The mega movie blockbuster of the month. Angels and Demons, has finally opened in Singapore. The movie did not fail to captivate majority of the audiences with its fresh and unconventional storyline. However, the blockbuster which also revolves around a dark, conflicting and disturbing storyline, has caused a controversy among the catholic community globally. The catholics are coming together to boycott the movie.
As depicted by many sources, the movie that is based on a fictional storybook written by Dan Brown, and has many portrayals that strayed away from the real and original facts of the catholic’s culture and history. The way the storyline is communicated through the movie (script) has offended the Catholics as they perceived the movie as a lack of respect for their culture, and also an intention to stir confusion and conflict among the interest of the Catholic community.
While the group of staunch Catholics (organisation) decided to defend their interest and perspective, other groups of audiences are willing to accept the storyline as they chose (selection) to maintain open minds and take the opportunity to be exposed to a different and unconventional thinking. This is an example to how different people react to things due to the selection they choose, their cognitive schematas and the kind of organisation/environment that they are exposed to.
As much as many may disapprove with the storyline and morals of “Angels and Demons”, one cannot deny that it is a good and successful movie which has managed to communicate and reach out to the audiences. Apart from using the most common way to communicate with audiences by using verbal communications, the director has also made use of many nonverbal communication such as creating Objectifs or artifacts, kinesics and physical appearances to create suspension and to arouse the curiosity of the audiences. At the same time, these unspoken lines also gave inklings to the audiences as to what is happening in the movie. Nonverbal communication which is receiver orientated, often enables audiences to interpret and derive at different conclusions, and hence evokes discussions among. A much discussed movie is usually a well received movie, thus the need for nonverbal communication as I feel it is part of what makes a movie successful. The director and writer of the movie have made use of the tools of communication to make the movie work out well for them.
However, due to the lack of research on the theme that revolves around the Catholics, many have alleged the movie to have defamed the beliefs that the Catholics have upheld. It has caused disapproval and misunderstanding within the community, which then led to a controversy and a boycott among the community. Religion is a sensitive topic and always will be. For the mass to accept such storyline, adequate researches will have to be done in order for people to come together to approve and support the movie.
For a movie like Angels & Demons, it might not be the easiest thing in the world to do adequate research! Dan Brown has probable spent years researching on materials & information, & the extend of his knowledge on the subject is evident in the plot he displays!
ReplyDeletehowever, when it comes to issues like religions, the beginning of it traces back wayy to long for accurate records to have been recorded! & my personal view is that no matter how hard you try to accurately portray religion, there's always going to be some "expert" or pope or whatever that's gonna say you didnt do it right!
he doesnt have prove to show that his version of the religion is right either, in my view. my pastor once said that's why religions are known as faith, because you can never know anything for sure & choose to believe it on blind faith!
i definitely think my faith is strong but in this case, we should probably just enjoy the movie for what it is - fictitous & entertaining - while giving the religious battle a rest (:
psst. u caught the movie! was it good? hahaha (:
Yeah, i agree with Connie that it is indeed, difficult to attain 100% accuracy of what had happened so long ago...
ReplyDeleteHowever, (maybe due to my fault that i didn't indicate clearly), the storyline did not even follow the Catholic's history... which was what caused the people to be mad.. as they feel that the movie makers have disrespected their culture.
I mean, if u're using Catholic as a source, then perhaps one should observe some kind of fatcualness to it right ? That's the basic courtesy and respect one should have for a serious religion right ? Unless you come out with a fictitious religion, you will be free to defame it any way you want... So yeah... maybe the storyline should be at least closer to the original happenings? Don't you think so ? =)
The movie is good. You should catch it!
That is a good account of the movie Angels & Demons, recognizing the sensitive religious subject matter that are at odds with the Church followers while acknowledging that a movie can still be great though controversial.
ReplyDeleteAngels & Demons, adapted from Dan Brown’s novel has not taken the comfortable and familiar road of drawing themes strictly from the biblical source, it is therefore not a religious documentary but rather works of fiction woven with certain biblical themes. It is in the words of The Vatican , Harmless Entertainment. Controversial definitely but harmless.
A good plot, convincing actors, great visual display & production are factors that influence the success of a movie. On another level it prompts us to revisit our religious values, to evaluate and to think, these certainly add value to the movie. If it appeals to the mass audience and delivers in entertaining and has the above ingredients of a good movie than I would say it has succeeded.
It is subjective.
A movie can be great without bordering on controversy; controversial without being great or in this case, both.
Personally I will not take the fun away from the theatres and enjoy this blockbuster with my popcorns, after all, if a faith is strong, a movie wouldn’t kill it.
Chubbs
Angels and Demons is just entertainment at the expense of religion. If one has faith no matter what perception is given you wont waiver.
ReplyDeleteWell, i guess just as Justin had said, it's purely for entertainment purpose. Perhaps the controversal topic on religion is intentional, used to create some hype or interesting talking points for audiences, so that people will eventually be lured to watch the show. If they have decided to follow the original history, maybe it'll be too boring for a movie. Do you realised that most movies that enjoys good acclaimations are somewhat exaggerated?
ReplyDelete"A good plot, convincing actors, great visual display & production" and I'm good to go!
ReplyDeleteAs it has been mentioned, Angels & Demons is based on a fictitious novel. At the expense of religion or not, well, let's just say it's a deeper draw into the imagination. We don't see people debating over the creation of dragons and unicorns, and say that it's at the expense of reality, do we?
Thus, if it has all the elements of a good movie, it is a good movie!
Although this may be a highly sensitive topic to some, mainly the christians and catholics as what alexia has implied, i feel that it is only a movie and people should adopt an open mind and just view the movie as a show with a fictional theme and not get so offended by it.
ReplyDeleteIf everyone is going to get so upeset with all the fiction that hollywood decide to come out with, we can definitely anticipate more documentaries rather than dramas being produced in the future.