Posted on 05/11/2006 2:24:48 PM PDT by freakboy
The row over the imminent release of the Da Vinci Code film grew today when star Tom Hanks hit out at its Catholic critics.
Cardinals, speaking with the authorisation of the Vatican, have called for the Hollywood version of Dan Brown's bestselling novel to be boycotted.
They say the theme of the film - that Jesus Christ had children with Mary Magdalene and that hardline Catholic movement Opus Dei covered up his secret life - is highly blasphemous.
But Oscar-winner Hanks said objectors to The Da Vinci Code are taking the film too seriously, telling the Evening Standard: "We always knew there would be a segment of society that would not want this movie to be shown.
"But the story we tell is loaded with all sorts of hooey and fun kind of scavenger-hunt-type nonsense.
"If you are going to take any sort of movie at face value, particularly a huge-budget motion picture like this, you'd be making a very big mistake.
"It's a damn good story and a lot of fun... all it is is dialogue. That never hurts."
The Da Vinci Code book has sold more than 40 million copies since it was published in 2003. The film, released by Sony Pictures division Columbia Pictures, is set to be one of the year's most successful when it is released worldwide on 19 May.
As well as Hanks, it stars Audrey Tautou and Sir Ian McKellen and is directed by Oscar winner Ron Howard.
The Da Vinci Code receives its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival next Wednesday.
Calls for Christians to boycott it have been led by Archbishop Angelo Amato, the number two official in the Vatican doctrinal office, which was headed by Pope Benedict until his election last year.
Amato described the novel as "stridently anti-Christian" and called for believers to "reject the lies and gratuitous defamation" in the book.
He added: "If such lies and errors had been directed at the Koran and Holocaust they would have justly provoked a world uprising.
"Instead, if they are directed against the church and Christians, they remain unpunished. I hope you will boycott the film."
Cardinal Francis Arinze, a Nigerian tipped to be Pope last year, went even further.
He said: "Christians must not just sit back and say it is enough for us to forgive and forget. Sometimes it is our duty to do something practical.
"Some know legal means which can be taken in order to get the other person to respect the rights of others."
The Catholic church here is taking a more relaxed line, arguing that in the face of the film's blockbuster appeal, calling for a boycott would be pointless.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, head of the Roman Catholic church in England and Wales, told the Jonathan Dimbleby programme on ITV1 on Sunday: "I think it's a harmless thriller. If people want to read it they can and people who read it should realise it is fiction."
But some prominent UK Catholics favour a harder stance. Piers Paul Read, himself a best-selling novelist, said:
"I am for the boycott. I don't think Catholics should put money into the pockets of people who have invented lies about the church."
Another eminent Catholic, socialite Claus Von Bülow, said: "I am not going to see The Da Vinci Code. This has nothing to do with its historical claims but because I found the book unreadable."
I read the book. I am Catholic.
It was a great novel, a story, PRETEND. No where does it say it's a fact, or a theory even.....just entertainment.
They say the theme of the film - that Jesus Christ had children with Mary Magdalene and that hardline Catholic movement Opus Dei covered up his secret life - is highly blasphemous.
well, at least he's not thinking the Da Vinci Code is true...
I got this is email yesterday.. i'm not interested in protesting it though. I'm just not going to go see it:
- May 10, 2006 -
What? Me protest? Read below for more.
Dear xxx,
I need your immediate help to organize a protest/prayer vigil against the blasphemous The Da Vinci Code movie in your city.
Your protest does not have to be a Hollywood production. All you need is a group of friends, some signs, your rosary and devotion to Our Lord. Its that simple.
The fact is The Da Vinci Code movie is coming out on May 19. It will attack everything you and I hold sacred the Divinity of Christ, the Gospel, the Papacy and the Catholic Church.
Thats why you and I have to peacefully protest this blasphemy in front of thousands of movie theaters nationwide. I cant think of a better way to console Our Lord.
