What is 'The Da Vinci Code' about?

DEATH eVADER

DEATH eVADER

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At the moment I'm reading 'Angels and Demons' by the same person as 'The Da Vinci Code'. Reading the story, it sounds like its set at least 12 years from now.

The deceiced Pope in the book has seen 12 years of service as Pope, unlike John Paul who has seen service as Pope for nearly 27 years

The book seems to be a mix of Sci-Fi/Religous/Mystery

Now I'm wondering, is 'The Da Vinci Code' similar in that respects?
Whats the basic Storyline in TDVC?
And do you know when the book to movie conversion will be?
 
Book to movie conversion will take a while (2006?), but apparently Tom Hanks will be in it.

TDVC basic storyline : a curator from the Louvre shows up dead which leads into a massive Templar related conspiracy.
Namely a splinter faction from the Templars, the Priory of Zion, which is encharge of protecting the descendants of Madalene, which the books claims to be the wife of Christ.... etc.. etc... Opus Dei is involved.

Never read Angels & Demons so can't guide you trough similarities, but I think like A&D's it has a lot of in the middle of bullshit (read, "artisitic liberties involving exotic conspiracy theories") interesting facts, making it a little hard to figure out which are the facts and what is the fiction..
 
Essentially a museum curator is the last member of a secret society who are keeping some huge secret. An assassin is sent to kill him so the secret never gets out, so since the curator's the last member, he has to leave clues that lead to the secret that only his granddaughter (Sophie Neveu) and Robert Langdon can figure out.

The story follows Langdon and Neveu solving all the different clues/riddles until they get to the end.

I thought The Da Vinci Code was meant to be set in present times.
 
The only similarity that I can think of is Robert Langdon, who is the main character in both is he not?

Story

It is believed the Illuminati has killed a scientist at CERN so they can gain access to the first truely created Antimatter, which they are planning on using to destroy their acient enemy, the Vatican

Obviously, there are many twists is the story
 
DEATH eVADER said:
The only similarity that I can think of is Robert Langdon, who is the main character in both is he not?

Story

It is believed the Illuminati has killed a scientist at CERN so they can gain access to the first truely created Antimatter, which they are planning on using to destroy their acient enemy, the Vatican
Click to expand...

yep.

6charlim
 
I liked angels and deamons, imo it's his second best book. However TDVC is better.
 
MaxiKana said:
I liked angels and deamons, imo it's his second best book. However TDVC is better.
Click to expand...
I actually preferred Angels and Demons.
 
I probebrly get TDVC when I get paid in two weeks time, that will give me time to finish the first book
 
Well, it is poorly written. It's not even really a matter of opinion, it really is poorly written.

However, it is not so bad that you can't read it. It's better than any college asshole could do. It's basically just very bland.

"Langdon picked up the cup and drank the coffee. 'Marvelous coffee Teabing.' Said Langdon. Teabing smiled. 'I'm glad you like it.' He put his mug down and rose from the chair. He walked over to the stairs."

It's basically written like that. No great adjectives, and WAY too many adverbs. It's almost as though Dan Brown has never heard the term "Show, don't tell."

There are some great suspensful parts though, and there is definitely some fact thrown in there. It's a fun read.
 
i read them out of order (da vince code first) and i think i found angels and demons a little too "over the top" i know both are hardcore fictional, but da vince code seemed slightly more plausable. especially the endings, just my opinion
 
It's a rather poorly written block of pap fiction that too many stupid people think holds a shard of truth, I didn't get into the book, but I'll probably end up seeing the movie as I see most movies.
 
I'd like the Da Vinci Code more if it didn't turn everyone who read it into a pseudo-intellectual.

The plots are great ( apart from the Da Vinci ending; **** that, Dan, were you watching the secret garden when you wrote it? ) but the writing is only so-so; they're alright, a little like Cusslers books in that you get wrapped up to a certain extent and worry about the plot holes and writing afterward.
 
jondyfun said:
I'd like the Da Vinci Code more if it didn't turn everyone who read it into a pseudo-intellectual.

