Sony Pictures provides sounding board for Da Vinci Code critics

[buffalo]

**Sony Pictures provides sounding board for Da Vinci Code critics

** Hollywood, Feb. 09, 2006 (CNA) - Far ahead of the May 19th film release of the “DaVinci Code“–adapted from the popular but controversial Dan Brown novel, Sony Motion Pictures corporation has decided to address the film’s numerous critics–by providing them a platform.

The plot of the book, and now film, makes claims that Jesus married and never rose from the dead, and that the Catholic Church, along with the apostolate Opus Dei, orchestrated a massive cover up of this information.

It has angered and frustrated Catholics and Protestants alike who point out that even fiction, oftentimes has great influence over people’s thinking.

Rather than sit back and let the controversy merely fuel ticket sales, Sony Pictures, who is releasing the film, starring Tom Hanks, has opted to launch a website housing essays and opinions of Christians who oppose the volatile storyline.

The site, which goes up today, will feature the likes of Richard J. Mouw, president of California’s Fuller Theological Seminary and Darrell L. Bock, a professor of New Testament studies and the author of “Breaking the Da Vinci Code.”

Some 45 critical essays by prominent Christian writers and scholars will be available to view at www.thedavincichallenge.com starting today.

more…http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=5966

 

[Aquarius]

Brilliant idea.

 

[TPJCatholic]

Great marketing ploy.

No Christian should bother with that board, nor should they see the movie. Yet, millions (at least 50,000,000) Christians will see the movie, not caring that it is blasphemous.

 

[Aquarius]

Many Chistians have loudly complained about the movie. Now Sony is giving them a forum. Why ignore what those Christians have to say before reading it?

 

[TPJCatholic]

Because Sony knows that creating a forum just increases attention and increases their sales. Negative publicity is still publicity and many people will see it just because people complain.

I expect the movie to be seen by 40-50,000,000 people in the United States alone. 85% of those people are self proclaiming Christians, yet they will cough-up big bucks to pay to see something that blasts their faith, their Church, Opus Dei and Jesus Christ; however, many Christians do not seem to care that story is filled with lies and half-truths and intentionally attacks the faith and our Savior.

 

[Aquarius]

TPJCatholic:

Because Sony knows that creating a forum just increases attention and increases their sales. Negative publicity is still publicity and many people will see it just because people complain.

I expect the movie to be seen by 40-50,000,000 people in the United States alone. 85% of those people are self proclaiming Christians, yet they will cough-up big bucks to pay to see something that blasts their faith, their Church, Opus Dei and Jesus Christ; however, many Christians do not seem to care that story is filled with lies and half-truths and intentionally attacks the faith and our Savior.

I presume the folks who have been loudly complaining about the book for the last few years know their actions will also increase attention and increase sales. But, that hasn’t stopped them. The success of the book and movie are owed to all the Christians who fell right into tha marketing plan.

Many Christians can enjoy a good movie without believing what it says. I saw Narnia, enjjoyed it, and fought the temptation to run through the back wall of the closet.

 

[vz71]

Aquarius:

Many Christians can enjoy a good movie without believing what it says. I saw Narnia, enjjoyed it, and fought the temptation to run through the back wall of the closet.

Many can tell the difference between fiction, and reality when it is put in front of them, many may not see the difference as so obvious.

And for those with whom the difference is not so obvious, the lies contained within the movie may very well keep them from Christ.

The book attempts to present fiction as fact. It has fooled many.
The movie will reach a much broader audience, and will fool many more.

Z

 

[vz71]

And no sooner do I say it, I stumble upon a thread that illustrates the point.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=96133

Z

 

[Aquarius]

vz71:

Many can tell the difference between fiction, and reality when it is put in front of them, many may not see the difference as so obvious.

And for those with whom the difference is not so obvious, the lies contained within the movie may very well keep them from Christ.

The book attempts to present fiction as fact. It has fooled many.
The movie will reach a much broader audience, and will fool many more.

Z

Well, I hope we never reach the point where we have to cater to the lowest common denominator.

 

[vz71]

Aquarius:

Well, I hope we never reach the point where we have to cater to the lowest common denominator.

Too late.
Particularly with something as deceptive as the Da Vinci Code.

Not only does it package up lies, but it dresses them up to appear truthful, and provides an alternative to Christian faith.

Z

 

[TPJCatholic]

aqaurius,

I agree, many Christians will not fall under the spell of the Da Vinci Code’s lies…yet many good Christians will not go. Many CINO’s will see the movie and think it is accurately portraying history. They should not see the movie–yet they will in large numbers.

Narnia was awesome btw.

 

[Aquarius]

vz71:

Too late.
Particularly with something as deceptive as the Da Vinci Code.

Not only does it package up lies, but it dresses them up to appear truthful, and provides an alternative to Christian faith.

Z

So, whats wrong with alternatives? If a 2,000 year old religion can’t handle a mediocre book, then they should thank the author for the wake up call.

