RSS Feed

‘Da Vinci Code:’ the book vs. the movie

May 19, 2006 by ajay

Watched Da Vinci Code in a free screening last night with Karla. Surprisingly I liked it better than the 500 or so pages of roller-coaster drivel contained in the book which I thrashed two years ago.

I am not joining the great debate between Jesus’ humanity and divinity as I don’t anymore have the time, energy or sufficient knowledge to do that. The public would be better off reading the book, seeing the movie and judging for themselves.

The same could not be said of our politicians who have taken it unto themselves to impose their hypocrisy on their constituents, notably the City Council of Manila which banned the film’s showing in their domain. Sus! Don’t you think the people will just as easily flock to Quiapo to get their bootleg copies since the multi-million peso piracy business there is something you have tolerated Your Honores? At least it was understandable for the Church to take their stand since Da Vinci… strikes at the dogmas they’ve been preaching for ages. But SM too joining the fray??? The SM of our shopping life who does not regularize the Pinoys they employ after six months and buys Made in China instead of Filipino. Da Vinci it seems has just convinced everyone to hop on this carousel of madness.

In the meantime, everyone’s talking about it – which is how Dan Brown and the movie’s producers want it to be in the first place.

My own take on this matter is that censorship is so passe in this day and age when everything can be accessed with the click of a finger. Protecting our young from the seemingly blasphemous notions of Da Vinci Code seems futile when they can read, hear, watch it on the TV, web & other forms of high-tech media.

Religiosity is a matter of upbringing. Faith is faith. Just because one reads Dan Brown does not mean one will have the compulsion to go up the mountains and establish his own sect espousing Hieros Gamos. Devout Marians would have to draw the line if someone starts saying the Virgin Mary isn’t as virginal as she’s depicted to be. But the idea of Christ’s “humanity” is an interesting , rather than revolting, concept which does not encroach at all on the all-encompassing concept of God’s salvation.

Am getting carried away. I did say I didn’t want to debate on this, remember?

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

22 Comments »

  1. noemi says:

    I just had to laugh on your statement about SM. What hypocrisy! Anyway, it’s true one’s faith will not wane just because of a book or a movie. I haven’t watched or read the book yet but if ever I do, it’s all about entertainment.

    [Reply]

  2. Eric says:

    i dont think SM started to ban R-18 movies because of Da Vinci. I guess, SM started not to show R-18 movies since last year.

    Didn’t u notice that the movie HOSTEL was not also shown in SM? it’s because of their no R-18 movie policy.

    [Reply]

  3. ajay says:

    Yes Noemi.. “it’s all about entertainment” which is what Da Vinci’s proponents and oppositors forget at this point in time. They are all taking it like Gospel-truth..

    Hi Eric… so SM is sticking by its wholesome, family oriented image which is in direct contrast to their anti-labor and anti-Filipino policies. It’s a shame really since there are artistic, meritorious films labelled R-18 which are worth watching too!

    [Reply]

  4. dexie says:

    AMEN!!! :)

    [Reply]

  5. honey says:

    i simply just agree with what you’ve said. and, on another note, you’re the first to say you liked the movie so far that i’ve been reading! i’m off to watch it this weekend, so you’ve brought my hopes up a little. :mrgreen:

    [Reply]

  6. luis says:

    Hey you should submit your review to FilmCrowd:) We have a page up for Da Vinci Code right here:
    http://www.filmcrowd.com/content/world/all/5092/Da_Vinci_Code_The/8/0

    [Reply]

  7. Ang-ang says:

    :razz: i am not ready to watch the movie. :!:

    [Reply]

  8. Sidney says:

    I loved the book. I read it in one day !
    Not sure if I will watch the movie.

    [Reply]

  9. vina says:

    hi aj! like you, i had read the book two years ago and although fairly interesting and cohesive, i just thought it was so overrated. however, his other book, angels & demons (da vinci code’s prequel) is a disappointment. you may also notice that dan brown uses exactly the same style and tactics in both books.

    the movie, on the other hand, is an entertaining ride as it is. that, and the book, are just meant to be enjoyed, that’s all.

    [Reply]

  10. ajay says:

    Honey, how was it?:cool:

    Luis, if you’re talking about a film review, am sorry I have none..

    Ang-ang & Sidney, do watch the movie. Although better if you’re viewing it for the first time without reading the book since if you read the book already, there’s no more excitement. The movie is overly faithful to the book.

    Hi Vina. Sometimes I am tempted to read Angels and Demons. The warning (not to read it ) is much appreciated, haha.

    [Reply]

  11. iska says:

    hi ajay! i’ve read the book and i like it. reviews say the movie isn’t as nice but i will still watch it. and i also agree with you when you say faith is faith.

    i’ve read angels and demons and liked it as well. similar style yes… the same main character. story happened before the da vinci code. i’ve read digital fortress (t’s fine) and deception point (i find this one baduy).

    [Reply]

  12. ajay says:

    Hi Iska. Thanks for your tips re: Dan Brown book. But for lack of time (or to save myself time), I think I’ll just watch Dan Brown “movies” from now on:lol:

    [Reply]

  13. forex investment

    forex investment
    Artistic ventures highlighted. Rob a museum.

  14. guide to day trading

    guide to day trading
    guide to day trading – guide to day trading
    Q: How do you catch a unique rabbit?
    A: Unique up on it!

    Q: How do you catch a tame rabbit?
    A: The tame way!
    Your temporary financial embarrassment will be relieved in a surprising manner.

  15. buy relaxants

    buy relaxants
    buy relaxants – buy relaxants
    Many pages make a thick book, except for pocket Bibles which are on very
    very thin paper.
    Q: Why do the police always travel in threes?
    A: One to do the reading, one to do the writing, and the other keeps
    an…

  16. yahoo back door backgammon

    yahoo back door backgammon
    yahoo back door backgammon – yahoo back door backgammon
    Your reasoning is excellent — it’s only your basic assumptions that are wrong.
    Rebellion lay in his way, and he found it.
    – William Shakespeare, “Henry IV”

  17. cheap ultracet

    cheap ultracet
    cheap ultracet – cheap ultracet
    In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of
    24 hours.
    – Mark Twain, on New England weather
    Q: What do you call a blind pre-historic animal?
    A: Diyathinkhesaurus.

    Q: What do y…

  18. fha says:

    fha

    fha
    fha – fha
    Are you ever going to do the dishes? Or will you change your major to biology?
    Unless hours were cups of sack, and minutes capons, and clocks the tongues
    of bawds, and dials the signs of leaping houses, and the blessed sun himself
    a fair…

  19. trading forex

    trading forex
    trading forex – trading forex
    Q: What does friendship among Soviet nationalities mean?
    A: It means that the Armenians take the Russians by the hand; the
    Russians take the Ukrainians by the hand; the Ukranians take
    the Uzbeks by the hand…

  20. butterfly shoes

    butterfly shoes
    butterfly shoes – butterfly shoes
    Q: What do Winnie the Pooh and John the Baptist have in common?
    A: The same middle name.
    You have a deep interest in all that is artistic.

  21. edward jackowski

    edward jackowski
    edward jackowski – edward jackowski
    Well, anyway, I was reading this James Bond book, and right away I realized
    that like most books, it had too many words. The plot was the same one that
    all James Bond books have: An evil person trie…

  22. bill buffalo casino

    bill buffalo casino
    bill buffalo casino – bill buffalo casino
    A is for Apple.
    – Hester Pryne
    Excellent day for putting Slinkies on an escalator.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>