| QUOTE (TheHighlander @ Mar 1 2006, 04:48 AM) |
| I've not read the book and I don't plan on seeing the film. It just sounds like a load of old guff. Incidentally, how come muslims can go mental, and are then placated, when some Danish blokes draw some cartoons of their 'prophet', yet this bloke can make up a story about Jesus shagging around and he makes millions out of it?! |
| QUOTE (Hovis @ Mar 1 2006, 07:02 AM) |
| ...if Dan Brown is claiming 'The da Vinci Code' is based on his own theories... |
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| Da Vinci Code claim 'exaggerated' One of the authors claiming Dan Brown's bestseller The Da Vinci Code copied his ideas has admitted he exaggerated his case in an interview with a journalist. Michael Baigent had said 15 points central to the plot of Mr Brown's novel were from a 1982 non-fiction book Mr Baigent wrote with two other authors. As the case resumed at the High Court in London, however, Mr Baigent said his language had been "infelicitous". He and co-author Richard Leigh are suing UK publisher Random House. They have taken the publisher to court for copyright infringement. Mr Brown is expected to take the stand later this week. Judge's reading time Mr Baigent and Mr Leigh claim Mr Brown "relied heavily" on their w**k, The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail. The book's third author, Henry Lincoln, is not involved in the case. Random House, which published both books, has denied the allegation. The case resumed on Tuesday after a week-long break to give the judge time to read both books involved and related materials. Mr Baigent was first to take the stand, where he was asked about an interview in which he claimed 15 points central to The Da Vinci Code had been taken from The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail. James Baldwin, a lawyer representing Random House, said this claim was "simply false" and that seven of the cited points did not appear in Mr Brown's book. "In that case you are correct," said Mr Baigent after a pause. " I think my language was infelicitous and I think I have to agree with you on that." The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail is referred to directly in The Da Vinci Code, which features a character whose name - Sir Leigh Teabing - is an anagram of Leigh and Baigent. Mr Baigent said Mr Brown stole "the whole architecture" of research that went into their book while writing The Da Vinci Code. Both books contain the idea Jesus had a child. Random House, however, claim Mr Brown used several sources for his research and had written a synopsis of The Da Vinci Code before he had even looked at The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail. Story from BBC NEWS: |
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| Da Vinci Code challenger 'copies' A writer who accuses The Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown of copying has agreed at the High Court that he himself would "hijack" other people's words. Co-author of The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail, Richard Leigh, was told in court ideas in his book were copied. Mr Leigh and Michael Baigent, are suing Random House, which publishes both books, claiming Mr Brown's best-seller lifts from their 1982 w**k. But Mr Leigh was accused of doing the same thing by the publisher's lawyer. Similar language Mr Leigh's book also explores a theory that Jesus did not die on the cross but survived, had children with Mary Magdelene and their offspring survive until the present. John Baldwin QC, representing Random House, gave examples of themes in the book which had earlier been explored using similar language. He asked the author: "That is something else you have copied from somewhere else?" Mr Leigh - who sports a Zapata moustache and Elvis quiff - replied: "Not copied, repeated." Mr Baldwin attacked an assertion from Mr Leigh that interest in The Da Vinci Code was aroused by the central theme of his book - that Jesus did not die and the Crucifixion was a fraud. The theme does not appear in Mr Brown's book, Mr Baldwin said. There was also no mention in The Da Vinci Code of the "mystery of Rennes-le-Chateau" . "I suggest to you that the statement about sales and exposure being mainly due to the central theme is not only untruthful but you never really had any belief in it," Mr Baldwin said. He then referred to several sections of The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail that were already covered in previous books, including that it was obligatory in the Jewish community for a father to find a wife for his son. 'Hijack it' Mr Baldwin said not only the idea but the wording in HBHG of the Knights Templar being formed by the Priory of Sion as an administrative arm and their eventual bloody fate in France in the Middle Ages was in earlier works. Mr Leigh said the facts were common historical knowledge being expressed in straightforward language and could well look the same. He said much of the wording of HBHG was his own but there were certain turns of phrase that are in common use. "If some phrases are not mine, it is something I liked sufficiently to hijack it," he said. The hearing was adjourned until Monday when Mr Brown will give evidence for Random House. Story from BBC NEWS: |
