The Da Vinci Code
- Thread starter Kid_Eternity
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CyberRose said:
Crazy Frog
Il Divo
X Factor
I'm a Celebrity
need I go on?
sonik said:
is he? superb
did he get cast cos of the beard? and yes, send me a pic
Sunspots said:I'm not the slightest bit interested in the book (or the film).
In a couple of years, as the nation's charity shops fill up with half-read copies, people will politely deny ever having owned it.
Alongside the adult cover versions of Harry Potter, George Foreman grills and coffee machines
T & P said:
well (in release order, not chronlogical order) the first one was great, the 2nd one was brilliant, the third pretty poor. the 4th doesn't bear mentioning so i skipped the fifth and sixth.
i look forward to you demonstrating any relevance to a halfbaked novel, apparently for adults.
T & P
|-o-| (-o-) |-o-|
The relevance is that Star Wars (let's stick to the first one, episode IV) was poorly written, often poorly acted and had wooden dialogues. Yet a great many adults including me and apparently you still rate it as a fantastic movie and great fun.
Yet you appear to have a problem with the concept of a book that is badly written but is still fantastic fun, greatly entertaining and very popular amongst adults.
It's the same thing.
Yet you appear to have a problem with the concept of a book that is badly written but is still fantastic fun, greatly entertaining and very popular amongst adults.
It's the same thing.
T & P said:
it's very much NOT the same thing. At all.
you seem to be missing the point that a) Da Vinci Code is a novel first, movie second and that b) is apparently 'serious'.
if Da Vinci Code was a film first, different criteria might apply. and anyway, Star Wars is fun in the most obvious sense - to all intents and purposes it's a bloody western (as are most sci-fi movies, but that's another thread), primarily but not exclusively aimed at kids. It's all about broad strokes, broad humour, a certain kitsch. It's a genre movie of the best kind.
The Da Vinci COde has pretensions to seriousness which means that all of a sudden plot, characterisation and writing become a little more relevant
also, please bear in mind that while some directors might indeed be able to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, i doubt very much Ron Howard is one of them.
silentNate
1.618 xakep
I think the only person taking the Da Vinci Code seriously is you, Dub 
Though I concur that the writing is fairly awful Dan Brown introduces some interesting concepts and is able to keep the reader entertained even as they groan at the constant implausable escapes. Taking the book as anything but a cheap way of passing a few hours would be ridiculous, I take it that those posting that they thought it was rubbish don't read much thriller writing these days- most of which is simalarly formulaic
Though I concur that the writing is fairly awful Dan Brown introduces some interesting concepts and is able to keep the reader entertained even as they groan at the constant implausable escapes. Taking the book as anything but a cheap way of passing a few hours would be ridiculous, I take it that those posting that they thought it was rubbish don't read much thriller writing these days- most of which is simalarly formulaic
silentNate said:I think the only person taking the Da Vinci Code seriously is you, Dub
Though I concur that the writing is fairly awful Dan Brown introduces some interesting concepts and is able to keep the reader entertained even as they groan at the constant implausable escapes. Taking the book as anything but a cheap way of passing a few hours would be ridiculous,
so the massive increase in sales of books about Opus Dei, The Holy Grail, yadda yadda yadda, piggybacking the Da Vinci Code, and the TV documentaries, all that? that's a figment of my imagination?
Orang Utan
Maybe I like the misery
So you haven't read it?Dubversion said:
Orang Utan said:
i managed about 40 pages
Orang Utan
Maybe I like the misery
Just read the rest of it. You have read it.
Shit innit?
This is a scientifically proved FACT.
Shit innit?
This is a scientifically proved FACT.
Orang Utan
Maybe I like the misery
Yes, but they are all foolsT & P said:
Orang Utan
Maybe I like the misery
And shit.silentNate said:I take it that those posting that they thought it was rubbish don't read much thriller writing these days- most of which is simalarly formulaic
And, yes, I've read a few, just to remind myself how shit shit books can be. Makes me value the good ones more.
silentNate
1.618 xakep
No, no figment of your imagination- but trust me when I say I haven't read any of them. The odd thread on Urban is usually enough to keep me well away from conspiracy theoriesDubversion said:
My main reservation about the book is the fact that Opus Dei are using the book for publicity (lectures on 'the truth about Opus Dei') which they are using to recruite to their cult...
Whilst Opus Dei are nothing like the way they are potraited in the book I believe they are a cult from what I am aware of the way they have control over their members...
Dan Brown has had me buy some cheap books for a laugh, just because I've read them doesn't make me brainwashed
Orang Utan said:
indeed. Nate's point seems to be that Da Vinci Code isn't shit because it's the same as lots of other books that are also shit.
sterling logic
T & P
|-o-| (-o-) |-o-|
Well the Da Vinci code is also fun. As some PR department would put it, 'a rollercoaster ride of a thriller'. And it does its job fantastically well.Dubversion said:
The plot is meant to be serious, just as the destruction of the home planet of Princess Leia or the rebels' struggle against an all-conquering Evil Empire is also serious stuff. But in essence, both works are escapist fiction. In that respect they are identical, and they both do their job very well indeed.
And it is every bit as unfair to judge the book on its literary merits as it is to judge Star Wars on its cinematic merits.
silentNate said:
so Opus Dei are taking the book seriously? and the people going to these lectures. and the people watching the programmes, and reading the 'background' books.
do you still maintain i'm the only person taking the book seriously, nate?
T & P said:
bollocks. whilst both are escapist to a degree, Star Wars is pure fiction, Da Vinci Code alludes to a great deal of factual basis, genuine organisations, real historical characters, real world impact. so an entirely different kettle of fish
T & P said:
it's a book, how else should it be judged than on literary merit? on its use as a housebrick? the thing is, that Star Wars DOES have cinematic merit. It is genuinely exciting, was in some ways a radical shift in cinema on its release, does look great etc etc etc.
it's not a great film - often for the reason you cite - but it is a decent one. Da Vinci Code is neither.
silentNate
1.618 xakep
Opus Dei would use anything for publicity...Dubversion said:
I'm pretty sure that the majority of the books millions of readers have looked at Da Vinci's paintings on the internet and had a laugh about it then carried on with their lives. You either assume that anyone picking up the book is stupid or belive that it should be censored
Why don't you admit that it wasn't a book you enjoyed yourself and then just move on...
btw what should I be reading in your opinion?
silentNate said:You either assume that anyone picking up the book is stupid or belive that it should be censored
if you can demonstrate EITHER of these claims, i'll be very impressed
silentNate said:
so you propose that Urban becomes a place where one is no longer allowed to criticise, and should blandly suggest that if somebody enjoys it, that's what counts?
silentNate said:btw what should I be reading in your opinion?
i couldn't give a fuck what you read, nate.
you seem to think i'm criticising people who read The Da Vinci Code. I'm not, i'm criticising The Da Vinci Code. As i've said many times before, it's a subtle difference but an important one.
Orang Utan
Maybe I like the misery
I am. They're all fools who need their reading priviledges taken away from them until they show some contrition and start reading Dostoevsky.Dubversion said:
Orang Utan
Maybe I like the misery
boohoo said:
Read something good. There's plenty of good light reading about. Light doesn't necessarily equate with shite.
boohoo said:
depends what you mean by 'light' read. there's lots of great genre fiction - especially crime - which is well written. how about some Elmore Leonard?
also, my issue with Brown isn't just that it's not very good (IMO), it's that (IMO) he can't actually WRITE.
it's clumsy, ill-constructed cliché-ridden horribleness
it's clumsy, ill-constructed cliché-ridden horribleness
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