SUMMARY / COMMENTARY:

(While the Scriptural references are certainly not subjective, my commentary may be and sometimes is somewhat subjective.)

If Scriptural references appear, the full text appears at the end of the Summary / Commentary.





(2006), PG-13 ["Hard" R-13*] -- ...making little sense is typical of stories which counterfeit the Truth...



Cast/Crew Details Courtesy Internet Movie Database

Production (US): Columbia Pictures, Imagine Entertainment, Brian Grazer/John Calley

Distribution (US): Sony Pictures Entertainment, Sony Pictures Releasing

Director(s): Ron Howard

Producer(s): Dan Brown, John Calley, Brian Grazer, Todd Hallowell, Kathleen McGill, Louisa Velis

Written by: Akiva Goldsman (screenplay), Dan Brown (novel)

Cinematography/Camera: Salvatore Totino

Music: Hans Zimmer. Martin Terefe

Film Editing: Daniel P. Hanley, Mike Hill

Casting: Janet Hirshenson, John Hubbard, Jane Jenkins

Production Design: Allan Cameron

Art Direction: Giles Masters, Tony Reading

Viewed At: Driftwood Theater 6





I am so sorry this report has taken so long to complete, a full seven days after viewing it and a full six days after its opening. I could not hope to list all of the trouble experienced. I fully believe getting this single analysis report published was plagued with more obstacles than any other of the more than 1000 other reports we have done. Hint: It all has to do with lack of donations/funding. Something tells me the adversary did not want this report published.



That the adversary is actively involved in creating so many obstacles, especially to this report, makes sense since we are fighting the adversary quite probably in his most sensitive spot -- his attacks of Jesus through His little ones. It makes sense also since this film has the potential for doing a g-r-e-a-t deal of Spiritual damage to our youth who have become, also by the adversary's doing, more worldly than ever at younger and younger ages every year. I suspect most of our readers have the caliber of faith and understanding to be able figure this out without me explaining it further.



I am glad to have read that secular reviewers made comments such as "clueless" about this film. That makes it easier for me to say it made little sense. But making little sense is typical of stories which counterfeit the Truth and manufacture their own from it by strategically adding facts among the fiction to make it appear factual. The story may be fiction, but a bad influence does not have to be real to influence badly.



Louvre curator Jacques Sauniere (Jean-Pierre Marielle) is brutally murdered by Silas (Paul Bettany), a masochistic, self mortifying, self scourging albino monk working for Bishop Aringarosa (Alfred Molina), a bishop of questionable ethics and intent. Silas claims to be doing the work of God.



In this fictional The Da Vinci Code Opus Dei is a covert society charged with keeping Christ's marriage to Mary Magdalene (Charlotte Graham) and their daughter, Sarah a secret. By the way, there are no monks in the real Opus Dei, a Catholic organization. And there has been no cover-up since Jesus was not married. Nor did He have a daughter.



Sauniere is mutilated and his body covered in symbols with meanings not clear to the police. His body is found positioned as da Vinci's Vitruvian Man and shown in full frontal nudity several times with only a bright light hiding his genitals. Before Sauniere dies, he leaves a trail of clues to the "secret."



Visiting symbology professor Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) is called in by police Captain Fache (Jean Reno) to interpret the symbols on Sauniere's body, one of which is the pentagram. See Back to School Special for more information on the pentagram. Note that the pentagram is the symbol on the cover of the Satanic bible. Also note, mom/dad, that the rock [music] hand gesture (the Mano Cornutto or Horned Hand - see Back to School Special) is also on the cover of the Satanic bible. Satan sneaks into your child's life in many ways. This "13" movie may very well be just one.



Aiding in the investigation is police cryptologist Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou). Due to a series of confusing happenings, Langdon and Neveu fall under suspicion for the murder. On the lam, Langdon and Neveu are thrown into the middle of "the greatest cover-up in human history." That "cover-up" being the claim that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene and had a daughter, Sarah; that this manufactured bloodline of Christ is the Holy Grail.



Pulled into the mix by Langdon is his old friend and Grail researcher, Sir Leigh Teabing (self avowed "gay", X-mutant and Rings wizard, Sir Ian McKellen). It is McKellan who narrates the counterfeitings of the Bible. [Rev. 22:18, Rev. 22:19]



Some of the counterfeitings of the True Word include" "Maybe human is divine", "What matters is what you believe" and "Your god doesn't forgive murderers. He burns them."



The film even relies on da Vinci's painting of The Last Supper being 100% accurate and true. Note that the painting was painted by someone who was not there and without any hint of Holy Inspiration as to the content of the painting. Some sources claim da Vinci painted the John character as androgynous and effeminate enough to say it is Mary Magdalene. That da Vinci painted John to appear feminine does not prove it was Mary. It just shows that da Vinci envisioned John that way. Besides, if the Apostle John was actually supposed to be Mary Magdalene, where then is John in the painting? Where then is the twelfth Apostle?



