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Arts and Culture

‘Angels and Demons’ Not Welcome at the Vatican

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Posted on Jun 16, 2008
Hanks
iwatchstuff.com

It would appear that the pope is not a Dan Brown fan. The Vatican has refused to allow star Tom Hanks and director Ron Howard to film scenes from author Brown’s “Da Vinci Code” prequel, “Angels and Demons,” on its holy territory.


The Telegraph:

The entire film is set in Rome, and Sony Pictures applied for permission to film two key scenes inside the churches of Santa Maria del Popolo and Santa Maria della Vittoria.

The plot of the book sees Mr Langdon arriving in Santa Maria della Vittoria to find a cardinal being set on fire.

However, the scene will now be shot on a soundstage after the diocese of Rome closed its doors against the producers. Father Marco Fibbi, a spokesman, said: “Usually we read the script but in this case it wasn’t necessary. Just the name Dan Brown was enough. “

He added that most films are given permission, as long as they respect the “traditions of the Church”. Father Fibbi said: “Angels and Demons peddles a type of fantasy that damages our common religious beliefs, just like The Da Vinci Code did.”

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By BruSays, July 1 at 10:59 am #

Oh, this quote from the article was rich...almost too easy a target:

“Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican’s secretary of state, said: ‘Boycotting this film is the least we can do. The book and the film are a pot pourri of nonsense, a phantasmagorical cocktail of inventions.’”

That last sentence could read, “The Bible is a pot pourri of nonsense, a phantasmagorical cocktail of inventions” and four-fifths of the world would agree.

AnAmericaninGermany had it right: why is this even a “story”? And secondly, surpressing (including murder, banishment and torture) its detractors is something they’ve been doing for 2,000 years. So where’s the news?

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By Nelson, July 1 at 9:27 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

I think it makes perfect sense not to allow such filming to take place in the holy church.
Would any of you let a bunch of pigs run around your house and crap on everything you own? I doubt it!
It’s a no-brainer if you ask me. Some people need to grow up alittle.

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By rage, June 27 at 1:57 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Please! Doesn’t the godfather, Don Bene need that extra do-ray-mee to pay off the families of victims of preistly sexual abuses? Ronny Howard and Tom Hanks are surely good for that much money.

C’mon, now! Pope Bene can’t possibly support John Bomb-Iran McCain that fiercely!

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By kyle, June 26 at 9:42 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

ok, to each their own on what their religious beliefs stand on, that is not the real issue here.  The christian faith may or may not be right, as with all other faiths in the world, but you cant really expect anything else but the answer they gave to the proposal.  Somoene earlier said it very well, the church itself is and has been an established organization for almost 2000 years.  Dan Browns book’s entire plot goes against what the catholic church holds in its establishment.  The same answer would be given if Osama bin Laden were to try and ask if he could film two scenes of an anti american movie at the statue of liberty.  Slap to the face to the director to even think he could get a chance to film inside the vatican

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By John P., June 26 at 9:27 am #

I suspect that Hanks and company just didn’t offer enough money to use the locations, or the vatican is doing just fine in the oil speculation market

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By christian, June 23 at 4:07 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

But war criminals Blair and Bush are welcome!

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By ester, June 22 at 6:08 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

hello,
first i must apologise to the world of words… since my spelling is very very bad.

but you, who i sreading this, will understand me for sure.

This is a nother moment that by itself is needing to apear to the serfice… meaning? Hollywood’s arrogancey, it just happeend to be matching subject...movie about “ a lie” and a church being offended, but the picture is much larger, just the fact that a film crew feels it is entiteld, and the fact that there is such self importance associated with film making… the code here is… where there is a splash… there will be a crash! the world had benefitteed from some films and thire messegaes, or simply thire entertainment… but the world is fed daily it’s garbage too.  who in the world should receive 20 millions or more to make a film? then we ask what is happening in this world… where is the balance? a world is like a plate of food, how much is on it, and for how many it is meant? hollywood created a hige imbalance in the world. and denying a film to be shoot at vatican is only a simple way of the universe to claim it’s balance.  i know a nurse, she washes old people, she feeds them, she makes 20 thousands a year!  an actor should be getting this kind of money?

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By AnAmericaninGermany, June 22 at 9:54 am #

How on earth is this even a story? 

Did anyone ever expect the Vatican would cooperate with Dan Brown?  Why should/would they?

Religion itself is fantasy (in my opinion crap)… the Church however is a very real institution that did not survive two thousand years by being kind to its detractors.

