Did anyone else spot the similarities between Revelation and The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, which personally I loathed and hate to admit reading? Was expecting a mass of posts here but to my surprise found none? The similarities are striking but I am unsure as to which came first, this film or the aforementioned book. I imagine the film but can anyone set the record straight as one has ripped off the other.
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I couldn't seen his name in the credits. Personally, I would take much enjoyment from Mr Brown's downfall. Working for a well known bookstore in the UK, it is a crying shame to see 100 copies of The Da Vinci Code cluttering up the shelves while we don't even have one copy of Plato's Republic, Palahniuk's Choke or Russell's The Problems of Philosphy. I could go on but you get the point. Plus I digress.
I had realised the awful truth that Brown's main work was being shot - hopefully this will kick things off. The production team of Revelation should really let him have it as far as I'm concerned. I have been longing for this moment I can tell ya.
I think I'm going to go back, watch Revelation again and list the similarities for a future post.
I haven't watched the movie but I too (with regret) admit I read the book. I work in one of the world's largest public library system and it is a shame to see how much we have spent purchasing hundreds of copies of this book. There are two reactions to The Da Vinci Code. People love it and think it's profound, or they find it overhyped and poorly written.
As for the similarities. Yes, it does seem to be v similar, but I think I'll pass my final judgement after viewing it.
People, these kinds of tales about alternate histories and such for Christ have been around for centuries. Neither the book author nor the movie people ripped off each other, they simply both dipped into the same well of mythology/conspiracy to tell a story.
If you're interested in things like this, read up on the Priory of Sion and Berenger Sauniere.
jothemarxist and others, hi.
It is not coinsidence that they are quite similiar. If You read exemple The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail by Michael Baigeant, Richard Leigh & Henry Lincoln (arrow, 1996), The Messianic Legacy by same outhors (Arrow, 1996), The Temple and the Lodge by same authors (Arrow, 1989), The Elixir and the Stone: The Tradition of Magic and Alchemy by Michael Baigeant & Richard Leigh (Viking, 1997), The Mystery of Rennes-le-Chäteau (Jonathan Cape, 1991)The Templar Revelation: Secret Guardians of the True Identity of Christ by Lynn Picknett & CClive Prince (Gorgi, 1998), you will find from where all ideas both this film and that book of Dan Browns has come.
Dan Brown's Da Vinci code is a very good book, but there are nothing new. I would say that the sceleton of the book is totally from other books but flesh is Dan Browns.
You should read these books i mentioned, there are much more to recover.
Sotilasmestari
You know I was just thinking that myself. It's on TV as I write... especially the code cracking part. But I seem to remember it takes a dive into the occult shortly, unlike Dan Brown.
Just had a bit about the symbology of the ankh, venus and so forth. Seems all VERY familiar.
I've read a later post that says "The Da Vinci Code" is a very good book. Really? I thought it was pulp fiction dressed up as religious who dunnit. Its also written for 5 year olds. God help us that its going to made into a film staring Tom Hanks. "The horror" as Marlon Brando once said.
Actually reminds me of a computer game i played called Gabriel Knight, the story is practically the same and even the code cracking is identical to how it's done in the film (laptops, placing symbols to the maps), heck the two main characters in the game are a male and female lol. Oh the game was released in 1999 too. It's funny but i've never read Mr. Brown's book but i've been interested in whole subject since the mid 1990's since i played another game called Broken Sword. Who says games don't teach you anything ;)
share-"Its also written for five year olds"-
Im sorry rleather but im sick of people taking a shot at Dan Brown's writing. I would find it hilarious to give a five year old this book, obviously you must have been a child genius at five!. People who fancy themsleves as literary critics mock this book at every opportunity when quite a lot of ACTUAL literary critics didnt have a problem with the books writing. The trick to writing a successful book is keep it simple, i know its a sad fact but most people are not going to able to fathom Plato's writings as the majority of people dont have a very long attention span and to write a book that's popular you need to keep a reader gripped with a fast paced story and that means sacrificing a little qulaity then that's what has to happen. I dont expect you to agree or even reply but i think the book sales speak for themselves to back my point up but i admit its partly the church's fault for condemning the book as all the adverse publicity has just worked in the books favour.
And by the way this movie was terrible in every sense of the word not so much the plot but the horrendous acting and pacing of the scenes.
Well this a certainly a great discussion, and it's good to see many views expressed.
