The shocking secret of 'The Da Vinci Code': It stinks

St. Paul Pioneer Press ^ | May 21, 2006 | DOMINIC P. PAPATOLA

[Antoninus]

What you call the idiot market might also be known as the entertainment market.

Six of one, half-dozen of the other.

But you can please feel free to look down your nose at the 45 million of us who bought/read the book and feel superior if you like.

Hey, being in the company of a huge number of dopes may make you look good by comparison, but it doesn't make you any smarter.

I read the Duh Vinci Code and recognized it for what it was immediately--formulaic garbage intended to make the historically ignorant feel like they've gained some "secret" knowledge.

[RobbyS]

But you do find Pagels in the history section and her stuff is basically romantic fiction. Don't kid yourself. Many a Yale graduate will read Brown and think it is more nearly true than, say, Sir Walter Scot's "Ivanhoe." (Assuming, of course, that they have ever read "Ivanhoe")

[NavyCanDo]

"Still, you won't find this novel anywhere but the 'fiction' section."

I know I know, it's just fiction...but consider this, what if someone were to write a book about someone who is very sacred to you in your own family. And this book is full of lies and half truths about that family member and saying things that could spread embarrassing false rumors about this person and your family. But the writer tells you don't worry it's just fiction. Would the fact that its just fiction lesson your passion for trying to get the truth out so people are not taken in by it, and maybe even try to do your part to convince people not to buy it?

[Froufrou]

I read it and found it to be what I look for in books: an easy read, entertaining and mildly intriguing. Like Grisham's Pelican Brief.

To think that anyone actually would make any more or less of it kind of scares me - it speaks volumes about We the Sheeple! ;o)

[Antoninus]

"The Da Vinci Code" is Hollywood's response to "TPOTC". Hollywood always has to have the last Word.

Perhaps in this world...

[Doc Savage]

As I have said before, here is guy who is so jet-lagged in Paris that he can't be woken up by the ringing phone. Once he is up he never again sleeps, eats, or takes a dump for more than 3 days. This is a plot????????????????????

[Froufrou]

When you put it that way, it's easy to see your point.

However, consider too that the church certainly has culpability in fathomless scandalous events...beginning with wars...ongoing with pedophilia...

I wouldn't speak for Brown, but I read quite a bit of that in his book, if only between the lines!

[Froufrou]

~snicker!~ We're back on The Terminal again? And how brain-dead can Zeta Jones play?

[HamiltonJay]

It's not the intelligence of Americans but the absolute unfaltering allegiance of the aetheistic and anti-catholic groups that pushed this comic book without pictures into "best seller" status.

Sadly they actually believe this book has merit, and that its conspiracies are fact.

Of course their knowledge of things spiritual are generally ignorant... so when someone presents a "gospel of Judas" or "da vinci code" to them that routinely and completely counters the very words of Christ himself.. well to them they can't see the hack for what it is... since they have and want no true perspective or knowledge.

[HamiltonJay]

Oh God, that thing had an interesting premise, but it was horribly executed... if you saw the preview, you saw everything in that movie worth seeing.... It was aweful.

[Caleb1411]

"The Da Vinci Code" is Hollywood's response to "TPOTC". Hollywood always has to have the last Word.

Hollywood's never figured out who really has the last Word.

[shield]

sad that Hanks finally is in a flop, though...

What about Opie...he has a flop, too. All I can call the director is Opie now...poor Opie he needs our prayer. I'll never go see another of his movies or Hanks. They've offended with this movie a majority of Americans.

[George W. Bush]

Folks, If I had an F'ING nickel for every time I have read this statement in the last week, I would take the whole purse and wager it on "Republicans retain control of the U.S. House of Representatives this Fall."

I'll take your Da Vinci and raise you a Passion.

Hollywood is pretty lame to think this convinces anyone other than ignorant goombas and assorted liberals.

A young man I know, not terribly devout, was dragged to this thing by his liberally-churched fiance who had read the book. He gave up debunking it to her after about 10 minutes because she saw how dumb it was and they both fell asleep halfway through because it was so boring and stupid.

His mother was content that she hadn't failed the lad entirely in his Christian upbringing.

[Inspectorette]

Heheheh - I wonder if there's anyone who doesn't get the "Opie" reference. Of course, younger Freepers might remember him as "Richie Cunningham".

Oops - Happy Days was 20-30 years ago, too!

[MACVSOG68]

Almost unfair, it is. Like shooting fish in a barrel.

Well, not exactly. The word "disingenuous" comes to mind. The author, rather than attacking the book as most fundamentalists have done (ie: heresy, lies, blasphemy,etc), attacks it as a 6th grade reader. To suggest he, as a practicing Catholic was oblivious to the whole controvery is absurd. Then to say he read the whole book, while hiding the cover simply adds to his credibility issues. His agenda was to label the book unworthy for any reader.

But the 44 million who did buy and read it may feel otherwise. If you look on Brown's website, he lists a few of the numerous reviews of his book. They are from professional reviewers and other well known mystery writers, all showering the book with praise.

It was to me what it was intended to be, a better than average thriller. Books such as these are designed for entertainment, not education. For those Christians who are offended, use it as a means to generate discussion about Christianity. For those Christians who were not offended, fine, but participate in the discussion with other Christians.

[George W. Bush]

languishing at $5.99 in the DVD store bargain bin along with Mars Attacks!

Hey, Mars Attacks! is a classic. Don't drag it down to the level of this Da Vinci thing. Just last week, Rush was laughing over it as he described some of the plot. Slim Pickens yodeling and Jack Nicholson as the (Dim-elected) Prez.

[cryptical]

What about Opie...he has a flop, too.

So nowdays a movie that makes double what it cost to make, opening for $250 million worldwide the first weekend is a flop?

I'd love to know what a success is in your world.

[RobbyS]

I suggest you take a look at "The Dead Sea Conspiracy " by James K. Fitz patrick. To give you an idea of its contents I give you part of what is on the back cover:

God is dead. The Social Gospel. Liberation Theology. Neo-modernism. Massive defections from the priesthood. Deserted Convents. Teihard de Chardin.

Is there any connection? Sometimes the most tropubling questions can be asked only in a work of fiction.

What if secret archaeological evidence about the Resurrection and Aascsnsion of Jesus had been found among the Dead Sea scrolls.

What if a cabal within the most powerful order of priests in the Catholic Church [the Jesuits] was in possession of this secret.

What if Teihard deChardin was the central figure in this conspiracy.

You get the drift. But the author writes for "The Wanderer." so what we have here is pure fiction. Pure irony, here.

[shield]

Have you ever read "Chariots of the Gods"? That's another book I found to be outrageous however it had the very same effect as The Da Vinci Code. The author of 'Chariots of the Gods' NEVER claimed it was fiction. You should have seen what this author did to Our Lord Jesus in it. Pretty much the same thing...claiming He wasn't divine. I'm a little surprised a movie wasn't made of this book.

[Froufrou]

Sounds to me like Fitzpatrick has some anthropology background, maybe a pretty fair amount, even. Sounds like a GREAT read!

Yeah, the best fiction has a grain of salt [from the dead sea, perhaps?]