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Mike

Mike Rinaldi


Last Updated: 11/21/2009

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Gender: Male
Status: Single
Age: 35
Sign: Leo

City: VISALIA
State: California
Country: US
Signup Date: 2/27/2005

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Friday, May 19, 2006 

Current mood:  blah
WARNING: possible spoilers ahead. If you want to watch the movie and not be surprised by the plot or how mediocre it is, don't read this blog.

My favorite quote so far from a review of The Da Vinci Code:
"The most controversial thriller of the year turns out to be about as exciting as watching your parents play Sudoku."
--Ann Hornaday, WASHINGTON POST

Thanks to my friend Graham, I got to attend a free press screening on Thursday. As you probably know, a lot of people are boycotting the movie. I'm not sure about that to be honest, but I think it's a matter of opinion and not a matter of morality. I like Ron Howard and I'm a fan of this entire cast, so I wanted to be able to root for them even though I was opposed to the premise of the plot. Some good news though. Most of the controversial subject matter in the book-- the most offensive plot points-- are left out of the movie. Most people probably won't believe that unless they watch the movie though. The bad news is that the movie isn't that good, as you've proably heard by now. So if you're boycotting this movie, don't do it on the basis of religious offense... do it because you're boycotting bad cinema.

I give it a grade of C-. You won't leave the theater holding a grudge, but you may be holding your applause.

The silly premise is that  there is a bloodline descended from the children Jesus had with Mary Magdalene. That's in the book and it's the whole plot of the movie. What most Christians complain the most about is NOT in the movie... just the book. That is:
1. Jesus didn't die during the crucifixion (not mentioned in the movie)
2. The Bible is disproved and reduced to fiction (not mentioned in the movie)
3. Jesus wasn't divine (argued by one character in the movie, but not claimed as a fact)
Do I think that if the people boycotting the movie had been aware of its actual content that they would decided not to boycott it? Yes, I think so. But if you still don't want to support the movie, read on.
 
Boycotts fuel the fire and studios know this. An "other-cott" has been proposed, which is a little different and makes more sense. Rather than publicly bash the subject matter, simply go see a different movie. Specifically the same different movie. It was suggested that since money talks, don't stay home from the theater; everyone should go see the animated comedy Over the Hedge, which has received great reviews. If you want to see The Da Vinci Code on the big screen, at least wait until Tuesday. This way, another movie has the fighting chance of taking the top spot of the opening weekend box office, and sends the message to Hollywood that we don't want more films that slander Jesus. I'm not telling you to do this, I'm just letting you know that if you choose to not support this movie, here's the method that makes sense. I don't really feel one way or the other about it.

By the way, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is way better.
8:03 AM
 
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Deb
Debra French

 
Thanks for the review.  I was considering going to see it as I love both of the main stars but it seems that the more and more trailers I see the less interested i am in watching it.  We'll see, I definately want to see it at somepoint.  I don't think I want to fight the crowds to see it today though
 
Posted by Deb on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 2:32 PM
[Reply to this] 
Tim
Tim Bauer

 
Great review, my friend. I will be boycotting the movie theater this weekend, but more on the basis of protesting the lack of content in my bank account rather than the content of any movie. Loved the quote from the poste. Isn't Sudoku a version of Japanese assisted suicide?
 
Posted by Tim on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 2:54 PM
[Reply to this] 
Michael Harrell

 
"By the way, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is way better"

That statement could work with most movies... in my humble opinion.
 
Posted by Michael Harrell on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 3:20 PM
[Reply to this] 
Mike
Mike Rinaldi

 
People actually did have logical reasons to get hyped about it. Ron Howard claimed he was as faithful to the book as possible, yet refused to divulge the actual content of the film. So people were left to assume the same offensive material that was in the book, was also in the movie. It made sense.
However, Howard also said that he felt conservative religious folks would ultimately not find the movie as offensive as they anticipated. I think because of the mediocrity of the filmmaking and the possibility of offending Da Vinci Code purists who wanted the movie exactly like the book, the studio was relying on the boycott to fuel the fire and get more people into the theaters.

 
Posted by Mike on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 8:43 PM
[Reply to this] 
Mike
Mike Rinaldi

 
My friend Graham reminded me that the "mortality of Christ" was debated in the movie a bit more than I remembered and different characters seem to be split on the issue of his mortality and deity.
Another thing I overlooked is the idea of the "sacred feminine" which isn't really developed in the movie, but the idea may be offensive to some people.

The filmmakers really tried to have everything both ways, which doesn't really work out.

 
Posted by Mike on Friday, May 19, 2006 - 11:02 PM
[Reply to this] 
Deb
Debra French

 
Well, I finally saw the movie last Sat night and I agree with your C- grade...I may even give it a D+.  I did really like Tom Hank's monologue at the end though.  I thought that was really great.  The thing that I found funny is that the movie made the entire concept of the "holy grail" seem even sillier and trifiling than the book did. 
 
Posted by Deb on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 7:40 PM
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