Angels and Demons, the prequel to the critically panned but commercially successful The Da Vinci Code, does not release until 2009, but it's already living up to the standard set by its predecessor—by generating controversy early on. The Ron Howard-directed film, already in production, has been denied access to a pair of churches in which it hoped to film. According to the Associated Press, the filmmakers were denied by the Roman diocese because it "does not conform to [the Church's] views."

The two churches in question were chosen by producers for their architectural beauty. The diocese made its decision in 2007, but the issue is just now rising to the surface, as filming continues in other parts of Rome.

And yet, according to some, the diocese's decision has nothing to do with the film's assertions about Jesus, which is what generated so much controversy surrounding the first movie. Father Greg Apparcel says it has more to do with the fact that the churches would be used to film two particularly gruesome murder scenes—scenes with which the Church might not desire to be associated.

Reuters follows up on the story by saying that the filmmakers have moved shooting to a nearby, secular building; meanwhile, the Vatican has announced that it will begin working on a set of criteria for determining good, honorable films.

In other movie news:

Entertainment Weekly counts down "the new classics" (EW)
List includes Terminator 2, 40-Year-Old Virgin, Napoleon Dynamite

AFI names ten classic films in ten genres (Coming Soon)
Includes ten best animated films, best westerns, best sci-fi, best epics, and more

Wall*E—silent movie star? (Times Online)
Pixar's latest begins with 30 minutes devoid of dialogue

Stolen Innocence based on memoirs from polygamous cult (Variety)
Escape, starring Katherine Heigl, based on same cult

Jumper sequels in the works (Toronto Sun)
Hayden Christensen says it might be a trilogy

Production designer Stan Winston dies at 62 (LA Times)
Responsible for scenes in Terminator, Edward Scissorhands, more

New Oscar rules leave more flexibility for foreign films (The Envelope)
Best Song category also tweaked

Kermit Scott dies at 71 (Associated Press)
Inspiration for a certain Muppet

© 2008 Christianity Today International. All rights reserved. Click for reprint information.

Read more  'News'

				Try 3 Issues of Christianity Today FREE! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders. If you decide you want to keep Christianity Today coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive nine more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless. Give Christianity Today as a gift Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!

Subscribe to the FREE CT at the Movies Newsletter:    RSS Feed   RSS Help