Saturday, May 20, 2006
Reactions to the movie itself were lukewarm.
By SARAH WEBER
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Despite heated national debates about the silver-screen release of "The Da Vinci Code," the film's noon opening Friday at Tinseltown USA here caused little uproar.
A group of about 10 religious protesters gathered outside the theater about 11:30 a.m. to sing hymns and pray.
Regina Yurick of Struthers, a member of America Needs Fatima, an organization that encourages anti-blasphemy demonstrations, put together the protest.
"We're praying for the enlightenment of the people," Yurick said. "We're praying for their conversion."
Yurick said the group hoped to make the moviegoers "stop and think"; however, few people walking into the theater saw the protest, which was on the lawn of Escaro Chiropractic Center behind Tinseltown. Protests were not permitted on theater property.
Lukewarm reactions
The audience's reaction to the film, like its reviews, seemed to be mediocre.
Shawn McCoy, 21, of Columbiana said he was unimpressed by the movie in comparison with the book. He also said that he attends a Catholic school and that reading "The Da Vinci Code" has not changed his faith.
"I think faith doesn't require facts or academic proof," McCoy said.
Laurie Blasko, 49, of Hubbard said she enjoyed the movie. She said that despite the protest outside, "people should make their own decision."
"You still have your beliefs," Blasko said. "It's just fiction."
Though few of the people who saw the movie said they would be influenced by it, not everyone agrees the film and book can be shrugged off as purely entertainment.
Rahmanh Shaw, 31, of Youngstown said, "The average person will be affected by this movie. The information is so powerful."
Yurick agreed.
"I believe it's the work of the devil in his last hope to get people to go to hell. This is one of his means," she said.