The Da Vinci Code Movie - Fact or Fiction?

[Zephik]

Okay, so we have all seen the movie "The Da Vinci Code". Which I just happen to be watching as we speak. Now, I never take movies as "non-fiction". Always as "fiction". But as a good movie does, they take facts and smear them with hollywood propaganda. So there you have my question. Simple as it may seam, but most likely consisting of a difficult answer.

What is Fact and What is Fiction? I'll start you off with an area to review since I'm sure you wouldn't know where to begin. Unless of course there is something that you know that is true or not true with this particular movie that comes straight to mind.

This is probably one of the more popular scenes of the movie, it is the scene of which Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu arrive at Sir Leigh Teabing's mansion (I forget what he calls it) and they start to discuss, or rather, "enlighten" Sophie with "the truth" in ?Da Vinci's? painting of "The Last Supper". I'm calling elaborate fabrication on hollywoods part, but I've been wrong before.

Any other area's that you can think of as to review as "Fact or Fiction" are welcome and urged on my part as I can't remember every single scene that made me think, "oh I wonder if that was true or not?".

Thanks guys! I know a few of you are pretty damn smart and knowledgeful so I thought that this would be the perfect place to ask such a question(s).

[simon275]

I think the book is a better basis to discuss the Dav Vinci Code from not the movie. The Da Vinci code is based on a grey area that is not fiction nor fact its basis depends on if you believe in Christianity. The Da Vinci code is really just a story using a whole lot of references from Christianity and historical facts.

That is how I take.

I normally keep out of these debates as they usually ends in tears, flamings and bannings but I was compelled to comment.

(Congrats on 1k posts snow)

[Zephik]

I think the book is a better basis to discuss the Dav Vinci Code from not the movie. The Da Vinci code is based on a grey area that is not fiction nor fact its basis depends on if you believe in Christianity. The Da Vinci code is really just a story using a whole lot of references from Christianity and historical facts.

That I how I take. People who believe it as truth are misguided.

I agree, But I have not read the book in a long freaking time. So I don't remember whats different in the book and whats been screwed with in the movie. Also, I am pretty darn good at keeping people calm and cool. So this won't be prone to flaming or anything such as that. If that does happen, this thread will be locked by me right away. No second chances at all, even if the mods erase the message. It ticks me off that people can't keep their mouths shut sometimes. But anyways, if anyone is still interested, then on with the discussion! :)

Oh and thank you Simon! I'm surprised that I did not reach this post count sooner. ;)

GOING OFF TOPIC, Please pay no attention to this and just think to yourself so we do not get off topic with the discussion. But I thought I would mention it because I find it amusing.

Continuity: When Teabing is pointing his gun at Sophie and he wants her to open the cryptex, we see a close up of Robert Langdon who says "one moment". He has his left hand raised. In the next shot, when we see Langdon and Teabing, Langdon's hands are down.

Crew or equipment visible: In the final sequence of the movie, when Langdon is on the top of Louvre's inverted glass pyramid, the traveling movement of the camera operator and his assistant are seen by the glass reflection.

Continuity: When Langdon and Neveu are on their knees at gunpoint, the position of the cryptex changes while on the floor in front of them.

You can continue to read more "goofs" HERE (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382625/goofs).

[simon275]

Interesting errors

Factual errors: Alexander Pope never delivered a eulogy or did anything for Sir Isaac Newton's funereal. He did at one point write a poem about him.

Factual errors: The Dome of the Rock is clearly visible in the background as Mary Magdalene is leaving Jerusalem. The Dome of the Rock was built in the 7th century AD, hundreds of years after she would have left Jerusalem.

Factual errors: Papyrus is actually a very sturdy material and does not dissolve in vinegar, even if soaked in it for a long time, so Langdon or Sophie would be able to force the cryptex open and the retrieve the message inside, without harming the papyrus scroll.

[Ironcat]

I am a Christian. I am a born again, holy roller, believe the whole bible is truth, Jesus was God and the son of God at the same time, the whole bit...
I enjoyed this book ... as a fictional novel... but that's all it was...
Fiction, fiction, fiction, fiction, fiction which Dan Brown claims is based on historical fact but a whole bunch of his "facts" are fiction anyway.

