Thoughts on Da Vinci

The controversial film "The Da Vinci Code", which contends that the entire Catholic Church is based on a hoax, opens this weekend. I haven't read the book on which the film is based, but not for lack of trying (I found it uninteresting and put it down after about five chapters). Nonetheless, I'm familiar with the plot and will be seeing the flick on Saturday.

A couple of observations: first, although it's fictional, a lot of non-Catholics already consider us a bunch of wafer-eating, child-molesting, guilt-tripping cultists. This movie isn't going to help matters much because the general public is confused about Catholicism at the best of times. Moreover, the average person is entirely gullible when it comes to Hollywood interpretations of complicated phenomena and it's unfortunate that this flick comes at a time when the Church is finally starting to get some half-decent PR.

Second, like Michael Coren says, if a film was made along the same lines as Da Vinci concerning any other group in society, there would be a furor, but Catholics are fair game. Just ask Ayaan Hirsi Ali (more here.)

In any case, I'll post a review.