THE BOOK ON "DA VINCI"
THE POPCORN REEL DOSSIER
FOR "THE DA VINCI CODE", CONTROVERSY EQUALS BOX-OFFICE
Audrey Tatou and Paul Bettany in "The Da Vinci Code" (Photo: Sony Pictures)
There has been much controversy during the last few months around the film "The
Da Vinci Code", which will be released worldwide on May 19. So much
controversy in fact, that it must be a publicist's or marketer's ultimate dream.
Most recently there have been protests in India, according to published reports,
with thousands of demonstrators in the streets, holding up signs which say such
things as "stop hurting our faith". Growing numbers of people have made
appearances on television the world over in the run-up to the film's release,
declaring that "The Da Vinci Code" is a backlash against Christianity.
The film, directed by Ron Howard, who faced controversy four years ago when his film "A Beautiful Mind" was up for a best picture Oscar (which it eventually won), also stirred a recent legal battle when Dan Brown, the author of the mega-hit novel upon which Mr. Howard's film is based, was hauled into a London court less than four months ago to challenge plagiarism charges thrown at him in relation to his book. Mr. Brown was later found not to have plagiarized the novel which has reaped him millions and millions the world over.
To top it off, some were irritated by the news that Tom Hanks was to play the role of Robert Langdon, whom along with Audrey Tatou's Sophie Neveu character attempt to break the sacred secret code. When that was not an issue amongst the most die-hard fans of the book, it was the hair extensions, or real hair, that Mr. Hanks styles for his character in the film, which is to be released in the United States through Sony Pictures.
Beyond all of the issues involved with "The Da Vinci Code", is perhaps one that has not surprisingly garnered nearly as much attention as it should: whether the film will meet the expectations of the book, which many would say is nearly always next to impossible.
"The Da Vinci Code" is likely to be the most controversial film since Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" in 2004. The immense hype and controversy surrounding that film only helped it, as Mr. Gibson made a huge mint, with its success. Whatever the dispute over the film, "The Da Vinci Code", with its international cast of actors, is almost certain to be the number one box office hit both in the United States and worldwide when it is released a week from today everywhere.
And that's the book on "Da Vinci".