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Da Vinci Code: Today Show Buries Criticism Amidst Millions in Free Advertising
Today Show/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

Posted on 05/16/2006 5:45:12 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest

by Mark Finkelstein

May 16, 2006

Let's be clear: the Da Vinci Code portrays Christianity as a fraud and the Roman Catholic Church as a murderous conspiracy. As Archbishop Angelo Amato, the number two official in the Vatican doctrinal office which was headed by Pope Benedict until his election last year recently stated, if "such lies and errors had been directed at the Koran or the Holocaust they would have justly provoked a world uprising."

Yet the Today show has decided to offer the movie, scheduled for release this week, untold millions in free advertising by devoting hours of, um, worshipful coverage to it, and even sending Matt Lauer to Europe for the week where he will be "On the Road with the Code."

This morning we were treated to Matt exploring the Louvre, where the Code begins. We were told of a new wave of Code tourism, in which people plan travels around the world to explore the sites portrayed in the movie. NBC reporter Melissa Stark engaged in respectful, at times almost giddy, interviews with some of the films actors and with director Ron Howard.

Finally, some 47 minutes into this morning's show, Today timidly stuck its toe into the matter, as Stark made reference to the fact that the Da Vinci Code had stirred controversy.

So, just whom did Today choose to discuss the controversy? Archbishop Amato himself or another Vatican spokesman? William Donohue, whose Catholic League has written an open letter to director Howard? Perhaps Pat Buchanan, an MSNBC analyst and frequent Today guest who has written an outraged column about the Da Vinci Code? Nope. Today chose . . . Da Vince Code director Ron Howard himself! Howard made some vague, elliptical remarks about the movie encouraging people "to make some choices themselves and about what they feel and how they believe." Howard let us know that "I feel that kind of engagement is a healthy thing." Thanks for sharing, Ron.

Incredibly, Today never even told us what the controversy was all about. If they rely on the Today show, believing Roman Catholics would enter theaters unaware that the movie portrays their religion as a malevolent, murderous fraud.

Again, try to imagine a movie that, in the same way, treated Mohammed as a hoaxster and Islam as a murderous fraud of a religion. Do you think Today would devote days to celebrating the magnificence of the film and its themes and bury any criticism with some oblique comments from the movie's director?

As Buchanan said in his column: "the hoopla attending the release of 'The Da Vinci Code,' based on the Dan Brown novel that has sold 7 million copies in the United States, tells us something about whose God it is permissible to mock and whose faith one is allowed to assault."


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: archbishopamato; catholicleague; davincicode; itsjustadumbmovie; mattlauer; melissastark; nbc; patbuchanan; ronhoward; todayshow
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Again, try to imagine a movie that, in the same way, treated Mohammed as a hoaxster and Islam as a murderous fraud of a religion.

Isn't this the evening news?

21 posted on 05/16/2006 6:12:21 AM PDT by pgyanke (Christ has a tolerance for sinners; liberals have a tolerance for sin.)
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To: AmericanMade1776
The Divinci Code is FICTION....FICTION.....NOT BASED ON FACT.... Just keep repeating that.

Exactly... but try to read the first page... Dan Brown is trying to persuade the reader that stuff written in his book are factual despite the fact that it's just a novel...

Dan Brown is just an anti-christian individual just as Salman Rushdie is to Islam..

I hope Dan Brown will write another book entitled "Da Muzzie Code"... explaining the relationship of Mohammad and Gay Arabs...lol... sarc//

22 posted on 05/16/2006 6:16:16 AM PDT by ChristianDefender (There is no such thing as Moderate Islam...)
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To: Always Right


I think it's not an either/or proposition--- the media will hype and sensationalize to make money (most evident in sweeps), but always within their leftist parameters. of course, 99% of the time when making money conflicts with advancing leftism, they choose leftism.

I hope nobody who thinks this attempt to promote gnosticism is crap goes to see the movie. You don't have to, to be informed on it, since you can just read the book... Which is incredibly crappy anyway, with some of the flattest prose, one dimensional characters and contrived, predictable plots since "the Celestine Prophecy".

"This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown aside with great force."

---Dorothy Parker


23 posted on 05/16/2006 6:20:39 AM PDT by mjolnir ("All great change in America begins at the dinner table.")
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
I know who has the Holy Grail...

24 posted on 05/16/2006 6:20:59 AM PDT by rock_lobsta
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To: CWW
Prior of Sidon (Christ's family tree) matter was a hoax perpetrated in the mid-1950's that the author even admitted under oath was a complete fabrication.

It's Prior of Sion... not Sidon... but you're right, it was a hoax...

