✨| The Da Vinci Code Reaction

The Da Vinci Code- Thank you very much for another fantastic movie reaction, for a phenomenal and beautiful movie that I love very much, Sora!!! This is another of my favorite movies for sure! Everything about this movie is beautiful, and I absolutely love it! Plus... I love, love, love historical fiction. And Tom Hanks is incredible, like he is in every movie I've ever seen him in!! I especially love him as Robert Langdon, who is one of my all time favorite literary characters, from a novel written by Dan Brown. I first read the books for all three films, starting with The Da Vinci Code of course, since it is the first within this trilogy. Although... There are actually five books written within this series with Robert Langdon, with a sixth novel for Robert Langdon coming out very soon. And I certainly hope that they will continue to make the other two or three books not yet made into movies, into movies too. Dan Brown is one of my absolute favorite authors. He writes in such detail upon researching the subjects of his books so thoroughly, and with such emotion as well as wonder. As for this movie... Like I said above, Tom Hanks is phenomenal as Robert Langdon! I love his character very much. Not only does To Hanks play him brilliantly, but Robert Langdon is an incredibly written character. He's a man who loves history, and the knowledge and the true meanings behind the symbols we see everywhere throughout all of history through today. He's smart and wise, as well as brave and kind. He's a good, good man. I also really love Sophie Neveu played by French actress, Audrey Tautou. Not only is she beautiful, but I love her quiet, gentle and kind demeanor and personality. And I love her drive to seek out the truth behind who killed her grandfather, as well as her parents and brother. I also love that she's so loyal to helping to protect Robert upon them both becoming forced into this great historical and even mythical mystery that has been such since Christ's death. As for the storyline between these two lead characters... It's absolutely beautiful. I love how Robert and Sophie are pulled into this exquisite religious mystery, as they're struggling to survive when there is betrayal around every corner with everyone they meet. I love the danger and intrigue involved within this war that has existed within the church since the crusades, and I love the historical fiction told throughout this movie about the Priory of Sion who have vowed to protect the Holy Grail. Which is revealed to actually be the sarcophagus holding the remains of Mary Magdalene, rather than the cup of Christ used at the Last Supper like all the world has believed it to be. And I love how it's revealed that Sophie... Instead of being a Guardian of the Grail like Robert initially believed her to be, is truly the descendant of Jesus Christ... The last of his bloodline. I also love how protective of her Robert is, and not just because he believes her to be a Guardian until he later discovers who she really is, but because they grow to be very close friends. And she genuinely comes to care for him very deeply as well. This overall story is beautiful, well written, intriguing, mysterious, and thrilling from start to finish. In all honesty... I am not sure what all I believe in regards to religion, other than that I do believe without a doubt there is a God, and that Jesus Christ is his beloved son and our Savior. Was he married to Mary Magdelene? Is he truly divine, or just a man? I don't know. But this is where faith comes in. And I love learning about the history of the church. Church history is bloody and terrifying, as we know so many innocents and even evil people have been killed in the name of God for unfathomable reasons. Church history is tragic and heartbreaking. And yet the history is fascinating. Because while the history throughout this movie in regards to the Holy Grail and the Priory of Sion may or may not be real, religious zealots and many people throughout time have and do believe all of this. And many have died because of their beliefs. I love Dan Brown's books within this series, as well as the phenomenal movies that come from them. Regarding whether or not this movie is based on fact or fiction... There are people within the church who truly believe in these stories, and all throughout history. Many people high in power have killed because of their belief in these stories told. So, the whole scene where Leigh talks about the Holy Grail being Mary Magdalene, etc... It's all based on true beliefs throughout history. However, there's no proof any of these stories are real. Yet they're fascinating to read and learn about. As for the other characters... I love Chief Inspector Bezu Fache with the French FBI, who while he appears to be a villain all throughout the movie, is really a good man who was manipulated by a man of God he served and trusted with every fiber of his being because of his faith, into believing that Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu are murderers. Thankfully, he comes to see the truth by the end, and finally arrests the true villain. And I truly appreciate the scene between him, Robert, and Sophie in the end when he apologizes to them for falling for the lies told to him. I love this scene between them upon hearing him explain why he did as he did. And I love that Robert and