Dan and Ron and Tom should be happy they haven’t had a hit taken out on them.  It wouldn’t surprise me in the least.

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By Marshall K, June 17 at 8:45 pm #

“Angels and Demons” is a really bad book which includes a Harry Potter like escape from a helicopter with the main character parachuting from a helicopter using a windshield sunshade.
I think the Vatican is trying to spare us from a really bad movie.  In this case they are showing infallible judgment.

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By Outraged, June 17 at 8:30 pm #

Article quote: “Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican’s secretary of state, said: “Boycotting this film is the least we can do. The book and the film are a potpourri of nonsense, a phantasmagorical cocktail of inventions.”

I want to qualify Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone’s comment, because who should know better than he about “potpourri of nonsense” and “phantasmagorical cocktails of invention”.  I also want to give a the cardinal “a nod” for specifically using the phrase ‘phantasmagorical cocktail of inventions’.  I’ll give ‘em this, that’s just a fun shit to throw around.... wouldn’t ya say.

The next time someone starts talking shit, I’ll think I’ll respond by saying… Don’t give me your phantasmagorical cocktails of invention you jerk!  What’s more...I don’t even want to HEAR your potpourri of nonsense..! 

Wow… you gotta admit, that’s just fun stuff.  Don’t you think that Ron Howard and Tom Hanks could find a little “spot” for these “condemnations” in the film..?

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By wagonjak, June 17 at 5:14 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Great remark, being a fallen away Catholic, I agree with your premise...the Catholic Church has been pedaling it’s own version of unreality for centuries, and people are finally catching on...especially with the huge cover-up of Pedophilia in the Priestly ranks, which the current Pope, the “Ratser”, helped cover up and stonewall...thanks!

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By Double U, June 17 at 1:15 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

I bet Tom Hanks could Kick Mel Gibson’s ass right off his shoulders and beat him at Jeopardy! at the same time.  I’d also like to see a Good Friday Night Smack Down between the Popester and Pee Wee Herman… Well, I can dream can’t I?

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By aditya, June 17 at 11:02 am #

Does the church consider a work of fiction to be so inimical to their ‘message’ ? Are they afraid that their followers will believe fiction ?

Or do they have first hand experience in knowing how easy it is to make people believe fictional stories having done so for centuries ?

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By no religion higher than truth, June 17 at 9:39 am #

If I may quote from his website: http://www.danbrown.com

“Q: Angels & Demons reveals a lot of inside information about the Vatican… much of it unflattering. Do you fear any repercussions?

A: I imagine some controversy is unavoidable, yes, although it’s important to remember that Angels & Demons is primarily a thriller--a chase and a love story. It’s certainly not an anti-Catholic book. It’s not even a religious book. Much of the novel’s action takes place deep inside the arcane world of the Vatican, and yes, some of the factual information revealed there is startling, but I think most people understand that an organization as old and powerful as the Vatican could not possibly have risen to power without acquiring a few skeletons in their closets. I think the reason Angels & Demons is raising eyebrows right now is that it opens some Vatican closets most people don’t even know exist. The final message of the novel, though, without a doubt, is a positive one.”

Considering the word “Catholic” means broad-minded, you would think the Papacy would have kept their mouths shut. They only show their illiteracy. I read the book years ago and found it quite an adventure and deeply thought-provoking.

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By Cyrena's lover, June 17 at 8:27 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Judging a book by it’s cover? It’s clear that none of these “bishops” have read the book.

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By Purple Girl, June 17 at 7:17 am #

