What makes a good movie these days? Film school training says above all else, story and acting. Mainstream Hollywood, however, creates the argument for high film revenues. Where myself, and the other lovers of film would put films such as The Godfather, The Godfather, Part II, Citizen Kane, Mulholland Drive, and Le Violin Rouge high on my list, Hollywood would in turn also place films such as Shrek 2, Jurassic Park, and Home Alone in the same league, if not better, as the afforementioned has yielded a better box office.
Now this weekend, amidst slamming reviews about it’s storytelling and not content, The da Vinci Code had a killer weekend at the box office, grossing $224 million US over the weekend. This is second all time next to Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. As for the film, and my take on it, I still thought the film worked. Ian McKellan stole the show as Leigh Teabing, who made me laugh harder when he took the piss out of Langdon (Hanks) at the gate, even harder than when I read it in the novel. The film does change Langdon’s spin somewhat, but for those of us who think it through, we can see why. Nobody wants a holy war at a Cineplex. As for the critics, I think they need their eyes and ears checked. And maybe the odd one might show some spine to their editor whilst they are at it.
What does this mean?
1. Jesus is at best second fiddle to the Sith and the power of the dark side.
2. The da Vinci Code has to be a good film by Hollywood standards.
3. Could this be the precusor to the real war, starting on the 26TH of May?
That is all.
