The Da Vinci Code is an excellent movie that has a riveting plot with a murder mystery that will keep the viewer on the edge of his/her seat. It is adventurous and thrilling while being entertaining. The movie and book The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown has been controversial from its release in 2006 and publication because of the story line that suggest that Jesus was married and he fathered a child. Trouble is coming from Christian groups in several countries, who are angry with the film's mix of fact and fiction involving Jesus Christ and Roman Catholicism.
It also implies that the female played a much larger role in the ministry and in the role of God, but this information was banned by the Catholic Church so that male domination could remain in the church. The focus here will be on the movie. All in all it is a murder mystery/modern day quest for the Holy Grail. Even though many felt the movie was blasphemous, many more felt differently. The opening weekend of the film, it grossed 224 million dollars. The reason that people went to see the movie was because the book had such a good storyline and people were tired of being told that it a fictional story is controversial, then it is wrong.
Fiction is a storyline that is totally made up, and that is what Dan Brown and screen writer, Akiva Goldsman did. That did not mean that these ideas have not been around for thousands of years. There have always been those who thought that the church was wrong on some of its views. These people often times do not totally reject God or Jesus, they just refuse to accept everything that they are told by the church simply because the church says so. They also realized the film for what is was and that is fiction. One of the reasons that the film is immensely popular is because of the setting.
Western Europe serves as the backdrop for this murder mystery. On the other hand, the film has an exciting visual texture that gives body to Brown's bestseller-ese prose, and uniformly strong performances that give dimension, depth and interest to characters that the author never entirely brought to life. (Arnold) The film opens in the Louvre in Paris, France. From the Grand Gallery to the behind the scenes of the museum, the shots of the exquisite art work transport one to the viewing area of some of the most famous works that are on view today.
The French and English countryside that also plays host to the setting and allows the viewers to feel as if they have taken a trip to the area. The shots of the architecture is breathtaking, especially those of the magnificent cathedrals. The interior shots are like what one would see on a tour. If one has never been to Europe, he/she could get the feel for what the visit would be like, and for one that has traveled frequently to the area, will find it true to life. The movie is also filled with intriguing characters while the actors chosen to play them are quite accurate.
The protagonist is Robert Langdon, played by Tom Hanks. He is a Harvard professor who specializes in decrypting symbols. He is called to Paris to help decode the cryptic message left by a murdered curator at the museum. Once he gets there, he is drawn into a plot that will demand that he risk his life to unveil the truth about the church and the murder. Hanks plays the role very well. His age, and demeanor allows one to believe that he is a prominent professor and author. It was not given to a young Hollywood actor who was a sex symbol and could not act.
Hanks has proven himself over the years as an accomplished actor who could play everything from comedy to the most serious roles. Therefore he was an excellent choice to play the part. French native Audrey Tautou was chosen to play the part of the Sophie Neveu, the co protagonist of the film. She plays the detective who just happens to be the granddaughter of the murdered curator. In the end she finds out that she is a direct descendant of Jesus. The choice of Tautou to play Sophie was a wise choice. There is something about her character that one could see where she could actually be a part of someone as important as Jesus.
The film also has many other top rated actors to play the fascinating characters of the story such as Ian McKellen, Jean Reno, and Paul Bettany. Alfred Molina, an actor who never fails to give a stunning performance in any roll that he plays, is the perfect choice to fill the roll of Bishop Manuel Aringarosa, the head of a Catholic sect, Opus Dei. Bishop Aringarosa (Alfred Molina) embodies of the King Herod character, although he is merely a placeholder for the hierarchy of the Catholic Church, including the Pope. (Lanzana)
Adding Opus Dei to the story added intrigue to the plot. It is a small, but faithful sect that remains a mystery to the rest of the world and that is one reason that the movie was clever. Those who will never see the inside working of the group gets a tiny glimpse into their world. It also added the many details of the secret society of the Priory of Sion. This elusive group has fascinated the minds of many throughout the ages. Of course the how they are woven into the storyline is fiction, but the groups were upset because of the way that they were portrayed in the movie.
Many people have been depicted in the media in a less than flattering way, but it is just a movie. It is art and anyone who views it should see it as they would any fictional story. The Da Vinci Code was a good movie that brought some much needed art and cultural history into the lives of people who are living in a society that usually does not allow time for such things. It was also an entertaining movie that stretched the mind while being diverted from everyday life. While it is not destined to be a film classic, it is still worth seing.
