Breaking the Da Vinci Code (DVD, 2005)

This DVD has often been overlooked in the vast title wave of Da Vinci code
media, but is nonetheless a good entry in this subject with some fresh commentary and good visual content.

* The First Hour: Breaking the Da Vinci Code

Produced by the Grizzly Adams Studio, the central emphasis of the first hour consists of examining the historical references that were presented in the Dan Brown’s novel, The Da Vinci Code, and recounting some of these historical events with comments from authors and scholars in the areas of theology, archeology, art history and science. These include discussions include Secret Societies, the Knights Templar, Opus Dei and the Gnostic Gospels. Although some viewers have found this DVD conservatively one sided at times, regardless of your persuasion towards the Da Vinci Code novel in general, this DVD presents interesting content with a central focus of examining historical facts and references that have been brought fourth in the novel.

It is only fair to mention that this is a comparatively inexpensive DVD, and although the program is not as large scale as some of the other Da Vinci Code DVD’s available from other production studios, the visual quality is very good. This DVD can usually be found for about 1/3 the cost of other high end productions in the same theme. The filmed sequences of the Inverted Pyramid at the Louvre Museum in France, The Temple Mount in Israel and other key locations,
are a better visual quality than many other DVD’s available. The images of the master artworks used in the features on Leonardo Da Vinci, Mary Magdalene and throughout the entire DVD are of a very high visual quality also.

* The Second Hour: Extra Features

The second hour of the DVD goes beyond the usual “run of the mill” Da Vinci Codes discussions with some quality added Extra Features:

* A Biography of Leonardo Da Vinci

The extra feature “Leonardo: The Life and Work of Da Vinci” is a nice one and the filming of his many master artworks are presented with good image quality. A knowledgeable and capable scholar adds insightful commentary about his life. This featurette also includes more glimpses into the fascinating sketches and notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci, than other programs of this genre have offered. (13 minutes total)

* A Tour of Rosslyn Chapel

If you have ever wanted to visit the Rosslyn Chapel, near Edinburgh Scottland, this featurette will be very interesting. The guided tour of Rosslyn Chapel hosted by historian and author Mark Oxbrow, is detailed and beautiful. Oxbrow briefly touches on a few points of inconsistency with the novel and then continues with the fascinating details of the history and architecture of the Rosslyn Chapel. The elaborate carvings of angels, bible figures, and ceiling designs of the Chapel are well presented. Most memorable are the carvings of “Green Men” that adorn the Chapel. Green Men, human faces sprouting with leaves, foliage and vegetation are an early decorative motif often used in Churches and Cathedrals throughout Europe since the Middle Ages. Built in 1446 the Chapel is adorned with a large collection of Green Men, and their suggested meanings of fertility, a spirit of nature, oneness with the earth, or perhaps references to birth, life and death. The Chapel tour is charming and beautiful.
(19 minutes total)

* In Depth Interview Subjects Include:

* Early Christianity
* Mary Magdalene
* Women's Role in Christianity

(120 minutes total)