The Da Vinci Code.......

[Wuptdo]

http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/davincicode/psp/images/title.jpg

Only one more day! I can hardly wait! I haven't been this excited about a movie since Star Trek: The Motion Picture and The Devil and Miss Jones, part II. 8O

Hope to see you at the movies!

Wuptdo B-)

[Dharma]

"The Da Vinci Code," the film, gives the ultimate question (praise Goddess!) a radical answer
By Harvey Wasserman
Online Journal Guest Writer

May 22, 2006, 00:49

"What if 'the greatest story ever told' is a lie?"

Given the immense reactionary power of today's Christian Church, and the violent intolerance of its fundamentalist minions, what more radical question could be asked?

No film has ever been in position to give a more penetrating answer than The Da Vinci Code. And . . . praise the Goddess! . . . it largely delivers.

It will be easy to fault this flick, and many will, for all sorts of reasons, including its often ponderous tone and mournful pace.

But whatever their pitfalls, this movie is a strong companion to a book that embodies a healing challenge to the virulent virus of reactionary "Christian" fundamentalism.

With a staggering 45 million copies in print, Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code is a force of nature. It's a solid murder thriller, full of twists and gadgetry, hidden riddles and secret codas.

But that alone cannot begin to explain the story's huge appeal. As they say in New Age circles, "There must be a reason."

The Da Vinci Code has a cult following because it makes two spiritual assertions that millions of ordinary people have waited centuries to hear. One is being debated interminably. The other, far more radical, you've barely read.

The first, of course, is the idea that Christ was married to Mary Magdalene, and that they conceived a child. Far from being a prostitute (as she was slimed by the Rovian Church) Mary was carrying Jesus' child when she sat with him as his wife at their Last Supper. She mixed the blood of his Crucifixion with the tears of a widowed mother-to-be, then fled to France and delivered their daughter, Sarah.

Whether Sarah then mothered a royal line of divine descendents fades into the stuff of conspiracy. It moves from the core to the fringe of the Essential Truth: Christ was not merely human, but carnal. If he bore the Divinity within him, he expressed it, as have so many, as a lover of women. If he was elevated by later followers (and users) from radical activist to Prophet to Messiah for purposes of building a male-dominated fortress, then the lust with which he knocked up his wife had to go.

How the worship of a spiritual rebel who attacked the money changers and challenged the power of Rome could translate into a corrupt mega-cult run by power- and cash-crazed sometime celibates becomes a question for the ages. The Church's feverish counter-attack confirms the heresy.

The Da Vinci Code, the book, reminds us that few Jewish men in the Jerusalem of Jesus could have remained unmarried to the age of 33 without their mothers (virgin or otherwise) getting seriously on their cases. And if that's not a woman sitting next to Jesus in Leonardo's "Last Supper," then the age of the transsexual came far earlier than the art critics would have you believe. Or maybe John the Baptist was just ahead of his time.

Did he or didn't he? Was she or wasn't she?

As the Church has been first to say, with its infinite spin: the answers do matter. The strategy du jour to distract and bury us in the usual semi-relevant detail.

But it's the second, deeper assertion that cuts to the core.

Both the book and movie tell us the Christian Church was established on the bloodied soul of pagan feminism. Before Peter's lethal male chauvinism became the papal rock, the human spirit revolved around cults of fertility, worship of the vaginal rose, the sacred feminine.

The war between the female chalice and the male blade is as old as the Piscean Age, i.e. about 2,000 years. With the ossification of Christianity as we now know it, the male took power with the sword and the stake.

It has not been a pretty picture. Millions of "witches" have been raped and burned as surely as they have been denied reproductive choice and told that sex without male sanction and domination is a form of cardinal sin. The on-going effects are as clear and present as the slaughter in Iraq and the Apocalypse of global warming.

