Da Vinci Code

*** WARNING - SPOILERS ***

Got around to seeing the Da Vinci Code the other day. Now before giving my opinion I should make a couple of things clear:

1. I quite enjoyed the book, although didn't find it a particularly stimulating read and was done with it in under 2 hours. I'd say it was beach reading material.

2. I'm not religious and actually think a lot of Vatican policies are downright evil.

So, on with the review. The film is basically a scene for scene version of the book in a different medium. They've cut a few bits and pieces here and there to keep the running time down but nothing you're likely to miss very much. In short, if you liked the book you'll probably enjoy the film.

Tom Hanks is distinctly average as Robert Langdon, although he fills the roll adequately he is really only there as a narrator to fill in the grail story for the viewers. Jean Reno, as usual, puts in a strong performance and is probably the most credible of all the characters. It is Ian McKellan, however, that steals the show as the quintessential eccentric member of the English peerage.

The film itself is visually very well put together, complemented by a decent, but not overly intrusive, soundtrack by Hans Zimmer.

The one thing I don't understand (and maybe it's my recollection of the book that's hazy) is that I thought Sophie was reunited with her brother at the end; they had been seperated at birth to protect the lineage. It just seems a little odd to drop that here and I can't help feeling it would have brought more of a feeling of resolution for me as they stood outside Roslyn than Sophie making a joke about walking on water.

Categories: Da Vinci Code, Film, Review