"Da Vinci Code" opens in Asia despite calls for ban

HONG KONG (AFP) - "The Da Vinci Code" went on general release across much of Asia, despite attempts by some Christian groups and censors to have the controversial film cut or banned. The film's premise -- that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and fathered children whose descendants have survived to this day -- has sparked accusations of blasphemy and a series of legal moves to keep it off the cinema screens. But the hype surrounding the Ron Howard adaptation of Dan Brown's best-selling novel looked set to ensure massive audiences in the region, despite dismal reviews after its
Cannes Film Festival premiere on Wednesday. [More]