Release date (tentative) :
May 19th, 2006


(United States, 2005) With Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Alfred Molina, Jean Reno. Directed by Ron Howard (Apollo 13, The Missing). Category : Suspense. Classification : Not defined


Author Dan Brown

- Manila , Philippines


-Asia's Largest Catholic country and World's Third Largest Catholic country after Brazil and Mexico and had caused some stir among the film producers and agent who wanted to take the films in Manila .

Mounting a big opposition to the public showing of Da Vinci Code the Movie in the world premiere of this film in the theaters and schools all over the country. Those opposed to the showing of the film were Catholic schools, Nuns and various anti- pornographic groups and cause oriented group.

In the street of Makati for generations, a senakulo (religious play) troupe in Barangay Buting, Pasig City, has preserved its 54-year-old play on the life and passion of Jesus Christ, a libretto that has made room for some narrative "enticements" meant to enhance the Gospel message while keeping the audience from yawning.

The enticements include the "prophetic” encounter between the Child Jesus and the young bully Judas Iscariot, and the depiction of Dimas (the repentant thief crucified next to Christ) as one of the former suitors of Mary Magdalene.

But there's one deviation from the script, which the actors and crew of the Original Samahang Nazareno (Osana) cannot permit, a taboo subject that has alarmed their elders as they go onstage for another weeklong production.

"That Da Vinci Code movie should be banned here," said Osana officer-in-charge Babylyn Tero, a retired university professor who is cast in this year's show as "Marta Defensora," a sort of defense counsel for Jesus when he faces Caiphas.

The mother of two said she was personally worried that the Hollywood film, which is based on Dan Brown's international bestseller and set for release in May, might "have an effect on our youth and on Filipinos of shallow faith."

"It's scandalous, almost a sabotage. Should we let ourselves be shaken by something that came up only now?" Tero said, referring to the controversial thriller that is premised on so-called Church "secrets" about the Messiah's relationship with Magdalene.

Estelita Santos, 75, a retired City Hall employee who has been directing the play since the '70s, said the film was "the work of a bad spirit."

Considered the chief guardian of tradition of the group, Santos is the niece of the libretto's late author, Amando Yson, one of the seven Buting residents who established Osana in 1952.

For someone who had once played Magdalene herself, Santos said she had never entertained the thought that this character may have had romantic ties to Christ.

Tero said Osana's version did not even perpetuate the commonly held image of Magdalene as a "prostitute" but only as a woman who had "flirted" with many men before becoming a follower of Christ

For more information try this link:
http://forums.abs-cbn.com

censorship is bad. The irony is Philipines is one of US major allies in Asia.

Related stories:

'The Da Vinci Code' pinaba-ban ni Morato

EFREN MONTANO
People's Tonight

Former Movie Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) chairman Manuel Morato yesterday dared the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) to rally against the forthcoming theater run of the controversial film, The Da Vinci Code, locally released by Columbia Pictures.

Morato prodded the CBCP to speak out versus the Tom Hanks starrer, which allegedly "maligns the Divine Being of our Lord," instead of meddling in political issues, like the signature campaign or people's initiative for Charter change.

The Da Vinci Code, which also stars Audrey Tautou with Ron Howard at the helm, is set to open the Cannes International Film Festival on May 17. Commercial run in the Philippines starts on May 18.

Morato deplored the CBCP's "misplaced priorities" and silence. He said the Revised Penal Code prohibits us from insulting religious leaders such as Mohammed, Christ and Buddha.

Morato likewise urged the MTRCB to help block the film's exhibition by not affixing the board's stamp on its importation papers.

Morato recalled a similar incident when he went against the exhibition of another alleged blasphemous film, The Last Temptation of Christ, during his MTRCB term.

The Da Vinci Code is based on a book by Dan Brown, which claims, among many other things, that Christ was married.

Martin Scorcese's Last Temptation of Christ, meanwhile, shows Christ performing the sexual act with Mary Magdalene.

Wednesday, April 12, 2006
6:29:34 PM
People's Tonight

Some pastors were spreading around their churches to prevent their kids from watching the movie. I know that the week it comes out they gonna try to put a lock down on where their kids goin. blah blah blah

Is Philippines is quite democratic when it comes to censorship unlike China and other Asian countries.