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| Da Vinci author scorns copy claim Author Dan Brown has dismissed accusations that he stole the ideas for his best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code as "completely fanciful". The novelist is appearing at London's High Court after historians Richard Leigh and Michael Baigent sued publisher Random House. They say Mr Brown copied ideas in their book The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail. "I have been shocked at their reaction. Furthermore I do not really understand it," Mr Brown said in a statement. Both books explore a theory that Jesus did not die on the cross but survived and had children with Mary Magdalene, and that their descendents survive. For them to suggest that I have hijacked and exploited their w**k is simply untrue Dan Brown Mr Brown said Mr Baigent and Mr Leigh were just two of a number of authors who had written about the theory. "Yet I went out of my way to mention them for being the ones who brought the theory to mainstream attention," his statement said. "I would like to restate that I remain astounded by the claimants' choice to file this plagiarism suit. "For them to suggest, as I understand they do, that I have hijacked and exploited their w**k is simply untrue." Mr Brown told the court his wife Blythe carried out much of the research and she "was deeply passionate about the sacred feminine". 'Wide research' He said it was hard to pinpoint the sources he and his wife used while researching The Da Vinci Code. "On the way, we met with historians and other academics and extended our travels from the Vatican and France to England and Scotland in order to investigate the historical underpinnings of the novel," he said. He was originally unsure whether to include the theory that Jesus' bloodline had survived because he thought readers would find it "too incredible and inaccessible", he said. But his wife persuaded him and he said he was "positive" he read about it in many sources before reading The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail. The author grew up on the campus of Phillips Exeter Academy, New Hampshire, where his father was a teacher and where he studied. Code of conduct "It is also known for the strictness of its regulations and code of conduct, especially with respect to plagiarism," he told the court. Mr Baigent previously told the High Court Mr Brown stole "the whole architecture" of research that went into their book. He said there were "fairly specific" similarities between the books, but conceded there were many differences. Random House has said Mr Brown used several sources for his research and wrote a synopsis of The Da Vinci Code before even looking at The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail. The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail's third author, Henry Lincoln, is not taking part due to ill health. Story from BBC NEWS: |
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...it is clear Brown intended the brief less as a legal defense than as a literary memoir... At first glance, the document bears the giddy signatures of a Dan Brown novel. It's chopped into staccato chapters; the language is awkward...and its hero is a simple man who is being pursued by evil forces he doesn't quite understand.... |
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| Authors wait for Da Vinci ruling A court case in which The Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown was accused of copying has ended, but the judge's verdict may not be delivered for weeks. Mr Brown denies copying The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail by Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh for his best-seller. Summing up his clients' case, Jonathan Rayner James QC said Mr Brown had been "unco-operative" and his evidence should be viewed with "deep suspicion". The judge, Mr Justice Peter Smith, said he hoped to give his ruling by Easter. Mr Baigent and Mr Leigh are suing Random House, which published both books, claiming Mr Brown copied themes from their non-fiction study. 'No recollection' Both books explore the theory that Jesus married Mary Magdalene, that the couple had a child and that the bloodline survives. Mr James, representing the Holy Grail authors, said Dan Brown claimed he had not read his clients' book until The Da Vinci Code was in the latter stages of production. "He had almost no recollection of matters that related to issues of timing," Mr James told the High Court in London. "He would struggle to recall a year, was rarely able to recall a month. His general attitude in cross-examination was unco-operative." Mr James said Mr Brown admitted much of the research for the novel was carried out by his wife Blythe, who did not give evidence. "It was crucial in revealing the dependency on The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail and the extent to which she relied upon it. Perhaps that explains why she was not produced," he said. Mr James said Mr Brown claimed his wife did not like publicity and that was why he did not want his wife involved in the court case. The lawyer suggested she could have given evidence via video link or given a witness statement. Mr Brown has maintained that neither he nor his wife and assistant Blythe used The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail while his best-selling book was being prepared. He has admitted to using the w**k while The Da Vinci Code was being written, but said it was used as one of several sources and did not copy its central themes. Mr Justice Peter Smith said he would give his verdict before the current court term ends on April 13. Story from BBC NEWS: |
