Da Vinci Code Redux

Layabout · Fri 19/05/2006 01:30:08

Firstly, I don't want this thread to erupt into a flame war.

So the rules are...

1) If you have personal issues with the catholic church, post them with respect, outlining real reasons for your belief.

2) Respect other peoples beliefs.

3) If you can't say something polititly, don't freaking say it.

Anyway,

On to the Da Vinci Code.

I am one of the people who actually enjoyed the Da Vinci Code. It certainly kept me reading from cover to cover. Perhaps this was due to a familiar context. You see, an adventure game used this exact same back story. It was a little known game called Gabriel Knight: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned. The two fictional creations used the same source material, a little known book until recently called Holy Blood, Holy Grail.

Critics have slammed the film 'the Da Vinci Code' due to the fact that it apparantly a boring piece of shit.

I will reserve my judgement for when i see it myself.

Perhaps it is true that Jesus married Mary Magdelene. Maybe he didn't. Maybe Jesus didn't exist. It's fun to speculate.

Steel Drummer · Fri 19/05/2006 01:33:00

Well, all the sources say that Jesus DID NOT marry

Mary

. By the way, what is the da vinci code about? I know it slams christianity, but is it a story, or is it like some sort of documentary? And what's up with all the hype over it? Why do people like it so much?

passer-by · Fri 19/05/2006 01:40:36

I've read many adventure/action/crime etc books. This was not one of the well written ones. I'm talking about the intrigue, the escapes and the codes' story, not the religious parts of it. I've read better.
As for the film, I usually don't watch anything based on the book, because they tend to leave out all the bits I like. If you 've read the Name of the Rose and then watched the film with Connery, you know what I mean.
About the religious bits: they are not novelty. There are many books and films out there a bout symbols, christianity, Magdalene etc. The BELL books series and their likes have tons of similar material.

Quote from: yodaman11111 on Fri 19/05/2006 01:33:00And what's up with all the hype over it? Why do people like it so much?

Most people I know have only read it because there is noise around it. They don't like it, but it's like reading Coelho, it makes you look cool.

MashPotato · Fri 19/05/2006 02:54:31

I received the illustrated version two Christmases ago, started the first chapter, put it down, and haven't touched it since. The writing just didn't grab me, and hearing all the criticism of Brown's writing didn't particularly encourage me to hope that the book would improve later on. I will eventually read it though--after all, I do own a copy ^_^--and my sister tells me it's a fun read.

Based on the movie trailer, I'm not really motivated to watch the film. I prefer reading the books before watching film adaptations anyway ^_^

Traveler · Fri 19/05/2006 03:54:44

I normally don't link to my own messages (I'm not that important

), but I think everyone deserves to get a fair warning about this book/movie, so here it is:

http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=26642.msg337361#msg337361

Please ignore the developing flame-war on the target page, when I wrote my entry I didn't realize the thread is going to be closed.

Also note, that I'm not religious, so the church is NOT the reason I disliked the book. It's simply a bad story (really, no comprehensible story at all.) BTW, I thought the Gabriel Knight game "Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned" turned out pretty bad, too, especially after a promising start. I think it's waaay the worst of the 3 GK games (I loved the first two.)

The problem with the DVC is that it is written as a bad video-clip: short, exciting-looking chapters, where all kinds of things happen, always without a reason. It WAS interesting to read it at first, because I was intrigued, so I kept reading it, thinking that eventually every story-thread will come together and be explained later. Then suddenly there were no more pages left and still nothing happened.

I think the only reason the book became a bestseller, was because of the hysteric marketing around it, which I got lured into.

With this, I rest my case, it's up to you guys if you pay for it or not.

Las Naranjas · Fri 19/05/2006 04:28:34

It used some simple tools to make sure it was a page turner. One of the more notable was amongst the most annoying.

Las Naranjas · Fri 19/05/2006 04:29:21

It involved making characters say they had deduced something, or have something revealed at the end of each chapter but...

MrColossal · Fri 19/05/2006 04:29:55

Which simple tools did he use? TELL ME NOW LAS NARANJAS! I can't wait for the answer!

Las Naranjas · Fri 19/05/2006 04:30:42

The implication is that the true reveal would be in the next chapter, but it never was, just more pronunciations of WHAT THE GRAIL REALLY IS, which would take another 6 chapters to get to, when comic books and computer games meant you already knew.

Oops

Helm · Fri 19/05/2006 05:03:36

MEANWHILE, AT THE VATICAN...

Grundislav · Fri 19/05/2006 05:34:05

I read the book.Ã,Â It was alright, I guess.Ã,Â As Layabout mentioned, I already knew about the issues discussed from playing GK3 and the Broken Sword games, so it was nothing new or surprising.Ã,Â I actually enjoyed the games more than the book.Ã,Â I am indifferent towards seeing the movie.Ã,Â

In fact, I have set up my own "code" for the movie, which I will apply to all future "must-see" yet potentially time-wasting movies that come out.

The code is:

See the movie only if
1. Someone else pays for my ticket
2. I am guaranteed sex at the end of the date
3. All of the Above

Vince Twelve · Fri 19/05/2006 05:46:56

Grundislav and I are going to see Da Vinci code tomorrow night.

Grundislav · Fri 19/05/2006 05:57:26

I'll take All of the Above!!

Afflict · Fri 19/05/2006 06:15:25

Well heres some facts from my side.

The Bible mentions nothing of Jesus being married.
Just because its not "recorded" or "mentioned" doesnt mean it didnt happen!

Grapefruitologist · Fri 19/05/2006 07:05:00

Read this: http://www.contenderministries.org/discrepancies/davincicode.php

Sam. · Fri 19/05/2006 08:15:51

If there is no book written about me, does that mean I never happened?

Vince Twelve · Fri 19/05/2006 08:21:03

Can you imagine if the United States government got all huffy and puffy every time it was portrayed negatively in a work of fiction?

Las Naranjas · Fri 19/05/2006 08:27:15

People got huffy puffy about the film JFK

ildu · Fri 19/05/2006 08:33:10

Holy Blood, Holy Grail made the same kind of buzz (but on a smaller scale) when it came out in the 80's, so it's not really an unknown book.

Wiggles_Say · Fri 19/05/2006 09:35:53

To turn the conversation back towards where it started, I really enjoyed the book. The thing is, Dan Brown never said it was based on fact, but a lot of people somehow believed he did! I saw a documentary about it, and this bishop said he couldn't believe so many people could be duped by a book with no evidence to support it. These people just walk right into these things don't they!