These are groups who are petitioning to banned the showing of the movie and was not initiated by the governmnet

yeh... i didn't mention china. Its not a nationalist thing. I think all censorship is bad. Even in China. People should be able to watch the movie if they want and judge afterwards.

Even other Asian countries are also into banning foriegn films.

Shooting the Ana and the King in Thailand in late 1998 was banned by the Thai authorities

Theologians say be not afraid of 'The Da Vinci Code'

The Freeman 04/13/2006

To commemorate the 554th birth anniversary of Renaissance artist Leonardo Da Vinci on Saturday, April 15, Sony Pictures, the distributor of the upcoming screen adaptation of Dan Brown's controversial bestseller The Da Vinci Code, has upgraded its two Web sites for the film with more essays from Christian theologians and religious academics articulating their views about the premise of the book.

The sites, www.thedavincichallenge.com and www.thedavincidialogue.com, contain essays by about 45 Christian writers, scholars and leaders of evangelical organizations who pick apart the book's theological and historical claims about Christianity.

Sony Pictures spokesman Jim Kennedy says the studio realizes the book has created controversy "about history and religion," which is why the Web sites have been created to provide an opportunity to educate young people about theological issues raised by the film.

The essays generally urge people to see the movie or at least don't dissuade them from doing so. The sites also note where the book "suggests" conclusions that differ from mainstream Christian dogma.

Among the writers are Gordon Robertson, the son of the television evangelist Pat Robertson and co-host of their television show, "The 700 Club," who wrote about how early Christianity survived, and Richard J. Mouw, the president of Fuller Theological Seminary, a leading evangelical school in Pasadena, Calif. who contributed one of the new essays entitled, "Why Christians Ought to See the Movie."

Mouw tells the New York Times, "It's going to be water cooler conversation, so Christians need to take a deep breath, read the book and see the movie. Then we need to educate Christians about what all this means."

For his part, Dr. Ben Witherington III, professor of New Testament interpretation at Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky, shared the essay, "Mary Mary, Extraordinary." Dr. Witherington tells the United Methodist Reporter, "Christians shouldn't be afraid to publicly address distortions of the Gospel in conversation with others. I would just say, to reassure Christians who are nervous about this, 'Greater is He who is in you than these forces that are out there in the world. Be prepared to give a reason for the hope that's within you. Be prepared to dialogue and discuss.

"I'm not of the 'boycott, ban or burn' approach. I think that's a serious and foolish mistake because it will serve no purpose except to make the Church look obscurantist, which is not helpful at all. I think we should engage," concludes Witherington.

Among those who also contributed essays for the Web sites are Hugh Hewitt, host of a conservative radio talk show in America; Darrell L. Bock, a professor of New Testament studies and the author of "Breaking the Da Vinci Code"; and George Barna, founder of a polling and research firm that focuses on evangelicals.

Barna said it was a "hard call" for him to agree to post an essay. But, as he wrote in his dissertation, "Heresy rightfully gets Christians upset, and responding is necessary."

In the Philippines, a Filipino priest has also expressed tolerance to "The Da Vinci Code." Fr. Michael Angelo Cardenas, an Opus Dei member and director of the Theological Centrum, said some members like him were not angered by the book's portrayal of Opus Dei, according to the Asian Journal.

"We view it with complete openness," Cardenas is quoted by the Asian Journal, reiterating the position taken by the personal prelature of Opus Dei when the novel first came out. He said the mind-set was to consider the controversy as an occasion "to allow more people to know Jesus Christ."

Recently, Dan Brown has publicly declared that The Da Vinci Code is a work of fiction and stressed that each individual reader must explore the characters' viewpoints and theories and come to his or her own interpretations. "My hope was that the novel would serve as a springboard for people to discuss the important topics of faith, religion, and history," he added.

The film version of "The Da Vinci Code" is directed by Ron Howard, produced by Brian Grazer and written for the screen by Akiva Goldsman, the Oscar-winning team of "A Beautiful Mind." The cast is headed by two-time Academy Award-winner Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Jean Reno, Sir Ian McKellen, Alfred Molina and Paul Bettany.

Produced by Grazer and John Calley, "The Da Vinci Code" begins with a spectacular murder in the Louvre Museum. All clues point to a covert religious organization that will stop at nothing to protect a secret that threatens to overturn 2,000 years of accepted dogma.

"The Da Vinci Code" is scheduled to open across the Philippines on May 18.

