Why is it that asking this question can get your face slapped in a bar?

For God's sake, please hurry and get season 3 going.

They say The Da Vinci Code has sold more copies than any book since the Bible. Good thing it has a different ending. Dan Brown's novel is utterly preposterous; Ron Howard's movie is preposterously entertaining. Both contain accusations against the Catholic Church and its order of Opus Dei that would be scandalous if anyone of sound mind could possibly entertain them. I know there are people who believe Brown's fantasies about the Holy Grail, the descendants of Jesus, the Knights Templar, Opus Dei and the true story of Mary Magdalene. This has the advantage of distracting them from the theory that the Pentagon was not hit by an airplane.

Hanks stars as Robert Langdon, a Harvard symbologist in Paris for a lecture when Inspector Fache informs him of the murder of museum curator Jacques Sauniere . This poor man has been shot and will die late at night inside the Louvre; his wounds, although mortal, fortunately leave him time enough to conceal a safe deposit key, strip himself, cover his body with symbols written in his own blood, arrange his body in a pose and within a design by Da Vinci, and write out, also in blood, an encrypted message, a scrambled numerical sequence and a footnote to Sophie Neveu , the pretty French policewoman whom he raised after the death of her parents. Most people are content with a dying word or two; Jacques leaves us with a film treatment.

Having read the novel, we know what happens then. Sophie warns Robert he is in danger from Fache, and they elude capture in the Louvre and set off on a quest that leads them to the vault of a private bank, to the French villa of Sir Leigh Teabing (Ian McKellen), to the Temple Church in London, to an isolated Templar church in the British countryside, to a hidden crypt and then back to the Louvre again. The police, both French and British, are one step behind them all of this time, but Sophie and Robert are facile, inventive and daring. Also, perhaps, they have God on their side.

This series of chases, discoveries and escapes is intercut with another story, involving an albino named Silas (Paul Bettany), who works under the command of the Teacher, a mysterious figure at the center of a conspiracy to conceal the location of the Holy Grail, what it really is, and what that implies. The conspiracy involves members of Opus Dei, a society of Catholics who in real life (I learn from a recent issue of the Spectator) are rather conventionally devout and prayerful. Although the movie describes their practices as "maso-chastity," not all of them are chaste and hardly any practice self-flagellation. In the months ahead, I would advise Opus Dei to carefully scrutinize membership applications.

Opus Dei works within but not with the church, which also harbors a secret cell of cardinals who are in on the conspiracy (the pope and most other Catholics apparently don't have backstage passes).

These men keep a secret that, if known, could destroy the church. That's why they keep it. If I were their adviser, I would point out that by preserving the secret, they preserve the threat to the church, and the wisest strategy would have been to destroy the secret, say, 1,000 years ago.

But one of the fascinations of the Catholic Church is that it is the oldest continuously surviving organization in the world, and that's why movies like "The Da Vinci Code" are more fascinating than thrillers about religions founded, for example, by a science-fiction author in the 1950s. All of the places in "The Da Vinci Code" really exist, though the last time I visited the Temple Church I was disappointed to find it closed for "repairs." A likely story.

http://www.tv.com/apps/pbcs.dll/classifieds?category=search1&SearchType=1&q=Tom%20Hanks&forbidden%25&FromDate=19150101&ToDate=20Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou and Jean Reno do a good job of not overplaying their roles, and Sir Ian McKellen overplays his in just the right way, making Sir Leigh into a fanatic whose study just happens to contain all the materials for an audio-visual presentation that briefs his visitors on the secrets of Da Vinci's "The Last Supper" and other matters. Apparently he keeps in close touch with other initiates. On the one hand, we have a conspiracy that lasts 2,000 years and threatens the very foundations of Christianity, and on the other hand a network of rich dilettantes who resemble a theological branch of the Baker Street Irregulars.

Yes, the plot is absurd, but then most movie plots are absurd. That's what we pay to see. What http://www.tv.com/apps/pbcs.dll/classifieds?category=search1&SearchType=1&q=Ron%20Howard&forbidden%25&FromDate=19150101&ToDate=2Ron Howard brings to the material is tone and style, and an aura of mystery that is undeniable. He begins right at the top; Columbia Pictures logo falls into shadow as Hans Zimmer's music sounds simultaneously liturgical and ominous. The murder scene in the Louvre is creepy in a ritualistic way, and it's clever the way Langdon is able to look at letters, numbers and symbols and mentally rearrange them to yield their secrets. He's like the Flora Cross character in "Bee Season," who used kabbalistic magic to visualize spelling words floating before her in the air.

