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Movie Review:
The Da Vinci Code

Director: Ron Howard
Production Company: Columbia Pictures
Cast: Jean Reno, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Alfred Molina, Paul Bettany
Rating: PG-13 for violence and disturbing images

By Gregg Tubbs

(UMC.org)—Unless you just landed on this planet, you’ve probably heard of “The Da Vinci Code” by author Dan Brown. Since it’s the biggest selling novel thus far of the 21st century, odds are good that most people have read it as well. So how does the film adaptation stack up, and more importantly, will it, like the book, super-charge discussion about faith, history, and the basic tenets of Christianity? To tackle the “Code,” we might best approach it by focusing on three F’s—the Film, the Fiction and the Facts. First, we’ll look at the film as a work of cinema. Does it succeed in translating a clever and fast-moving book to the screen? Then we’ll explore those elements that made the story itself a near “must read” for believers and nonbelievers alike. Where does fact collide with fiction? Where has author Brown purposefully blurred that line? And how can Christians approach these volatile subjects as people of faith?

The Film

With a story that has captivated America’s imagination and the powerhouse duo of director Ron Howard (Apollo 13, Cinderella Man) and superstar Tom Hanks (Oscars for Philadelphia and Forest Gump), The Da Vinci Code is as close to a sure bet as Hollywood has seen in a while. The best way to enjoy the film—and it can be enjoyed—is as a piece of pure entertainment. Its fanciful claims about Jesus and Mary Magdalene are potent, but simply fictional plot devices that set the stage for danger, intrigue and excitement. The recent film National Treasure used wildly fictional elements that combined medieval knights, the founding fathers and the Declaration of Independence without causing a Constitutional crisis. Similarly, The Da Vinci Code is no cause for a biblical crisis.
 

 
Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks), an expert in biblical and ancient symbolism, unwillingly becomes embroiled in a dangerous battle between opposing forces who wish to either preserve or unravel the mystery of the real life of Jesus. Copyright © 2006 Columbia Pictures
The film’s basic premise is that humanity has been “conned” by the myth of Jesus’ divinity—a myth created by the Catholic Church to solidify its power. Robert Langdon (Hanks), an expert in biblical and ancient symbolism, unwillingly becomes embroiled in a dangerous battle between opposing forces who wish to either preserve or unravel the mystery of the real life of Jesus. In a byzantine, but fascinating plot, the film pulls together such disparate elements as the Masons, the Knights Templar, Opus Dei and Leonardo Da Vinci, the original Renaissance man, who may or may not have planted clues to the mystery within some of his most famous works.

The story unfolds in a single dizzying day that takes Langdon and Sophie (Audrey Tautou), a French police cryptologist, across France and Europe—with the police and radical Vatican agents in pursuit—in what becomes a modern day search for the Holy Grail. As the mystery unfolds, the shocking truth is revealed that the long hidden secret of the grail is not where it is, but what it is and what that news could mean for the future of the Christian faith.

The film itself, as a work of cinema and more specifically as an adaptation of a gripping page-turner, falls somewhat short of expectations. Not so much good as “good enough,” the film seems weighed down by its own perceived importance. Much of the film, to me, looked as if it was thrown together quickly. The lapses in lighting, staging and editing all gave the impression that, since they were working with such surefire material, the filmmakers simply coasted a bit. However, the film moved at a good pace, and even at two and a half hours, it didn’t feel too long.

A pleasant surprise was the film’s unmistakable sense of reverence for faith and the power of prayer. Langdon himself plays the skeptic to many of the rumored “secrets” about Jesus, often debunking them as false, historically inaccurate and even blatant hoaxes. In this respect, the film seems more even-handed than the book and seems to leave it up to the audience to make their own conclusions. It also clearly promotes faith, over the need for physical proof, as the true basis for Christianity. When Langdon recounts how prayer sustained him when he was trapped in a well as a child, the film finally finds a spiritual center that sustains it to a surprisingly satisfying, and even reverent, end.

