Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #35765 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-05-08
• Rating: Exempt
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 90 minutes

Synopsis
Readers who devoured every page of Dan Brown's THE DA VINCI CODE may have pondered how much truth there was behind this work of fiction. The History Channel works along a similar line of thinking with this exploratory documentary on much of Brown's work, which opens up a fascinating discourse on a number of topics raised in THE DA VINCI CODE. A variety of experts in religion and art offer commentary on Brown's theories, particularly concerning the possibly misleading information the Church has provided to its followers. The work of Leonardo Da Vinci is also thoroughly dissected, with the programme makers sticking closely to Brown's words in order to see whether any truth was contained within them. A great complementary piece to a massively popular book, BEYOND THE DA VINCI CODE should help satiate the voracious appetites of readers whose curious minds have been set wondering by Brown's book.

Customer Reviews

Professional, scholarly, concise and visually entertaining
An excellent production of professional quality with dramatics and re-enactment. The only flaw is an obvious 'Hollywood' gloss that runs throughout but the content is thoroughly researched and considered from both pro and anti viewpoints. The main reason i bought this DVD is because it was by 'The History Channel' and i knew it could therefore be trusted. It was well worth spending the extra money since it has formed the basis of my understanding of the truth behind the theories posed by Mr Brown. Other DVDs i have bought on the subject have been far less rewarding. If i can offer any advise it is this: avoid 'Cracking the Da Vinci Code' by Simon Cox like the plague- be it on-screen or paperback.

Beyond the Da Vinci Code is overall an excellent production, highly recommended.

A really insightful programme
This is by far the best Da Vinci DVD on the market. It is a really professionally produced programme with glossy menus and a whole feel of being crafted to the best quanlity. I own two other Da Vinci code documentary programmes, but this one is easily the best one on the market.

Cod da Vinci
This 90-minute film betrays the worse features of the modern docu-drama. Too much time is spent trying to portray events as if the viewer has no imagination. What are books for if not for stimulating the imagination? And, despite the execrable writing-style of Mr Brown, at least the Da Vinci Code is a book. So why do we need actors simulating Jesus and Mary Magdalene staring inanely into each other's eyes, or actors dressed up as Templar knights cowering at the fateful knock at the door of the French king, etc etc. And the actor playing the part of Leonardo himself, painting the Last Supper, was just laughable.

The talking heads are not all who I would consider to be experts in their fields either, although it was interesting to see Richard Leigh of 'Holy Blood, Holy Grail' fame expostulating in front of the camera.

The film is also bedevilled with repeated entries in the script, made worse by the inclusion of what are or were obviously breaks for commercials. And talking of the script, why does the narrator assume that we know nothing if anything about the Da Vinci Code's story? Why the build-up for fifteen minutes at the beginning about this great and fabulous mystery, when the very title of the DVD declares itself to be BEYOND the Da Vinci Code, i.e. that it is designed for those who already know what the novel predicates. In short, I learned precious little from this DVD that I did not know already.

Neither this nor the Tony Robinson DVD covering the same material is perfect, but I would recommend the latter for at least not taking itself too seriously and for a more worthy selection of talking heads.

But since, to me, the whole Da Vinci Code circus is an exercise in speculation (and making money), it seems impossible to be satisfied by any commentary about it.