The Da Vinci Code: Seek the Truth

With the incredible success of Dan Brown's #1 Best Seller "The Da Vinci Code," and its big screen blockbuster cousin starring Oscar winner Tom Hanks, directed by (another Hollywood heavyweight) Ron Howard, one has to wonder: why is the overwhelming success and controversy such a mystery? The success is no mystery. It's a cash cow. Point one: the book was brilliantly written by Brown. It is an imaginative thriller that keeps the reader guessing with twists and turns. So much so, it really is difficult to put down. So a big screen venture was almost assured.

The book itself reads like a script, turning it into a screenwriters dream. Now for the flip side. Hold on to your movie tickets kids, this could get bumpy. Any piece of literature or art with religious significance is bound to stir the fire under the pot. The book and movie are no exception. Even before filming began, the Catholic Church put up strong opposition to this work of fiction.

Of course 'the experts' came out of the woodwork denying the existence of The Opus Dei (a fanatic sect of the Catholic Church - they're the bad guys in the book and film). Although it has come to light that such a group does exist and many of the previous Pope's were members. The church has stood strong insisting that the 'plot' of the film and book hold no true possibility. So much for the heavy stuff. Let's have some fun now.

I remember when I was in school and had to do the dreaded book report. Remember those? Every one of us wished our assigned book was on VHS so we could just watch the movie and not actually read the book or cliff notes. I don't consider this cheating, just creative thinking. Come on, you did it also. I know you did. Not to worry. Since "The Da Vinci Code," isn't available yet on DVD, there are at least a dozen of documentaries on the subject. Not the subject of the movie, but of the possibility of an actual 'CODE,' and the OPUS DEI. What this book and movie have done single-handily has turned the world on its ear and made people actual look at the ingenious work of Da Vinci.

BRAVO! I know people personally who have no interest in art and the classics who have actually bought books and DVD's on Da Vinci and his work. It is safe to say, our imagination has been captured. There are some great releases out there now on DVD that not only highlight the work of Da Vinci but tackle the controversy of the book head on. In a very short summation (spoiler) it boils down to this: according to the 'CODE,' (hidden in Da Vinci's work) there is undisputable evidence that Jesus Christ was married to Mary Magdalene, and they had children. This is the 'secret' that has been kept hidden for centuries. Thus, the documentaries are born. If they had these 'tools' when I was kid - A's all around.