The movie works; it's involving, intriguing and constantly seems on the edge of startling revelations. After it's over and we're back on the street, we wonder why this crucial secret needed to be protected by the equivalent of a brain-twister puzzle crossed with a scavenger hunt. The trail that Robert and Sophie follow is so difficult and convoluted that it seems impossible that anyone, including them, could ever follow it. The secret needs to be protected up to a point; beyond that it is absolutely lost, and the whole point of protecting it is beside the point. Here's another question: Considering where the trail begins, isn't it sort of curious where it leads? Still, as T.S. Eliot wrote, "In my beginning is my end." Maybe he was on to something.

Let us begin, then, by agreeing that The Da Vinci Code is a work of fiction. And that since everyone has read the novel, I need only give away one secret -- that the movie follows the book religiously. While the book is a potboiler written with little grace and style, it does supply an intriguing plot. Luckily, Ron Howard is a better filmmaker than Dan Brown is a novelist; he follows Brown's formula (exotic location, startling revelation, desperate chase scene, repeat as needed) and elevates it into a superior entertainment, with hanks as a theo-intellectual Indiana Jones.

The Simpsons and King Renewed
Source: Fox March 20, 2006

Fox Broadcasting Company has ordered two additional seasons of The Simpsons and one additional season of King of the Hill. This will take The Simpsons, created by executive producer Matt Groening, through 19 seasons in 2007-2008. Mike Judge's King of the Hill is picked up for its 11th season.

Having debuted on Jan. 14, 1990, The Simpsons reigns as the longest-running animated series in history and the longest-running primetime series currently on television. The Simpsons is a cultural institution and will celebrate a milestone 400 episodes in May 2007. Now in its 17th season, The Simpsons has been critically praised and bestowed with numerous honors, including a Peabody Award and 21 Emmy Awards. The Simpsons currently holds the Guinness Book of World Records titles for Longest-Running Primetime Animated Television Series and Most Guest Stars Featured in a Television Series. Recognized as a pop culture icon, Homer Simpson's annoyed grunt – "D'oh!" – is an official word in the Oxford English Dictionary, and The Simpsons has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The Simpsons and King of the Hill are the two longest-running comedies currently on primetime television. The 200th milestone episode of King of the Hill will air this May on FOX.

King of the Hill also has received numerous accolades, including an Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program in 1999, a Nancy Susan Reynolds Award in 1997, a Women's Image Network Award in 2004 and Environmental Media Awards in 2001 and 2003. King of the Hill has garnered numerous nominations for Annie Awards, Prism Awards and Shine Awards and was hailed as the Best Television Show of the Year after its debut by TV Guide, Entertainment Weekly and Time Magazine. The series is currently translated into numerous languages, including Spanish, French and Portuguese, and is licensed in almost 50 countries around the world.

The Simpsons is a Gracie Films Production in association with 20th Century Fox Television. James L. Brooks, Matt Groening and Al Jean are the executive producers. Film Roman is the animation house.

Mike Judge and Greg Daniels are co-creators/executive producers and Michael Rotenberg, Howard Klein, John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky are executive producers for King of the Hill, which is a 20th Century Fox Television Production in association with Deedle-Dee Productions, Film Roman, Inc., Judgemental Films and 3 Arts Entertainment.

New role for Doctor Who who became prisoner of own successBy Adam Sherwin, Media Correspondent
HE REVIVED Doctor Who, but now Christopher Eccleston is set to take on another television hero with the starring role in a remake of The Prisoner.

The 1967 series, starring Patrick McGoohan as a former secret agent who was kidnapped and imprisoned in a mystery village, baffled millions of viewers around the world .

The new version, made by Granada for Sky One, will incorporate the paranoia, conspiracy theories and hi-tech action sequences of modern-day spy dramas 24 and Spooks.

Lost, another offbeat hit series which has kept viewers hooked despite offering up few of its secrets, was influenced by The Prisoner.

Eccleston, who quit Doctor Who after last year’s hit revival, told the producers that it had long been his ambition to play Number Six, whose escape attempts are constantly thwarted by sinister forces.

Hollywood stars have also pitched for the role but discussions with Eccleston are at an advanced stage, according to production sources.

However, the Welsh tourist “village” of Portmeirion, where the original ATV show was filmed, will be replaced by a more exotic foreign location, probably outraging fans of the original.

While The Prisoner will compete against the third season of Doctor Who in a spring ratings battle next year, BBC One is reviving another action hero — Robin Hood will join the Saturday night line-up this autumn.