That The Da Vinci Code presents this in-your-face paganism is the hidden key to its fervent following. To worship at the bones of Mary Magdalene is to demand the rebirth of feminine balance, to restore the power of the womb of creation to a society dominated, in the age of the papal Bull and George W. Bush, by divinely ordained testosterone terrorism.

The challenge is as heretical to today's fundamentalists as to the witch burners of the Middle Ages and the mass slaughter of the Crusaders. The modern anti-pagan right wing is every bit as willing to burn and bury its heretics as the Puritan fanatics who have hated uppity women and Mother Nature since the day they remade Christ in the twisted image of their own prudish psychopathology.

There are intriguing counter-plays between the book and movie. The book implies a sexual tension between its male and female protagonists that the film gratefully avoids. Instead, it gracefully introduces a summary moment of exquisite humor missing from the book, which has nary a laugh to offer.

The film lacks the long expository passages of "illuminati" text that ground its politics. But it does let its most interesting character, played by Ian McKellen, lay out the feminist case with appropriate clarity and flair.

Of course, if either the book or the movie had been more precisely true to their larger theme, then this "old wives tale . . . the greatest cover-up in human history" should really have been revealed by a woman. "As long there has been one true God, there has been killing in His name," says McKellen. But why would the Goddess trust a man to make the point?

For this linguistically-challenged Midwesterner, at least, the film suffers from the French accent of the female lead. Audrey Tautou lends an Audrey Hepburn face. But is it too late to give her subtitles?

Tom Hanks does his usual solid journeyman's job. Both he and Ms. Tautou grow into their roles as the story evolves. The screen tones also move nicely from dark to light, and Hans Zimmer's crescendo score stops just short of leaping over the top.

The ideological fireworks are left in the able hands of Mr. McKellen, whose screen presence is a magnetic wonder. The same must be said of Jean Reno, whose multi-layered detective Bezu Fache nails one of the film's great revelatory moments.

But the murderous monk Silas is sadly miscast. Paul Bettany looks way too Hollywood for this role. Someone with real albino hair and eyes might have made the film's Frankenstein as truly terrifying as the book imagines him.

As the Holy Grail of today's Culture War, this anti-icon is a sitting duck for all forms of attack. It's long, dark, and occasionally obscure for those who haven't read the book and can't decode a French accent.

But Akiva Goldman's script and Ron Howard's direction do honor the message and density of Dan Brown's original, whose potential impact is hard to overstate. For a big-time feature film to assert that "Christ's throne may live through a female child" is to throw down the chalice of a sexual Armageddon.

At its spiritual core, The Da Vinci Code, the book and movie are as gratefully pregnant with overdue debate as Mary Magdalene with husband, defying the male disciples.

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[Dharma]

I saw it yesterday afternoon and will give it an 8 on a 10 scale. I'm not sure there is a way to earn more than an 8 when one has read the book first. Surprisingly, Ron Howard managed to translate all the important book material into his movie. My spouse has not read the book and he really enjoyed the 2:30 book adaptation. His only criticsm was in casting Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon. He said he didn't see Langdon but saw Tom Hanks (how feel feel about EVERY Tom Cruise movie) throughout the flick.

Understood, the book is a fiction, however mixed with a lot of fact and history which makes me wonder why the Catholic church worked so hard to subjagate women and deny the sacred feminine. What's up with that? Maybe the Islamists would be treating their women better if the Catholic church would have lead by good example.

[Tonya]

Understood, the book is a fiction, however mixed with a lot of fact and history which makes me wonder why the Catholic church worked so hard to subjagate women and deny the sacred feminine. What's up with that? Maybe the Islamists would be treating their women better if the Catholic church would have lead by good example.

I hate to say this, but maybe that's more of an indictment against men than against any one church.

[kellyc]

Maybe the Islamists would be treating their women better if the Catholic church would have lead by good example.