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| 'No surprise' in Da Vinci judgement By Jon Silverman Legal affairs analyst After the High Court ruled Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown did not breach the copyright of an earlier book, the BBC News website assesses the case's impact. This judgement was expected. Since there is no copyright in an idea, any claim for breach of copyright must rest on the way that the idea is expressed. In this case, it was described as the "architecture" or "structure" of the w**k, The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail. The plaintiffs claimed that this structure - the central theme - had been lifted by Dan Brown for the Da Vinci Code. The judge himself acknowledged that nothing in the plaintiffs' case would have stultified creative endeavour The judge rejected this claim even though he said that Brown had copied some language from the earlier book. But to suggest, as Gail Rebuck, the chief executive of Random House, did outside court, that the judgement represented a significant victory for creative freedom, is probably going too far. The judge himself acknowledged that nothing in the plaintiffs' case would have stultified creative endeavour or extended the boundaries of copyright protection. In launching their claim, the authors of The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, were aware of a similar High Court case brought in 1980 by an author called Ravenscroft, who wrote a non-fiction w**k titled The Spear of Destiny. Co-incidentally, it also had Christ's fate as its central theme. Ravenscroft argued successfully that the novelist, James Herbert, had infringed his copyright by using the same characters, incidents and interpretation of events in parts of his thriller, The Spear. I estimate that in a 20-minute period, he was forced to retract two or three claims and to apologise to Dan Brown for making them Copyright lawyer Simon Gallant But, as copyright lawyer, David Hooper, points out, the key issue is the amount of a book, both in quantity and quality, which is copied by someone else. "Frankly, the only hope for the plaintiffs in the Da Vinci case would have been to produce a detailed schedule showing on which pages of Dan Brown's book their ideas, language and structure had been plagiarised. "But their argument was vague and shifted course during the trial and was always based on a weak foundation." Copyright lawyer Simon Gallant agrees. He was in court as an interested spectator when Michael Baigent was giving evidence. "It was electrifying. I estimate that in a 20-minute period, he was forced to retract two or three claims and to apologise to Dan Brown for making them. "I would have been astonished if he and his fellow plaintiff had won the case because the threshold you have to reach to prove infringement of copyright is a high one and they did not come close to it." Under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, the creators of literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works enjoy protection for original w**k if they can establish " a degree of labour, skill or judgement" in producing it. That formula is crucial. The courts have denied protection to certain works, including some advertising slogans. Once a w**k has been created, it will automatically be protected by copyright. No formal steps, such as registering it, need to be taken. Copyright in a literary w**k generally lasts for 70 years after the last remaining author of the w**k dies. Story from BBC NEWS: |
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| Da Vinci in new plagiarism claim A Russian art historian has accused The Da Vinci Code author Dan Brown of plagiarism, just days after a British court rejected a similar claim. Mikhail Anikin, from St Petersburg, said he would sue Brown if he did not receive an apology and compensation. He claims Brown stole his idea that Leonardo Da Vinci was also a theologian and his Mona Lisa portrait was an allegory for the Christian Church. The Da Vinci Code was published in 2003 and is a global blockbuster. Detective Mr Anikin, a Da Vinci expert at the Hermitage Museum, said he had shared his ideas with colleagues at a museum in Houston, Texas, in 1998. He said one of the them had asked if he could pass on the ideas to a friend who wrote detective novels. "I gave permission, but asked that this author indicate in his book that the idea had been mine," Mr Anikin told Agence France Presse. On Friday, the High Court rejected a claim that Brown had breached the copyright of the 1982 book The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail. Both books explore the theory that Jesus and Mary Magdalene had a child and the bloodline survives to this day. The Da Vinci Code is still in the UK top 10 book sales chart, and a screen adaptation starring Tom Hanks is due for release in May. Story from BBC NEWS: |
