Posted on 05/12/2006 2:12:02 PM PDT by wagglebee
"Da Vinci Code” director Ron Howard has said there would be no disclaimer in the film labeling it as a work of fiction – and Catholic League President Bill Donohue is deeply disturbed by Howard’s stance.
"The book which the film is based on begins with three ‘facts,’ all of which are malicious lies, yet Ron Howard says no disclaimer is needed because ‘this is a work of fiction,’” Donahue said in a statement. "He is disingenuous.”
As Donahue points out, the following got a disclaimer in a fictionalized TV show or film:
Asians: "Year of the Dragon”
Blacks: "Birth of a Nation”
Gays: "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back”
Jews: "Merchant of Venice”
Mormons: "Big Love”
Muslims: "True Lies”
Native Americans: "Pocahontas II”
Nearsighted: "Mr. Magoo”
Wolves: "White Fang”
Donahue declares: "That’s right — even wolves merited a disclaimer. Disney put a disclaimer in ‘White Fang’ saying there is no evidence of a healthy pack of wolves attacking a human in North America.
"Forget about wolves. If Howard were as sensitive to Catholics as those responsible for ‘La Vita E Bella’ were to Jews, he would have acceded to our request to inject a disclaimer. That 1998 film — a dark comedy about the Holocaust — opened with a voice-over saying it is a fable. So is ‘The Da Vinci Code.’”
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times on Sunday, Howard rejected calls for a disclaimer, stating: "This is a work of fiction that presents a set of characters that are affected by these conspiracy theories and ideas. Those characters in this work of fiction act and react on that premise.
"It’s not history. To start with a disclaimer … spy thrillers don’t start off with disclaimers.”
However, in the book the movie is based on, author Dan Brown claims on the first page that "all descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents and secret rituals in this novel are accurate,” indicating the book is based on historical fact.
Donahue said in his statement: "John Calley, a co-producer of ‘The Da Vinci Code,’ has admitted that the film is anti-Catholic.
"Apparently, Ron Howard is more of a gambler than I thought. Had he done what other directors have done before him and put in a disclaimer, the risks to his reputation would have been minimal. Now it’s show time for Mr. Howard, and not just his movie.”
I've never met a single person who thinks Stone's fever dreams are works of historical research any more then Shakespeare's history plays are beholden to the historical record.
Jesus will meet you where you are at.
I prefer my entertainment in a different package one that isn't wrapped in anti-Christian drivel.
Paul Tillich
The thing sold a lot of tickets, because a lot of people found this possibility compelling. Books on the assassination became a cottage industry. Now the focus has turned on the salacious side of Kennedy's career, such as his relationship with Marilyn Monroe.
Ah, grasshopper. One must have wasted one's youth like I watching the Fonze to know the true answer.
Fonze grew up in an orphanage and never went to Church, and never believed in God.
He gained faith and was baptised after a car crash, along with Richie, Potsie, Ralph, and Joanie by Al's twin brother who played a priest of uncertain denomination but the church was called "St. Barnaby's," which is a catholic (lower-case intentional here) type name -- could be Roman Catholic, Anglican Catholic, whatever.
But Richie's parents are made Fonze's godparents, and if they weren't Methodist or Presbyterian, then the world is flat.
And they sang "Faith of Our Fathers," while getting baptised, a WASPy song if I ever heard one.
Since they weren't dunked, I can say it was not Baptist, but that's about it.
Basically a made-up denomination.
(Episode 88)
Nah, Happy Days was probably the only show I was allowed to watch as a kid, so I know it far too well.
2. The movie completely ignored Gordo's strong Christian faith, leaving the impression that he was a godless hedonist!
Wow. You really watched this closely. Like I said, I've only seen it once. ;)
I saw that when they recovered Liberty Bell 7, they found that the hatch malfunctioned just as Grissom said it did.
I think a disclaimer at the end is harmless and would probably have won him ticket sales.
This will be a hit.
This will make money.
However Howard has officially made his movie a hit piece on christianity. Too bad.
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