We have set up a special protest center to help you in case you accept to become a protest organizer.
Your immediate response is key because were racing against time to set up a total of at least 1,000 protest/prayer vigils in all 50 states. Of course, if you decide to become a protest organizer, youll have support, advice and guidance from our protest center. And you can download our protest manual with step-by-step instructions.
To becoming a protest organizer, click here.
http://www.tfp.org/davincicode/local_protest.htm
Someone will then contact you with the details.
You may be wondering are protests effective? Wouldnt it be better to just stay at home and pray?
The answer is simple: protests are very effective against blasphemy. Youll find the results of successful protests weve held on our web site
For more details, read: Why Does Sony Fear Free Publicity?
http://www.tfp.org/davincicode/why_does_sony_fear_publicity.htm
and Are Protests Against Blasphemy Effective?
http://www.tfp.org/TFPForum/Tendential_Revolution/controversy.htm
Will you please help protest The Da Vinci Code movie in your area?
Please respond by clicking here http://www.tfp.org/davincicode/local_protest.htm .
Pray and do the best you can.
Thank you!
Until next time, I remain,
Yours in Jesus and Mary,
John Horvat
Webmaster
http://www.tfp.org
Eww.. he looks like a drag queen who just took off his wig in that picture.
When you tell a story that's a lie which is contrary to the truth, it does hurt. It hurts the truth.
You are correct. However, so was National Treasure (with Nicholas Cage). I can't say I went out and researched a lot of the background facts they put in that movie, but the ones that made sense, I believed to be true. I believe the Silence Dogood letters exist, even though I had never heard of them before seeing the movie.
Couldn't some folks go into the DaVinci Code and come out with the same new-found knowledge?
Not to mention those who despise Christianity and organized religion - who will use 'facts' gleaned from this movie just as liberals did with "Farenheit 9/11", to attack and to hate.
Not that I'm a big moviegoer. The only movie I've gone to in the past 3 years was Ice Age 2. And the next one will be Pixar's Cars. (Unless they screen that Andy Garcia anti-Castro flick out here in the midwest. I want to see that.) My 4-year-old isn't a big Tom Hanks fan, anyway. :) (well, except for Sheriff Woody from Toy Story)
I know it's fiction, but I'm not discounting Code as a tool for those who revile my faith and morality to spew mistruths against me.
Well, that's the problem with spellcheckers in general. Eggs ample: "Miss steaks eye kin knot sea."
Correct spelling of the above phrase is: "unodored ate her easy"
And I know some who think the Smurfs are evil. There is no way to please some people. Good book, probably a good movie. Hanks is a great actor.
Funny how Hanks didn't mention his own wifes church. Rita is a member of the Greek Orthodox church.
Like an Oliver Stone movie.
Buddhists aren't all like Richard Gere or the Dalai Lama. China is a nominally Buddhist nation with no shortage of large scale atrocities throughout its thousands of years of history. What differentiates Sri Lanka from India is that Sri Lanka is Buddhist. One mild interrogation method used in Sri Lanka is to splash some gasoline into a plastic bag, which is then cinched around the suspect's neck. Another method is to shoot one terrorist before asking the survivor questions. Japan's Shinto religion is an outgrowth of Buddhism. Vietnam, Thailand and Korea - all are Buddhist nations with significant martial traditions - and no particular tolerance of blasphemy. Central Asia used to be Buddhist - it fell to the Muslims not because they were pacifists, but because the Arabs were strong and they were weak.
Most people who read this stuff wouldn't know what you were talking about if you threw the term "alternative unverse" at them. In any case, that universe doesn't include the fact of Jesus's divinity.
Drinking and posting on FR? Blasphemy!! (LOL) :)
I think that at least Tom Selleck and Kurt Russell should trip the Picture Required Rule.
But I really admire them for their conservative minds. Yeah, that's the ticket! ;-)
Pinz
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.