** This was taken directly from Dan Brown's website.
HOW MUCH OF THIS NOVEL IS TRUE?
The Da Vinci Code is a novel and therefore a work of fiction. While the book's characters and their actions are obviously not real, the artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals depicted in this novel all exist (for example, Leonardo Da Vinci's paintings, the Gnostic Gospels, Hieros Gamos, etc.). These real elements are interpreted and debated by fictional characters. While it is my belief that some of the theories discussed by these characters may have merit, each individual reader must explore these characters' viewpoints and come to his or her own interpretations. My hope in writing this novel was that the story would serve as a catalyst and a springboard for people to discuss the important topics of faith, religion, and history.

BUT DOESN'T THE NOVEL'S "FACT" PAGE CLAIM THAT EVERY SINGLE WORD IN THIS NOVEL IS HISTORICAL FACT?
If you read the "FACT" page, you will see it clearly states that the documents, rituals, organization, artwork, and architecture in the novel all exist. The "FACT" page makes no statement whatsoever about any of the ancient theories discussed by fictional characters. Interpreting those ideas is left to the reader.

** These are just to point out a couple of errors for you guys.

http://www.crisismagazine.com/september2003/feature1.htm

http://www.ewtn.com/library/ISSUES/ztrutdav.htm

http://www.contenderministries.org/discrepancies/davincicode.php

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=50116

My wife has actually seen Dan Brown at a book signing once, and although she is in no way, shape, or form a fan of organized religion, she says this guy definitely has some agenda against the Catholic church. She even said that when he was discussing anything about his book he would just talk, like anybody on the street would talk to you, but when he had something to say against the church his eyes would light up the way mine do when I am talking about SCUBA diving.

[DaveW]

this guy definitely has some agenda against the Catholic church.

I think a lot of people fail to realise the difference between "Anti-religious" and someone who is against the church (as an institution).

I would say Dan Brown is the latter, contrary to what most people say about him. Oh, and if you havn't read the book, and seen the movie, please read the book. It's pretty hyped, but it's a decent read. The film butchered the book horribly. It was a half-assed cash in.

-Dave

[silverdemon]

one thing that is presented as fact is the priory of Sion, the brotherhood in which da vinci and newton also participated.
But the secret scrolls that are the basis of this 'fact' are in fact not authentic! They have been made up by some man (or two) who thought it would be nice and also wrote a book about it (I think it was in the 70s or something). Now I don't remember the name(s) of those people who wrote those scrolls, but I'm pretty sure that when you google it you'll find something...

So my conclusion is that everything in the book, or at least the main story-line is fiction. Though it is a very nice story.

[Luke122]

I agree that it's a good story, but disagree that much of it is factual. I'd like to beleive that it is...

[SgtM]

I haven't read the book or seen the movie. BUT the movie looks good to me from an entertainment standpoint only.

[CanaBalistic]

** This was taken directly from Dan Brown's website.
HOW MUCH OF THIS NOVEL IS TRUE?
The Da Vinci Code is a novel and therefore a work of fiction. While the book's characters and their actions are obviously not real, the artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals depicted in this novel all exist (for example, Leonardo Da Vinci's paintings, the Gnostic Gospels, Hieros Gamos, etc.). These real elements are interpreted and debated by fictional characters. While it is my belief that some of the theories discussed by these characters may have merit, each individual reader must explore these characters' viewpoints and come to his or her own interpretations. My hope in writing this novel was that the story would serve as a catalyst and a springboard for people to discuss the important topics of faith, religion, and history.

BUT DOESN'T THE NOVEL'S "FACT" PAGE CLAIM THAT EVERY SINGLE WORD IN THIS NOVEL IS HISTORICAL FACT?
If you read the "FACT" page, you will see it clearly states that the documents, rituals, organization, artwork, and architecture in the novel all exist. The "FACT" page makes no statement whatsoever about any of the ancient theories discussed by fictional characters. Interpreting those ideas is left to the reader.



Stole the words right out of my mouth. :)

Allthough, there is another theroy as to the holy grail. It is said to be a golden box which kills everyone who looks at it. I think you'll want to take that with a grain of salt as i seen it on the discovery channel a while back.

