SUBSCRIBEThe Da Vinci Code - Ron Howard, 2006
The Da Vinci Code - Ron Howard, 2006
Much to the great consternation of religious groups, especially Catholic, the movie opened last Thursday worldwide. Queues in Makati cinemas and elsewhere were long and almost people everywhere at the office and malls were talking about watching the film. As for me, the last full show (2230H) in Glorietta 4 was not that crowded as we were still able to reserve seats but it was alread 5 rows from the front. But what the heck, it was still okay as it was not too close.
Despite the seeming suspense as the protagonists and their adversaries go on a wild goose chase across France and later on in Great Britain looking for the Holy Grail, the truth, and piecing together different clues and solving mysteries as well as contending with betrayals, the movie itself, is nothing but pure fiction. Even if Dan Brown avowed that rituals, groups, etc. are facts, it’s still just a story woven into historical events. Add some controversial claims and you have a recipe for a great blockbuster. I can’t help myself but laugh off claims in the story but it was pure entertainment.
Unfortunately, while Dan Brown and the movie’s producers were all laughing their way to the bank, several quarters took this work so seriously that it has stoked much interest among readers and viewers alike. Nevermind if the claims were rehashed theories and has long been discredited by experts. Nothing is really new except that Brown was able to market this to a wider audience.
As for the local scene, in their zealousness to gain brownie points for the church, the city council of Manila banned the movie without seeing it first hand citing a provision in the penal code that prohibits these activities that offends religions. Hmmm, sounds fishy. 2007, an election year is just a couple of months away and already those aspiring for elective office are now positioning themselves.