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| Group demands Da Vinci disclaimer Catholic group Opus Dei has asked for a disclaimer to be placed on the film of The Da Vinci Code, released next month. The organisation said it had written to Sony Pictures executives in Japan to ask the studio to emphasise that the film was a w**k of fantasy. Based on Dan Brown's novel, The Da Vinci Code claims Jesus Christ married Mary Magdalene and had children, which was covered up by the Catholic Church. Sony has said it is not a religious film, and is not meant to criticise. "Some media have written that Sony is examining the possibility of putting at the beginning of the film an announcement to clarify that it is a w**k of fantasy and that any similarity with reality is purely coincidental," Opus Dei said in a statement. "Any such decision by Sony would be a gesture of respect toward the figure of Jesus, to the history of the Church, and to the religious beliefs of viewers." Catholic criticism Opus Dei, which critics say is secretive and ultra-conservative, has previously called for changes to be made to the film's final edit, and asked for it to be given adults-only ratings. Other members of the Roman Catholic Church have also voiced their concern. On Good Friday, the preacher for the papal household denounced theories which he said made huge profits in denying the teachings of the Catholic Church. "Christ is still sold, but not any more for 30 coins, but to publishers and booksellers for billions of coins," Rev Raniero Cantalamessa said in a homily at St Peter's Basilica. "No-one succeeds in stopping this speculative wave, that instead will register a boom with the imminent release of a certain film." However, he did not refer to the film or Dan Brown's novel by name. The movie, which stars Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou, will open this year's Cannes film festival on 17 May, two days before it is released worldwide. Story from BBC NEWS: |
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| Da Vinci plagiarism ruling upheld Dan Brown's best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code did not plagiarise an earlier w**k by author Lewis Perdue, a US federal appeals court has ruled. In August 2005, New York judge George B Daniels ruled Mr Brown's book did not infringe the copyrights of Mr Perdue's 2000 novel Daughter of God. The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the decision, saying Mr Perdue's arguments were "without merit". Two weeks ago, a British court cleared Mr Brown of copying another w**k. On 7 April, the High Court in London ruled that Mr Brown's publisher Random House did not breach the copyright of the 1982 book The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail. Factual differences In the 2005 case, Mr Perdue had alleged that Mr Brown copied the basic premise of his book Daughter of God, including notions of a "divine feminine" and the transition from a female to a male-dominated church under Roman Emperor Constantine. When Mr Brown sought a legal ruling stating his book did not infringe Mr Perdue's copyright, Mr Perdue countersued, seeking to block future distribution of the book and $150m (£84m) in damages. The case never made it to trial after Judge Daniels' decreed no jury could find the works "substantially similar". The appeals court said it agreed with Judge Daniels' conclusion that while both novels tell a story based on religious and historical people, places and events, the factual details in each were quite different. The appeals court's five-page ruling was issued on Thursday. Mr Perdue's lawyer has yet to comment. Meanwhile, Mr Brown is facing a fresh plagiarism claim from Russian art historian Mikhail Anikin. The Da Vinci Code was published in 2003 and has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. The film version, which stars Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou, will open this year's Cannes film festival on 17 May, two days ahead of its worldwide release. Story from BBC NEWS: |
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| Brown plays down Code controversy US author Dan Brown has said it is not up to him to address the controversies surrounding his best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code. In a rare public appearance, he said that people should "let the biblical scholars and historians battle it out". "It's a book about big ideas, you can love them or hate them," he told a sold-out audience of writers in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. "But we're all talking about them, and that's really the point." Sunday's talk, presented by New Hampshire Public Radio and the Music Hall of Portsmouth, was billed as the author's only public appearance before next month's release of the film version of The Da Vinci Code. During the event Brown said he often uses a pair of gravity boots during writing, finding it easier to w**k out difficult plot points while dangling upside down. The audience also learned the former English teacher wants to return to the classroom and that he rarely reads w**k he has completed. If anybody would like to sue me, we have forms