously.
(Here's the spoiler)
People have been known to call the Louvre and ask if they can visit Mary Magdalene's resting place while they're there. And there are those who believe that the Merovingians are the rightful kings of France. (The silliest claim of all to me -- even if they WERE descendants of Jesus, why does that give them a claim to the French throne, which doesn't exist anymore last time I checked.)

I'm a Catholic and really have no problem with the book -- it's fiction. However, people are shocked when they find out I've read the book. They think it's a true history of Catholicism. I tell them the church has done plenty of nefarious things in its history, none of which have much to do with that book.

Anyway, back to Howard's movie -- he should film the thing any darn way he wants. End of story.

[Doctor Panacea]

28. Share the delusion

That is the goal of religion: its practitioners want everybody to share their delusion. Everybody has to believe. The believers have their own doubts, you see, but they squelch these, and they do not want anything or anybody to arouse those doubts. Unbelievers are reminders that the whole religious system (name any one of them) is pure bunk.

[noahmijo]

7. Ummm it doesn't go after Catholics.....

It does state some true history of which shows how the Church supported bloodshed in certain cases but hey facts are facts ALL religion has a violent past.

Go ahead name me a single religion which doesn't have a violent past and is guilty of crimes in committed in the name of God.

Secondly dammit it's so hard not to spoil too much but anyone who has read the book no that in the end............

[SoCalDem]

15. It would have been EXTREMELY rare for a man to reach 30

in those days, and NOT have procreated..(Married or otherwise)..

I don't understand why people have to make the "story" a g-rated fairy tale..


in fact the whole idea of sending the "son" there, was to preach the word and to "mingle"..

[ohio_liberal]

12. I never understood why DaVinci Code got people all fired up

Dan Brown's Angels & Demons paints the Catholic Church in a far worse light.

[northzax]

41. yeah, but no one read that one

there's the rub.

[Tesha]

13. Ron Howard calls on Catholic League...

> The Catholic League is calling for Ron Howard, the film’s
> Oscar-winning director, to include a disclaimer acknowledging
> that the movie is fiction.

"Ron Howard calls on Catholic League to include a disclaimer
acknowledging that their religion is fiction."

(At least, that's what *OUGHT* to happen.)

Tesha

[jobycom]

14. Wow. Tampering with fine literature to placate the pope?

What next? Change the ending of the Sun Also Rises to make Christians happier? Change the ending of Jaws to give it more bang? Change the ending of The Shining to give it more snow?

Wow, the integrity of art is at stake! This most be stopped!

Seriously, though, how can you possibly change PART of the story to make it less offensive to Catholics. The whole premise is blasphemous, and that's about the only thing which makes this book remarkable in the first place.

I guess at the end of the book Tom Hanks will wake up, and realize it was all a dream?

Silliness. Hollywood is full of silliness.

[CBHagman]

26. Even Chocolat was altered when brought to the screen.

I don't know how many of you have read Joanne Harris's Chocolat, but the novel is much, much darker than the film adaptation done by Lasse Halstrom. The screenplay totally eliminates any criticism of the Catholic Church and specifically of the clergy. In fact, any bite is taken out of it (No pun intended). It's warm and fuzzy, offering redemption for everyone.

So it's hardly the first time anyone has interfered with an author's vision (the '90s adaptation of The Scarlet Letter, anyone?).

[jobycom]

29. Add The Color Purple

The lesbian scenes and the agnosticism were nuked, too.

[quiet.american]

16. The book's writing is utter tripe -- have never understood the appeal. n/t

[gatorboy]

31. I agree!

Without the Mary plot device, the book was nothing more then a below average thriller. I was halfway through, bored to tears.

I think the comic book, "Preacher" nailed a similar storyline better then this book did.

[Mr_Spock]

40. An exciting thriller.

I loved it.

[Rich Hunt]

45. LOL

Maybe that's why "the Catholics" (this is a made-up media fantasy, by the way) are "offended" by it...they're offended by trashy books.

[jackelope72]

17. Another reason NOT to see the movie.

Ron Howard has already ruined it, IMHO, by casting Tom Hanks in the leading role. If he caves in to religious pressure, he will merely be driving the final nail into the coffin.

[murielm99]

18. If they are offended by this work of fiction, their faith is weak.

A look at what the early church did to destroy pagan religion is not a bad thing. It does not harm one's faith to know how women were treated. There is still plenty of room for improvement in the church's attitude toward women! And the rest is simply a fun read. It did not offend my faith at all. Brown says that the ideas he used in the book have been floating around for centuries. He just made use of them in his novel.

I had my Renaissance art book sitting next to me while I read. The art and architecture references are wonderful. I like puzzles, too. I was bursting with silly pride when I figured out the last two riddles in the story before the characters did.