Link:
http://www.philstar.com/philstar/Freeman200604132401.htm

Another news:
Theologians say be not afraid of 'Da Vinci Code'


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alfie Lorenzo

To commemorate the 554th birth anniversary of Renaissance artist Leonardo Da Vinci on Saturday (April 15), Sony Pictures (the distributor of the upcoming screen adaptation of Dan Brown’s controversial bestseller The Da Vinci Code), has upgraded its two Web sites for the film with more essays from Christian theological and religious academics articulating their views about the premise of the book.

The sites, www.thedavincichallenge.com and www.thedavincidialogue.com, contain essays by about 45 Christian writers, scholars and leaders of evangelical organizations who pick apart the book’s theological and historical claims about Christianity.

Sony Pictures spokesman Jim Kennedy says the studio realizes the book has created controversy "about history and religion," which is why the Web sites have been created to provide an opportunity to educate young people about theological issues raised by the film.

The essays generally urge people to see the movie or at least don’t dissuade them from doing so. The sites also note where the book ‘suggests’ conclusions that differ from mainstream Christian dogma.

Among the writers are Gordon Robertson, the son of the television evangelist Pat Robertson and co-host of their television show, The 700 Club, who wrote about how early Christianity survived, and Richard J. Mouw, the president of Fuller Theological Seminary, a leading evangelical school in Pasadena, California who contributed of the new essays entitled, ‘Why Christians Ought to See the Movie.’

Mouw tells the New York Times, "It’s going to be water cooler conversation, so Christians need to take a deep breath, read the book and see the movie. Then we need to educate Christians about what all this means."

For his part, Dr. Ben Witherington III, professor of New Testament interpretation at Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky, shared the essay, ‘Mary Mary, Extraordinary.’ Dr. Witherington tells the United Methodist Reporter, "Christians shouldn’t be afraid to publicly address distortions of the Gospel in conversation with others. I would just say, to reassure Christians who are nervous about this, ‘Greater is He who in you than these forces that are out there in the world. Be prepared to give a reason for the hope that’s within you. Be prepared to dialogue and discuss.’

"I’m not of the ‘boycott, ban or burn’ approach. I think that’s a serious and foolish mistake because it will serve no purpose except to make the Church look even more obscurantist, which is not helpful at all. I think we should engage," concludes Witherington.

Among those who also contributed essays for the Web sites are Hugh Hewitt, host of a conservative radio talk show in America; Darrell L. Bock, a professor of New Testament studies and the author of ‘Breaking the Da Vinci Code,’ and George Barna, founder of a polling and research firm that focuses on evangelicals.

Barna said it was a ‘hard call’ for him to agree to post an essay. But, as he wrote in his dissertation, "Heresy rightfully gets Christians upset, and responding is necessary."

In the Philippines, a Filipino priest has also expressed tolerance to The Da Vinci Code. Fr. Michael Angelo Cardenas, an Opus Dei member and director of the Theological Centrum, said some members like him were not angered by the book’s portrayal of Opus Dei, according to the Asian Journal.

"We view it with complete openness," Cardenas is quoted by the Asian Journal, reiterating the position taken by the personal prelature of Opus Dei when the novel first came out.

He said the mind-set was to consider the controversy an an occasion "to allow more people to know Jesus Christ."

***

The film version of The Da Vinci Code is directed by Ron Howard, produced by Brian Grazer and written for the screen by Akiva Goldsman, the Oscar-winning team of A Beautiful Mind.

The cast is headed by Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Jean Reno, Sir Ian McKellen, Alfred Molina and Paul Bettany.

Produced by Grazer and John Calley, The Da Vinci Code, begins with a murder in the Louvre Museum. The clues point to a covert religious organization that will stop at nothing to protect a secret that theatens to overturn 2,000 years of accepted dogma.