Fact and Fiction
 

 
The story unfolds in a single dizzying day that takes Langdon (Tom Hanks) and Sophie (Audrey Tautou) across France and Europe in what becomes a modern day search for the Holy Grail. Copyright © 2006 Columbia Pictures
The Da Vinci Code is not an eminent threat to Christianity, but it is not to be ignored. It is a work of fiction, and as we’ll see, even its claimed historical “facts” are either wide of the mark or completely off base. Dan Brown’s goal was not to create a work of theology, but rather a compelling work of fiction. Building his tale around explosive, myth-busting, revelations about the central figure of western society was pure genius. Mr. Brown is now a very rich man—but a historian, he is not. The story’s key historical suppositions, and the basis for its revisionist history of Jesus and the church, center on the role of the Roman Emperor Constantine and the Council of Nicaea. It is true that in 325 A.D. Constantine called a gathering of Christian Bishops in Nicaea (modern day Turkey) to discuss and clarify key issues for the burgeoning Christian faith. But Brown’s version of the Council and the back room intrigue the deified Jesus and established the books of the New Testament is, like the rest of his story, fiction.

There are many excellent resources available to help you explore these issues, some of which have been linked in the sidebars of this review. These resources and others can help you explore the issues in detail and find answers to the multitude of question raised by the novel, and now the film. But because The Da Vinci Code will be a hot topic right now, here are some quick answers to help you separate fact from fiction regarding the three most controversial claims of the story.

Divinity of Jesus

The film claims that prior to the Council of Nicaea, Jesus was believed to have been wholly human, and that following a “close vote,” the council decided to declare Jesus divine.

The Council did in fact debate the topic of how to balance the godly and human aspects of Jesus, but there was no question as to whether or not Jesus was believed to be divine. There is firm historical evidence that Jesus was worshipped as divine more than 250 years before the Council of Nicaea—most notably in the epistles of Paul in the 50s A.D.

Content of the New Testament

Brown also asserts that the Council of Nicaea decided which books would go in the New Testament and that Emperor Constantine ordered all conflicting texts destroyed.

Simply put, the Council of Nicaea did not decide which books would be included as Scripture. The four Gospels we currently have in our Bibles were well established as the only valid gospels by 170 A.D. However, after the Council, Constantine did commission fifty additional copies of the existing Christian Scriptures to be made for the benefit of new churches. He also issued a call for the burning of all works of Arius, a Bishop in Alexandria, Egypt who preached that Jesus was divine, but was created, not begotten of God—an important distinction that deals not with the divinity of Jesus, but his relationship to the Father.

Jesus and Mary Magdalene

In the film, Mary Magdalene is revealed to be Jesus’ wife, the mother of their daughter, and the intended foundation of the church.

 
As the mystery unfolds, the shocking truth is revealed that the long hidden secret of the grail is not where it is, but what it is. Copyright © 2006 Columbia Pictures
According to most experts, this is a myth originating in the Middle Ages with no historical basis or serious theological following. Some chock it up to medieval romanticism, others to passages in the discredited, so-called “gospels” of the Gnostic sect, some of which are mentioned in the film. Gnosticism was an ancient religious movement that tended to adopt bits and pieces of various religions and adapt them to their own view that the spiritual realm was good and that all matter, including our own physical world, was inherently bad. (To better understand the complex subject of Gnosticism, consult the resource links provided.)

Browns’ assertion that it was unthinkable, due to societal pressure, that a grown man in Jesus’ day would not be married, is untrue, particularly regarding certain priests and holy men. Jesus’ position as both teacher and rabbi clearly places him in this category.

A Teaching Moment

Ultimately, the release of The Da Vinci Code can become a “learning moment” when people of faith can gain a deeper understanding of the history and traditions of the Christian faith. More importantly, the film provides a unique “teaching moment” as well—a chance for Christians to join the inevitable conversations, to help those with questions find answers, and to guide them through what could be a pivotal time in their own spiritual journey. The controversy surrounding The Da Vinci Code provides an opportunity to witness, teach and guide. For that, we can—to a certain extent—be thankful for both the fact and the fiction within The Da Vinci Code.