I visited Dan Brown's website when I finished the book. And I checked another of his books out of the library this week. I will let you know if it is any good.

I think he did us all a favor by writing about Opus Dei. People need to know about them. And I found a couple of the devout characters to be very sympathetic when I had finished the book. They were trying to act on their faith, even though their actions were misguided.

People who are offended by this book may someday face a real challenge to their faith, not something that is on the pages of a suspense novel. If this offends them, are they mature enough in faith to with stand it?

[Bridget Burke]

20. I can't judge the book's literary quality....

Since I haven't read it. When will it be out in paperback? Some books improve with filming. A dire literary style can be ignored to produce a decent movie. The full article mentions some interesting locations. But--Tom Hanks? And why the disclaimers? Of course it's fiction.

I've followed this "story" since Holy Blood, Holy Grail--which was quite amusing. According to the article, Brown's book identifies the Magdalene as a former prostitute. Does it? The Bible story of the repentant prostitute was conflated with her story by later interpretors. Some have written of her status as an important female disciple of Jesus--important in her own right, rather than as Jesus's "girlfriend."

Sounds like a watered-down film made from a watered-down book.

[ohio_liberal]

21. I have it in paperback

I read it very quickly, and I don't remember Brown portraying Mary Magdalene as a prostitute. I could be wrong though. In his book, Mary Magdalene is described as a decendent of a royal family.

edited to add:

Also, it's written in the book that in Da Vinci's 'Last Supper', Mary Magdalene is seating on the right hand of Jesus. The people at the table all have cups of their own (no Holy Grail, capisce?). Mary Magdalene is supposedly the "chalice". The words we translate to "holy grail" can also be translated to mean "blood royal".

[Bridget Burke]

23. Thanks for the info.

Amazon.com shows no paperback edition, but Amazon.UK does. I really ought to read it, so I have the right to critique it. The article linked mentioned the Magdalene/prostitute conflation. If Brown rejected it--good for him.

Grail Studies can really suck you in. As a fan of myth & legend, (Jung, Joseph Campbell, etc.), I'm not as interested in literal fact as in spiritual, artistic & psychological meaning. Here's a site that popped up on an initial Google--emphasizing the "Keltic" roots.

www.mystical-www.co.uk/grail/

Check out this original treatment of the Python variant of the mythos: www.geocities.co.jp/Hollywood/9060/holye.html

[jobycom]

32. It's similar to Holy Blood/Holy Grail, May's not a prostitute

It follows the HBHG on Mary, claiming that Church mythology made Mary M into a prostitute to cover up her marriage to Jesus, much as HBHG says.

The book has no "literary quality," it's a simple thriller, along the lines of James Paterson. Straightforward writing, no real style. The story is interesting, but not blockbuster quality. The appeal of the book is mostly the Jesus and Mary stuff. I think people who hadn't heard it before were intrigued, and people who had were impressed that it had gone mainstream.

It's not a bad book, it will keep your attention, but it won't impress you a great deal when you're finished.

As for being "watered down" HBHG, it doesn't follow that book completely. It uses some of the secret society stuff, and the basic premise of Jesus, Mary, a baby (doesn't identify it as Jesus Barabus, though), and the Sangraak etymology. It adds stuff developed later, like the Da Vinci paintings, especially the Last Supper painting.

As escapist fiction it works well enough, and has some moments of beauty. As an intro to the HBHG mythology, it's good enough to make people curious. So it's not a bad book. Like most pop fiction, though, you can't expect much out of the writing quality.

Okay, book report over. Back to work!

[noonwitch]

22. If catholics don't like it, they don't have to see it

They can go rent "The Passion" again or something.

[truebrit71]

43. Exactly.

If it offends them, then don't bloody watch it!!!

This is the one that thing that drives me nuts about any religious/prudish/fake "morality" protestation....if it is that offensive, don't friggin' watch it...

A movie praising the Idiot-In-Thief and his "accomplishments" would be offensive in the extreme, but I wouldn't protest the fact that someone was making it....I'd probably just watch Dumb and Dumber again...a much more realistic, factual documentary about the bush family...:-)

[Rich Hunt]

48. actually...

Catholics were ambivalent about that film.

Or don't you read anything other than east coast media and bulletin boards that are flooded (I believe the code word is "handled") by them.

None of my Catholic relatives had any interest in seeing it.

Please do your research and talk to some real Catholics before slurring them.

[Bridget Burke]

24. "There's no such thing as bad publicity."

It worked for Mel.

[dryan]

25. Hey folks....

it's a novel!!!!

[jobycom]

33. Absolutely. If anything, I think Howard is probably disappointed

that it hasn't created more controversy. I wonder if he's talking about changing the ending just to get people to care about it.

[deadparrot]

30. There are people dying in Iraq while people whine about THIS?

Jesus. That makes me sick.