The Da Vinci Code is scheduled to open across the Philippines on May 18.

http://www.abante-tonite.com/issue/april1306/main.htm

all i can say is... SALAMAT SA DIOS. hindi pa rin nag tagumpay ang mga judeo.

isa pa... hindi rin ako naniniwala ng mga da vinci code na 'yan.

thats fu-kin bull$hit! i cant believe this $hit is happening in the Philippines...they should banned all 'bold' porno movies while they're at it too...

its fu-kin entertainment!!! people should read it first then make the judgement...being ignorant will get you nowhere...

the book is way too entertaining..and can make a huge influnce on ppls...

if you think its entertainment then people should treat it as entertainment...how hard is that?

how bout porn?? porn is way toooo enterntaining and make a huge influence on ppl's lives affecting spirituality and relationship. it is addicting and can destroy someone's agency to choose if u get hooked to those things.

not only is it entertaining but it can cause problem..since it's only a fiction book all the things mention seem to be nonfiction

i myself dont believe in this davinci code. i know some ppl do. im religious myself. ppl have choices to believe whatever they want. if we submit to these laws, sent out by the government, then our free agency is being destroyed and we will have no right to choose between right and wrong. no one can force someone to be good all the time. this is becoming like an extremist government.

that's the point..most ppls happen to believe it...and that can cause a huge disaster...toward religious stuff..do'nt know what kind of religious stuff..since i'm not religious..but i know that that book can be very convincing

Its a fictional story but a fictional story that encompasses scandal upon scandal involving key religious figures which warrants censorship orsoitseems.

tama ng decision yan...kailangan hindi pumasok ng pelikula ito sa bansa.

Viewfinder : Interest in the movie ‘Da Vinci Code’ increasing

First posted 09:31pm (Mla time) April 19, 2006
By Nestor U. Torre
Inquirer



Editor's Note: Published on Page A2-1 of the April 20, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer


FOR months now, film and religious circles have been buzzing with speculations about the contents and prospects of the movie version of Dan Brown’s controversial novel, “The Da Vinci Code.”

Since it’s set to open next month, interest in and even agitation over its screening has started to peak.

It has also been fueled by the recent Holy Week observance, which recalled the Passion of Jesus Christ, and the cleverly timed release last week of “The Gospel of Judas.”

Since “Da Vinci” revealed the existence of the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, who in Brown’s novel is placed in a romantic relationship with Jesus, the new revelation of Judas’ own “gospel” adds further unction to the “things are not as they seem” tenor, biblically speaking, of the original controversy.

This has made the movie potentially even more controversial than the book—so that some theater owners are reportedly hesitant to show it here.

Another report has it that some groups may boycott the movie.

‘Super-controversy’

Other Catholics caution against such preemptory moves, because they could achieve the opposite effect: Instead of diminishing the movie’s impact, it could increase that, because the attendant “super-controversy” could make it even more of a “must-see” film in many people’s estimation.

Rather, some enlightened Catholics say, the film should be shown like any other production, and viewers should be free to react to it as they choose.

The Catholic reaction to the movie should be limited to evaluating it on point of facts and motive, so that the viewing public would be able to see the movie within the right context, and thus arrive at a more informed conclusion about its key thematic points.

Of late, the issue of the film’s motive has come to the fore in public discussions about the production. Brown and film director Ron Howard maintain that they are simply encouraging a review of early church history and the roots of the Christian faith. Thus, “Da Vinci” could even end up strengthening people’s beliefs, should they survive the “reinvestigation.”

On the other hand, some biblical experts see in “Da Vinci” and “Judas” a concerted attack on Christian tenets, so viewers are urged to distinguish fact from clever conjecture, or subliminal persuasion.

So the more they ban this film the more it will become a top rater!

LOL I will be fu-king pissed, I don't live in PI but it is one of Asias strongest Democracies, cencorship of this movie will show that the gov has way too much power...If you don't like it, then don't watch it...don't let others not view it because of your views... Is Flipippines turning into a Theocracy now or sumthing

lol everything foreign is allowed in the philippines.

-the u.s. army

- foreign companies who engage in the pillaging of philippine natural resources and illegal logging and deforestation.

but..a movie? that's not gunna be allowed? haha.we must be in the twilight zone

That's fu-ked up, the Phills are one of a few countries that openly tolerates homosexuality but then turns around and does this bull$hit.

Is that so Deathrow/PaPaHangover/EnricoAntonioPagaduanAventinoJr/MikeyHumpAlot/MikeHunt...the last time I checked the Phils. doesn't openly tolerate homosexuality like Cambodia does.

But they'd allow another fictional movie about Jesus play, eh? Passion of the Christ? Hypocrites.

This movie base on a great book! I like the book very much.

The Philippines should ban this film.

catholics in the phils should be open-minded about this film... if they know their faith, this film shouldn't change anything...

Hey dude, I didn't mean to offend you, all I'm trying to say is censorship sucks.

