The DaVinci Code

Someone please tell me what's all the hype about? I mean it was marketed extensively on all the documentary channels and thru all other means of advertising possible. It was an okay movie. Ending was kinda too fictitious but overall, I would rate it a B+. I caught the very first show and when I came back that night, I witnessed chaos in news about this particular movie. Churches protesting it, tons of religious groups boycotting it, people appealing not to watch it since it 'mocks' Christ's prophethood. Many Islamic groups also boycotting it because Muslims consider Jesus as a Prophet also.

Ahem, how about we try to understand the definition of 'fiction'. It is a fictitious novel with twisted historical facts and presents a factual theory thru logical means for pure entertainment. Is that too hard to understand? Again in other words, it is merely based on assumptions and speculations and it is nothing factual. Yes, there are elements of truth but that doesn't make the whole theory factual from any angle.

For boycotting Christian groups: I can fully understand the anger by Christians about this book/movie. If a similar book is written about Islam and our Prophet, I have no doubt it will create a huge fuss with fatwas of murder and mayhem flying all across the globe being passed on from one 'religious' nation to another. Response by Roman church is noticeably mild, and for a reason. Excesses of Roman churches in the past had resulted in the vigor displayed to protect freedom of speech. And this book is an example of freedom of speech and opinion. Moreover, it is widely agreed that it is a piece of imagination and forwards a theory based on assumptions, which are most likely to be absurd. Please keep that in mind before throwing such trash on a movie.

For boycotting Muslims: First and foremost, since the story is sold as fiction; trying to find parallels from Islamic rulings seem kinda insane. However, from a Muslim stand point, to the best of my knowledge, Quran is silent on whether Jesus ever married or had kids. And one way or the other, it does not impact his Prophetic teachings or status. I, for one, never heard that Jesus was married so I assumed that he never was. Whether he was or not, it does not affect his status at all and when this theory is said to be totally factual by the theorist himself, it stands baseless to be argued upon, in my humble opinion.

For those who are Muslims and still pro-boycotts: Why should Muslims be outraged by this book, other than the blanket reason that no book should be written about any religious figure, which frankly is an absurd argument, IMO. The book does not mock Christ as a Prophet of God, however, it does present an alternative theory that contradicts some of the beliefs added by the Church about Christ. Jesus Christ's prophethood is not questioned in the book, at all.

Whatever it was, the movie opened with second highest hit ever during its first weekend in box office. From a marketer's point of view, hats off to the publicists. They did an amazing job in advertising it and growing the curiosity grow among the audience until the last minute. "It brought in over $77 million domestically and over $230 million worldwide. It is the second biggest worldwide opening of all time, trailing only Star Wars: Episode III from last year which took in over $250 million" even when so many people are claiming to boycott it. Isn't it spectacular?