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Topic: _The Da Vinci Code_ protest letter

Jeremy Jorgenson
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1002
From: Chicago, IL, USA
Registered: Feb 2005

posted 04-21-2006 02:51 PM

In reading these past few posts, the thought I've had most frequently is how the word "refrigerator" gains a 'D' to become "fridge" when shortened.

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Jim Ziegler
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 753
From: West Hollywood, CA
Registered: Jul 99

posted 04-21-2006 07:12 PM

Well said Dave. The First Amendment gives everyone the right to beleive as they wish, the right to expouse any idea they wish, to make this ideas into a motion picture, and the right to peacefully protest any idea, film, book you want.

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Frank Angel
Film God

Posts: 5305
From: Brooklyn NY USA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 04-21-2006 11:19 PM

I am with you Jeremy....there are days when I ponder the monumental questions of life....like: Why do Kamikazi pilots wear helmets. And, is there ever a day when mattresses are not on sale. And, how come you never hear father-in-law jokes?

quote: Robert E. Allen
Why is it whenever we discuss a religiously themed film or a religious person objecting to a film they find objectionable it turns into a "let's bash the religious person" thread?

With all due respect Robert, I think you are over-reacting on this one. That is quite a broad generalization -- EVERYTIME we discuss a religious themed film...? First, there are hardly enough religious themed films to say we bash them much less even discuss them. And why such a defensive posture? This person certainly has a right express his/her believes or wants, whatever. Even further, no one here ever said the writer didn't have the right to send the letter or say whatever he/she wanted to say.

The critisism, as far as I can see, is of the writer's arrogance to think that a theatre should not make a film available to others who may want to see it. That bespeaks of lack of respect on the letter writer's part for everyone else; it is that arrogance that is, IMHO, certainly worthy of critism. If one wants to go public with one's ideas, then be prepaired to meet counter ideas and not be so thin-skined as not to be able to stand up to counter points. Just because the discussion is based on religious ideas doesn't mean they get a pass on scrutiny and contradiction.

quote: Robert E. Allen
Religious people have every right under the constitution we do including the right to express themselves. In this case he is not trying to take away anyone's "rights" because you can see the film in any number of theatres. He just doesn't want it shown in his neighborhood.

Absolutely correct; no one ever said otherwise. He/she has a right to the contention that the film is an attack on Christianity, although he hasn't yet seen it. But according to the letter, that's incidental. His main intent in writing is to get the theatre to pull the booking. And that, whether it's based on his religious conviction or not, is arrogant and self-centered. Is he the ONLY person in his neighborhood? How does he get to speak for everyone else? Is everyone in his neighborhood of like mind...do all, to a person, not want that film shown? Let's not be rediculous; of course not. He wants his will imposed on everyone else. Somehow he thinks he's right and everyone else who wants to see this film is wrong, so therefore he gets to stop it from being shown.

No. Robert, your premise is wrong. I am not pissed at this guy because of his religious ideas, I am piss at him because he hasn't got any respect for others...that same respect you are accusing us of not exhibiting. I couldn't give a hoot what he says or how loudly he proclaims his beliefs, whatever they are. That is not what anyone is objecting to here. On the other hand, he/she is trying to preventing me from examining contradictory ideas and beliefs; THAT's when I have no hesitation to proclaim that I think he's an arrogant ass and I do so with the most sincere gentlemanly respect.

So let's not confuse ire at the idea of censorship with religion bashing. I read through this thread again. No one here ever "bashed" religion or any religious belief, unless you think that merely disagreeing with the writer's assertion that THE DaVINCI CODE is an attack on Christianity or that seeing it will be bad for society, is "bashing." I don't.

quote: Robert E. Allen
In this case he is not trying to take away anyone's "rights" because you can see the film in any number of theatres

Oh, contrare. Make no doubt about it -- it's only because this is the only letter we are aware of, but you can bet money on it, that this organization wants this film pulled from every theatre in the country. That would suit America Needs Fatima just fine. Don't believe me? Just ask them.

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Jim Ziegler
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 753
From: West Hollywood, CA
Registered: Jul 99

posted 04-24-2006 05:28 PM

quote: Frank Angel
Oh, contrare. Make no doubt about it -- it's only because this is the only letter we are aware of, but you can bet money on it, that this organization wants this film pulled from every theatre in the country. That would suit America Needs Fatima just fine. Don't believe me? Just ask them.

I quite certain that they do, and they are well within their right to being market forces to bear to try to achive thier goal (even though by employing such tactics they are hurting their own cause). As long as it isn't the government seeking to pull a film, personally, I don't have any problems with this.

