[Borges]

It's fantasy posing as reality

A good working definition of fiction. Good ole' Aristotle would call it Mimesis.

[rhema]

Most movies present the world according to Hollywood (and the word became flesh -- lots of flesh) -- that the sex act is good in and of itself, that people should follow their feelings (which invariably will lead them to right conduct and happiness)

Well, Bill Clinton was paying rapt attention, anyway.

[Cicero]

Excellent review.

[ExtremeUnction]

The best response to The Da Vinci Code -- besides derisive laughter -- is a boycott.

I am a conservative, practicing Catholic, and my wife and I plan to see the movie this weekend. My brother is a conservative Catholic priest, and he looks forward to seeing it. I enjoy fiction, in books and movies. That's what this is, as well as good, old fashioned entertainment. I suggest you stop taking life so seriously. Relax, it's, A MOVIE!! Everyone, see this movie!! It should be as much fun as the book!

[satchmodog9]

Opie's Opus. Good one.

[frogjerk]

But why all the fuss? After all, it’s only a movie, right?

The novelist/philosopher Ayn Rand was once asked why she primarily wrote fiction, instead of works of philosophy. Rand explained that it's far easier to convey ideas through fiction than non-fiction -- witness Dante's The Divine Comedy, witness Uncle Tom's Cabin, witness Ben-Hur, The Screwtape Letters and To Kill a Mockingbird.

Novels and films aren't footnoted. The author or screenwriter can create a thoroughly convincing universe that powerfully projects his message. From The Birth of a Nation and Triumph of The Will to Thelma and Louise and Brokeback Mountain, films have told us how to think about the world around us.

This is for all of the "It's only Fiction, get over it!" crowd out there.

[2nd Bn, 11th Mar]

My wife bought me the Angels and Demons audiobook for a long trip. It was putrid.

I didn't get past page 86 of The Da Vinci Code.

No more Dan Brown for me!

[GOP Poet]

ping

[GOP Poet]

ping

[Lord_Baltar]

Oh geez, not this nonsense again....

Hey, I've got two words that will make Feder's head spin around...

HARRY POTTER

[Robwin]

Thank you for posting that. I haven't read anything by Don Feder for far too long a time, and that was excellent. His assessment of "The Code" as a terrible piece of literature was spot on, but I particularly loved this line:
"This would be amusing, were it not so disgusting. Jews daily pray for the rebuilding of the Holy Temple. For what -- so men can "experience the divine" by getting a little nookie?"

[stuartcr]

Why not subtitle it...'A work of Hollywood fiction'. I think that would be more accurate.

[goldstategop]

I have to disagree with Don Feder this time. This is fiction and based on a novel. It does NOT claim to be historical fact. If it was, Christians would have the right to properly take offense. Here we have speculation about Jesus and his supposed French descendents. One can understand that Dan Brown's thriller makes for exciting escapist summer reading. And reviews have said the movie isn't as good as the book. Yeah, Hollywood presents a lot of liberal drivel. But no one buys a ticket to see a movie to hear a message but to be entertained.

(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")

[Clink]

At least Christians can take comfort in the fact that their's isn't the only faith maligned and misrepresented by Brown's book.

Of course Judaism is the other religion that is maligned.

I wonder why he didn't include Islam? Oh, that's right, he wants to be alive to write a sequel.

[Pharmboy]

And allow me, as another Jew, to weigh in with Feder in total agreement.

[El Cid]

There's a phrase not used much anymore, or when it is, it is used to convey sarcasm. The phrase was one to declare righteous indignation:
"Is there nothing sacred?"
I can think of no other way to respond to the premise of this book/movie. Sure, its fiction. Forget that it claims as 'facts' things that are falsehoods.
It pretends that the greatest event in mankind's history - the Resurrection - is a fairy tale. It uses our LORD as a prop for a 'stirring detective story'.
Is nothing sacred anymore??

[Candor7]

The Anti-Christ is among us.....bla...bla....blah.

Read the book and found it entertaining, among many fictional novels I have read this month.

Might see the movie tomorrow because wifey wants to go, because she didn't read the book, but will try to stay home and stack firewood.

This is fiction, and pretend, and I am not worried about being traduced by a book or a movie. The caterwalling about it is free advertising. In two months the movie will be forgotten and the next big "scandel" will come along.

The theory that Christ had a woman? So what, pretending is not sacrelige. Its just that today so many people would LIKE to think he had a woman , who influenced his spirituality, just as they often do today. Yesterday everyone wanted him to be chaste, single and pure and today they see sacredness in union.

Maybe seeing sacredness in union might just help save the institution of marriage, look at the upside!

I suppose that offends many, but not me.

[Cedar]

Final bus stop for this movie: the Lake of Fire.

[Tribune7]

Good article bump.

[Montfort]

If someone has a taste for a novel with political conspiracies and royal genealogy, with no hint of heresy, my novel The Figurehead is worth checking out. See my tagline about a free preview from lulu.com/larus

I must admit to using the borderline-cliche character of an American priest working for the Vatican Secretariat of State, but he is one of the good guys. Yes. The Catholic Priest is one of the good guys, imagine that. There are strong conservative themes, which means my book will never be made into a Hollywood movie.

The book has a little of the flavor of "Being There."