OH MY GOD Passion of the Christ!!!!!!!!! a christian movie playing in a Catholic country how absurd LOL.

shaddap da vinci code is showing sa preview mga tanga. kung banned yan bat nag-prepreview sa sinehan!!!

Hey tell that to Miss Condoliza La Guardia MTRCB chair! But some Catholic groups are to the MTRCB to rally against the showing of this film in Manila !

Passion of the Christ is movie which is not against Christianity.
Da Vinci Code is, yes yes, they have all the clues and facts about how Christianity is a made up religion and that's porbably why it's getting banned in some countries.

it's not actually banned.. in fact, it's showing this coming may. the only thing the church can do is to tell the people to refrain from watching it. but then again, "masarap ang bawal". but more liberal church leaders actually encourage people to watch it coz according to them and to my opinion, DVC is a fiction mingled with truths. even dan brown probably can't distinguish that. the conservatives are just afraid that less pious people might consider DVC as the real truth and further lose their faith on the catholic church which has been in a decline compared to the steady increase of Islam.

if u guyz actually reads the book, its ok... it kinda does offend me cuz its da religion and all, but overall i think it shouldnt be banned cuz may mga hindi catholico na mga tao sa pilipinas... so maybe they wanna watch it too...

^well that's teh problem in the PI sometimes is that Filipinos (i'm tlaking about the majority) don't seem to think that there are filipinos past catholic ones. i mean they know and see muslims, but often time they see them as marginalized enough to discount, but within their mainstream they see only catholics.

but there are alot of non-catholic christians, and even non-religious ones. some people seem to think that what they feel is representative of all filipinos. then there are those ignorant dumbasses who seem to try to make the whole of the republic a bishopric.

seriously if senators and congressmen actually start doing their jobs aside from stupid mindless unimportant functions as banning movies, maybe the republic may actually gain something from them.

i still remember alapaap MFs!

the movie was a bit exagerated!!! the book is quite too atheist!!!

have you actually read it? and actually I wouldn't call it Atheist, because it actually even reassert Jesus's existence.

I got a mixed sentiments about this film.

But Who cares , I am going to watch the movie! The more the MRTCB and other sector of the society cries for banning the movie the more popular and surely it will become blockbuster hit!

Sa englese tawag "sarcasm" basahin mo sa dictionaryo lol.



I guess sarcasm doesnt work too well on the internet hahhaa.

You cannot tell those people who oppose in this film to shutup or something to that effect!

It is democracy at its finest

I love the Da Vinci Code. Dan Brown is truly a magnificent author... but full of lies...

darn, banned. well, im sticking to pirated DVD.. hehehe

so what are the updates guys are they still showing it??..haha me and my friends are knocking on cinemas now..haha..
didnt they realize that as they continue the news of the movie ban and the ranting if its proper to show it...it causes more curiosity???...especially to the youth....

^to the previous post..
yeah if the movie is banned in cinemas let us watch on qiuapo cinemas..haha...just kidding...

I agree with that completely....

The MTRCB had still no decision about the movie showing and their classification

lol I just watched the Da Vinci Code movie trailer yesterday on MTV.... showing May 18

Here is the latest News:
Deutsche Presse-Agentur *

Manila - Philippine movie regulators were under mounting pressure to ban the public screening of the controversial film The Da Vinci Code in the predominantly Catholic country, an official said Tuesday.

Consoliza Laguardia, head of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), said a local anti-pornography group has sought the banning of the film based on the book by Dan Brown.

The story revolves around the theory that Jesus Christ had a relationship with Mary Magdalene and they had children.

Laguardia said the MTRCB has yet to decide on the petition to stop the public screening of the movie, which was scheduled for worldwide release on May 19.

'There is pressure,' she said. 'But we have to see it first and see the context in its entirety.'

Vendors of pirated DVDs and CDs said they have already received numerous inquiries and orders for bootlegged copies of the movie. Many have also snapped up pirated copies of related documentaries, such as Breaking the Da Vinci Code.

its a total catholic affair. they allow the brutal film passion of the christ, but the thriller they haven't even seen be banned?

i'm a christian and i say this is a matter of church and state. if they don't want to watch it then don't. its a republic not a theocracy.

Just because our neighbors also censor foreign films doesn`t amke it right. I don`t like any organization including the church arbitrarily imposing their values on the nation.