There are so many things I would like to tell you about The Da Vinci Code, but there is only so much space. Please bear with me, though, for a short foundational sermon.



Satan is the greatest trickster of global impact mankind has ever known. His first trick was mixing God's Truth with lies in fine-sounding argument and smooth philosophy in defiance of God's Word [Col. 2:4, Col. 2:8, Rom. 16:18] as he beguiled Eve into eating the forbidden fruit.



One of Satan's great tricks is to convince many that God does not exist, keenly mixing that trick with the trick of convincing many others to think they don't need God: that we can deal with life and death all on our own; that nothingness lies on the other side of our last breath. Satan seasoned that trick with leading some of us to believe that whatever we choose to believe is the truth. As I typed this in I noticed it is used in The Da Vinci Code by the way: "What matters is what you believe." Frosting for that trick is Satan convincing many others that even he does not exist.



Yet another great Satanic trick on mankind is to convince many that there are more than one god ... and goddess. And that we, ourselves, are gods. This is also used in The Da Vinci Code: "Maybe human is divine."



Masterful is the adversary, who does not say we are sinners, in convincing many that sin is not really sinful or that sin is relative: that there are no moral absolutes; that morality is relative. [Rom. 3:23]



Yet another of Satan's great tricks is convincing many that the Bible is no more than mortal man's attempts to control the populations with fear and calling it interpretation of God's Word thus making His Word seem subject to the personal preferences and social pressures of the time the Inspired pen was put to paper.



Satan has even convinced many that God can be measured by our own standards: that He must live up to our expectations; that we can comfortably be Christians on Sunday only; that God's Word is optional and can even be discarded when it gets in our way.



Another very successful trick of Satan's is to convince us at a young age that we do not have to answer to any authority, especially parental. That makes it easy for us to not submit to Jesus when we mature -- and be comfortable with it. Arrogantly.



Satan has also influenced many into thinking we are free to sin because of the freedom of choice God gave us: "Why would God give you the freedom of choice if you cannot use it?"



Amidst it all, Satan has tricked even the firmest of believers that as they have their heels dug in, steadfast in their faith they may freely compromise God's Word by situationally redefining it, counterfeiting it and conditionally applying it to fill their own bellies. All in the name of "interpretation" and the human frailty of they who put pen to paper for God. [Rom. 16:18]



And the greatest of all of Satan's tricks is to convince us we have matured beyond the need for the Word written in a 2000-year old book; that we are immune to his tricks thus leading us by the nose into sin and away from Jesus while we think we are wise. [Rom. 1:21 - 22]



These are just a few ...



I believe the master trickster has engineered yet another trick to draw more people away from the True Word. The Da Vinci Code, like Dogma and others which embolden people into Spiritual destruction is, whether intentional, another trick of the adversary to pull and keep people away from Christ and those weak in faith to falter. Even if just a little bit. A little bit is enough for the one whose only reason for existence is to steal, kill and destroy. [John 10:10] Because if he can be successful once, he'll do it again. And again. And again. All the while we thinking we are wise to his tricks. [Rom. 1-22]



End of sermon.



I would love to have "given" The Da Vinci Code a final score of zero -- it is that offensive to the Word of He who took the nails for you and I: to the Word of He who spent three days in Hell so you and I would not have to spend one moment there. But the objectivity of the CAP analysis model could not care less about my subjective opinions. I cannot give scores. Films earn the scores they get based solely on content when applied to His Word.



The Da Vinci Code earned a final score of 40. That score makes this film truly equivalent to many R-rated features since all the R-rated features in the comparative baseline database earned scores of 54 and below out of 100.



Indeed, looking at the scoring distribution (the CAP thermometer display), the Wanton Violence/Crime and Offense to God investigation area scores could not have been lower. But the content in the other four investigation areas pulled the final score up out of the pits of scoring Hell where, in my opinion, this film belongs.



The producers appear to attempt absolution from accountability for corrupting the Gospel by telling us up front this film is fiction. Again, a bad influence does not have to be real to influence badly. But to make claims of fact in the film confounds the grasp for literary safety in fiction. For example, to claim Mary Magdalene was Jesus' wife based on "gospels" which were rejected from the Bible is a huge and wild grasp. And the film claims it was the "church" - a group of men - that decided which Books would form the Bible. The Holy Bible is the inspired Word of God. That is the Bible, not just the contents of each Book but which Books as well. [2 Tim. 3:16]



As I mentioned above, there is so much more to tell you about The Da Vinci Code but this report is already too long. *Please* look deeply into the listing in the findings/Scoring section before you decide what age stratum, if any, might be suitable for this film.





