Ian McKellan on the Catholic Church and Da Vinci
Filed under: Drama, Thrillers, Cannes, Mystery & Suspense, Celebrities and Controversy, Fantastic Fest, Other Festivals
While Ron Howard and Tom Hanks defended their film The Da Vinci Code from all those mean, grumpy critics at Cannes and people protesting the film's existence and banning it, Ian McKellan, who plays Leigh Teabing in the film, had his own take. The openly gay actor, who has been outspoken on Hollywood's treatment of homosexuality and homosexual actors, said of the Catholic Church, which has protested the storyline of the film (which has Jesus married and having kids with Mary Magdalene), "I'm very happy to believe that Jesus was married. I know the Catholic Church has problems with gay people and I thought this would be proof that Jesus was not gay."
I'm not sure the Catholic Church will see it quite that, but sure, I can see his point. I was raised Catholic (though I haven't been one for a very long time) and have an uncle who's a retired priest, and I didn't find the storyline offensive; on the contrary, I thought it was interesting to speculate on. I mean, it's a story, folks. A fictional tale with some intriguing "what if" ideas. I really don't see what all the fuss is about. At any rate, McKellan's take was more colorful than Howard's, which was "My advice is ... to not go and see the movie if you think you're going to be upset." Good advice, Opie. Thanks.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 15)
5-18-2006 @ 11:56AM
TVLover said...
The most interesting thing about the catholic chuch in regards to this story is that they want everyone to believe that Jesus was a virgin when he died. Yet they have the whole scion thing to factor in which is the family of Jesus/Mary/Joseph. While I don't know the whole story, I can say that the story of the scions is that they are the descendants of Jesus...kinda makes sense huh?
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5-18-2006 @ 12:49PM
Elliott said...
In my neighborhood it seems that the Christians are very big on "what if" scenarios. Every Christmas they decorate their yards with a little manger and "what if Jesus were white?" scene.
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5-18-2006 @ 1:06PM
jmchez said...
Someone just came up with a great idea for Dan Brown and Ron Howard to follow up. In 1972 scrolls were found in Yemen proving that the prophetic visions that Muhammad had were not his but his wife's. He became her mouthpiece because in tribal society a woman's word would not be accepted (to this day). After she died, Mohammad then corrupted her vision of Islam with his greed and warrior-like ways. That story has everything Brown likes, including a mystic feminist angle.
What? Unlike Opus Dei, the Islamic Brotherhood does go through on violent threats? Darn! I guess there's no money in being courageous if the target of your book really fights back; is there?
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5-18-2006 @ 2:17PM
Tush said...
Haha, wonderful comment Elliot. Worthy of the 7 stars.
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5-20-2006 @ 2:10PM
Angelo Natalie said...
The DVC is a great resource for people who are hell-bent on keeping God out of their lives. Those who are hostile to Christ can find some comfort, however shallow, in the DVC's invalidation of His claims to Divinity -- to His being The Truth.
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5-20-2006 @ 2:16PM
amused said...
I think it is hilarious that people take a fictional story that has been around for a mere few years and take it as more truth than a Book that has been around for more than Three Thousand years and has been historically proven. Do your own unbiased research before you make claims about things you know nothing about.
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5-20-2006 @ 2:21PM
Shirley Moore said...
For all those in favor of believing anything of the DaVinci Code, please refrain from using the holy name of JesdHe will not know you. Christ or Dear God,, as they are both the same. Please also do not call on him at your hour of death.
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5-20-2006 @ 2:23PM
Rick Critt said...
He did hang out with twelve other guys.
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5-20-2006 @ 2:24PM
Nathalie said...
I think its not a very good thing what the protestors are doing...they are just showing us the fragility of their religion even more....what does it say about a group of peoples own faith in the strength of their religion, if they are threatened by a work of art? a book or a movie? that shows that their religion is in fact suffering if they think these artistic expressions threaten the worlds view on religion.....
