Two thumbs up?

The publishing phenomenon of "The Da Vinci Code" has moved from page to screen with much fanfare and some fear. Amid an intense marketing push, church officials have been critical of the film and the first reviews were negative. So the Business Journal asks:

Will the marketing and the controversy over "The Da Vinci Code" make you more or less inclined to see the movie?

Paul Dergarabedian

President

Exhibitor Relations Inc.

I track the box office myself, so to me, I want to find out what everyone is talking about. Even the negative reviews make me want to go watch it. People are going to talk about it for a long time. I want to be able to talk at the water cooler at work! I haven't read the book but I know of it. Perhaps since I haven't read the book I will not be so harsh on the movie. Generally critics do not like such movies very much, but I like to make my own decisions.

Ralph A. Richardson

Director, Public

Relations

Sheppard Mullin Richter

& Hampton LLP 

I'm interested in watching the movie. I make my own decision and it is typically not based on what the Richardson reviews say or any publicity. That's not an issue. I haven't read the book, though. I have heard so many people say they have enjoyed it, which is why I am so interested in watching the movie. I don't have any issues with any of the controversies in the movie.

Jessica del Mundo

Senior Associate

Casey Sayre & Williams Inc.

I actually read the book when it came out and thought it was a great book. I also then read "Angels and Demons" and that was even better. I want to see "The Da Vinci Code" because it is interesting that it has such bad reviews. That makes me want to watch it even more. I want to see what is done so differently in the movie. I am Catholic myself and it doesn't affect my religious beliefs in any way. I'm disappointed with the casting. Tom Hanks just doesn't fit in, but the rest of the casting is really good. If it is a movie I don't want to watch, the reviews can make me change my mind. But if it is a movie I already badly want to watch, bad reviews make me want to watch it even more.

Derek Fromson

Senior Manager

Korn/Ferry International

I have not read the book. I plan to see the movie and that's mostly because I am curious about it. My wife really wants to see it, too. I couldn't say that I am drawn to it because of the controversy. The hype is not really what is attracting people to the movie. It's the stars, Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou. I wish I had read the book but now I figure I can just go watch the movie. I can tell that 99 percent of the time, a movie adaptation of a book is never as good as the book itself. The religious angle doesn't bother me, though.

Victoria Revay

PR Consultant

I want to watch the movie because I really liked the book. The controversy doesn't bother me at all because as far as I am concerned, the book and movie are works of fiction. I would have gone to watch the movie anyway, controversy or not. Besides, I am not very religious.

Ethan Daniel Lindsey

Assistant Producer

American Public Media's Marketplace

The marketing and the controversy makes me want to want to see the film less, but not because it has anything to do with what it's saying about the church or religion at all. Rather, it's because I don't think the book was that scandalous to begin with, so turning it into as a big a controversy as they have seems disingenuous to me. I probably won't go see it.