The plots are great ( apart from the Da Vinci ending; **** that, Dan, were you watching the secret garden when you wrote it? ) but the writing is only so-so; they're alright, a little like Cusslers books in that you get wrapped up to a certain extent and worry about the plot holes and writing afterward.
Click to expand...

i agree with you, but only to Angels and Demons, Da Vince Code was much better written (though you do get wrapped up in it an let some things slide).
 
The davinco code is one of the best books ever written, only ones that are better are the Hitchikers guide to the galaxy and one hundred years of solitude. You know why, casue the book had soemthing a lot of novels these days don't have, AN INTERESTIG PLOT, there I said it. Most books are simply boring stupid ass shit, with 90% of the book consisting of discriptions of the weather or the surroudings, with hardly any actual plot advancement. TDCD has a good plot, is written very good, no unnecesairy shit, just good plain english, easy to read, has a lot of intersting information that makes you feel like you learned something.
 
Grey Fox said:
The davinco code is one of the best books ever written, only ones that are better are the Hitchikers guide to the galaxy and one hundred years of solitude. You know why, casue the book had soemthing a lot of novels these days don't have, AN INTERESTIG PLOT, there I said it. Most books are simply boring stupid ass shit, with 90% of the book consisting of discriptions of the weather or the surroudings, with hardly any actual plot advancement. TDCD has a good plot, is written very good, no unnecesairy shit, just good plain english, easy to read, has a lot of intersting information that makes you feel like you learned something.
Click to expand...

That's what I like about Dan Brown's books. They are straight to the point and just keep truckin' along not stopping for 3 pages to just talk about the setting and crap (if that makes me a typical mainstream lame reader...then so be it - When I read it's not for examining and appreciating the art of writing, it's to entertain myself with a good plot). People say that writers have to "paint" a picture with words...but I've imagined Dan Brown's books' settings with more clarity than any other books I've read.

I love the Dan Brown formula even though it's easy to pick out -

1. Mysterious death of person
2. Introduce intellectual but attractive male/female
3. Cue strange phone call/meeting with startling information
4. Introduce intellectual but attractive male/female to compliment lead
5. Begin the madness!

Angels & Demons is definitely the best book he's written though. Then comes Deception Point if you ask me. The Da Vinci Code had a great underlying conspiracy but the plot kinda slacked to the mid and end.

I hear he's writing another book featuring Robert Langdon for this summer or something. I'm excited for it :)
 
AmishSlayer said:
That's what I like about Dan Brown's books. They are straight to the point and just keep truckin' along not stopping for 3 pages to just talk about the setting and crap (if that makes me a typical mainstream lame reader...then so be it - When I read it's not for examining and appreciating the art of writing, it's to entertain myself with a good plot). People say that writers have to "paint" a picture with words...but I've imagined Dan Brown's books' settings with more clarity than any other books I've read.

I love the Dan Brown formula even though it's easy to pick out -

1. Mysterious death of person
2. Introduce intellectual but attractive male/female
3. Cue strange phone call/meeting with startling information
4. Introduce intellectual but attractive male/female to compliment lead
5. Begin the madness!

Angels & Demons is definitely the best book he's written though. Then comes Deception Point if you ask me. The Da Vinci Code had a great underlying conspiracy but the plot kinda slacked to the mid and end.

I hear he's writing another book featuring Robert Langdon for this summer or something. I'm excited for it :)
Click to expand...
You forgot an extra number: Introduce some random assassin doing the work of some higher power. :p

I'm reading A&D right now. Started yesterday.
 
I've read all his books, not because they're well written.. or some literary classic, but they're just good novels that i couldnt put down, an enjoyable read and good stories.

btw, the Priory of Sion was a complete set-up by some guys, they faked the whole thing. Thats the only part of the books that doesnt make sense, the rest is just circumstance, making a story out of it etc.

Before you buy it, Digital Fortress is 'ok' but nothing great. Get it from a library if you can.
 
