Unlocking Davinci's Code

If you are a fan of Dan Brown and have read 'The Da Vinci Code' or 'Demons and Angels' then you will cxertainly enjoy this DVD.

This work deals primarily with the items of interest in the Dan Brown Book, the Teamplars, the Free Masons, The Society of Scion and that inevitable search for the 'Holy Grail' There is discussion of the painting of the Last Supper by Da Vinci and also the famous sketch of a man in a circle with outstreched arms explaining the mathematics of the human body so ingeniously discovered by Da Vinci, but, the DVD itslf doesn't deal with Da Vinci's works for more than maybe one quarter of the total film since it's more about the hidden messages and 'codes' rather than the works itself ....

Actually it's an intellectual discussion of the origins of the Bible as well for those of us that have not had the time to take those univerity electives such as Chrsitian Doctrine 101....

Patrick MacNee, an aged 'Mr. Steed', now where can Emma Peel be ... OK ... anyway Patrick MacNee narrates the DVD and as can be expected does a good job ....

I certainly enjoyed the DVD and it made me think and marvel about all those things I don't really know ..... Loved it!

...and I use the term in the broadest sense of the word. Not only is this thing (for I refuse to use the word documentary to describe it anymore)poorly crafted, but also poorly constructed and conceived.

(One star is too good for this debaucle of a film)

Here are the problems:

1.First, the most basic level...this film is not masterfully executed. The re-enactments are completely unrealistic. They are so bad, I couldn't concentrate on the film because I was laughing so hard at the bad wigs ect. In one scene, a 'Templar Knight' in a goofy wig was toying with the fakest sword I ever saw in my life while. Also, I think he forgot to take his watch off. Unless, Templars wore Wal-Mart watches...it's possible, I guess. Wal-Mart is everywhere. Oh and about 4 actors play 20 different characters. That's right, so the guy who plays the pope in one re-enactment scene also plays '3rd Templar from the right' and 'random old man in the background' in different scenes. The result: you can't tell who is who.

Another technical faux pas:

One of the interviews was conducted outside. No problem, right? Wrong. Because in the middle of it, birds begin to squawk and squeal so loudly, you can't hear the interview. Any other film maker would have re-done the interview. But apparently, not this one. Oh no!

2. "Experts"- First of all, I know more about this subject than some of the clowns trying to pass themselves off as experts on this film. And that's not saying much people. One of these faux intellectuals kept getting three different religious orders confused and therefore attributes histories and the like to the wrong groups. Best case scenario: he was a little confused. Worst case scenario: he doesn't know what he's talking about. So, I guess it's just as well that the birds kept talking over this guy. They probably know more about the Templars than he does.

3. There isn't a natural progression of topics in the film. It goes off on tangents without proper subject introduction and therefore doesn't flow well.

4. It provides a very sensationalist view of the topic. Few relevant texts are quoted (and when they are, they are poorly annotated). It relies too heavily on implication and too little on fact , causing a suspicious imbalance in the film's argument.

I recommend this to teachers who wish to show their students an example of how not to make a documentary.

Bottom line people: if you want to unlock the secrets of the Da Vinci Code, I suggest you read books on the subject instead of depending on bad film makers' pseudo intellectual efforts to indoctrinate you. Do some research and make up your own mind. But if you ARE too lazy to read, then I recommend the PBS documentary `From Jesus to Christ' as it employs a much more scholarly approach to exploring similar and related themes.

One star is generous. This "documentary" is intellectual and historical bunk. British accents do not create credibility in a film that has less than a late night infomercial. Don't waste the money. I've already wasted enough time (and I've yet to affix the merchandise return label).

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