The Da Vinci Code

With the release of the film of the novel approaching, a number of workmates (and myself) had expressed an interest in heading off to see the film last weekend. A few e-mail were exchanged and 18 tickets later, we all trooped off to watch - taking over an entire cinema row in the process (to some amusement). Anyway, as you have no doubt heard, the film has been whipping up a storm - as did the book itself. You may ask if i thought that it was worth all the hype and controversy? In all honesty, I enjoyed the film - as did many of my friends - i think because i went in expecting a good adaptation of the book and that's what i got. If there is one thing that detracts from the film, i'd have to point the finger at Audrey Tatou. Perhaps it's because she has to speak English throughout, but something about her just does not gel. Other than that, i enjoyed it - and thought it did a good job of making a lot of exposition reasonably interesting. I suspect that some of the negativity comes from people who are expecting to have a life-changing experience whilst watching.

Of course, the brouhaha surrounding the whole thing doesn't really help. I find it somewhat hard to believe that so much fuss is caused over a work of fiction - especially when the author has emphasised it as such. I think the trouble is that it 'could' be 'true' - and maybe the church are worried that people will think it is (hey, who said Americans are suggestive?). Or something. I also find it immensely annoying (and hypocritical) that some of the people causing a lot of the fuss over here were very dismissive when commenting on the Islamic reaction to those Danish cartoons - along the lines of 'But that's freedom of speech' etc. Talk about double standards - but then it's different when the boots on the other foot. Overall, i think the film has a reasonable message at the end (the book has been softened a little) in that it's all about what YOU believe above all else. Hear hear.