StardogChampion said:
You forgot an extra number: Introduce some random assassin doing the work of some higher power. :p

I'm reading A&D right now. Started yesterday.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah :p Forgot to mention the assassin/authority figure. There's always at least one :)

Dan Brown books all fall in the same vein, but I still love them to death.
 
Grey Fox said:
Most books are simply boring stupid ass shit, with 90% of the book consisting of discriptions of the weather or the surroudings, with hardly any actual plot advancement.
Click to expand...
So I take it you don't read much?
 
Well I don't read much books trough, cause they simply do not interest me, but I have read more books then most people,(ordinary people not the people here). Thats mainly because of school.
 
Grey Fox said:
Well I don't read much books trough, cause they simply do not interest me, but I have read more books then most people,(ordinary people not the people here). Thats mainly because of school.
Click to expand...
Where there's 1 good movie, there's 100 good books. And half those movies come from books in the first place :LOL:

You just need to find 1 book that you like a lot, then you'll be hooked.

The one that got me reading was Neuromancer or something, or maybe "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" which was the book Blade Runner was based on.
 
I haven't read the Da Vinci Code, I'm told it's good if you can ignore all the author's distortments of facts.
 
I thought the Da Vinci Code was some history book about the illuminati and some other crazy shit that is XTREME
 
Grey Fox said:
The davinco code is one of the best books ever written
Click to expand...

No. Just no. The plots are some of the best I've ever read... but as a whole the books aren't what their sales say they are.
 
IonizeMyAtoms said:
I haven't read the Da Vinci Code, I'm told it's good if you can ignore all the author's distortments of facts.
Click to expand...
Why would you want to ignore them? It's a work of fiction.
 
oldagerocker said:
The Priory of Sion was a complete set-up by some guys, they faked the whole thing. Thats the only part of the books that doesnt make sense, the rest is just circumstance, making a story out of it etc.
Click to expand...

The Priory of Sion a set-up? How's that? I don't believe everything Baigent, Lincoln and Leigh wrote in 'Holy Blood, Holy Grail', but there must be a tiny spec of truth to that book. I personally don't believe in the divinity of Jesus (just an opinion; don't flame me). He could very well have been married and have had children. Even the bible confirms that he had offspring. The Priory supposedly kept the secret of Jesus Christ's bloodline (Holy Grail = San Graal = Sang Real = holy blood). I find the idea of a society like that quite plausible. But we will never find out for sure, coz it's a secret society.
 
I saw a channel 4 show on it, they investigated the whole book to find any vein of truth. They found evidence that a guy claiming to be part of the Priory of Sion (their spokesman to the media, noone had heard of it before) and giving out all this information was just a talking head, an actor as such. Him and another guy (one of the holy blood, holy grail writters iirc) was in league with him to bring about this and get their names in the papers. He was a huge meglomaniac.

They also said the french language link is abit dodgy because the spelling is different elseware in the country... or something. I dont remember exactly but the program was very good in explaining it.
 
StardogChampion said:
Why would you want to ignore them? It's a work of fiction.
Click to expand...
I understand that, but even fiction has its own reality with rules it has to follow. If I'm reading a fictional novel that takes place today on earth, as the Da Vinci Code does, I wouldn't want to read about floating cars. The Da Vinci Code takes actual historical facts and twists them. Which is fine, I guess, but it's something that would bother me, personally.
 
IonizeMyAtoms said:
I understand that, but even fiction has its own reality with rules it has to follow. If I'm reading a fictional novel that takes place today on earth, as the Da Vinci Code does, I wouldn't want to read about floating cars. The Da Vinci Code takes actual historical facts and twists them. Which is fine, I guess, but it's something that would bother me, personally.
Click to expand...

Give us an example of the so called distorted facts. Cause the only people saying that are the ones that belong to the cristian faith, and they have no right complaining that TDVC is fiction, cause I can name another book that is totally fiction but is taken by these so called scienties/historians quit literary. And TDVC has more things baking it up than what most of the people claiming it's false have. You just have to google the imags a bit to see that what he tells about Da vinci's paintings is true.
 
