On the menu at the Hotel Da Vinci

Advantages: Shiny new hotel, modern and comfortable
Disadvantages: Not the most interesting town in Tuscany

...The 4-star Hotel Da Vinci lies just on the other side of the River Arno from the town centre of Empoli. It's an easy walk from the hotel to all that the town has to offer, unfortunately that's not really an awful lot. On the plus side, it's an easy hotel to find - exit the superstrada 67 (or FI-PI-LI, Firenze-Pisa-Livorno) at either the Empoli east or west junction, follow the by-pass to the bridge, and turn right (or left) for Vinci. In case those instructions are too hard to follow, it's signposted all the way from the SS67 exit. Hotel Da Vinci is ideally situated for visiting some of the major attractions of Tuscany, being a 20-minute drive from Florence, 5 minutes further from Pisa, and around an hour from Sienna. Empoli has rail links with both Florence and Pisa. The hotel is a silver-grey shining, ultra-modern edifice...

proxam 20.08.2005 · Read review
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Review of Hotel Da Vinci, Vinci

THe Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

Advantages: Great story, interesting
Disadvantages: Is it true??

...The Da Vinci Code is probably one of the most controversial books of the modern day. When it was released it caused a storm. The Da Vinci code was released in 2003.It was written by Dan Brown and was an international bestseller.The book has sold 80 million copies as of 2009 and has been translated into 44 language. Most people, I know me included always thought this was his first novel. However, his first novel was actually Angels and Demons which was released in 2000. I've read the book and really really enjoyed it. It's one of those books that I think keeps you mesmerised from beginning to end. I found it hard to put down. Of course, the subject matter is very controversial and although it is meant to be somewhat fictional I can see elements of truth in it. The basic story features Robert Langdon, a professor of Symbology. He is...

Spottydog11 04.12.2009 · Read review
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Review of The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

The Da Vinci Codswallop

Advantages: I suppose it would save you reading the novel
Disadvantages: It's utter crap

...Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is called in when the curator of the Louvre is found dead in the museum, covered in mysterious sigils. But Langdon soon finds himself framed for the murder and on the run with French cryptologist Sophie Neveu. They are quickly embroiled in a conspiracy far larger than they could ever have imagined; one that could threaten the tenets of Christian belief. But powerful people are determined that the secret remains just that and they are willing to kill to protect it. Though Ron Howard's output is usually less than innovative, he can normally be relied on to make good, solid, diverting fare. It's unclear what went so spectacularly wrong with "The Da Vinci Code". The film takes itself too seriously throughout, which is odd considering the source material is nothing more than an airport/beach novel struck...

afy9mab 03.10.2006 · Read review
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Review of The Da Vinci Code (DVD)

Crack the Da Vinci Code

Advantages: A good story from the Brown Novel, great filming and good cast
Disadvantages: Not outstanding acting, slightly erratic at times, lots of information in short space of time

...Dan Brown's international bestseller comes alive in the fil, 'The Da Vinci Code', directed by Academy Award Winner Ron Howard. Join symbologist Robert Langdon and cryptologist Sophie Neveu in their thrilling quest to solve a bizarre murder mystery that will take them from Paris to London - and behind the veil of a mysterious ancient society, where they discover a secret so powerful it could shake the very foundations of mankind. (DVD Blurb) IMDB gives this film 6.4/10, however I would place it around the 7/8 mark. This has been a popular film and grossed US$224m in its opening weekend. Boxofficemojo suggests that toward the end of 2006, this film had grossed over US$750m. STORYLINE ~~~~~~~ I am going to review the storyline from a fictitious point of view. There is much debate surrounding the factual accuracies and other...

reevo_the_great 07.11.2008 (08.11.2008) · Read review
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Review of The Da Vinci Code (DVD)

The Da Vinci Code (PS2)

Advantages: Fun puzzles, good graphics, good sound, hard to complete
Disadvantages: Storyline bit linear, poor combat system.

