Da Vinci Code Review - Two Thumbs Down
I got in to see The Da Vinci Code yesterday at a press screening yesterday and I was actually looking forward to it. There are a lot of people that criticize the quality of the writing in the book, but I actually enjoyed it. Then again, I read it in one go on a long flight and usually my standards drop a bit when it come to “Airplane Books”. Regardless, I have always liked Tom Hanks and Ron Howard isn’t too shabby in my book.
What I was treated to however was one of the worst adaptations of a book ever. One of the things that I hadn’t thought about was the necessity to educate the moviegoer which is easily done in a book but in a movie it becomes horribly cumbersome. They tried to achieve the history and background lessons through a series of flashbacks and some of the most drawn out and ridiculous dialogue I have seen in years. There have been Tom Hanks movies I haven’t enjoyed before but this is the first time he has given a bland and vanilla performance in my opinion. I got the feeling throughout the movie that there was very heavy handed direction in an attempt to mimic the book rather then add some personality to the picture.
On top of that, there are so many climaxes to the movie, by the last one you have the keys in your hand, wanting to be the first to your car and beat the traffic (I took Public Transportation but I was still jingling my change). How this movie was 2 and a half hours seeing as how it felt like over 3. Some of the moments in the movie which were supposed to be groundbreaking or jaw dropping were down right funny (in a bad way). I read this morning they prompted laughter at Cannes although there was no audible laughter in our screening. You could definitely sense the smirking though.
Overall, I was extremely disappointed but it just goes to show that the books rarely make good movies theory is true whether a book sells 1,000 copies or 40 million (or whatever ridiculous amount it sold). If I was going to give advice, it would be to avoid this movie like the plague but I have a feeling it is going to do massive numbers in the first few weeks based on hype alone. It’s a shame as there are so many other good movies out there but that’s the way Hollywood is these days. Anyway, I would be interested in other peoples comments as they see the movie as I just can’t see how anyone would enjoy it.
Comment by Chris Andrews
Posted on May 19, 2006 at 11:10 am
It can’t be a key jangling as Bicentenial Man can it?
That film actually felt like it went of for two centuries in real time.
Comment by Trent
Posted on May 29, 2006 at 9:08 pm
I think it really depends on if you’ve read the book or not. I read the book (as well as all of the other Dan Brown books), and I was a little disappointed in the movie. My g/f however, who hadn’t read the book, absolutely loved the movie.
Still, it was good to finally get a visual for everything that I read in the book. But it definitely explains why the reviews were all so lackluster.
Comment by Bulbboy
Posted on June 6, 2006 at 10:34 am
Didn’t find it as bad as all the reviews said. Not as good as other Ron Howard films, but I think people were expecting too much from it: like answering the mysteries of the universe.
The books that Mr Brown borrowed from, seemed to offer unveil ‘ancient secrets’, but a quick flick to the last couple of pages find that they do no such thing.
Sorry to ramble so but my brother used to turn up with a new ’similar’ book each week, saying it was the bees knees. No, they were mostly pants, but I would go and see the movie again, nice shots of Paris.
:)
Comment by Motorcycle Fairings
Posted on September 4, 2008 at 2:39 pm
What is also inyeresting is that after the movie was released, many other proyects were released too about same matter. What’s the point if Jesus was or not what we knew?