The fact is we don't know the whole Truth. Theres a library in the Vatican which has tons of text which has been banned from public viewing. The shit is guarded as well
 
Uhmm interesting, I just went to apple.com/trailers and they have posted the teaser trailer for the Da Vinci Code

http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/da_vinci_code/

Got good casting

Tom Hanks
Audrey Tautou
Ian McKellen
Alfred Molina
Jean Reno

Thats right Jean Reno (AKA Leon) will be casting in it :bounce:
Its great I haven't seen him in acting for quite sometime
 
DEATH eVADER said:
Uhmm interesting, I just went to apple.com/trailers and they have posted the teaser trailer for the Da Vinci Code

http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony_pictures/da_vinci_code/

Got good casting

Tom Hanks
Audrey Tautou
Ian McKellen
Alfred Molina
Jean Reno

Thats right Jean Reno (AKA Leon) will be casting in it :bounce:
Its great I haven't seen him in acting for quite sometime
Click to expand...
Good casting apart from Hanks...

Does this sound like Hanks?
- "Although not overly handsome in a classical sense, the forty-five-year-old Langdon had what his female colleagues referred to as an “erudite” appeal—wisps of gray in his thick brown hair, probing blue eyes, an arrestingly deep voice, and the strong, carefree smile of a collegiate athlete. A varsity diver in prep school and college, Langdon still had the body of a swimmer, a toned, six-foot physique that he vigilantly maintained with fifty laps a day in the university pool."

He only has the "not overly handsome" part.
 
Bah. A buddy that works for Sony Pictures has a co-worker that saw the script and -

The script doesn't follow too closely to the book
 
Grey Fox said:
Give us an example of the so called distorted facts. Cause the only people saying that are the ones that belong to the cristian faith, and they have no right complaining that TDVC is fiction, cause I can name another book that is totally fiction but is taken by these so called scienties/historians quit literary. And TDVC has more things baking it up than what most of the people claiming it's false have. You just have to google the imags a bit to see that what he tells about Da vinci's paintings is true.
Click to expand...
http://www.aboutbibleprophecy.com/davinci.htm
I am NOT Christian, nor do I believe anything in the Bible.
No need to get bent out of shape, I think the author of the book even admited to taking liberties with historical documentation, so relax.
 
StardogChampion said:
Good casting apart from Hanks...

Does this sound like Hanks?
- "Although not overly handsome in a classical sense, the forty-five-year-old Langdon had what his female colleagues referred to as an “erudite” appeal—wisps of gray in his thick brown hair, probing blue eyes, an arrestingly deep voice, and the strong, carefree smile of a collegiate athlete. A varsity diver in prep school and college, Langdon still had the body of a swimmer, a toned, six-foot physique that he vigilantly maintained with fifty laps a day in the university pool."

He only has the "not overly handsome" part.
Click to expand...

I see what you mean.

It is a shame the Nicholas Cage couldn't have the part. I liked his acting in National Treasure. But he neither fits the profile. But then again, they would probably had to do some compromises on his part
 
Glo-Boy said:
Well, it is poorly written. It's not even really a matter of opinion, it really is poorly written.

However, it is not so bad that you can't read it. It's better than any college asshole could do. It's basically just very bland.

"Langdon picked up the cup and drank the coffee. 'Marvelous coffee Teabing.' Said Langdon. Teabing smiled. 'I'm glad you like it.' He put his mug down and rose from the chair. He walked over to the stairs."

It's basically written like that. No great adjectives, and WAY too many adverbs. It's almost as though Dan Brown has never heard the term "Show, don't tell."

There are some great suspensful parts though, and there is definitely some fact thrown in there. It's a fun read.
Click to expand...

Yeah he probably starts of with rich and elegant writing styles, but as the book is already long, he has to cut it down. You have to realise that simplicity is sometimes the way of writing. If the story was too long-winded, then people might put the book down before finishing. i.e. the Bible
 
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