With all of the build-up for the film, I’m almost a little disappointed to hear that the film takes a softer line in attacking the Christian version of history than book did. One good thing about the book is that it leaves no doubt that the author was taking on Christianity head-on. I prefer the good old-fashioned direct attack where you know where you stand with a person. It’s always harder to deal with the wishy-washy who waffle when you try to point out error in their position.

This article points out that…

While it will still offend some Christians, it turns out that the movie version of “The Da Vinci Code” subtly softens some of the religiously disputed aspects of Dan Brown’s novel…. An early clue that the film is trying a different tack from the novel comes when it omits the book’s thesis: “Almost everything our fathers taught us about Christ is false.” The script instead turns that concept into a question: “What if the world discovers the greatest story ever told is a lie?”

The article also mentions that the Langdon character is used to mildly dispute some of Teabing’s claims, which doesn’t happen in the book.

But probably the biggest disappointment for me is that, if you believe the early reviews, it’s only a so-so film. I was one of those that thought that Brown’s story would make an outstanding film. Non-stop action, mystery, intrigue, conspiracy, a treasure hunt–how could that not make for a great movie?!?

Perhaps the most obvious sign that believers have little to fear came at the Cannes Film Festival when the movie reached its emotional and theological climax: People in the audience laughed.

Oh well. People will still see it, and it should give us ample opportunities to turn conversations to the truth of Christianity with people that we otherwise might not.