JEERING, LAUGHTER AT 'DA VINCI'

Drudge Report ^ | 05/17/06 | Drudge, various via Drudge

[Reaganesque]

Quotes from early reviews of "The DaVinci Code" at Cannes:

"CANNES, France - "The Da Vinci Code" drew lukewarm praise, shrugs of indifference, some jeering laughter and a few derisive jabs Tuesday from arguably the world's toughest movie crowd: critics at the Cannes Film Festival."

"One especially melodramatic line uttered by Hanks drew prolonged laughter and some catcalls, and the audience continued to titter for much of the film's remainder.

Some people walked out during the movie's closing minutes, though there were fewer departures than many Cannes movies provoke among harsh critics. When the credits rolled, there were a few whistles and hisses, and there was none of the scattered applause even bad movies sometimes receive at Cannes."
Yahoo News

"A pulpy page-turner in its original incarnation as a huge international bestseller has become a stodgy, grim thing in the exceedingly literal-minded film version of "The Da Vinci Code." Tackling head-on novelist Dan Brown's controversy-stirring thriller hinging on a subversively revisionist view of Jesus Christ's life, director Ron Howard and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman have conspired to drain any sense of fun out of the melodrama, leaving expectant audiences with an oppressively talky film that isn't exactly dull, but comes as close to it as one could imagine with such provocative material; result is perhaps the best thing the project's critics could have hoped for. Enormous public anticipation worldwide will result in explosive B.O. at the start in near-simultaneous release in most international territories, beginning May 17 in some countries -- day-and-date with the official Cannes opening-night preem -- and May 19 in the U.S. and elsewhere."
Variety

" Several whistles instead of applause were all that greeted the end of Ron Howard's 125-million-dollar film, and worse than that, the 2,000-strong audience even burst out laughing at the movie's key moment.

"I didn't like it very much. I thought it was almost as bad as the book. Tom Hanks was a zombie, thank goodness for Ian McKellen. It was overplayed, there was too much music and it was much too grandiose," said Peter Brunette, critic for the US daily The Boston Globe. '
Breitbart.com

"Bottom line: A jumble of historical myth, religious symbology and international thriller-action makes for an unwieldy, bloated melodrama."
The Hollywood Reporter.com

[ahayes]

I'm looking forward to both, hopefully X3 will be good and Dead Man's Chest will be lavishly and entertainingly silly.

Not going to go see Da Vinci Code.

[Jmouse007]

Well, according to Brown; the "holy grail" was Mary Magdalene; Jesus, get this was married to her, and they had kids! He was also not God, neither claimed to be God. Rather he was a good guy and "great teacher", nothing more, nothing less; therefore, Constantine devised this "plot" to have "false" "gospels" written i.e., Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, in order to cover up the "truth" that Jesus Christ was married, had children and was not God. For his own political/power purposes, etc. The Bible is not the inspired Word of almighty God, it is a work of fiction devised in order to keep people from knowing the "truth" about Jesus

The key character in the book "discovers" this nefarious plot on the part of Christendom to hoodwink us all into believing that Jesus is the Christ, God and the savior of the world and seeks to expose the "truth" about "jesus".

Simply put; it is another attempt by Satan, the god of this world to attack the person, work and deity of the Lord Jesus Christ in order to keep masses of people from putting their faith in Him to the saving of their eternal souls.

When you read the above brief synopsis of the book/film a rational person would conclude: “What a load of unadulterated poo!” Unfortunately, most people are ill informed regarding the truth of Christ and Christianity so many are duped and believe this tripe (The book has sold 30 MILLION copies so far).

That the information contained in the film regarding Jesus Christ, the Word of God and the “plot” is being portrayed as “true” and not a work of fiction is evident from director Ron Howard’s blatant refusal to put a disclaimer in the film citing that it is nothing more than a work of fiction!

[oyez]

What was that last controversial Christ movie? "Last Testament of Christ or something with Willam Defoe? It was so forgettable I can't remember the title.

[akorahil]

That is exactly what I am on about.
Many are very eager to see X3 and PotC:DMC.

I have YET to hear expectations to go see the DaVinci Code.
The only excitement is being self generated/self perpetuated by the media, about the media, for the media.
Most movie goers aren't that excited to see this. But they (as well as myself) are excited to see the other two aformentioned movies.

[altura]

I totally agree about To Kill a Mockingbird.

And there are many cases where the movie was better.

Stephen King's books often make better movies. The Shawshank Redemption comes to mind.

Jaws, the book, was kind of a potboiler but the movie was great.

Anyway, I plodded through The Da Vinci book and found it to be second rate.

As far as the religious aspect, who cares? There have been a lot of worse books written about the Bible, some by Episcopalian Bishops (can you say Spong?)

[Ikemeister]

You realize, of course, that Hollywood will blame the Vatican and other early critics of this piece of trash for its failure.

[humblegunner]

Ron Howard’s blatant refusal to put a disclaimer in the film citing that it is nothing more than a work of fiction!

They don't put disclaimers on cartoons either.

Some folks are bright enough to know the difference.

[Revolting cat!]

Good books are generally hard to make into good films.

That's very true. And bad books often make good movies. Which makes it surprising - Duh Code is an exceptionally bad book (if you recall, book reviewers weren't as generous with it as the movie reviewers.)

[marty60]

Amen and Amen

[wiltale]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BffPAw4HMME#GU5U2spHI_4

Some of you may appreciate The Norman Rockwell Code if you haven't seen it.

[Truth is a Weapon]

For anyone who wants to take an activist approach toward this movie, take your kids to see "Over the Hedge" this weekend to boost its box office take versus "duh Code."

[puroresu]

That's a good idea!

[fortunecookie]

Not exactly glowing reviews and this from critics who tend to share the same contempt for religion as Hollywood does. It will make some money initially from people curious to see what all the fuss is a bout but, as word gets out about what a stinker it is, it's Box Office will tank big time. Silence is the best strategy here. Let it die the natural and quick death it deserves.

Amen. I think Howard and crew were hoping to keep it shrouded in secrecy and then 'wow' the Cannes critics and festival go-ers as kind of an appetizer for Friday's opening. Haha. I heard some of the critics' comments on FOX. Wow.

[puroresu]

THE DA VINCI CODE SECRET IS OUT: CRITICS HATE IT

http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/news/va/20060517/114788530000.html

http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/news/va/20060517/114787380600.html

[alrea]

Bad is still bad even to Hollywierd lefties.

you can sell doodoo if it criticizes criticizes Bush on the label

[zerosix]

Yep and especially if it degrades and lies about Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.

If media "elites" laugh at it, the rumor will get out to the sheeple and maybe, just maybe, some of them may pass it up - thinking that one over, NAH!

[GraniteStateConservative]

The resemblance is uncanny...

[RobFromGa]

very funny link to Norman Rockwell Code...

[attiladhun2]

DNA analysis has already been done on a Merovingian princess (one of those so-called descendents of Christ), her DNA markers were those of a typically European, not a Middle Eastern, type. Science does not back up the Da Vinci Code claim. Furthermore, the documentary "evidence" were forgeries.