vatican Tagged Articles at Cinematical
The Vatican Praises 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'
Filed under: New Releases », Celebrities and Controversy »
My, how times can change. In 2005, the Pope (then Cardinal) condemned J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter, noting the "subtle seductions" that could hurt children. In 2008, the Vatican's official newspaper published another blow at the series, one that said Potter is "the wrong kind of hero."But now in 2009, we've got Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Guardian reports that it's gotten the Vatican seal of approval via that same paper. What's changed? Well, the latest article states that teenage romance is shown with the "correct balance," and praises the film for the clear message that good must overcome evil, "and that sometimes this requires costs and sacrifice." Color me confused -- I never realized that the line between good and evil was so blurred before!
The fact that the entire movie pretty much revolves around the kids' hormones makes the news quite amusing. I wonder how many kids will run off to empty rooms and dark corners to snog all year long, and when caught, just say that the Church said it was okay! Furthermore, for a group that hated the witchcraft and wizardry in the series, I find it interesting that the Vatican isn't bothered by the spells performed in this installment -- much more dangerous, and sometimes cruel, in this latest film. Wonders never cease!
And in other Potter news, it was just announced that Half-Blood Prince opened with $20 million, giving it the largest midnight gross of all time. Read more at SciFi Squad
"Tourists" Snap Shots for 'Demons,' or: Why Opie's Going to Hell
Filed under: Action », Thrillers », Mystery & Suspense », Sony », Tech Stuff », Remakes and Sequels », Religious », Summer Movies »
I actually think this is sort of clever, in a "we can afford to do this" kind of way (which is more than I can say for The Da Vinci Code, am I right?!). Apparently, when the production of Angels & Demons had been refused permission to shoot key scenes in the Vatican, special effects director Ryan Cook had a team of people blend in with tourists and take about 250,000 pictures and shoot hours of video to use as reference back in Los Angeles.Said Cook in an interview with an Italian movie magazine (then excerpted by The Scotsman, and further excerpted here): "The ban really put us in a lot of trouble because we could not use the precision instruments which are used to take photographs and make reconstructions in the computer."
On a mild tangent, I have to ask whether or not our readers are getting excited for the film itself. Of all the anticipation for summer blockbusters, and especially out of the May offerings, this seems to be the quietest title of the bunch (though twice-baked, half-volume controversy and the lack of a Cannes bow will do that to a film). I've only been assured that this book was better than its predecessor (I know, this one's a prequel), so did anyone here like Da Vinci? And whether you did or didn't care for that film, are any of you specifically psyched for round two?
[via MCN]
First 'Angels & Demons' Images: Tom Hanks' Hair Is All Better Now
Filed under: Action », Drama », New Releases », Remakes and Sequels »
If you recall nothing else about The Da Vinci Code, surely you remember that Tom Hanks sported a ghastly mullet in it. So the important thing to know about Angels & Demons, the follow-up that's due out May 15, is that Hanks' hairstyle has been corrected. So that's a relief.
USA Today has the first images to be released from the film, confirming the better hairdo and the presence of Israeli actress Ayelet Zurer (that's her with Hanks). Ewan McGregor is on hand, too, playing a Catholic operative. Ron Howard is back as director, and Akiva Goldsman has once again written the adaptation of Dan Brown's novel.
You can check out the rest of the pics at USA Today, where there's also an article mentioning, among other things, that the filmmakers had originally hoped to shoot some of the film at the Vatican -- which is amusing because that's sort of like Oliver Stone hoping to shoot some of W. at George Bush's ranch. But whatevs.
Da Vinci Code was a mediocre film, but it sure made a pantload of money. So are you excited for Angels & Demons? Is the book any good? What are Tom and Ayelet looking at in that photo, and how come no one else in the picture notices whatever it is?
'Angels & Demons' Forbidden from the Vatican
Filed under: Thrillers », Mystery & Suspense », Sony », Celebrities and Controversy », Remakes and Sequels », Religious »
On June 5th, production began on Angels and Demons, the sequel (wait, wasn't the book a prequel?) to tepid religious mystery/global mega-hit The Da Vinci Code.
On June 9th, Jessica Barnes brought to our attention a couple of photos from said shoot.
And as of June 16th, the Vatican has formally denied the long-awaited request on behalf of the filmmakers to film crucial scenes within the critical churches of Santa Maria del Popolo and Santa Maria della Vittoria.
According to Variety, the proper permits require cooperation between the Italian government and the Vatican. However, since "the film pursues a type of fantasy that damages common religious sentiment," they were not approved. The production has already relocated to near Naples in an effort to double the needed interior shots, and the film is still scheduled to open on May 15, 2009.
Tom Hanks' hair could not be reached for comment at the time of this post.