...The Da Vinci Code roles everything into one with combat, puzzles to solve, stealth to pull off and more. TRUTH TO MOVIE The game generally follows the storyline of the movie, there is some extra events added that could not have happened in the movie but the plot of the game and film are similar is most aspects. 4/5 COMBAT SYSTEM The combat system is very basic and uses a system of controls that would be more suited to a dance game (press the right button as it appears on the screen). I think that it is obvious that this game was not designed with the combat system in mind and that it was just a necessity. 2/5 NON-COMBAT GAMPLAY This is where this game excels, there are puzzles to solve which are quite complicated, you have to sneak past enemies and make tactical decisions about who to fight and who to avoid as well as which...

anakha6 26.08.2008 · Read review
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Review of The Da Vinci Code (PS2)

Not the da VINCI Code

Advantages: Leonardo's birthplace
Disadvantages: Leonardo overload

...early life. The country-side around has not really changed much since those days and this is reflected in landscape drawings that he produced in his youth which are dispayed here. Entrance is free but there's not really a lot to justify charging anyone for anyway! Also, the drive along the torturous route to get here is a little hair-raising. IN CONCLUSION, I though Vinci was a charming little village in its own right, but the association with Da Vinci is what brings the tourists in. Having said that, it wasn't crowded at all, although I imagine it could get that way. Although there are a couple of hotels in the area, it's not somewhere I'd choose to spend the night. It's more of a day-trip type of place, and being less than an hour from Florence or Pisa, it's easy enough to get to. I would say that if you had little or no...

proxam 01.11.2005 · Read review
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Review of Vinci

The Da Vinci Code

Advantages: Very good read- unputdownable
Disadvantages: No

...the location of the grail. During the search, via the discussion between the characters, Brown details the historical background about the legends of the grail and the various myths associated with the grail. You can see the techique Brown used. He puts a thread through the various myths and makes a connection between the various events and facts and links them into a story. However, many of the facts mentioned are indeed true, such as the origin of the "black Friday". I also learned a lot about the famous Leonardo Da Vinci and a lot of the "decoding" skills. I have to say I enjoy reading the story very much and it is one of the best adventure fiction I've read in a long time, a clue follows another. Sooner or later you will notice that you cannot put down the book!! Another thing which I get from the story is the crytex which is a mobile vault...

medgenie 29.07.2008 (27.07.2008) · Read review
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Review of The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

The Da Vinci Code - fact, fiction, or just hype?

Advantages: Decent plot, some interesting characters...
Disadvantages: ... written with all the subtelty of a sledgehammer

...I have to admit, I only really read The Da Vinci Code out of curiosity. After all, few books in the past century have created as much fuss as this one. Seen by some as a beacon of truth and others as a scandalous attack on Christendom (particularly the Catholic Church), it's obviously not a book that one can be indifferent to. Er? well actually, I think you can. Certainly I was. Despite the fact that most people seem to either passionately love or violently loathe The Da Vinci Code and indeed Dan Brown and his other novels, I finished it feeling that it was really nothing more than a slightly below average thriller. (Admittedly this is not a genre I particularly read a lot of. My opinion based on what I have read is that Tom Clancy is unequalled among modern thriller writers, though I do dislike the amount of profanity in his books...

CaptainDisaster 20.10.2005 (21.10.2005) · Read review
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Review of The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

Advantages: Good pace, easy to read, good and interesting characters. Good Story.
Disadvantages: It's not real.

...This is a review written by my cousin that I thought I would put on here: When I purchased this book in January 2006, I was aware that it was a best seller and that millions of people had read it. I had ignored the reviews and had little idea of the content. Some reviewers early on had said that author Dan Brown's research was "Fantastic" Brown's editor continues to stand by his man, saying that Brown made nothing up save the fictional, contemporary story wrapped around religious controversy. After I browsed through the story initially, I realized what I was in for, and why all the ensuing critical flack from art historians, religious scholars. As a result, I can still identify with those who find inspiration from The Da Vinci Code, which relates the following: At night in the Louvre Museum in Paris, an albino monk dressed in...

ralfschumacher 22.10.2007 · Read review
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Review of The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

Da Vinci Turns In His Grave

Advantages: good acting, impressive effects, interesting concept
Disadvantages: poor scripting, it is just not that good

...The Da Vinci Code; 2006; Directed by Ron Howard; Rated 12 Anyone who has heard me speak of The Da Vinci Code will know my opinion on it; an opinion I stand by having seen the movie. This is a fabulous story, brimming with intrigue, scandal and almost managing to pass itself off as fact. The big disappointment is that it was not written very well at all. Now, no disrespect to Dan Brown, he has made an awful lot of money off these books and got his agenda recognised and imprinted into the collective conciousness. I'm not saying I could write these particular books any better than he did (dropping all modesty for a second, I could definitely re-write/edit them and make them a lot better than they are, but they are already best-sellers thousands of times over). Please don't be offended die-hard Dan Brown fans; this is just me being...

cocoklo 28.12.2006 · Read review
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Review of The Da Vinci Code (DVD)