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| The Real Da Vinci Code | 
 enlarge | Director: Kashaf Chaudhry
Actor: Tony Robinson; Richard Barber (iii); Thomas Bridwell; Ann Graham Brock; Thierry Vregil; Henry Lincoln; Margaret Starbird; Michael Baigent; Dan Brown (vi); Jean-luc Chaumeil; Elaine Pagels; Philippe De Cherisey; Juliet Wood; Pierre Plantard; Arnaud De Sade; Charles Nicholl; Garard De Sade
Studio: ACORN MEDIA
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.99
Buy New: $4.84
You Save: $10.15 (68%)
Buy New/Used from $4.84
Avg. Customer Rating:  (10 reviews)
Sales Rank: 63989
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd-video, Ntsc, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD
Running Time: 101 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: DAMP8709D
UPC: 054961870998
EAN: 0054961870998
ASIN: B000EDWLUA
Release Date: May 2, 2006
Theatrical Release Date: 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
History...or hokum? Take a look at the facts on which Dan Brown built his blockbuster novel
THE REAL DA VINCI CODE
You've read the novel. Now learn the real story. With intellectual rigor and a hint of impish humor noted British actor and commentator Tony Robinson follows the trail laid down by Dan Brown in The Da Vinci Code and undertakes his own quest for the Holy Grail.
Interviewing such respected experts as Biblical scholar Elaine Pagels, Robinson crisscrosses Europe and the Holy Land, from Scotland's Rosslyn Chapel to Jerusalem's Temple Mount, in hot pursuit of historical truth. He also sits down with Michael Baigent, who co-authored Holy Blood, Holy Grail the controversial book from which Brown drew the theories underpinning his novel.
Did a sect of medieval warrior-monks uncover a shocking secret about Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and the Holy Grail? Did Leonardo Da Vinci plant clues to the long-suppressed truth in his paintings? Do shadowy societies protect the Grail, even today? The Real Da Vinci Code is an informative, entertaining investigation that authoritatively separates imaginative fiction from historical fact.
Amazon.com
The Real Da Vinci Code ought to be the last word among plentiful video debates over the validity of startling claims in Dan Brown's bestselling novel The Da Vinci Code. Produced by Britain's Channel Four Television and broadcast on the Discovery Channel in the U.S., the irreverent but no-nonsense documentary systematically dismantles so-called historical facts Brown embraced (not only in his story, but in interviews) to support the idea that the Holy Grail is actually the blood lineage of Jesus, carried by descendants of his child by Mary Magdalene. Hosted by Tony Robinson (Blackadder's Baldrick), The Real Da Vinci Code hopscotches through France, Scotland, Israel, Italy, Spain, and America to investigate evidence that the major historical players in Brown's alternative Grail legend--the heretical Cathars, the wealthy but persecuted Knights Templar, the secretive Priory of Sion--did the things Brown (and his research sources) said they did. Turns out these stories come up wanting, as does the basis for the 1982 Holy Blood, Holy Grail, which provided much of the foundation of Brown's book. Nothing is quite as remarkable as fairly damning proof of at least one major, late 20th-century hoax, associated with Grail quests, that has since been popularly accepted as fact. Same with assertions that Leonardo Da Vinci was one of many important people who kept records of Christ's progeny. The one ray of hope for Grail conspiracy theorists is the Magdalene cult woven through the pages of the Gnostic gospels, written by early Christians, and Robinson's split decision over whether that's Mary or St. John at Christ's right in Leonardo's The Last Supper. Even if one doesn't care about the subject, the flashes of wit (a bobblehead Jesus on Robinson's dashboard, comic-book images of Christ's supposed romance with Magdalene) are a hoot. --Tom Keogh
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| Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
Everyone wants a go at it, it seems. July 30, 2007
I find it amusing how much energy has gone into disproving bits & pieces of a fictional work. Must the book bear the waiver, "Warning: This is a novel, don't live your life by it"?
The book's verisimilar approach is central to the mood that the author wanted to create he succeed wonderfully at it. To go ahead and prove Dan Brown wrong in his novel's details is silly. But wait, it sells DVDs.
An interesting DVD it is, too, but it won't take away the Da Vinci Code's appeal. If anything, those who watch this DVD will be eager to read Dan Brown's book if they hadn't done so already.
At the end of the day, the feeling that is left is that the DVD producers found a way to go along for the ride in Brown's huge success.
 Thorough Investigation of the Facts February 5, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Tony Robinson -- with intellectual vigor and some humor, thoroughly investigates the key contentions and themes of Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code. The cast of experts are truly authoritative and offer, clear, straighforward, factual information on each point covered. Yes, they offer compelling facts that are backed up convincingly.
