The Da Vinci Code Takes Box Office by Storm

It is said that it's never a good idea to discuss religion or politics, and in this case, too much discussion of religion led to peaked interest, resulting in moviegoers packing theaters to see what the fuss was all about.

With the second biggest opening in history, "The Da Vinci Code" took the box office by storm, taking in $224 million worldwide this weekend, second only to the opening of "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith." It appears controversy over the storyline only proved to fuel the fire.

"The Da Vinci Code", based on Dan Brown's best selling novel, has been the target of criticism by the Roman Catholic Church, who has urged members to boycott the film. The fictitious storyline proposes that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married and conceived a child, resulting in the bloodline being carried on to the present day.

Director Ron Howard, in respose to the backlash, says simply, "This is supposed to be entertainment. It is not theology. It should not be misunderstood as such."

This is not the first time audiences have seen movies that portray fictitious quests for the Grail. "Monty Python and the Holy Grail", "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade," and "Excalibur" all conveyed similar quests. What is it about "The Da Vinci Code" that makes this particular search for the Holy Grail different?

It is in the questioning. "The Da Vinci Code" leaves moviegoers questioning missing gospels, the current day existence of secret societies, the meaning behind anomalies in the paintings of Leonardo Da Vinci, and the true meaning of the Holy Grail.

Such questions are bound to spark both interest, and controversy.