Islam follows the teaching of Mohammed and Allah period. They could care less about how the Catholic church behaved themselves when it comes to beliefs and morals. If the Catholic Church told them the sky was blue, and Mohammed preached to believe it was green, then thats what they would believe. I agree with Tonya a little, that its more of an indictment on men, than a religion. But I also believe some women are responsible for their own misfortune.

[Dharma]

Maybe the Islamists would be treating their women better if the Catholic church would have lead by good example.

Islam follows the teaching of Mohammed and Allah period. They could care less about how the Catholic church behaved themselves when it comes to beliefs and morals. If the Catholic Church told them the sky was blue, and Mohammed preached to believe it was green, then thats what they would believe. I agree with Tonya a little, that its more of an indictment on men, than a religion. But I also believe some women are responsible for their own misfortune.

Kelly,
I'm referring to how women were murdered by the thousands and burned at the stake. And yes, I think men are intimidated by the Sacred Female/Goddess who is able to carry children. Going down the Islam road was my mistake. :grin:

[dhyatt]

[snip]

I think men are intimidated by the Sacred Female/Goddess who is able to carry children. Going down the Islam road was my mistake. :grin:

I am intimidated by no man.

[Dharma]

[snip]

I think men are intimidated by the Sacred Female/Goddess who is able to carry children. Going down the Islam road was my mistake. :grin:

I am intimidated by no man.

Don't you mean WOman? :-D

[Tonya]

Islam follows the teaching of Mohammed and Allah period. They could care less about how the Catholic church behaved themselves when it comes to beliefs and morals. If the Catholic Church told them the sky was blue, and Mohammed preached to believe it was green, then thats what they would believe. I agree with Tonya a little, that its more of an indictment on men, than a religion. But I also believe some women are responsible for their own misfortune.

Definitely agree with you on that last point, too, Kelly, particularly for women in modern times who are lucky enough to be born and/or live in countries like ours.

[Wuptdo]

The question is, "Do modern day author's still tell stories about the Great Goddess?"

Let me think of a couple of good sources:

The Earth's Children Series (http://www.randomhouse.com/features/auel/webroot/series.html)

Anne Rice's Vampire & Witch Books (http://www.annerice.com/)
Miss Rice also just wrote a book about Jesus Christ, the "missing years."

The Goddess (http://www.gotojassminesitenow.com/goddesses/earthgoddess.html)

What is left of the primative societies in this world, still have a strong belief in some form of a Goddess. Remember, the concept of Religion & politics are not suppose to mix, is a very, very, moden day concept (less than 200 years).

The bottom line, what is stronger. The power to create or the power to destroy?

Added: Suggested movies:

http://www.dogma-movie.com/main.html
Get the director's cut, and watch the deleted scenes
and
http://www.stigmata-themovie.com/
Once again, recommend the director's cut, and watch the two alternate endings

Wuptdo B-)

[DarylB]

What a bunch of mixed up puppies! I read through this thread and got a sideache!

[kellyc]

What a bunch of mixed up puppies! I read through this thread and got a sideache!

What a sad puppy you are. What Dharma wont play with you anymore?

[Dharma]

What a bunch of mixed up puppies! I read through this thread and got a sideache!

What a sad puppy you are. What Dharma wont play with you anymore?

Now my sides are aching!!!!!!!!! :bounce:

[Dharma]

OK seriously...true confessions here. I was really awaiting a few of our more devout Catholics to take my bait on this thread. Unfortunately, I only managed to reel in a few dolphins (Kelly, Tonya). Wrong bait, I guess.

If I managed to reel in a worthy opponent, the hook was going to be..ITS ONLY A MOVIE, PEOPLE! Daryl was onto me before I started as were the rest of you. So, my fishing expedition failed!! Darn!
Anyway, I was reading my favorite blog and came across this post. Even though CP members already get it, I'm pastin it anyway becaue it bears repeating!


