THE DA VINCI CODE - CATHOLIC LEAGUE JOY AT DA VINCI SLAMMING

US civil rights group The Catholic League were thrilled at reports controversial movie adaptation THE DA VINCI CODE failed to wow audiences at its premieres this week (begs15MAY06). The organisation rapidly circulated a press release exclaiming how the eagerly awaited film was described as 'bloated' by the Hollywood Reporter, 'plodding' by Reuters and 'drained (of) all the fun' by Variety. League leader BILL DONAHUE said, "If (director) RON HOWARD is being laughed at by those predisposed to believe the worst about Catholicism, he's an utter failure." The movie, starring TOM HANKS and AUDREY TAUTOU, opened the Cannes Film Festival in France on Wednesday (17MAY06).