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Dennis Benjamin
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1445
From: Denton, MD
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 05-12-2006 06:30 AM

Bringing this post back around to it's original subject matter:

From IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/news/wenn/2006-05-12/)

'Da Vinci Code' Sparks Indian Riots

"Controversial new movie adaptation The Da Vinci Code has prompted religious protests in the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay). Hundreds of Catholic stalwarts yesterday gathered outside a convent school in the city in a bid to stop the film's release next week , blasting it as an attack on their faith. Members of the Catholic Secular Forum (CSF) have taken offence to the movie's depiction of Catholic group Opus Dei as corrupt, out-dated and at the centre of a cover-up of the truth about Jesus Christ. Csf general secretary Joseph Dias says, "Activists will go on a fast unto death if the government fails to take action against anti-Christian movies. You can't make fiction on a religious figure. Tempers are already running quite high and there's no way of saying what could happen if the movie is released." In a statement, the group added: "The Da Vinci Code is offensive as it hit certain basic foundations of the religion." The protest is the second in a week by the CSF after Tuesday saw approximately one hundred demonstrators take to the streets outside a Mumbai church and burn copies of the Dan Brown novel."

[Confused]

Riots and book burning. Sounds like a bunch of idiots to me.

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Chad Souder
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 962
From: Waterloo, IA, USA
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 05-12-2006 09:39 PM

Many churches have been hosting events and mentioning during services about the "lies of the Da Vinci code". Rather than the traditional increase in business protests usually create, I could see this campaign working to reduce grosses. The business that "The Passion of the Christ" did indicates that church-based campaigns can work to assist, so we will have to see if they can also work to hinder.

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Adam Martin
I'm not even gonna point out the irony.

Posts: 3686
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 05-13-2006 02:25 AM

quote: Dennis Benjamin
Tuesday saw approximately one hundred demonstrators take to the streets outside a Mumbai church and burn copies of the Dan Brown novel.

Congratulations on selling another 100 copies of the book! [Razz]

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David Favel
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 764
From: Ashburton, New Zealand
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 05-14-2006 01:01 AM

While chatting to a "Fundie" last week, their plan is to stage a "buycott" which entails going to any movie except Davinci.

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Robert Burtcher
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 194
From: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Registered: Jun 2005

posted 05-18-2006 03:31 AM

Rumor has it that the fundies plan to hold a protest at the theatre I work for. It sounds as if it'll be a traditional protest with signboards and stuff...

I'm looking forward to seeing just how well this movie actually does.

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Chad M Calpito
Master Film Handler

Posts: 435
From: San Diego, CA
Registered: Apr 2006

posted 05-18-2006 11:46 AM

From what I understand and heard, there will be protests at the theatres that I work at. Oh well, I say, let them protest all they want and bring on the business. Anyway, we are getting two prints of the movie, one of which will be in our 630 seat auditorium, the other one, in our 300 seat auditorium. Last night, I sold at least 16 advanced tickets to the movie on Friday.

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 05-18-2006 12:57 PM

The priest at my church is a regular moviegoer. He mentioned the movie from the pulpit last week and did not express an opinion on it, just said that it "looked interesting" and just reminded everyone to remember that it's a work of fiction.

Too bad the protestors can't see it in that sensible light.

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Pravin Ratnam
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 844
From: Atlanta, GA,USA
Registered: Sep 2002

posted 05-18-2006 11:32 PM

The funniest thing about the Indian protests is that muslims have joined in the protests. I wonder if it is to bolster their Danish Cartoon protests and act like they are consistent. They kept saying "how dare the movie insults one of our prophets Jesus Christ".

Now, I do know that islam considers Christ to be a prophet, but I find this new found concern just to be an excuse to ban something and act like they are consistent when they happen to use the same excuse to ban something Rushdie writes.

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Paul Mayer
Oh get out of it Melvin, before it pulls you under!

Posts: 3836
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 05-18-2006 11:53 PM

Sounds like another invoking of the precept, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

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Dennis Benjamin
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1445
From: Denton, MD
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 05-19-2006 07:39 AM

'Fundies' are a gag gift for couples by the way:

http://www.shopinprivate.com/fununfortwo.html

I have trouble calling a Fundamentalist a Fundie for the above reason.

Anyways, I was notified that some Christian Fundamentalists will be protesting in front of my theatre today. I will be reporting to work in my Satan outfit and taunting them with my pitchfork.

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Mike Heenan
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1896
From: Scottsdale, AZ, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 05-19-2006 12:37 PM

My mom and dad are going with a group from our church tonight to a screening, we're Presbyterians. I was kind of surprised our church is doing that with all the negative actions from other Christian and Catholic groups ,but I think they are taking the right way, in that they are buying a block of tickets and probably meeting afterwards for discussion of the movie.

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