Yes - I saw Revelation last night, yes, I've read Dan Brown and yes, I've read all the other books, including the unofficial response from Rome - The Da Vinci Hoax. I'm sure Dan Brown saw the film as there are many similarities apart from using common sources, eg the use of the ultra violet pen.
This knowledge (Jesus and Magdalene) has been known for centuries, but only recently (mainly since Baigent) is it moving into common circulation. Rome is certainly panicking, and the choice of the new pope in very interesting...
Is this why the film was screened now? Cheers - Franz
(And I look forward to reading your further views!)
I caught the last 20 mins of this film last night, but wasnt paying much attention and thought i'd check up on it to see if it was anygood lookin at the cast i thought it would be.
Also, ive read the Da Vinci Code, which i thought was a very good book. Ok its not Inspirational literature but its fun, exciting, slightly poor ending (IMO)but still a thoroughly good day and a halves read.
I must agree - I watched the film and left pretty convinced that
Dan Brown had seen the film before writing "The Da Vinci Code".
And like you I was surprised that this is little known.
There is nothing wrong and everything right about turning a BAD
film into a GOOD book. I myself was struck by the how the film
COULD have been so much better and indeed there was much to
commend in it. But somehow it never quite engaged or was believable
enough. The virtue of Dan Brown's book is that it does BOTH
these things remarkably well, despite being a clearly contrived
pulp thriller.
I haven't read Dan Brown, but I have The Holy Blood And The Holy Grail (Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh & Henry Lincoln, 1982), and The Temple And the Lodge (1989) since 1989 read and on my book shelves.
I watched REVELATION two days ago on BBC, and Rennes le Chateau ofcourse made me think back of these books. The puzzle in this film did not turn out to be that interesting, but I thought the film was fun nonetheless.
Although REVELATION had some of the finest British actors in it (Terence Stamp, Celia Imrie, Derek Jacobi) I doubt it very much that Dan Brown has ever seen this film. Even so, what my friends told me about The Da Vinci Code made me think that Brown got his ideas from above mentioned books, from which the first had an interesting adjoining BBC documentary in the eighties.
"When there is no more room in the oven,
the Bread will walk the earth."
I think the similarities come from having viewed the same source - Baigeant et al's work.
Basically, great idea for a plot ruined by a weak script, some poor acting and just about the worst cinematography ever inflicted on a film. I half saw it on TV a few months ago and wateched it in full on BBC3 two nights ago.
Things jump around randomly from scene to scene. I have a horrible feeling that they shot loads more scenes then had to cut because the film was massively long and ponderous, leaving some things on the cutting room floor that would have added a bit more sense to proceedings.
Despite all that, I found the film reasonably enjoyable because of my interest in the subject matter. Without that interest, it's probably just drivel.
I read a book that was very similar to the movie Revelation but I can't remember the name... It was about a man and a woman travelling across Europe to different sites and using the mystical geography at each site to locate the next site - they wind up at a church in a valley... and that's all I rememberr, anyone know the name of the book?
- M
Was it Lewis Perdue's Daughter of God or Da Vinci Legacy? Because his works predated Brown's book, and he did try to sue for plagiarism (not sure what the outcome was). I read Perdue's books, and I do believe Brown ripped him off.
I'm interested in seeing this movie, but am disappointed to see so many bad reviews. Not sure if it's worth the time now.
I first read the book in 2004 and completely enjoyed it. I don't see it as the enormous record breaking best seller but I have to say that I enjoyed it.
So the other night I was surfing through the channels when I saw Terrance Stamp in some obscure movie on FX. My TiVo was already tuned to FX from recording Battlestar Galactica so I decided to record the movie since it was only like 20 minutes in or so and the TiVo could grab the entire movie for me.
Upon watching the movie back with my wife I kept saying, "Oh my, this is exactly like the DaVinci Code. The similarities are just way to many to ignore.
1.) An aging parent/grandparent leaves a clue to a younger relative just before being murdered
2.) The younger relative is adept at code breaking
3.) The Knights Templar
4.) The traveling to religious POIs in search of clues
5.) The Roman Catholic Church diminishes Mary's role in Christianity
6.) Symbology (sp?)
7.) Mary's lost family tree
etc. etc. etc.
We're missing something here folks. This isn't just all coincidence or a case where both authors are using the same source(s). Something's up...
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