Much ado about a work of fiction - Da Vinci Code

Went today to watch the Da Vinci Code and found movie posters around the theatre bearing the warning: “if not viewed in the fictional vein that’s intended, this story may offend religiously sensitive viewers”.

I watched it at an el-cheapo movie theatre that charges only 30% of what “regular” theatres charge, and has a 99% miro client-base. I love this place ‘cause it offers free-seating, no A/C (especially now that it’s winter with all attendant cold fronts sweeping through), and you can ooh! and aah! to your heart’s content without people beside you hissing “sshhhhhh” and killing your buzz.

[SPOILER ALERT! Those who have not watched it, and plan to watch it, should not read beyond this point]

I loved it! Thought it made for great entertainment. Everything from the 'Silas' character and the fascinating human proclivity towards self-flagellation (literal in this case), to all the signs that the talented two-some were able to interpret. The one cool thing about this movie was the collective, very audible and scandalized gasp from the entire theatre when ‘Sir Leigh’ revealed the true nature of the holy grail.

A friend who has read the book says he won’t watch the movie ('cause it's garnered far too much free publicity, what with all the scandals and threatened bannings) and that he’s upset with the Christian reaction to this heresy and blasphemy. The muslims made everyone aware that they didn’t care for the cartoons, all we’re doing is murmuring our dissent. He complains that the group sex scene (in the book) related to the Priory of Sion keepers cannot possibly be palatable. I was happy to inform him that the movie glossed over that bit of action. Besides, there is a reason why sects, secret societies and cults do not have MASS appeal… because they make their members perform rituals and actions that many would not.

Ultimately, I’m with ‘Robert Langdon’ in asking what difference the “divine vs. mortal” debate makes to the reality on modern-day earth. If the claims of the movie were indeed true, they’d at best serve to strengthen faith in human goodness, divine indulgence, remove religious oppression and restore power to its rightful owners. At worst, they'd make many of us aware of church history, and make us realize that the Bible may have been divinely inspired, but it had mortal editors.

Here are a few links on the story:

The Da Vinci Code: The facts behind the fiction

As premier of 'Da Vinci Code' nears, Catholic leaders urge caution

Vatican appoints official Da Vinci Code debunker

Da Vinci Code outcry grows