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5-20-2006 @ 2:29PM
jenny rae said...
i thought the movie was great. And i really liked tom hanks when he was talking about "it's all in the eye of the beholder and your personal experience and belief". jesus divinity does not depend on being married or unmarried, or whether anyone believes or disbelieves in him as the savior of the world and the living son of god and man. He is who he is...i think this movie is about just that! prayer works for me, loving god works for me and jesus as my savior works for me...nothing else matters...all the stories in the world are great because of jesus christ the greatest storyteller of all...
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5-20-2006 @ 2:29PM
Dan Smith said...
I find it quite funny that one fictional story is upsetting those who have been telling another fictional story for a couple of thousand years. The faithfull say there is no evidence of Jesus Christ being married. Well that is true. There is no evidence that Jesus Christ even existed so how could there be any evidence that he was married. Faith has nothing to do with factual information that is why it is called faith but to be upset at another idea just shows you don't really believe what you state publicly you believe or at the very least your "faith" is weak. I think I will stick with science.
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5-20-2006 @ 2:29PM
Shirley Moore said...
were my comments posted? Was I too blatant a Christian?
Shirley Moore
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5-20-2006 @ 2:30PM
tambria beaty said...
Christians know Jesus was of Jewish, middle eastern descent. Which would make him dark skinned and having all the other racial characteristics of someone born to that culture. Christians aren't saying he's "white". I think you are missing the point. The nativity is displayed to show their faith. Nothing more.
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5-20-2006 @ 2:32PM
paul haller said...
do any of you have faith in anything? It seems any easy thing for you to ridicule our faith, but how do you feel when people laugh in the face of the things you love. Jesus is the messiah, as you will one day soon learn
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5-20-2006 @ 2:34PM
Gail said...
I believe in Christ as my savior. Saying that, I also believe He could have married and sired children. He was born a Jew and raised as such. In that time Jewish men were required to marry by a certain age. I like to think that Jesus found some pleasures on this earth before being betrayed, tortured and murdered. Whether or not He died a virgin is irrelevent to my beliefs in Him. He was big on forgiving, obviously much more so than the Catholic church or any of these other fanatical protesters. GET OVER IT PEOPLE!... It's only a movie!
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5-20-2006 @ 2:34PM
Mindy said...
The DVC is fiction. Whether you are religious or not, should not be the point. I would think most people would be upset with the complete distortion of Historical Fact. And I do mean facts, which are not in dispute for any historian. I was just as upset with Kingdom of Heaven and Alexander, which are fascinating times in history, but which Hollywood distorts completely for their own purposes. Everyone..lets just open those history books. Controversy ended.
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5-20-2006 @ 2:35PM
Tyler said...
I have grown up a southern baptist my entire life. I believe in God, but I question the bible. Because a man decided which books to go in and which would not. I believe man has destroyed God. I believe the DVC is a great look back at how Jesus was a MAN. What if he did have a wife? A child? Does that make his miracles or preachings any less effective? I loved the movie and the book! As history gets older it will begin to warp in different interpretations. People need to keep an open mind!
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5-20-2006 @ 2:36PM
jenny rae said...
i think the movie is great-an form of expression and thought process. it does not change jesus christ or his divinity-whether unmarried, or married..jesus christ the master story teller-is who he is whether anyone believes or disbelieves in him does not change him. i like tom hanks when he spoke the lines about it "all being in the eye of the beholder", and that you choose in your heart what to believe throught your own personal experience..i thought the movie really magnified the divinity of christ. his power
supercedes all deception. prayer works for me, jesus christ as my personal savior works for me..and the movie worked for me....the power and blood of jesus christ is everywhere..in the eye of the beholder...
l love god and the son of man and god-the one and only
JESUS CHRIST...the same today and yesterday and tomorrow....
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5-20-2006 @ 2:36PM
a.k.j said...
Jesus Is Lord...period
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5-20-2006 @ 2:37PM
Shawna said...
I am a Christian. I do not understand what all the fuss is about. It is a story people, nothing else. It was created by the very rich imagination of Dan Brown. Everything in it can be proven false with careful scrutiny. The movie reminds me of National Treasure. Yes, it is a little more violent but has a lot of the same ideas. I don't remember all this fuss over that movie. Like I said it is a fictional story. A very good story but a story none the less.
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