This is my fourth Da Vinci "decoding" viewing (this and three others), and this particular one will not leave you guessing or flipping a coin to decide what the real facts are behind Dan Brown's claims and whether he has it all together -- or not.
Most strongly recommended, especially if viewing of the others such as the Da Vinci Delusion, National Geographic's Is it the Real Da Vinci's Code or Breaking the Da Vinci Code has left questions lingering in your mind.
 In My Opinion January 6, 2007
3 out of 8 found this review helpful
This is a fourth update to my original post. (See below for UPDATE 4)
Before I continue, I would recommend that before buying this DVD, you may want to borrow it from your public library, which is what I did. If they don't have it, you could probably ask them to order it.
Many people who've read (or heard about) Dan Brown's book, "The Da Vinci Code," may fail to recall that the author himself has claimed that the book is a work of fiction mixed with some facts. The facts, according to Mr. Brown, are in reference to the artwork, the existence of certain institutions, etc. And from what I understand, these facts have nothing to do with his fictional interpretation of them for use in his book. But, then again, I'm not Mr. Brown, so ultimately, who knows.
However, I was corrected by a reviewer in regard to the above. This correction has led me to do further investigation on the subject so that I may come to my own conclusions. In response to the comment of Dan Brown being my hero...he's not. I have no hero's. I would like to add too that I do not agree, as do many, that everything in Dan Brown's book is accurate/absolutely true/etc.
One final note in regard to the above. While I have not seen some of the interviews the reviewer mentioned, it wouldn't matter anyway. As you'll see in the comment section of this review, I've recently added another opinion.
I would also like to add that I have found that too often many of us believe written history, as well as oral history, as being the absolute truth (or quite near that), whether it's ancient history or recent history. We can all argue who's correct and who's incorrect based on what this or that scholar/expert said, or this person of prominence wrote, instructed, revealed, etc. Ultimately, in my opinion, I don't think we can ever know the all truth. Otherwise, why would we keep on learning, discovering new things, etc?! However, that's just my opinion.
As a former nun I witnessed a lot of deception and alteration of history from an inside point of view. I personally witnessed the "sweeping under the rug" from recent controversies to the political BS and in-fighting for power. Furthermore, I witnessed "history" being altered right in front of me. As well, being the nun in charge of writing the history of my former community, I was "forced" to alter it in order to protect those whom were benefited by the alteration. So, I'm sure this has often been the case throughout history.
UPDATE 4:
Having watched this DVD several times now, along with other "DaVinci" items, I think it's a good item to have in your personal library if your open to all sides of an issue. While I'm not thrilled with what I perceive to be a sarcastic tone on the interviewer's part, I think a lot of what is said should be considered when one embark's on their "Grail Quest." I would suggest seeing, "The DaVinci Code Decoded" along with this one, maybe even before seeing this one. I would just suggest being open to what they both say.
 Fighting fictional parts of novel distracts attention from its major message August 21, 2006
4 out of 14 found this review helpful
I guess many people do not quite understand that the value of Dan Brown's book is not in accuracy of biblic facts, so they gladly fight the parts of novel that are obviously fictional. I think concentrating on discussions of Holy blood, and Magdalene marriage distracts reader's attention from the major message of the book. This message is not fictional at all. It is rather
serious idea about danger of destroying male-female balance in human society. A human being consists of two parts. Males and females have very different views on this World so that these views should be well balanced. If one of the parts becomes heavily predominating, it may be dangerous for survival of our species. Dan Brown takes our attention to this, not fictional, problem. He shows that this imbalance has a long history and it might be an underestimated source of many current problems in human society.
The Real Da Vinci Code June 26, 2006
13 out of 14 found this review helpful
This is a good production that is useful critique to the Da Vinci Code. The program presents some credible investigation into the supposed facts behind The Da Vinci Code. Robinson does his best to discredit some issues raised in the Holy Blood, Holy Grail and the Da Vinci Code.
This is a well made documentary where Robinson presents his arguments, proposals and conclusions based on the available evidence and compares and contrast the claims and arguments presented by Dan brown. I liked his methodical approach that is convincing particularly the scholarly way he exposes the Priory de Sion as a hoax and not some medieval secret society. Much to his credit, Tony Robinson does not approach the investigation from a religious view, giving his finding much objectivity.
This is a worthwhile film for those who are seeking a more thoroughly investigated refutation of Dan Brown's claims and arguments, although it is not a very conclusive and definitive rebuttal, due to some omissions in the film. Very good viewing for the open minded.
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