Corrected entry: When Langdon finally succeeds in cracking the code to open the "cryptex", he explains to Sophie that the code-word devised by Isaac Newton could only be "apple", since it had been thanks to an apple that he had discovered that which "had annoyed the Church so much, the Law of Gravity". As far as we know, the Catholic Church had no objection to the Law of Gravity and Newton was living in a Protestant country anyway. Besides, the story about the apple was corroborated by Newton himself, that is true, but its notoriety, a typical "science fairy-tale" is rather recent. The word seems to have been chosen here because it's the only thing that most people know now about Newton (including Dan Brown, apparently).
roboc
21st May 2006
The Da Vinci Code (2006)
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Correction: This is more clearly stated in the book, but it's there in the movie as well if you pay attention. Jacques Saunière (the Louvre curator murdered at the beginning of the movie) is the one who made the cryptex, he also wrote the riddle which was the clue to the combination. Therefore, HE was the one who picked 'Apple' as the answer, not Isaac Newton. Whether the apple is fact or fiction is irrelevant, its just the answer to the puzzle.
roboc