The Da Vinci Code-What Did They Change

30.01.2020

Tereza Končelová

    I think it is not necessary to introduce you Dan Brown, an American author best known for his mystery thriller novels, the most famous of them possibly being The Da Vinci Code. It is his second of now five stories connected by the main character. The latest one is Origin, published in 2017.

    The Da Vinci Code follows a symbologist Robert Langdon and cryptologist Sophie Neveu after a murder in the Louvre Museum in Paris. That causes them to become involved in a battle between the Priory of Sion and Opus Dei over the possibility of Jesus Christ being married to Mary Magdalene. As the majority of Brown´s books, it is a treasure hunt that takes place over a period of 24 hours. It features themes of cryptography, art, and conspiracy theories, and explores an alternative religious history.

    Like two of the other books in the Robert Langdon series, Inferno and Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code was also remade as a film directed by Ron Howard and written by Akiva Goldsman. Robert Langdon is portrayed by an actor and filmmaker Tom Hanks. The film, like the book, was considered controversial. It was met with especially harsh criticism by the Catholic Church mainly for the concept that Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene had a daughter, as well as its treatment of the organizations Priory of Sion and Opus Dei. In the book, Dan Brown states that the Priory of Sion and "all descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents and secret rituals in this novel are accurate."

     However, I, myself, am not a critic. I just wanted to mention some differences that have occured to me while watching the film. I read the book some time earlier and have no problem with it - actually, as an innocent reader considering it only a conspiracy I really enjoyed it. The film was mostly very accurate to its base. I personally find it a big plus, not being a fan of the great changes filmmakers sometimes make. Still, I am able to point out something. It includes spoilers though!

     For example, originally Langdon is in his room when he is called by the police, while in the movie when the police arrives he is signing some autographs after one of his speeches.

    In the book, Langdon is suspected by the police inspector Bezu Fache of murdering the curator of the Louvre because his name was written on the ground with blood, while in the movie Langdon is suspected because the bishop Aringarosa lies the police about hearing Langdon confess to the murder.

    Also, Remy, in the book, confesses to Silas to work for the Teacher, while in the movie he claims to be the Teacher himself.

     Originally, Saunière is Sophie's grandfather. She was separated from the rest of the family when her parents died. Her grandmother at the end reveals that Saunière had visited her throughout the years. In the film though, Sophie's grandmother reveals that Saunière wasn't her real grandfather. He was a member of the Priory that took her under his guardianship.

    In the book, Sophie wasn't with the rest of her family when the accident occurred. Only her parents died in the car crash. In the film version, Sophie was in the car with the rest of her family but she survived the accident and Saunière took her on the site.

    And one difference I found the most noticeable is that in the book Sophie at the end of the story meets her long-dead brother, while in the movie this scene has been deleted.

    Surely there are some other differences, like how exactly Sophie and Langdon solve the puzzles or how they meet Teabing at Westminster Abbey, but this is the list of the most important ones, at least for me.

    Generally, I did not like the film as much as the book, but I am sure it was mainly because I already knew how is it going to end. So I gladly recommend you to both read and see it too, just saying you will probably enjoy the book less if you first see the film, or conversely, you will not be as overwhelmed from the film after reading the story. However, I must say both works are very thrilling and interesting, no matter it is going to be nearly 17 years since Brown has published the original book, and 13 since the movie was made.