My Take - The Da Vinci Code - review
My Take on the Movies
A Mini-Review of
THE DA VINCI CODE
By: A. L. “Toni” Anderson
Amidst a flurry of news articles, protests, and international litigation, The Da Vinci Code (2006) opened in theaters this past weekend, earning more than $200 million worldwide over the course of the three days. Undoubtedly, the controversy helped to increase the film’s opening revenues, which were the largest so far this year.
The film is director Ron Howard’s interpretation of Dan Brown’s 2003 book, which itself evoked the ire of the Catholic Church. Claims made concerning Mary Magdalene and Jesus Christ; Opus Dei (literally the work of God), a conservative Catholic group; and the Priory of Sion (depicted as the protectors of the Holy Grail) have apparently offended The Vatican. The litigation filed by the authors of Holy Blood, Holy Grail (1982), upon which Brown purportedly based his novel, concerns an alleged copyright infringement.
The Code opens with the murder of Jacques Saunière (French actor Jean-Pierre Marielle), curator of the internationally famous Louvre museum in Paris. In the moments before he finally succumbs to the gunshot wound inflicted by Opus Dei member Silas, Saunière leaves clues which lead police to Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks), a published symbologist, and indirectly to Saunière’s granddaughter Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou), a police cryptographer. Thus begins a treasure hunt which leads the seekers to renowned landmarks and through several European countries, in search of the Holy Grail. Clues are found in the various works of Leonardo Da Vinci, including the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, and the Vitruvian Man.
The movie follows Brown’s novel, to a large degree. Much of the repetition of the novel is excised in favor of time, as is a good deal of the annoying inner dialogue of several of the characters. The sequence of some events is altered in relation to other events, and some of the language is changed. Sadly, none of this alteration seems to have clarified the many confusing aspects of the novel.
Tom Hanks seems somewhat out of his element as the serious, tight-lipped Langdon. Much of his dialogue and that of his partner Neveu seems stilted. Conversely, Jean Reno (The Pink Panther - 2006) is excellent as Captain Bezu Fache, as is Paul Bettany (A Beautiful Mind - 2001) as Silas, and Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings - 2006) as Sir Leigh Teabing.
After having read the novel a couple of years ago, and then again immediately prior to the film’s release, I had some idea of what was transpiring. It is not clear to me, however, that anyone who has not read the novel will fully comprehend the film without some independent research. Although I did enjoy the book, I was not thrilled by the film. Possibly the story was a bit complex to translate well onto the screen.
I did learn some things as a result of the controversy surrounding the movie, and that can never be minimized. You may not be crazy about The Da Vinci Code, but how can you not see the movie that is being seen by millions? [2:20]
♠ ♠ ♠ ♠ ♠
[© 05/22/2006]
A Mini-Review of
THE DA VINCI CODE
By: A. L. “Toni” Anderson
Amidst a flurry of news articles, protests, and international litigation, The Da Vinci Code (2006) opened in theaters this past weekend, earning more than $200 million worldwide over the course of the three days. Undoubtedly, the controversy helped to increase the film’s opening revenues, which were the largest so far this year.
The film is director Ron Howard’s interpretation of Dan Brown’s 2003 book, which itself evoked the ire of the Catholic Church. Claims made concerning Mary Magdalene and Jesus Christ; Opus Dei (literally the work of God), a conservative Catholic group; and the Priory of Sion (depicted as the protectors of the Holy Grail) have apparently offended The Vatican. The litigation filed by the authors of Holy Blood, Holy Grail (1982), upon which Brown purportedly based his novel, concerns an alleged copyright infringement.
The Code opens with the murder of Jacques Saunière (French actor Jean-Pierre Marielle), curator of the internationally famous Louvre museum in Paris. In the moments before he finally succumbs to the gunshot wound inflicted by Opus Dei member Silas, Saunière leaves clues which lead police to Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks), a published symbologist, and indirectly to Saunière’s granddaughter Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou), a police cryptographer. Thus begins a treasure hunt which leads the seekers to renowned landmarks and through several European countries, in search of the Holy Grail. Clues are found in the various works of Leonardo Da Vinci, including the Mona Lisa, The Last Supper, and the Vitruvian Man.
The movie follows Brown’s novel, to a large degree. Much of the repetition of the novel is excised in favor of time, as is a good deal of the annoying inner dialogue of several of the characters. The sequence of some events is altered in relation to other events, and some of the language is changed. Sadly, none of this alteration seems to have clarified the many confusing aspects of the novel.
Tom Hanks seems somewhat out of his element as the serious, tight-lipped Langdon. Much of his dialogue and that of his partner Neveu seems stilted. Conversely, Jean Reno (The Pink Panther - 2006) is excellent as Captain Bezu Fache, as is Paul Bettany (A Beautiful Mind - 2001) as Silas, and Ian McKellen (The Lord of the Rings - 2006) as Sir Leigh Teabing.
After having read the novel a couple of years ago, and then again immediately prior to the film’s release, I had some idea of what was transpiring. It is not clear to me, however, that anyone who has not read the novel will fully comprehend the film without some independent research. Although I did enjoy the book, I was not thrilled by the film. Possibly the story was a bit complex to translate well onto the screen.
I did learn some things as a result of the controversy surrounding the movie, and that can never be minimized. You may not be crazy about The Da Vinci Code, but how can you not see the movie that is being seen by millions? [2:20]
♠ ♠ ♠ ♠ ♠
[© 05/22/2006]
Labels: Da Vinci Code, film, movies, review, Tom Hanks
posted by A. L. "Toni" Anderson @ 8:42 PM
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