An Interesting Review

My wife and I only rarely take the kids to the movies. Doing so is expensive and logistically difficult. This past weekend, however, we went to see "Over the Hedge", featuring, among other voices, the voice of William Shatner, and there was even an interesting reference to "The Wrath of Khan" during the credits at the end. Because I worked for a time writing software to produce three-dimensional graphics, I am usually interested in seeing the latest computer-animated movie, if for no other reason than to look for evidence of some difficult-to-render effect or for evidence of physics-based modeling. Anyway, I knew that the kids would enjoy the show.

Another motivation for this weekend's adventure to the movie theater, however, was related to the opening of "The Da Vinci Code". I was motivated to vote against it on opening weekend not simply by refusing to attend but by buying tickets for something else. A feeble gesture, to be sure, and, in the end, to some degree an excuse to do what I usually don't do because of the need for discipline in spending, but a gesture just the same. I suppose that I might eventually read the book by checking out from the library or otherwise borrowing the book. I suppose that I might eventually see the movie if I happen across it on television. But I have no desire to contribute any money to support DVC.

Below is an excerpt from a particularly interesting review of DVC. You may see the complete text of the review by clicking on the image at the top of this post.

From the page:

Astonishingly, after a 2½‑hour seminar on the evils of monotheism, Christianity, and the Catholic Church, The Da Vinci Code tries to have its cake and eat it too, as Langdon suggests to Sophie that "What really matters is what you believe," even questioning whether exploding the "greatest cover-up in history" would really be such a good thing after all: Does Sophie want to "destroy faith or renew it?"

It almost sounds as if Langdon is saying, "So Christianity is a lie -- let the Christians have their lie, if that's what makes them happy." Whatever happened to "For 2000 years the Church has rained oppression and suffering on mankind"?

Is it possible to put all this aside and just enjoy the story as a thriller, an enjoyable yarn? I honestly have no idea how people can take that approach.

Catholic writer Mark Shea tells an anecdote about a college bull session among students at Central Washington University over The Da Vinci Code. "Even if it's just fiction," a student opined, "it's still interesting to think about."

To which another student replied: "Your mother's a whore." And then, to the first student's stunned incredulity, he added, "And even if that's just fiction, it's still interesting to think about."