 

[Aquarius]

TPJCatholic:

aqaurius,

I agree, many Christians will not fall under the spell of the Da Vinci Code’s lies…yet many good Christians will not go. Many CINO’s will see the movie and think it is accurately portraying history. They should not see the movie–yet they will in large numbers.

Narnia was awesome btw.

Narnia was great. I still have a few more closets before I give up.

 

[vz71]

Aquarius:

So, whats wrong with alternatives? If a 2,000 year old religion can’t handle a mediocre book, then they should thank the author for the wake up call.

It’s not the 2,000 year old religion that cannot handle the book.
It is the people that do not know the facts that will accept the book as fact.

Do not try to make this a problem with the church, the problem is with the falsehood being presented and with people that do not know any better.

Z

 

[StubbleSpark]

vz71:

It’s not the 2,000 year old religion that cannot handle the book.
It is the people that do not know the facts that will accept the book as fact.

Do not try to make this a problem with the church, the problem is with the falsehood being presented and with people that do not know any better.

Z

This does not affect the Church at all, really. What it does is play on people’s already negative preconceptions about the Church and will reinforce their suspicion, anger and hatred keeping them from coming into communion with the Church and facilitating their spiritual descent.

One thing is for sure, come Judgment Day I really would not like to be Dan Brown. The Bible makes it clear that part of our responsibility as believers is to take care of our brothers and sisters. If you do not warn them “that wicked man shall die for his sin, but I will hold you responsible for his death.” (Ez 3:18)

As far as the website is concerned, I am sure Sony is trying to let off a little steam so people will not have a reason to complain when the movie finally does release.

I agree with Jimmy Akin’s assertion on CA radio yesterday. He pointed out Sony’s incredible lack of awareness of what the book actually says. “If they knew what they were doing, they wouldn’t have the movie in the first place.”

I see this website as another example of Sony’s dim (as in unenlightened by the epiphany of divine fire) view towards religion in general and Christianity in particular. I would suggest making a movie that discredits Sidhartha, the first Buddha, but the vast majority of Japanese are Buddhist in name only and never set foot inside a temple unless they are sightseeing or celebrating a village festival.

I do not see any harm in participating in the site – their soap box is as good as any to get the news out (until they summarily yank it, which they plan to do before the movie releases).

 

[StubbleSpark]

Actually, I just looked at the site. It looks really lame and manipulative.

 

[ezra1892]

TPJCatholic:

Great marketing ploy.

No Christian should bother with that board, nor should they see the movie. Yet, millions (at least 50,000,000) Christians will see the movie, not caring that it is blasphemous.

I know I will

Long live Dan Brown. Brilliant author

 

[ezra1892]

StubbleSpark:

This does not affect the Church at all, really. What it does is play on people’s already negative preconceptions about the Church and will reinforce their suspicion, anger and hatred keeping them from coming into communion with the Church and facilitating their spiritual descent.

One thing is for sure, come Judgment Day I really would not like to be Dan Brown. The Bible makes it clear that part of our responsibility as believers is to take care of our brothers and sisters. If you do not warn them “that wicked man shall die for his sin, but I will hold you responsible for his death.” (Ez 3:18)

As far as the website is concerned, I am sure Sony is trying to let off a little steam so people will not have a reason to complain when the movie finally does release.

I agree with Jimmy Akin’s assertion on CA radio yesterday. He pointed out Sony’s incredible lack of awareness of what the book actually says. “If they knew what they were doing, they wouldn’t have the movie in the first place.”

I see this website as another example of Sony’s dim (as in unenlightened by the epiphany of divine fire) view towards religion in general and Christianity in particular. I would suggest making a movie that discredits Sidhartha, the first Buddha, but the vast majority of Japanese are Buddhist in name only and never set foot inside a temple unless they are sightseeing or celebrating a village festival.

I do not see any harm in participating in the site – their soap box is as good as any to get the news out (until they summarily yank it, which they plan to do before the movie releases).

Well, our little Pope and his uninviting manners are also fueling the anti-Catholic movement. Also the Vatican’s ban on homosexual priests and branding gays as “severley disturbed” doesn’t encourage many to join the Church So let’s fix those and then we’ll go after the little book that is the code…

 

[Cubsfan]

ezra1892:

Well, our little Pope and his uninviting manners are also fueling the anti-Catholic movement. Also the Vatican’s ban on homosexual priests and branding gays as “severley disturbed” doesn’t encourage many to join the Church So let’s fix those and then we’ll go after the little book that is the code…

"…and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it’

Are you purporting to say that if the church would just cave in on its prinicpals the anti-catholic movement would go away???

You are naive

 

[ezra1892]

"…and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it’

Are you purporting to say that if the church would just cave in on its prinicpals the anti-catholic movement would go away???

You are naive

Nope. Never said that. It wouldn’t go away but i’m sure it would welcome a lot more people into our modest religion.

And what I was saying was that if stubblesparks thinks that the “DaVinci Code” would bring a hostile perspective to the Church, there are many things that the Church does that promote people to turn away from it…