MetaChat - I LIked it a Lot

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20 May 2006

I LIked it a Lot →[More:]I saw The Da Vinci Code last night and found it to be, while not the best movie I have ever seen, the best Ron Howard movie I have ever seen. Fairly riveting. . .much better than the book.

I purposely avoided reviews until I saw the movie, and I think now that the reviewers are looking at factors other than the film itself.

I have read, over the years, a fair amount of scholarship about alternate views of Mary Madelene, and the early sectarian struggles in the nascent Christian movements.

Brown presents no history, and no conjecture, really, that has not been around for some time, and I think that the sheer popularity (given the clunkiness of Brown's writing, this is amazing in itself), more conservative Christians have decided that it needs to be protested.

I would be interested in other reactions, positive and negative, of bunnies who have seen this flick.

post by: danf at: 11:02 | 14 comments

I'm supposed to go see the film tomorrow although it depends on whether I have to go in to work or not. I have heard mixed reviews from the few people I know who have seen it ranging from "It was really good" to "So slow, sooooooo sloooooow" to "Hated it".

On a related note, I am admitting right here and right now that I enjoyed the book. I didn't take it as historical fact nor do I think Dan Brown is a great writer but I enjoyed it. I am always afraid to admit that on the internet for fear that I will be pelted with copies of Pynchon or something for liking a book universally reviled by the literati. I LIKED IT. So there.

posted by LeeJay 20 May | 11:10

I just don't like anything that Ron Howard has directed since maybe Apollo 13. Howard should stick to Exec Producing and narrating Arrested Development. And don't get me started on Tom Hanks.

I am torn about this movie though because on one hand I have no interest in seeing the film [haven't read the book either], but on the other hand, the do-gooders say I should boycott it. But I only like breaking boycotts if there's protesters in front of the theatre.

posted by birdherder 20 May | 11:21

I'm totally ignoring its existence, and that of the book as well. Crappy scholarship, even if the whole premise wasn't sacreligious to me in the first place.

posted by bunnyfire 20 May | 11:28

bunnyfire: so, if I understand correctly, you dislike 'The Da Vinci Code' because you see it as poor scholarship? Do you know whether that's a common position among fundamentalists/evangelicals/Protestants (no offense intended--I'm just not sure how you'd identify yourself)?

posted by box 20 May | 12:40

Oh, and I can't imagine reading the book, and I almost certainly won't be seeing the movie (unless, y'know, somebody invites me to their house and it's on the teevee or something).

In a world of thousands of books and movies, many of them very, very good, and precious few hours in which to consume them, I just don't think I'll ever get around to 'The Da Vinci Code.'

posted by box 20 May | 12:48

I'm-a going to see it today, only because I told myself I would after reading the train wreck that was the book.

My wife and I went to Paris for our honeymoon right before the book came out, so seeing Paris, however fleeting, will be reason enough to watch it.

posted by Lipstick Thespian 20 May | 13:20

I'm about as far from being a Christian as anyone can be, and I also have ignored the DaVinci Code because of poor scholarship.

Yes, I know it's a novel, but so many people read books or see films and then think they"ve been informed on a subject.

Brown's habit of cavalierly changing what IS known to make it easier to write a book that will be controversial and actually have an ending bothers me.

He's got some good "auto-novel" software, a decent formula, and has pretty much written the same book three times.

I tried to read the book, and got disgusted, then went and re-read Foucalt's Pendulum to comfort myself.

posted by reflecked 20 May | 13:29

I read "The Holy Blood & The Holy Grail" when it first came out about 25 years ago, so I knew the premise of The DaVinci Code before I read it.

But Gawd, what a tedious book. I gave up after 100 pages because it was so badly written. I'm glad I didn't buy it, I got it free at the book exchange in the office. I'd have spit if I'd shelled out a fiver for that load of carp.

I won't pay good money to see the movie, but might watch it in a couple of years when it's on TV and there's nothing else on.

posted by essexjan 20 May | 14:42

Okay, I saw it today, and IT BLEW. Tom Hanks couldn't seem to act his way out of a paper bag in this one, and Audrey Tatou blew him off the screen.

This movie sucked so hard they should've passed out Da Vinci Lollipops as you went in.

The only redeemable part of the movie was Ian McKellen.

God, bunnies, WAIT FOR THE VIDEO IF YOU MUST SEE THIS.

I have spoken. Only the book was worse.

posted by Lipstick Thespian 20 May | 21:18

I'm with LeeJay - I enjoyed the book as the "bubblegum" fiction it was. I don't know if I'll see the movie. I was hoping to this weekend but it hasn't worked out.

posted by deborah 22 May | 12:28

I'm avoiding mainly for the same reasons that box quoted. Call me a snob, call me a quality junkie.

posted by matildaben 22 May | 12:33

I can't stand Tom Hanks, so that puts me right out.

posted by gaspode 22 May | 12:37

I don't read Tom Clancy; I won't read Dan Brown. I'll see the movie out of the corner of my eye somewhere, and I won't enjoy it. The surrounding froth of fake controversy is the least of my reasons. When I read/watch fantasy, I like it to be from someone who deserves my time and money.

Of course, that's not an answer to this post, which specifically asked for folks who'd seen this flick to comment on it. So I'm out of turn, and just being a big asshole.

But hey, I felt the same way about Harry Potter, and I was right.

posted by Hugh Janus 22 May | 12:42

As it turns out, we saw it on Monday. I'd say it was a 7 out of 10. Ian McKellan was awesome and Audrey Tatou did a good job. Tom Hanks didn't stand out at all but that was true to the character. LT is correct in at least one point - waiting for it to be released on DVD would've been fine.

posted by deborah 23 May | 12:29

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