[jobycom]

34. Yes. All conversations in the world at all times must be about Iraq

We cannot be concerned with literature, pop fiction, music, food, red wine, religion or anything else.

[deadparrot]

36. Absolutely not what I said.

"Catholic" groups are getting all riled up over a MOVIE, while real-life people are dying in a war that their church is supposed to be against.

One would think that Catholic groups, what with that RCC's position on human life, would be a bit more concerned with, well, human life instead of a movie.

Americans can, and absolutely should, discuss other subjects. Maybe if there was more discussion of "literature, pop fiction, music, food, red wine, religion," etc., we wouldn't have to pay so much attention to pseudo-religious types who flip out over a fictional movie and/or Janet Jackson's breast.

[jobycom]

37. So we wouldn't be upset about a fictional work which portrayed

Saddam as having WMDs and Bush as a saint for invading? Or one which affirmed all of the slanders against Clinton or Gore? Imagine a movie about 9-11 in which Clinton is shown saying "There is no danger from UBL," and UBL saying "Clinton is on our side, whether he knows it or not." I suspect our side would get upset about that.

Can't blame the Church for believing what they believe. This book attacks their beliefs, and though the novel is fiction, it is simply fictionalizing an alternate myth which many believe to be true. Which makes it more than fiction, to them.

I don't agree with them, either, but I wouldn't say this is trivial to them.

[deadparrot]

38. As long as it was marked as fiction, then no.

DVC has "fiction," right there on the spine of the book. Dan Brown never contested that.

I've read fiction in which the Confederacy won the Civil War. It's fiction. I may hate the ideas and history that went along with the CSA, but I could still read and enjoy the book without a fuss, because it's fiction.

I've read the Left Behind series. Weird as hell, but I'm not going to contest the damn movie OR the series because I don't like what it has to say. It's free speech.

As long as fiction is marked "fiction," it's fine by me.

[Name removed]

35. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Mutley]

39. That's too bad. I was interested in seeing that movie since I

enjoyed the book. Not if they change the entire plot just to placate the Catholic Church.

[truebrit71]

42. Dear offended Catholics.

1) Please have your priests immediately cease and desist fondling/groping/molesting/raping small children.

2) Please make full and final reparations to all of the Jewish and non-Catholic families through the centuries that have suffered mind-numbing torture and cruelty at the hands of your leaders and their followers.

3) Please admit, in clear, concise English, the level of support your Holy Church had for Adolf Hitler, and his genocidal plans for the Jews. Also please explain your Holy church's role in ferrying Nazi War Criminals to freedom from the allies.

4) Please get it through your thick skulls that the "The Da Vinci Code" is a fictional novel. It's not real.

5) Get over yourselves.

and finally...

6)Please, please, PLEASE!!!! tell Mel Gibson to stop making movies.

[dryan]

44. I am very offended....

by this message.

[truebrit71]

50. Please see #5.

:eyes:

[Rich Hunt]

47. dear DUer

Please stop imagining these straw man "Catholics" who take offense to everything.

Fact is, I live in a largely Catholic city and have heard nothing of this. Go find me some Catholics who fit your nasty Orange prejudices.

But some are mighty quick to believe it, no?

The media are fond of casting guilt elsewhere. "Catholics" are an easy target.

You want to play hardball? Catholics are owed reparations for this sort of slander that is perpetuated by the Protestant east coast media, and the Protestant wannabe middle class that pretends to be liberal and perpetuates lies and blacklists Catholics from certain colleges and jobs. It's real, but you won't read about it in the media.

Stop lying about us. Stop using gossip in backchannels to "handle" every Catholic - especially the Irish ones - who dares to oppose you. Or I'll keep correcting you on these Catholic threads.

Looks like New York is a little upset this morning, eh?? Doing a little damage control on the uppity Irish? The rich Protestants in New York don't like uppity Irish. So they send their troops out to talk in code about "Catholics".

Let's start with some...not "clear and concise" (that's journalism speak for ya) but eloquent explanations for why Protestants use the media to stalk, blacklist and harass any Irish they don't like. Let's talk about why media whores are so articulate that they use code words like "Catholic" to get back at their victims for speaking up.

[dryan]

49. Bravo......

when I first moved to Florida in the 1960s, people told my mother to not say she was a Catholic so she could get a job.

[truebrit71]

52. Aah, I see, so it WASN'T the Catholic church that persecuted millions

..during the inquistion...or covered up for child rapists....or stood idly by during the Holocaust...or aided Nazis in escaping justice....

Thanks for clearing that up.... :eyes:

[tx_dem41]

46. All this energy spent on a poorly written piece of fiction....

Bread and circuses.

[leftofthedial]

51. fuck the catholics

make the damned movie, write the damned book, sing the damned song, make the damned art you intend to make