Study Questions

  • Did you read The Da Vinci Code? What was your initial reaction? Did you discuss it with anyone? Did it have an effect on your faith?
  • Do you feel the film adaptation was faithful to the book? Do you feel the film should have come with a disclaimer, labeling it as a work of fiction, as many have suggested?
  • Do you feel films like The Da Vinci Code are potentially harmful, harmless or possibly helpful in generating discussion?
  • Would you recommend others see this film? Why or why not?
  • Do you believe Christians can have questions about Church history and biblical events, or do you feel Christians should suppress such feelings?
  • Where do you turn when you have questions about Jesus and your faith?
  • The film asserts that the church suppressed the role of Mary Magdalene, and the importance of women in general, in the New Testament. Do you believe this? Do you believe women have a role equal to men in areas of faith and service to Christ?
  • What was your impression of Silas? Did you feel that Christians were portrayed as extremists in the film?
  • If a friend who was a Christian approached you with questions after seeing the film, what would you say? If that friend was not a Christian, how would you answer his or her questions?
  • Langdon seems to assert that faith is more important than evidence. Do you agree? Do you need physical proof of biblical accounts to support your own faith?

Group Activities

The Divinity Code: A key issue in The Da Vinci Code is the assertion that until the third century A.D. Jesus was considered only human and that a decision by church leaders declared him divine. As a group, turn to the Bible (which pre-dates 300 A.D.) and find evidence of Jesus’ divinity. Use a white board or large flip-tablet and divide it into three columns. Label the three columns: (1) Words of Jesus, (2) Miracles of Jesus, and (3) Believers’ Testimony. Provide Bibles and ask your group members to scour the New Testament for evidence of Jesus’ divinity. As you find them, have someone list them under one of those three categories. In particular, look to the epistles that follow the four Gospels for evidence that early believers perceived Jesus to be divine. After the group has finished, discuss the results of the exercise. Did you populate each column? Do you think you made a case for Jesus’ divinity?

Discuss Mary Magdalene: Mary Magdalene becomes a major figure in the world of The Da Vinci Code. As a group, discuss her. She is featured in relatively few Bible passages: Matthew 27:55-57, Matthew 27:60-62, Matthew 28:1-3, Mark 15:39-41, Mark 15:46-48 , Mark 16:1-3, Mark 16:8-10, Luke 8:1-3, Luke 24:9-11, John 19:24-26, John 20:1-3 and John 20:17-19. Read some of these passages, discuss what the Bible says about Mary Magdalene, and compare this to how the film portrays her. What impressions do the members of your group have of her? How has faith tradition portrayed her? Was she a prostitute? A follower of Jesus? Do you feel the church suppressed her story? Why or why not? Why do you feel there is interest in Mary? What makes her an intriguing character?

Create a Code: The first clue in cracking the “code” in the film is the cryptic phrase “So dark the con of man.” Codes and puzzles can be an interesting way to learn and test your knowledge. Jesus even at times obscured the full meaning of his parables, as if to force his listeners to reflect on and discuss his ideas. For this activity, challenge your group to create a puzzle or code. Form pairs or small teams and ask them to create their own riddle, puzzle or code (set a time limit). The answer to the code should relate to a biblical truth about Jesus. Once the time is up, take turns sharing the puzzles and ask the rest of the group to try to guess the correct answer. You could use a simple numeric code, using a letters numeric order as a code for the letter, such as A=1, B=2. For example, in this way, JESUS would be 10-5-19-21-19. Or create a word riddle such as “God’s hand: a jack, a three, a seven and nine, all hearts.” (Answer: John 3:16. “God’s hand,” could refer to God’s actions (literally the “hand of God”). Jack is a nickname for John. Three and seven plus nine represent 3:16. The hearts refer to God’s love.)

Resources
Beyond the Da Vinci Code: Profs Richard Hayes and Bart Ehrman
The Da Vinci Code (Religion and Ethics Newsweekly)
Official Da Vinci Code Movie Site
The Da Vinci Code Dialogue Site

Theatrical Trailer
QuickTime