out back Dan Brown The Da Vinci Code, however, was an exception. "When the galleys came back, I sat down and I read the novel start to finish in one sitting." Making light of his recent court victory for plagiarism, Brown jokingly invited members of the audience to try their luck themselves. "If anybody would like to sue me, we have forms out back," he said. "Just pick one up on your way out." He also said he was "in no hurry" to write a follow-up to The Da Vinci Code, which his publisher said last week would not now be ready until 2007. "It'll be done when it's done," he said. The Da Vinci Code, which had sold over 40 million copies, centres on a global conspiracy surrounding the Holy Grail mythology. It claims Jesus Christ married Mary Magdalene and had children, a secret bloodline that has been covered up by the Catholic Church. In the UK, the controversy surrounding the novel is addressed in a new exhibition at Winchester Cathedral, where two scenes from the upcoming movie version were filmed. Cracking the Code, says organisers, will offer the opportunity "to make your own mind up on The Da Vinci Code, learn about some of the mistakes in the novel and understand more about the great spiritual mystery at the heart of Christian belief". Professor Michael Wheeler, one of the exhibition's curators, will give a talk on Monday evening discussing how critics and theologians have responded to Brown's novel. The cathedral was reportedly paid £20,000 to appear in the film, released in the UK on 19 May. Story from BBC NEWS: |
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| Judge creates own Da Vinci code The judge who presided over the failed Da Vinci Code plagiarism case at London's High Court hid his own secret code in his written judgement. Seemingly random italicised letters were included in the 71-page judgement given by Mr Justice Peter Smith, which apparently spell out a message. Mr Justice Smith said he would confirm the code if someone broke it. "I can't discuss the judgement, but I don't see why a judgement should not be a matter of fun," he said. Italicised letters in the first few pages spell out "Smithy Code", while the following pages also contain marked out letters. Although he would not be drawn on his code and its meaning, Mr Justice Smith said he would probably confirm it if someone cracked it, which was "not a difficult thing to do". In March, he presided over a High Court case brought by authors Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh, who claimed Dan Brown plagiarised their own historical book for The Da Vinci Code. But Mr Justice Smith ruled Mr Brown did not substantially copy Mr Baigent and Mr Leigh's w**k The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, saying it did not have a central theme in the way its authors suggested. The Da Vinci Code, which has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide, features a number of codes the heroes of the book must crack to solve the mystery. A much-anticipated movie version of the novel, starring Tom Hanks as historian Robert Langdon, is released on 19 May. Story from BBC NEWS: |
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| Judge's own Da Vinci code cracked A code hidden by a judge in his written judgement in the failed Da Vinci Code plagiarism case has been broken. Mr Justice Peter Smith has explained how to crack the code in his 71-page ruling after two newspapers claimed to have solved it. The message read: "Smithy Code Jackie Fisher who are you Dreadnought." The judge admires Admiral Jackie Fisher, who developed battleship HMS Dreadnought, which launched in February 1906, 100 years before the case began. In a statement, Mr Justice Smith said: "The message reveals a significant, but now overlooked event that occurred virtually 100 years to the day of the start of the trial." "I hate crosswords and do not do Sudoku as I do not have the patience," he said. He added that the preparation of the code took 40 minutes, with its insertion in the text taking the same length of time. Mr Justice Smith said a typographical error had been added deliberately to "create further confusion". Ancient sequence The Da Vinci Code, which has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide, features a number of codes the heroes of the book must crack to solve the mystery. Mr Justice Smith had earlier said he intended it as "a matter of fun". His entry in Who's Who lists him as a fan of Fisher, who is credited with modernising the British navy. The judge had told The Guardian and The Times that the code was based on the ancient Fibonacci number sequence, which is used by the heroes in Brown's novel. In March, Mr Justice Smith presided over a High Court case brought by authors Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh, who claimed Dan Brown plagiarised their own historical book, The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail. But Mr Justice Smith ruled Mr Brown did not substantially copy Mr Baigent and Mr Leigh's w**k, saying it did not have a central theme in the way its authors suggested. Story from BBC NEWS: |
