The Da Vinci Code?

More like…The Crapinci Code. Ha!

NOTE: For the abridged version of this entry, please scroll down.

So I saw the movie the other day and I didn’t really like it. Here are some of the reasons why:

Sophie Neveu: what was her function? Except for having gotten Langdon safely away from that cop, she didn’t really do much. We’re told she was being unknowingly trained by her “grandfather” her whole life so that she could take over his duties. Then Teabing busts out with that thing about the songs her grandfather probably sang to her that he also knows. Here’s where we’re shown a flashback of a little girl dancing to her grandfather’s singing. The fact that she’s supposed to have been trained her whole life is brought up a bunch of times, and yet is never one put into action. She doesn’t solve any of the puzzles and basically serves as the audience – us – to whom Langdon can explain every little bit of information to so that we won’t get lost. GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

The flashbacks: what the hell was the point of them? They mostly showed me what they already told me. Or they happened the other way around. They told me something, then later they showed a flashback of it. What the crap?

For example:
Robert Langdon: When I was a boy I fell in a well and thought I was going to die.
Sophie: ::blank stare of uselessness::
CUT TO: flashback of a boy in a well.
BACK TO: some other random scene.

Unless the flashbacks have something important to show me, I don’t think they’re very necessary. Specially Sophie’s flashbacks, as mentioned above.

The French Cop Guy: that cop guy played by Jean Reno, whose name I can’t remember. So I’m supposed to believe that this guy who has such strong belief in that priest – so much so that he clearly went against all police procedures – this guy will just turn and let him take the fall at the end? With no hesitation? Merely a “you used me”? I dunno, that seemed kinda weird to me.

Before you people who are fans of the book start going crazy; NO, I have NOT read the book. It doesn’t matter if the book was amazing. Film is a different media. Things obviously have to change. This was an adaptation of a novel. As such, I do not believe it was adapted very well. It felt like to truly understand what was going on, I needed to have read the book. Sure, that will help in any movie based on a book, but it shouldn’t be essential. Also, there are certain expectations when you hear “A film by Ron Howard, starring Tom Hanks”; expectations that I do not believe were met.

ABRIDGED VERSION: The Da Vinci Code was a 2 ½ hour introduction to the last 5 minutes of the movie...and it sucked.

Challenge me...Please. Specially those of you who have read the books and seen the movie.



...the perfect blossom is a rare thing

Studio Church

Greetings and salutations to all.

I would like to direct everyone's attention to a new link i have added to my links section: "Studio Chuch - Sculptures by James Church". Anyone and everyone who considers themselves to be an appreciator of the arts simply must check it out. I've always had a fascination with sculptures, but mainly those really classical ones by Michelangelo, Bernini, Rodin, and the like. I never got into any of the more contemporary peoples. But let me tell you, I just looooove his stuff. Oh man, especially the suspended ones. And i'm not just saying that cause he's my cousin. No siree. They're so beautiful that i can't even think of adequate words to accurately represent my feelings with. This doesn't happen very often. I don't know what it is. The figures seem to just carry sooooo much feeling and emotion with them that it boggles my mind. So check it out, enjoy, and let me know what you think.



...if he'd just pay me what he's paying them to stop me robbing him, I'd stop robbing him

Easternlight Films acquires Dayyan Eng's Waiting Alone

*****************************
Easternlight Films has acquired world rights to WAITING ALONE (Du zi deng dai), the first feature by Chinese-American helmer Dayyan Eng (aka Wu Shixian), whose BUS 44 was the first Chinese short to win at Venice and Sundance fests.

This urban comedy sports an ensemble cast of upcoming Chinese talent and a cameo by Hong Kong superstar Chow Yun-fat.

The tale focuses on an aspiring author who goes to absurd lengths to make a woman fall for him. Pic was voted best local film of the year by more than 50 Chinese newspapers.

The Australian-U.S. sales outfit negotiated the deal with Wu's Beijing-based production shingle while en route to Hong Kong Filmart. Pic will be presented through Arclight's recently established Asian label, Easternlight, headed by Ying Ye and Arclight co-founder, Gary Hamilton.

Taiwanese-born Wu is an American citizen who is part Chinese, part Scottish and part Persian.

He was the first foreign national to receive a best picture award at the Chinese Academy Awards last year and claims to be the only foreign helmer in the Film Directors Guild of China.
*****************************
You can find that article here

How freakin awesome is that? That's my cousin, by the way, for those who don't know. So congratulations to him! Check out the site for Colordance Pictures for more info on this amazing movie.



...I'm being toyed with by a bunch of depraved children

Searching...

I haven’t done one of these updates in a while, so I thought I’d do so before a real posting. Also, this time around, I must say it’s some of the best entries ever. For those of you new to The Niblog, the following is a list of search entries that led people to this very blog.

They are:

- people v lucas
- chef munib
- antonia banderas clothes
- tyler durden pictures
- top 50 chick flicks
- recent good chick flicks
- 50 top chick flicks 2005
- ayyami-ha song
- chick fliks
- most popular chick flicks
- recent chick flicks
- divine secrets of the yah yah sisterhood
- niblog movie
- the best chick flicks

Yes, that says Antonia Banderas. NOT Antonio.

What I love the most about this list is that people are coming here looking for info about “chick flicks”. My sincerest hope is that these hapless souls leave my site enlightened with new knowledge and information about the ridiculousness of the term. Sheesh. Some people.

And divine secrets of the yah yah sisterhood. That just rocks.

Again, if you are not familiar with my loathing of the term "chick flick" feel free to direct your attention here and here. Go ahead. You deserve to know the truth.



...good swords are kept in their sheaths