25 posted on 05/16/2006 6:21:22 AM PDT by ChristianDefender (There is no such thing as Moderate Islam...)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

Hey, Ron, eff you!

Now, we return to our normal programming.


26 posted on 05/16/2006 6:23:22 AM PDT by RexBeach ("There is no substitute for victory." -Douglas MacArthur)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
"Again, try to imagine a movie that, in the same way, treated Mohammed as a hoaxster and Islam as a murderous fraud of a religion."

Anyone out there with some $$$ ? I picture a man under the influence of opium, walking up a mountainside, after raping a nine year old girl he appearantly calls one of his wives. Then sees a vision, who wouldn't at this point, of what he believes to be something sacred. This start of the movie would lead to the forming of the cult Islam. Plenty of 'peaceful' beheadings should be shown too.

27 posted on 05/16/2006 6:29:42 AM PDT by uptoolate
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To: Always Right

"I disagree, it has little to do with money. It is just most in the media love to bash Christians. Most people in media are not about the money, it is about the agenda."


Howard, congratulations, you are now Ted Turner's favorite wet dream.

...And guess what Tom? I was the only one on the planet who defended Joe & the Volcano. You insensitive, balding, has been.


28 posted on 05/16/2006 6:37:04 AM PDT by TET1968
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To: CheyennePress

>>Opie gone rotten.<<
At least now we see that Opie and Hanks are just typical Hollywood a-holes.


29 posted on 05/16/2006 6:39:28 AM PDT by travlnmn41
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To: CWW

--History Channel had it too--


30 posted on 05/16/2006 6:40:28 AM PDT by rellimpank (Don't believe anything about firearms or explosives stated by the mass media---NRABenefactor)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
FINALLY. A *religious* movie Hollywood can support. And laude. And reward. Maybe they will move Oscar night to June just so they can show us they've *repented*.

Question for the rest of us: Is the popcorn for eating or throwing at the screen?

31 posted on 05/16/2006 6:42:34 AM PDT by small voice in the wilderness (Quick, act casual...if they sense scorn or ridicule, they'll flee)
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To: travlnmn41

I'd like to ask Hanks and Howard when it was that they last attended a church service of any kind? Their God is the Almighty Buck. Period.


32 posted on 05/16/2006 6:45:40 AM PDT by RexBeach ("There is no substitute for victory." -Douglas MacArthur)
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To: governsleastgovernsbest

One reason they are avoiding "the controversy" is that they do not want to give away the whole plot to those who want to see the movie.


33 posted on 05/16/2006 7:16:33 AM PDT by Sans-Culotte (I hereby re-christen the Republican Party as "The Flaccid Party")
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To: RexBeach

So what if their god is the almighty buck? At least their god exists. And if their "god" compels them to make a movie, instead of suppressing evidence about child molestation, justifying homophobia, or supporting repression of women's reproductive rights, then their god hasn't compelled them yet to do anything half as destructive as the Catholic church has so far.


34 posted on 05/16/2006 7:35:46 AM PDT by Pfft
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To: RexBeach

http://www.maplefish.com/wildart/8pointbuck.htm


35 posted on 05/16/2006 7:37:59 AM PDT by durasell (!)
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To: Pfft

Wow. So why don't you tell us all how you feel?

So, all Catholics are evil? Is that it? You have a lot to learn.


36 posted on 05/16/2006 7:49:39 AM PDT by RexBeach ("There is no substitute for victory." -Douglas MacArthur)
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To: durasell

Now THAT'S an almighty buck!!! LOL!


37 posted on 05/16/2006 7:50:27 AM PDT by RexBeach ("There is no substitute for victory." -Douglas MacArthur)
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To: RexBeach

: )


38 posted on 05/16/2006 7:54:54 AM PDT by durasell (!)
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To: Pfft; All
supporting repression of women's reproductive rights

That's a code phrase for "saying it's wrong to suck babies brains out of their skulls so we can keep fornicating like crazed rabbits without consequences".

I just want to make it clear that you hate the Catholic church and love killing innocent children, Pfft.

39 posted on 05/16/2006 7:59:38 AM PDT by Campion ("I am so tired of you, liberal church in America" -- Mother Angelica, 1993)
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To: Pfft

How does a buck compel someone to make a movie? Assuming one worships the buck. Is it all knowing and all seeing? Does it compel one to be moral? Does the buck instill faith in itself or in man?

I knew you atheists would be along soon.


40 posted on 05/16/2006 8:12:10 AM PDT by subterfuge (Call me a Jingoist, I don't care...)
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