[DaveW]

It is said to be a golden box which kills everyone who looks at it.

So how do you know it's golden? It could really be pink. Or maybe gingham.

-Dave

[Zephik]

What do you guys think about the possibility of Jesus having a wife?


So how do you know it's golden? It could really be pink. Or maybe gingham.

-Dave

I think its made of Kryptonite.

Actually I saw that episode on the discovery channel too. It has caretakers who I guess are immune to its death ray. But they showed a picture of it being made of gold. Gold means worship, ask donald trump.

[blue73]

Good book, typical hollywood cash in.


Stole the words right out of my mouth. :)

Allthough, there is another theroy as to the holy grail. It is said to be a golden box which kills everyone who looks at it. I think you'll want to take that with a grain of salt as i seen it on the discovery channel a while back.

I thought that was The Ark Of The Covenant that killed everyone that looked into it..:think: ..Or was that Pandoras Box..

[Zephik]

I thought that was The Ark Of The Covenant that killed everyone that looked into it..:think: ..Or was that Pandoras Box..

The answer is yes. It's both actually. It's whatever the monks could think up so that they would have a safe place to hide their 17th century pronography novels.

I'm almost certain that it is the "Ark of the Covenant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ark_of_the_Covenant)".

[silverdemon]

What do you guys think about the possibility of Jesus having a wife?

I think that could be true. In the time jezus lived it would actually be very odd for a man to not have a wife... So I think he might have had one, who it was will always remain a secret (I think)...

[blue73]

The answer is yes. It's both actually. It's whatever the monks could think up so that they would have a safe place to hide their 17th century pronography novels.

I'm almost certain that it is the "Ark of the Covenant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ark_of_the_Covenant)".

Now thats a movie I'd love to see. It's got Monty Python written all over it. Years of searching for the existence of our lord only to find its a box with nuddy books in it..Brilliant. lol

[blue73]

As for Jesus havin a Wife. I don't see why not. I think the only reason the Church would want to deny it is that it goes against, almost, everything they stood for. Though sayin that the Christian Church certainly appears to be trying to catch up with the rest of society. No offence BTW to anyone who is Religious. I think that society's notion of community is moving at a greater rate than the teachings of any Religion would normally allow. Not a bad thing in general. But it does cause problems. Like I said before no offence intended.:up:

[jaxspades]

If Christ had a wife, then he would have most likely have had children--likely sons.
Christ is God, and the only time the Bible references to sons or daughters of God, it means believers, not his actually children with a woman. The other times the Bible references to Son of God, it means Christ...I just don't see any reason He would marry--it would just get in the way of his mission, and possibly cause many problems down the road with Half-God children or whatever.

The Box that killed all who looked into it is the Ark of the Covenant--we know it is Gold, because the bible tells us very detailed instructions as to its dimensions, what was put in it, what it looked like, etc...

I think that the book is fiction, based on the Templar knights thing Dan Brown put in there. I know a professor who holds a doctorate in History and his Dissertation was on the Templars. In fact his dissertation is about a 300 page book on the Templars, Tuetonic Knights, and the Hospitalers. He said that in all his research, he has never even heard of the Priory of Sion, an organization supposedly started by the Templars. He also said that they never found any documents underneath the Temple's foundation, nor in it--for Solomon's Temple was destroyed by Rome in 70 AD, and was never rebuilt.

I took the book with a grain of salt because, the entire thing was based on legend and hearsay--from what I understand there haven't been any texts that have any of the 'facts' he describes in his book.

Now--Da Vinci's "The Last Supper"--I could see Da Vinci pulling pranks on the Catholic church and painting women in there, and many other things, because he despised the Catholic Church--the only reason he ever even painted for them was because they paid well.

[blue73]

If Christ had a wife, then he would have most likely have had children--likely sons.
Christ is God, and the only time the Bible references to sons or daughters of God, it means believers, not his actually children with a woman. The other times the Bible references to Son of God, it means Christ...I just don't see any reason He would marry--it would just get in the way of his mission, and possibly cause many problems down the road with Half-God children or whatever.

The Box that killed all who looked into it is the Ark of the Covenant--we know it is Gold, because the bible tells us very detailed instructions as to its dimensions, what was put in it, what it looked like, etc...

