I actually have His Dark Materials books, but I've heard so much about Pullman's abrasive anti-Christianity crusade that I've been reluctant to start on the books. Not that I'm that religious myself, but I dislike knowing that the author/director has an agenda to push in advance. If there is an agenda, I'd rather discover it myself on my own.

Well, with The Golden Compass, you'd only need to read about 2 pages before twigging to that particular agenda.

Sony isn't showing advanced screenings of The DaVinci Code: [link]

Well, there goes my only chance of seeing it.

I don't think he's so much anti-Christian as pro-atheist. I don't remember anything in the books that's attacking Christianity in particular. Religion in general, sure.

But I read them for the agenda, so I may not be the best judge.

It felt like the Papacy was being assaulted to me, but my memory is fuzzy.

I liked the books well enough until the stridency accumulated past my breaking point.

Still kept reading, because, well, I'd started, and I only stop when I'm bored.

From IMDB:

'Da Vinci Code' Sparks Indian Riots

Controversial new movie adaptation The Da Vinci Code has prompted religious protests in the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay). Hundreds of Catholic stalwarts yesterday gathered outside a convent school in the city in a bid to stop the film's release next week , blasting it as an attack on their faith. Members of the Catholic Secular Forum (CSF) have taken offence to the movie's depiction of Catholic group Opus Dei as corrupt, out-dated and at the centre of a cover-up of the truth about Jesus Christ. Csf general secretary Joseph Dias says, "Activists will go on a fast unto death if the government fails to take action against anti-Christian movies. You can't make fiction on a religious figure. Tempers are already running quite high and there's no way of saying what could happen if the movie is released." In a statement, the group added: "The Da Vinci Code is offensive as it hit certain basic foundations of the religion." The protest is the second in a week by the CSF after Tuesday saw approximately one hundred demonstrators take to the streets outside a Mumbai church and burn copies of the Dan Brown novel.

Activists will go on a fast unto death if the government fails to take action against anti-Christian movies. You can't make fiction on a religious figure.

My immediate urge to know if anyone's scheduling the Jesus-heavy episodes of South Park to air there pretty much brands me as evil, right?

Also from IMDB:

Tucker Becomes Highest-Paid Actor, Says Report

New Line has agreed to pay Chris Tucker $25 million to appear in Rush Hour 3, making him the highest-paid actor in Hollywood, according to FoxNews.com's Roger Friedman. Friedman commented that the figure is all the more remarkable considering the fact that Tucker has starred in only two other films -- both of them the Rush Hour movies. Friedman observed that Rush Hour 2 holds the record for the highest gross of any comedy and that the total worldwide take for the first two films is about $600 million. Both the previous Rush Hour also star Jackie Chan alongside Tucker.

This is fucking ridiculous, and begs two questions.

1) Who actually went to see either Rush Hour, or Rush Hour 2, for Chris Tucker???

2) Who actually avoided either Rush Hour, or Rush Hour 2 because of Chris Tucker?

The only reason to see either movie is Jackie Chan but since Chan isn't given the chance to properly strut his stuff, it's still not a compelling reason.

I thought Rush Hour was absolutely hysterical, and loved it to bits. I chalk that up to both of the leads.

The sequel was ho hum, which is why I'm surprised he's getting this much for the third. But it's obvious that the general public doesn't agree with me.

However, if they can't make it without him (and I agree they can't), $600m is nothing to sneeze at.