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| Hanks reacts to Da Vinci critics Da Vinci Code star Tom Hanks has said the film of Dan Brown's controversial best-seller is just "a good story" that should not be taken too seriously. The actor told London's Evening Standard newspaper the film was loaded with "hooey" and "nonsense". "If you are going to take any sort of movie at face value, particularly a huge-budget motion picture like this, you'd be making a very big mistake." The film has attracted criticism from religious leaders and organisations. The Da Vinci Code receives its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday. 'Scavenger hunt' Leading figures in the Catholic Church have called for a boycott of the film, which they claim is blasphemous and an attack on their faith. Author Brown's book includes a tale that Jesus Christ married Mary Magdalene and had children, a secret bloodline that has been covered up by the Catholic Church. But Hanks, who plays a Harvard professor in Ron Howard's film, said the film was "a lot of fun", likening it to a "scavenger hunt". "We always knew there would be a segment of society that would not want this movie to be shown," he said. But he claimed that it "never hurts" for a film to provoke "dialogue" about religious issues and history. Story from BBC NEWS: |
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| 'Millions' flock to Da Vinci Code The Da Vinci Code movie took $224m (£119m) at box offices around the world at the weekend despite controversy and bad reviews, its distributor has said. That is the second most successful film opening in history, Columbia said. It could not beat Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, which made $253m (£135m) in its first weekend last year. The thriller, based on Dan Brown's novel, also topped the US and Canadian box office, taking $77m (£41m) in its opening weekend. Many critics were disappointed with The Da Vinci Code film, while Catholic groups around the world have protested against its portrayal of the church. The film's North American takings are some way behind the record for a debut weekend, which is held by the $115m (£61m) Spider-Man earned in 2002. Outside the US and Canada, though, The Da Vinci Code will have broken the record for ticket sales if the figures are verified, making $147m (£78m) in three days. The previous best was the $145m (£77m) that fans outside North America spent on Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. The movie, which stars Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou and Sir Ian McKellen, is based around the theory that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and their descendents survive today. But the storyline has offended many, with church figures in places from the Vatican to Moldova denouncing it. In Rome, members of an ultra-Catholic group, Christian Militants, picketed some cinemas, chanting: "Dan Brown remember you will also be judged by Christ". Scuffles broke out as two Italian local councillors burned the book in the main square of the village of Ceccano, 70 km (43 miles) south-east of Rome, on Saturday. On Friday, the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property, took out a full-page newspaper advert calling for prayer vigils outside at least 1,000 cinemas. In India, censors demanded a disclaimer to say the film is "a w**k of pure fiction" - leading the film company to postpone its release indefinitely. China's state-backed Roman Catholic Church is urging its members to boycott the film, while Thai censors want to cut the last 10 minutes because they are "blasphemous". But director Ron Howard has said: "This is supposed to be entertainment. It is not theology. It should not be misunderstood as such." He has also called the poor reviews "frustrating" and "disappointing". The film is a "stodgy, grim thing", industry bible Variety said, while the Hollywood Reporter bemoaned its "stiff, unappealing performances". In the UK, the Guardian newspaper said it was a "two-dimensional thriller which, for an awful lot of the time, neglected to thrill". Story from BBC NEWS: |
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| Da Vinci challengers will appeal Two authors who lost a copyright battle against best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code earlier this year have been given permission to challenge the verdict. The authors' lawyers said the appeal had "a real prospect of success". Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh claimed author Dan Brown had copied ideas from their 1982 book, The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail. No date has been set for the hearing. However, it is expected to take place later this year or in early 2007. The High Court ruled in April that Brown had not copied the other two writers. Both books explore the theory that Jesus and Mary Magdalene had a child and the bloodline survives to this day. Random House - publisher of both The Da Vinci Code and The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail - said it acknowledged the right of Baigent and Leigh to appeal. "We regret, however, that more time and money is being spent trying to establish a case that was so comprehensively defeated in the High Court," a spokesman told Reuters news agency. The Da Vinci Code has sold 40 million-plus copies worldwide, while the other book has sold more than two million. Story from BBC NEWS: |