I think that the book is fiction, based on the Templar knights thing Dan Brown put in there. I know a professor who holds a doctorate in History and his Dissertation was on the Templars. In fact his dissertation is about a 300 page book on the Templars, Tuetonic Knights, and the Hospitalers. He said that in all his research, he has never even heard of the Priory of Sion, an organization supposedly started by the Templars. He also said that they never found any documents underneath the Temple's foundation, nor in it--for Solomon's Temple was destroyed by Rome in 70 AD, and was never rebuilt.

I took the book with a grain of salt because, the entire thing was based on legend and hearsay--from what I understand there haven't been any texts that have any of the 'facts' he describes in his book.

Now--Da Vinci's "The Last Supper"--I could see Da Vinci pulling pranks on the Catholic church and painting women in there, and many other things, because he despised the Catholic Church--the only reason he ever even painted for them was because they paid well.

And thats another major issue many people have with "the church". Money. It might all have been nothing other than a fantastic story in order to pull in the punters. The one big thing history or literature will always do is keep us asking questions.:think:

[jaxspades]

Greed is a problem with the church at times. It's unfortunate to see Christians fall into temptation and choose anything over God.

Now--Money isn't evil. In fact, God blesses the church with money so it can do things like translate the Bible, take care of Pastors and teachers, evangelists and apostles, and do mission work and build churches.

What is evil is when Pastors or teachers or priests LOVE money more than God--that's when things go wrong. Money isn't the problem. Greed is.

Also--one thing I've noticed is how sometimes people believe we Christians are perfect, or think we are--quite the contrary--I'm sinful as anyone else, and I know I mess up big time. It's stinks when people say, "Oh, look how the Christians have fallen, I thought they were supposed to be the good ones."

God died for everyone's sins...even Christians sin and fall into things like greed. It's sad that they do so--Christians should love God, and therefore try to do well and please him--not to get anything for it, but as thanks--yet, we still fall short. It's just human nature, sadly.

But I know what you mean--it is sad when a church or its parishioners give in to the temptations of greed.

[blue73]

Hey jax,
I don't believe any of us are perfect. Far from it. We only learn by being taught ,or in some cases told what is right and wrong or bye the mistakes we make Crikey if we were perfect, bye we I mean the human race, I'm not a Christian I'm athiest, we wouldn't be talking about the issues of Religion or it's adaptation or influence in the media. Not that I'm against Religion, not at all. But it's misuse. And the way it can be abused. As for story telling or movie making....It should'nt be taken so literally. But the story of Christ is supposed to be " The Greatest Story Ever Told ". Read into that what You will.

[Zephik]

What about the part where they talk about the church going out and killing women. Is any of that true?

[blue73]

What about the part where they talk about the church going out and killing women. Is any of that true?

I guess it happened. I wasn't there but it happens today aswell. As does all manner of things in the name of one God or another. Thats a major part of why I want nothing to do with Religion. There are just as many maniacs out there as there are good people and it's a shame that most of the maniacs use religion as a form of influence rather than just being maniacs..

[jdbnsn]

I missed this thread somehow, and have read extensively on many issues raised in Dan brown's story. To jump back to the initial question "how much is fact", the answer is quite a bit. However, many of the facts have been used out of context to weave the story. The funny thing to me is, Dan Brown who was sued by the partners of Henry Lincoln (who admittedly ripped most of the story off himself to write Holy Blood, Holy Grail in the 70's) left out some of the most interesting mysteries in the whole story. Read up on Chateau Le Rennes in france, the museum currator who was killed at the beginning was named Saunière which is a real name (the real Saunière was a monk), the founder of Le Rennes. And his story blows Browns fictional version away in the mystery department. Rosalyn Chapel is a scale model of Solomon's temple, which is also the same dimensions used to build every masonic great hall in the world. As for The Last Supper, DaVinci himself was a compositional genius, his ideas still surpass our ability to explain them. His ability to use shapes, repeated dimensions, and geometry were beyond any of his contemporaries. But was The Last Supper significant to the history the novel was based on, extremely unlikely. He didn't even want to paint it, he was more eager to design weapons for Milan's militia at the time.