"The Da Vinci Code": It's just a movie
Posted in General Discussion: Politics
Tue May 23rd 2006, 11:45 AM

"The Da Vinci Code" is just a movie. There, I said it. Is that really so hard an idea to grasp? A movie that, in fact, I haven't yet seen. Nonetheless, "The Da Vinci Code" is just a movie, just like "Road House" and "Cannonball Run II" before it.

It's a successful film based on a best-selling book, just like "The Firm" or the "Harry Potter" series. It stars the guy from "Bachelor Party", the girl from "Amelie" and Magneto from "X-Men". A work of fiction intended to do one thing better than any other: Make money.

That so many people can't wrap their heads around so simple an idea is a testament to how stupid our society has become. That thousands, maybe millions, consider "The Da Vinci Code" a direct threat to their faith speaks to a paranoia beyond my comprehension. It's just a movie, folks. Get over yourselves.

Driving to an area bookstore Saturday, I was greeted with the sight of a man hammering signs into the ground on busy street corners. The signs, and I paraphrase, said something like, "I believe in Jesus Christ; Reject The Da Vinci Code". For now, I'm considering it a coincidence that I spotted another man leaving leaflets under patrons' windshield wipers at the bookstore that informed us that the Bible had disproved evolution. I didn't have the heart to tell him that he wasn't likely to find many converts to so stupid a notion in the parking lot of a bookstore.

Getting back to the movie, however, I've noticed anti-"Da Vinci Code" signs at local churches, too. And these aren't isolated incidents, either. You can't watch Fox News for five minutes without catching a host or commentator challenging the movie, much like the network made it a point to assault "Brokeback Mountain" at every turn. Or bash Mexicans.

Why do people behave so irrationally? Because they fear change. They fear that the face of the 21st Century in America won't be white. They fear that fewer people view two loving people who happen to share the same sex as a threat to democracy. And they fear that people may ask questions about the origins of their faith. Why think for ourselves when these people, these arbiters of wisdom, can do it for us?

As I wrote earlier when I referred to many of these same people as the Nuisance Generation, they can preach all they want about the ownership society and personal responsibility. But they don't practice what they preach. What's worse, they don't trust your sense of personal responsibility. They trust theirs better. And they want to impose it on you.

Think about it. They don't want you reading certain books. They don't want you watching certain movies. They don't want you listening to certain music. They don't want you to possess the knowledge needed to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. They don't want you to accept facts that have been conventional wisdom everywhere else for decades. They think a burning flag is an affront to America. They think a translated national anthem will tear the whole system down.

But these people, these turds in our collective punch bowl, fail to recognize the spectacular hypocrisy inherent in their outrage. The people who lecture everyone else about personal responsibility can't exercise it themselves. If they could only change the channel instead of filing a complaint, our lives would be so much easier. If they could only spend more time working for good than picketing a box office, the world would be a much better place. But they can't, because they realize that it's much easier to be against something than for anything.

You want to know what's a real threat to people's faith? Church sex abuse. And the longer some blame liberals for the blight instead of looking in the mirror, the more problems the church will have. Problems like the fact that some people consider it a good thing to physically assault those whose only crime is holding different viewpoints. Problems like the notion that Pat Robertson and others like him say things they'd spend a lifetime decrying if they came from a mullah. Problems far greater than "The Da Vinci Code".

It's just a movie.

[Rono]

What a sad puppy you are. What Dharma wont play with you anymore?

Great quote Kelly! This needs to be added to my post in the Daryl verses Dharma thread!

And Kelly...why do you think I cringe every time we have debated issues? Because I do understand it is tough to debate a smart women and win!

...and truely in all seriousness, here's hoping all is well with you and yours Kelly...I might even get more of a chance to participate here once I get to Iraq....It is nice to see your input here again. Hope all else is well with you and all the rest here on CP!

Rono

[kellyc]

What a sad puppy you are. What Dharma wont play with you anymore?

Great quote Kelly! This needs to be added to my post in the Daryl verses Dharma thread!