The Vatican Condemns 'The Golden Compass'
Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy », New Releases », Celebrities and Controversy », Religious »
What a surprise. Reuters has reported that The Vatican really doesn't like The Golden Compass. They're not the only ones, since this massive-budget film has been flopping around like a fish gasping for breath since it came out; however, they are the ones leading the religious charge. It's, obviously, not the film's cinematic shortcomings that are making waves, but rather, its religious commentary. This is the same content that was toned down by Chris Weitz in an attempt to make this a more palatable film to everyone -- as if they hadn't thought about the potential controversy when the project first came to be.The Vatican newspaper, l'Osservatore Romano, has printed a long editorial ranting about the film, pretty much describing it as if it were an example of torture porn, rather than fantasy, calling it "the most anti-Christmas film possible," and that "when man tries to eliminate God from his horizon, everything is reduced, made sad, cold, and inhumane." These are the most religion-specific quotes coming out of Reuters' piece. The writer must be living one heck of a film-free life if this is not only the most anti-Christmas film made, but even possible! It's no surprise that they wouldn't be happy about the film, but statements like that just take the whole argument to a new level of ridiculous. It's one thing to comment on the aspects of a film that diverge from the church's beliefs. It's another to take exaggeration to new heights. Then again, we're in a world where one short peek at a nipple creates monumental fuss.
Vatican: Boycott The Da Vinci Code!
Filed under: Drama », Thrillers », New Releases », Mystery & Suspense », Celebrities and Controversy », Newsstand », Politics »
On Friday, Archbishop Angelo Amato became the
latest high-ranking Vatican official to speak
out against Dan Brown's The
Da Vinci Code, going so far as to urge the Catholic faithful to boycott the movie version when it comes on
later this month. According to Amato, both the book and movie are "stridently anti-Christian ... full of
calumnies, offenses and historical and theological errors regarding Jesus, the Gospels and the Church."
Interestingly, a large part of his anger seems to be directed towards members of the Catholic Church, and their passive
response to Brown's book, and Ron Howard's film: Amato believes that,
had The Da Vinci Code questioned fundamental tenants of Islam or Judaism, the "lies" therein
"would have justly provoked a world uprising."Whether there's any merit to those assertions or not, it seems unlikely that the Vatican's protests will have much effect on the film's box office, which will surely see a massive open starting May 17, when it begins to unroll across the globe (the US open is two days later).
Fill-in-the-Blank: Tuesday, April 18th 2006
Filed under: Tribeca », Podcasts », DIY/Filmmaking », Tom Cruise », Movie Marketing », Politics », Remakes and Sequels », Fill-In-The-Blank »
Today on the 'cast: various
Men o' God use Easter sermons to speak out against Tom Hanks' new
haircut; Mission:
Impossible III goes global, and Mel Gibson falls victim to global warming. And have you voted for your favorite
name for the podcast yet? Do it!
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Hosts
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Music
Love as Laughter - I'm
a bee
Format
4:51, 27.4 MB
Program
00:00 -
What better way to celebrate Easter than protesting the Da Vinci Code?
02:00 - Apolcalypto
delayed till Winter
02:57 - Impossible possibly (actually, for sure) debuting in Rome 10 days prior to
Tribeca premiere
03:57 - Kodak bumping up the price of film
Easter Weekend Brings More Da Vinci Code Controversy
Filed under: Drama », Mystery & Suspense », Sony », Celebrities and Controversy », Newsstand », Politics »
It's just one thing after another for the poor,
suffering team behind The Da
Vinci Code -- another day, another round of free publicity. This time, it's not an author or a Korean Christian group that's
angry, but Opus Dei. Again. And
the Pope. So, because Good Friday is a time for publicly making sure everyone is properly respecting Jesus Christ,
officials from The Vatican and Opus Dei (specifically the Japanese arm) both spent some time yesterday making sure the
press knew about their objections to the film.In Italy, Raniero Cantalamessa -- "the pope's personal preacher," no less -- described the release of The Da Vinci Code as an event that will cause increased "speculation" about previously accepted "Christian beliefs and ancient legends." Not content to stop there, he went on to imply that the movie is just one element in a betrayal of Christ that recalls the biblical actions of Judas. Man alive. Can we review here, for a second? This book is in the FICTION section of bookstores, people. And the movie? Fiction as well. Tom Hanks is not a pasty, intellectual action hero. Paul Bettany? Sadly, not an evil albino. Seriously. He's really not.
In Japan, meanwhile, Opus Dei made public a letter to Sony, in which they asked the company to attach a "this movie is entirely fiction" disclaimer to The Da Vinci Code. Sigh. According to the group's press release, such a move would be "an expression of respect toward Jesus Christ, the history of the church and the religious beliefs of viewers." Sony said only that they haven't yet decided
Sony offers DaVinci Challenge
Filed under: Drama », Sony », Movie Marketing »
Sony, fully aware of the controversy surrounding
its upcoming movie based on a popular book that isn't very good, has set up a Web site for detractors of The DaVinci Code. The site
will feature essays by Christian leaders and scholars, one of which is Gordon Robinson, son of televangelist Pat
Robertson. Don't worry, though, there's much better essays to be found on The DaVinci Challenge. Dan Brown's novel claims that Jesus married and
never rose from the dead and places the Vatican at the center of the conspiracy. The site features absolutely no
writings from Catholics, although Charles Colson, a prominent figure during the Watergate scandal, will write on
Catholicism.
Jeremy Renner Wants To Be An Avenger
Directors We Love: Jim Jarmusch
Indie Roundup: 'Sweetgrass,' 'Clarkworld,' 'Broken Embraces'
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Watch: Famous 'Matrix' Scene Re-Created with LEGOs
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