Sophie understood him. I also love Sir Leigh Teabing played by the brilliant Sir Ian McKellen, known for his famous roles such as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and as Magneto in the X-Men movies. As for Leigh... When I read the book this movie is taken from for the first time, I never once suspected Leigh to be the Teacher all along. And while a part of me hoped that he was a good man all along and not one of the big villains, I love the twist that Leigh winds up being bad. I love the big reveal upon him killing the man who worked for him and played the decoy as the Teacher for him, then comes to force Robert at gunpoint to decode the cryptex. Also... I love his love he has for the Holy Grail and seeking out the truth. And Ian McKellen is a brilliant actor as well. :) I also very much love Silas played by Paul Bettany, who I love as an actor very much. He is well known for his roles within the Avengers movies as Vision and the voice of Tony Stark's A.I., Jarvis, as well as Geoffrey Chaucer in A Knight's Tale. Paul Bettany plays Silas within this movie so incredibly well. He plays the villain so brilliantly. Silas is terrifying and eerie. From his appearance, to the way he speaks, and in how he is so willing to kill in the name of God without hesitation upon being so badly manipulated by his master within the church, as well as torture himself to bring himself closer to God. However, he also has a tragic story as well. Silas was imprisoned for killing the men who murdered his family, and tortured merely because he was seen as nothing more than a freak for being an Albino. Later, he was saved by Bishop Aringarosa, who he later saved from being killed as well. And because he's so devoted to this Bishop, the so called man of God manipulates him into becoming a murderer. When Silas is killed in the end, I can't help but feel badly for him in spite of him being the killer he is. Very sad. One of my overall favorite moments within this movie is when Robert works through his knowledge and the clues within the church surrounding him to solve the puzzle of the cryptex. I love seeing what Robert sees while solving each of the puzzles throughout this film, through his eyes. And in the end, Robert is able to figure out that "APPLE" is the answer to freeing the message hidden within the cryptex. The very apple that supposedly hit Sir Isaac Newton on his head, allowing him to discover the law of gravity and more. As Sir Isaac Newton was also a member of the Priory of Sion just like Da Vinci himself. Absolutely beautiful. Another of my favorite scenes... Earlier in the movie, when Robert and Leigh are sharing with Sophie everything they know about the Holy Grail, Leonardo Da Vinci's painting of The Last Supper, Mary Magdalene and Jesus Christ, and how her remains have been protected all these years by those within the Priory of Sion. The history told and the beliefs shared throughout this scene are all absolutely fascinating and quite beautiful. I absolutely love learning more about the history of the church from the days of Christ and the crusades, through what is still believed in and practiced even today. I love the history behind the cruel and tragic deaths that occurred throughout history for people's beliefs in these stories. Another of my favorite scenes, is when Robert reveals to Sophie the truth of her being the last of Jesus Christ's bloodline, and how he had been wrong to believe that she was simply a Guardian of the Grail. This scene is emotional and beautifully acted by both Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou. I absolutely love it!! And then... I love, love, love the very ending when Robert Langdon discovers where Mary Magdalene has been moved to since her sepulcher's last move from the Roslyn Church. I love how Robert follows the rose line through the streets of Paris until he returns to the two pyramids outside of the Louvre, then humbly kneels down above where the point of them meet, revealing her sepulcher deep beneath the ground within a tomb beneath the stars. This moment is so beautiful and deeply moving. I absolutely love, love, love the music all throughout this movie as well. It's moving, emotional, and just so beautiful. I always feel chills upon hearing this movie's main theme played throughout the film, especially in these most powerful moments. I've bought the soundtracks to each of these movies, because I absolutely love the music. And lastly... Ron Howard is absolutely a genius at directing. I absolutely love so many of his movies. I believe The Da Vinci Code was among one of the first movies of his I ever saw, along with Apollo 13. And if I see or hear that Ron Howard is directing a new movie, I automatically want to see it simply for his name on the project alone. I love his works! :) Thank you once again, so much for your fantastic reaction to this incredible and beautiful move, my dear friend!! And I cannot wait for your reactions for the next two films that I will continue to request for you as well, because they are just as good. And I think you will love them as well. I love The Da Vinci Code, I love everything to do with Leonardo Da Vinci himself because I admire him and his work greatly. I really loved watching this movie again with you as you watched it for the first time. So, thank you! Stay healthy, and be happy! :) Sincerely, Heidi

Heidi Elizabeth Marcum