And Kelly...why do you think I cringe every time we have debated issues? Because I do understand it is tough to debate a smart women and win!

...and truely in all seriousness, here's hoping all is well with you and yours Kelly...I might even get more of a chance to participate here once I get to Iraq....It is nice to see your input here again. Hope all else is well with you and all the rest here on CP!

Rono

Im doing excellent. Im back to driving topless again. You know what that means! Lots of fun in the sun. I am swimming with the sharks in July and we chartered a sail boat out of Tortola(Moorings) not too long afterwards. I cant wait.

Hope we see you more often on Cary Politics. The thing about your posts on here is its a way to know you are okay. Keep up the good work overseas. I hope you family is doing well too. Take care!

[Tonya]

Im doing excellent. Im back to driving topless again. You know what that means! Lots of fun in the sun. I am swimming with the sharks in July and we chartered a sail boat out of Tortola(Moorings) not too long afterwards. I cant wait.

Hope we see you more often on Cary Politics. The thing about your posts on here is its a way to know you are okay. Keep up the good work overseas. I hope you family is doing well too. Take care!

Driving topless? I think there may be some men who'd like to know where you drive! Is that allowed in the Cary "town" limits? :P

[kellyc]

Thats cause I drive this vehicle!

http://www.geocities.com/youngncgal/kcfoglites2.jpg

Notice the cool fog light covers...installed by the one and only Don Frantz...Check out the initials!

[Wuptdo]

Rono - hey, are they showing "The Da Vinci" Code in Bagdad at the public movie houses? I would certainly like to know how Muslims are react to the concept that one of their Prophets actually had children?

And as always, if you hear really loud "pop'in" noises, hit the deck!

Wuptdo B-)

[dhyatt]

Rono - hey, are they showing "The Da Vinci" Code in Bagdad at the public movie houses? I would certainly like to know how Muslims are react to the concept that one of their Prophets actually had children?

And as always, if you hear really loud "pop'in" noises, hit the deck!

Wuptdo B-)

Their reaction would be... so?

From the Wikipedia entry on Muhammed:


From 595 to 619, Muhammad had only one wife, Khadijah, who may have been fifteen years older than he was. After her death he married Aisha, then Hafsa. Later he was to marry more wives, for a total of eleven (nine or ten living at the time of his death). (The status of Maria al-Qibtiyya is much disputed; she may have been a slave, a freed slave, or a wife.)

Khadijah was Muhammad's first wife and the mother of the only child to survive him, his daughter Fatima. He married his other wives after the death of Khadijah. One of the later unions resulted in a son, but the child died when he was ten months old.

Muhammad's marriages have been the subject of much criticism. Some consider immoral the number of wives he took (Qur'an 33:50) and they question the circumstances of some of his marriages, such as his marriage to his adopted son's ex-wife, and his marriage to Aisha, who may have been nine (as reported in some collected traditions, or hadith). However there is a considerable debate amongst Muslim scholars over Aisha's age at the consumation of their marriage. Muslims argue that many of Muhammad's marriages were political, made to cement ties with close friends and tribal leaders, or charitable in nature, protecting Muslim women widowed in war.

[Wuptdo]

Mrs. Wup and finally got to see this well made film (a few weeks ago). I give Ron Howard credit or being true to the core of the story. Great job of casting, except for Tom Hanks as the lead (my choice would of either been Kevin Spacy or Mel Gibson; Mrs. Wup thought Harrison Ford would of been a good choice). Now, Audrey Tautou, that really worked for me.
http://www.picrank.com/pic/1-AudreyTautou21a.jpg

Glad to know that France can still produce beautiful women.

Anyway, I enjoyed the flick because I didn't fall asleep. Also, when the director cut comes out, I will probably add to my DvD collection. I hope they now do "Angles & Demons."

And to much surprise to many folks - the world didn't come to an end.

Wuptdo B-)