Hi its me again. Good to be back. Finally got my computer working again (about time) and also have a...
Hi its me again. Good to be back. Finally got my computer working again (about time) and also have a new job!!!
Thanks for your patience as I have been sporadic but i'm here for the long run now...hopefully.
Member since:20.04.2004
Reviews:41
Members who trust:6
The DaVinci Code.
Dan Brown's multimillion best selling story about Jesus and The Holy Grail has finally been tailored for the big screen and now recently on DVD for the small screen, following in the tradition of many other adaptations such as The Godfather, Lord Of The Rings, Harry Potter etc. Will The DaVinci Code be as good a movie as it was a book or will it just attempt to be a money making picture with no regard for quality or the book's principles?
Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) gets drawn into a murder investigation when the curator of The Louvre, Jacques Sauniere is found dead with his body contorted in an extremely curious position. After trying to discover the reason for his murder, Langdon is warned by a beautiful, intelligent cryptologist Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou) that the chief investigator Bezu Fache (Jean Reno) suspects him and warns that his life is also in danger. After stumbling upon a series of seemingly innocuous clues left by Sauniere, Langdon and Sophie go on a mini treasure hunt around France and England whilst being pursued by an albino murdering man of God
(?) (Paul Bettany) and the pigheaded Fache. They must follow the trail which will lead them to uncover the biggest conspiracy of all time …not Roswell, New Mexico; not JFK's assassination but what or who is the Holy Grail?
Well, well, well. Where to start. Another collaboration involving Howard and Hanks adapting one of the most controversial books of recent time would certainly make the most pessimistic person think "they can't fail". An Oscar nominated director teaming up with Oscar nominated actors only culminated in more excitement. Even the Hollywood bosses thought it could do no wrong… or did they?
The truth is that The DaVinci Code is bad…very bad. Comparing it to the smell of your pet cat or dog breaking wind after the portion of Whiskas or Pedigree Chum will give a fair idea of how bad this is, which is such a shame because it had the potential to be a fantastic movie. So where did it go wrong? Was it the casting? No not really. Tom Hanks, even though not perfect, was always going to be in the mix for the lead role especially with his buddy Howard taking the helm. Below par as he was, Hanks just does enough to pull through this tired film. The gorgeous Audrey Tautou is moderate as the talented cryptologist Sophie Neveu and Jean Reno is in all honesty the perfect person to play the stubborn, arrogant Captain Bezu Fache… after, maybe, Gerard Depardieu. Alfred Molina as Bishop Manuel Aringarosa is wasted but Paul Bettany as the assassin Albino monk, Silas, is one of the better aspects of this film. His performance manages to introduce a feeling of sorrow and pity for the misguided Silas especially through one of the few things that the book manages to stay faithful to involving the scenes of self-flagellation which are not for the faint-hearted. Sir Ian McKellen's slightly hammy performance as Sir Leigh Teabing is however, dare it be said… the highlight of this extremely drab and dreary movie. McKellen demonstrates there is no substitute for class and his experience adds a desperately needed extra dimension for this movie.
The main problem with this film is the editing and direction. After reading the book, this movie feels so rushed. The DaVinci Code lacks intensity and tension. Coupled along with the dreadful editing, the whole picture feels extremely disjointed. Just to rub salt into the wounds, the impressively majestic score does unfortunately overpower the film, making it feel more like Last Night of the Proms rather than opening night of the movie. Too much score, too little tension. What this picture really needed was time and attention to detail. A little bit of TLC would not have gone amiss either. One however must have sympathy for Ron Howard. Probably due to contractual issues, part of The DaVinci Codes shortcomings was that it was probably rushed in time to open The Cannes Film Festival. If that was the case then it would explain the rushed and disjointed movie presented.
This could have been a great film but going back to the question, the Hollywood bosses only care about profit and money and they really did not care about the quality of this flick because the opening box office weekend told a completely different story.
It is extremely difficult to tell people to keep well away and save your money because anyone who has read the book will want to watch it and the non-readers will want to know what all the fuss is about.
Simply put, The DaVinci Code is a stinker, a turkey. In fact such a big turkey that if it was Thanksgiving or Christmas it would serve a family of about 15-20 people. Anyone who has read the book will more than likely hate it whilst anyone who has not had the pleasure of reading it may find it entertaining, nevertheless… there's one thing we all know… Indiana Jones it's not!!!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Thriller - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Timothy West, Neil Morrissey, Tara Fitzgerald, Annette Crosbie, Pauline Quirke, Rob Brydon, Denise Van Outen, John Thomson, Kevin Whately, David Suchet
Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: Bharat Nalluri, Rob Bailey, Andy Wilson - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, David Oyelowo, Peter Firth, Jenny Agutter, Lisa Faulkner
this one has been sitting on my shelf for ages but i havent gotton round to watching it yet! interesting review. em x
tranx 27.07.2007 19:29
I certainly did not agree with your view but that is not the point. There are good but acknowledgedly (is that a word?) reasons for it and the 'tired' bit rang a bell, and the lack of balance was justified
RazzaLazza 24.10.2006 01:13
Good review, not seen this one but everyone i've spoken to about it seems to have hated it. Rich
Critics and controversy aside,The Da Vinci Codeis a verifiable blockbuster. Combine the ... more
film's huge worldwide box-office take with over 100 million copies of Dan Brown's book sold, and The Da Vinci Code has clearly made the leap from pop-culture hit to...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Dan Brown's international bestseller comes alive in the film The Da Vinci Code, directed ... more
By Academy Award Winner Ron Howard (2001 Directing, A Beautiful Mind). Join symbologist Robert Langdon (Academy Award Winner Tom Hanks, 1993 Best Actor, Philadelph...
![The Da Vinci Code (2 Disc Special Edition) [DVD] [2006]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78501039.jpg "The Da Vinci Code (2 Disc Special Edition) [DVD] [2006]")
Oct 23rd, 2006
very helpful by (96%):
helpful by (4%):