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SCRIPTURAL APPLICATION(S)

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CHAPTER/VERSE



Col. 2:4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. Col. 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Rom. 16:18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. John 10:10 The thief [Satan] cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:... Rev. 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: Rev. 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Rom. 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Rom. 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. Rom. 1:21 - 22 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. [22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,... 2 Tim. 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:



***Selected Scriptures of Armour against the influence of the entertainment industry***

Ps. 12:8 The wicked freely strut about [e.g., create progressively vile/offensive entertainment with impunity and no consequences and present it to younger and younger audiences every year] when what is vile is honored among men [when enough people continue to defend it, embrace it, pay for it, enjoy it, want it, submit to it. I call attention to Ps. 12:8 to warn of the creeping desensitizing power of "entertainment."] Col. 2:8 Beware lest any man [by his influence] spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 1 Cor. 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Rom. 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Jude 1:4 For there are certain men* crept in unawares [secretly slipped in among us], who were before of old ordained to this condemnation [whose condemnation was written about long ago], ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness [a license for immorality], and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. [*men: anthropos {anth'-ro-pos}, generic, a human being, whether male or female] Matt. 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Luke 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. [Offend: skandalizo {skan-dal-id'-zo} - scandalize; to entice to sin; to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey; to cause to fall away.] Ps. 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me [let no sin rule over me]. John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 1 Thess. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. ["Evil" includes all things that are sinful.]





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As always, it is best to refer to the Findings/Scoring section -- the heart of the CAP analysis model -- for the most complete assessment possible of this movie.

FINDINGS / SCORING:

(The objective heart of the CAP Analysis Model, independent of and insulated from the Summary / Commentary section.)





Wanton Violence/Crime (W)

firearm threats to control/coerce/force compliance, many, some to the head and face masochistic bloody gore (self mortification), repeatedly mutilated body, repeatedly reckless driving with endangerment and property damage to avoid lawful capture familial fighting with weapons medieval warfare physical brutality, repeatedly, some graphic self-inflicted scourging gore, repeatedly graphic traffic collision with deaths, including of children gunfire to intimidate into obedience gunfire to kill, repeatedly additional reckless driving graphic battle assault, repeatedly beatings of varying intensity violent police maneuvers kidnapping, repeatedly, including at gunpoint police brutality/corruption knife to throat, twice gunfire killing threats to kill, repeatedly firearms for defense, repeatedly



Impudence/Hate (I)

eight uses of the three/four letter word vocabulary convenience lies, repeatedly deceit unauthorized entry child sneaking



Sexual Immorality (S)

statue nudity, repeatedly full rear and side male nudity with full frontal nudity, genitals masked by lighting, repeatedly woman in men's room picture nudity prostitutes talk of anatomy below navel skin threatening exposure of that which follows intercourse - covered except for back of female man in towel only



Drugs/Alcohol (D):

smoking cooking drugs drinking



Offense to God (O)

denial of that which appears on the cover of the Satanic bible is used as a Satanic symbol (the pentagram) superstition evil masquerading as good, repeatedly portrayal of Constantine as the determining factor of the content of the Bible portrayal of the council which decided on the books of the Bible as much like demons dancing around a boiling cauldron. Also suggesting there was no holy Inspiration to deciding which Books form the Bible. claim that Jesus was only man, not God in man (Emanuel), repeatedly portrayal of the painting "The Last Supper" as holy fact rather than one man's interpretation claim of the holy Grail is a bloodline through progeny of Jesus rather than the cup that caught Christ's blood and body fluids from His wounds on the Cross, throughout claim of Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute claim of Mary Magdalene being Jesus' wife by using a word that translates to "friend" and "associate" as well as "spouse", repeatedly claim of other "gospel" books being as credible as the Books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, repeatedly claim of Mary Magdalene as the one to carry on the "church", repeatedly claim of Mary Magdalene being pregnant by Jesus as He hung on the Cross claim of Sarah being Jesus' daughter by Mary Magdalene, repeatedly claim of nothing said about Magdalene being Jesus' wife and Sarah being His daughter being "The greatest cover-up in history" claim of "living descendant(s) of Jesus", repeatedly display of the "cross of the world" blaming "church" for men's choices to murder "I am the messenger of God" twice "Your god doesn't forgive murderers. He burns them" "Christ sacrificed His Life for the betterment of humanity. So, too, may His seed" nearly continuous claim of Mary Magdalene being Christ's wife and the progeny, the phantom bloodline, being the holy Grail use of "Christ be with you" to bless evil zodiac "Jesus must be shown for what He was ... man" plus many additional comments about Jesus being not God but just a man portrayal of the need for a guardian of the Grail using a living descendent of Jesus to do it "The holy Grail herself", repeatedly "You are the last living descendent of Jesus Christ" "Maybe human is divine" "What matters is what you believe"



Murder/Suicide (M)

gunfire murder with gore blade murder murder by poison