Damien Timmer, executive producer of The Prisoner, said: “The series is like Pandora’s box; it’s the ultimate conspiracy thriller. Like 24, the new series will entrap you from the opening scene.”

Granada hopes the series will tap into the show’s cult following, while also appealing to younger viewers. It is expected to appear before a long-mooted Hollywood film remake, and Granada is expecting to sell the show internationally.

McGoohan won a global fan base for the 17-episode series, which made regular use of his catchphrase: “I am not a number; I’m a free man.”

His nameless character — Number Six — was abducted after resigning from a top secret government position and relocated to a sinister village where nothing was as it seemed. However, Granada is promising a “radical reinvention” and a plot that will make sense to viewers who watch the six-episode series.

McGoohan wrote and directed some episodes. Other actors and actresses who featured in the original series included Leo McKern, Paul Eddington, Peter Bowles, Eric Portman, Patrick Cargill, George Baker, Mary Morris, Rosalie Crutchley and Donald Sinden.

It has its own fan club, the Six of One, formed in 1977.

It boasts more than 1,000 members and holds regular get-togethers at Portmeirion, the Italianate village in North Wales built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis 80 years ago. It is now a hotel complex.

As well as the distinctive architecture, The Prisoner featured Mini-Mokes, pennyfarthings and a massive balloons that would appear from the sea to smother anyone attempting to escape.

The series was shown in more than 60 countries.

I don't know how to link stuff, this is a really good review somebody posted.Silent Hill - The Movie

A friend just posted this....

SPOLIERS up the butt.

It was worth the wait.

The Story. Although it didn’t follow the first game scene by scene, I didn’t care at all. If I wanted to see everything again I would play the first game again. The small changes, such as Sharon not getting killed by the demon children at the start, and the entire cult segment was all nice to see different. It seemed to toss in a lot of parts from the 3rd game. I also saw parts from the 2nd game. Aside from the obvious, Pyramid Head, they had the apartment part where they jump over an alley in to another building, straight out of the 2nd game.

The Monsters. Holy crap. The monster/costume design was brilliant. Example; the Nurses. They faithfully recreated all the characters and monsters so well. Pyramid Head, we all know, was freakin’ sweet. The Nurses, OMG, they were great. They even got the cleavage down. Then there was Colin, the Janitor. He was the only original monster that doesn’t appear in the game but you can hardly notice this. He fits in so well and he even gets his own story. Didn’t you just love the evil face on that beetle when it fell on it’s back? I was very pleased with this. BUT WHERE WAS THE GIANT MOTH!?!

The Music. More then half it was taken straight from the 1st and 3rd game. No complaints here!

The Acting. Hm, probably the movies weakest point, at least for me. The main roles were great but some of the lesser characters were a bit cheesy and lifeless, but then again, that’s why they don’t get main roles. Also, some of the dialogue was just awkward to listen to. Kudy pretty much hit up what I thought as well. Then again, Ganes is French, so I’ll forgive him.

The Special Effects. Bravo, bravo. Not sure what the budget was for this film (if anyone knows, please share) but it was really well done. Right from the start, when Sharon looks in to the water and it melts in to that image of Hell, I was amazed. The monsters, like I stated before, look great.

The Ending. So it confused some people, huh? Some people didn’t like it, huh? Did it hurt your little head, baby? Geez, don’t hate it just because it didn’t end with a friggin’ marriage or super long hug and kiss. Here’s my take on it:

Silent Hill has three plains of existence. You could argue there are only two and the third is more of an allusion then anything. Here they are; one plain is the lifeless, foggy world that the town stays dormant in. You see this mostly in the movie. Another plain is the dark world. You know, walls bleeding, chain link fences and demons running around. The other, perhaps an allusion, is the peaceful, beautiful side of Silent Hill. Does it even exist? I’m not sure but in the 2nd game, the main character’s wife mentions it. Maybe this is the plain that existed before Silent Hill really became “Silent Hill”.

Anyway, two plains, three plains, it doesn’t matter. The ending basically means that Rose and Sharon are still in, perhaps stuck, in the foggy plain. Notice how foggy their house is when they finally arrive home and when it switches back to Chris it’s normal and bright? He’s still in the peaceful, normal plain. Something happened when Rose and Sharon entered Silent Hill because they can’t see Chris but they can at the beginning of the movie. That’s my take. Believe it or not, your choice.

The Verdict. Ok, so basically it was the best video game adaptation ever and for me, one of the best horror movies that I’ve seen in the theaters. A 4.5 / 5 is most deserving of this. I will be seeing it a few more times in the theater and I can’t even imagine what’ll happen when it comes out on DVD.