As a Recovered Catholic- sinc ethe age of 9, when I stopped listening an dtarted thinking for myself-I hold this Crime Syndicate Guilty of 2 millenia of Heresay and crime sagainst humantiy.
The Rat claims he was a Victim of circumstance during WW2 -BS. At 9 I knew Right from Wrong and would never have thought it OK to turn in my neighbors to some Gov’t oficials.I could smell deciet by the Catholic church at 9 - he could have sensed it from the Nazi’s. Children have a better sense of that which is not right far better then adults (lost and confused by their own ambitions and fears).
Within th elas tYear I have learned why this Organzed Crime organization made my skin crawl at that young age. It in fact jaded me so much I waas suspecious of all Relgions and the real intents.
Peter and Paul Highjacked the Religion of Jesus and his True followers. it was a belief in INCLUSION. Not just men & women, but Jews and Non Jews.Jesus never wanted a new relgion - he want to show the limits of the Jewish faith by their EXCLUDING other through their Dogma! Peter and Paul wanted a claim to Fame so they made Jesus a ‘Son of God’ (we are all children of that from which we were created (a god or mere nature) so they could Con the Pagans way from their ‘god’s’ and would hold these two Posers as the ‘Word’.Who are they to Judge the Creations of the ‘Almighty’,why would He need such hinchmen here on earth. I would think he could hadle such matters without their Prejudgements.
Peter did not just deny Jesus 3 times - he Denied Him for All time!
If their is a Beast which hates and wishes to oppress and condemn man it is First and Foremost the Catholic Church!’Pope’ Are Self Anointed IDOLS, and RATzinger is the epitome of the Scam!
But I not only want to ‘Thank’ the Vatican for Slaughering and Oppressing my ancestors and millions other) for the last 2 Millenia- I’d like to extend that to the rest of their Self Ordained Worship Seekers like the ‘Evangelists’ who Highjacked the ideals of John for their own Fear and HATE mongering. You are the Beasts he was warning Us about and Your spawns in Gov’t, Industry and media-’The Deceivers’/ the Four Horsemen hell bent on destroying any possiblity of creating heaven on Earth for Mankind!Fuck the Vatican and the self Rightous ‘Wholey’ rollers their doctrines betray their Betrayal!

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By Gray Lensman, June 17 at 6:55 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

You would think they could cooperate. They are both in the same business (fantasy).

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By Jeremiah Skyer, June 17 at 4:44 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

By Jeremiah Skyler

As is commonly known in Metaphysical circles, all future events are governed by 3 principals: Fate, Karma and Free Will.

Fate is something that is more or less set in stone.  It is not negotiable.  Fate is what many religious people would refer to as “God’s Will” since they perceive God’s will to be separate from their own.  They often fail to see that they are extensions of the Divine - manifestations of the God within.

For a Psychic, Fate is the easiest thing for us to read.  However, when hired to perform metaphysical services, Fate is unbendable.

Karma is a whole other matter entirely.  Karma, contraray to recent popular belief, has little or nothing to do with morality.  Rather, Karma is simply the Universal Law of cause and effect.  Whatsoever you project into the Universe will be reflected right back at you.

Because the life of a Soul extends beyond the continuous cycle of physical birth and death, actions and their subsequent consequences follow you from one lifetime to the next.  From a Psychic’s point of view, Karma is a often a pattern - and a rather predictable one at that.  A good Psychic Advisor will understand Karmic patterns and will be able to help you to change these cycles to your advantage.

It cannot be overemphasized the importance of achieving and maintaining good Karma for leading a happy, healthy and productive life.  Your Karma is like your engine - keep it clean and keep it running strong.

Bad Karma is one of the worst curses a being can endure.  If you find that this is your problem, I would urge you to address it now before the cycle gets worse.
Karma is a powerful force in the trajectory of your life.  Getting your Karma right is of the upmost importance in changing negative patterns and living a healthy spiritual life filled with the abundance of all that is good, positive and fulfilling.
So I’ve briefly covered Fate and Karma, but what about Free Will?

Free Will:

There are essentially two types of consciousness - Individual and Collective.  The Collective is greater than the sum of all Indivial Consciousnesses.  The Individual consciousness emmanates from the Collective.  It is supported by the Collective, but it also informs the Collective.

What does this mean?  In other words, your own state of mind affects the world around you.  You have a huge amount of influence.

Although recent phenomenon in pop culture such as “The Secret” tends to exagerrate, over-simplify and become fixated on greed as the meaning of life - the main thrust, the underlying fundamental idea is actually correct.  The Law of Attraction.  The power of the mind, i.e. “Free Will” is so much greater than most people will ever know.

Your thoughts not only affect how you perceive reality, but how you actually create reality.  Life is subject to certain factors which are outside of your control.  There are Laws to the Universe.  There are ways that the planet seems to be structured which are often inalterable.

But even so, the power of your mind is so potent that, in spite of so many factors and forces of opposition, you truly are The Master of Your Own Destiny.

Jeremiah Skyler - Psychic Advisor

http://www.PsychicAnswersNow.com

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By KISS, June 17 at 3:55 am #

Whatever happened to “turn the other cheek”, or does that only apply to alter boys?

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By Double U., June 16 at 8:32 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

I was really looking forward to the Popecorn with extra butter.

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