The Da Vinci Code (2006)

Based on the popular book by Dan Brown, this film tells the story a race against time to solve a centuries old riddle crossing through religion, literature, folklore and culture. Tom Hanks plays Robert Langdon, a professor/teacher/symbolist/literature expert/puzzle specialist who gets mixed up with a plot that put him both in danger, and in the driving seat to reveal one of religions biggest cover ups. It all starts in France, when a Louvre curator is killed. He is found in mysterious circumstances with mysterious codes on and about him. Langdon, along with Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou) attempt to unravel the clues to the murder, and the clues to the cover up - this takes them through various locations all to do with Leonardo Da Vinci, as he was one of the perpetrators of the cover up. The cover up suggests that Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene had a child and there is in fact an active blood-line of decedents still alive. Throw in the mix various corrupt law enforcement agencies, various religious sects such as Opus Dei and the Priory of Sion, various independent parties too - and you have a adrenaline fuelled mystery that spans the time of man and religion too.Directed by Ron Howard this film takes it's source material from the Dan Brown book of the same name. I have read the book but I wanted to review the film without the book in mind - so rather complain about differences or changes - I'm mainly going to be focussing on the delivery of the film rather than the contents of the book. Howard's choice of locations make the film visually pleasing, some lovely architecture has been really looked at from interesting perspectives. On first inspection his choice of casting too seems to have been a good choice; there are times where the lines are a little wooden, leaving me unable to connect or empathise for the characters - but for the most part performances are decent. Hanks and Tautou do well to carry the forward, while other appearances from Ian McKellen, Jean Reno, Paul Bettany and Albert Molina (amongst others) all come off believable. Effects have been done tastefully for the most part, with emphasis on clues to help the audience along - sometimes practically spelling out the issue for audience members unable to understand. There's a decent pace for the most part but there are times where action drags a little - presumably to allow the audience to catch up. All in all this is a decent detective slash chase slash journey of a film. It's like an Indiana Jones style film with less action and more book smart. I'd give this a 7 out of 10. It wasn't awful but it's not totally my cup of tea. The hardcore book fans probably won't like some things about it, but as a standalone film it's got enough to keep viewers entertained.

When I see this type of movies where a big puzzle is being solved with ancient text and so on. I always I always put myself in the shoes of the person/persons doing it in the first place in how they create the hints and create the secret doors that only open in very specific ways. I imagine him having contractors over to do these secret door and try to explain why he needs them. People would think he is a bit weird and if he had done it all himself even more weird and bit trapped in his own world. its like when you see documentary's about ancient secrets they try to unravel by finding clues in old texts. People don't do this, why would they when there exist more easy and more rational ways to do things.

Just wasted 2.5 hours of my life watching this crap. Poorly made, poorly thought out. Basically, a modern day fairy tale that gradually reveals itself through the movie to the point where it reaches fanaticism. At which I promptly turned it off. Cannot believe Hanks actually took this film. Whether it was the script he was given, the direction he was given, IDK, but Robert Langdon was one of the most boring characters I have ever watched.

First of all i don't believe in any of those things whatsoever because its all religious propaganda like always to make us believe that there's a higher being out there (?) The only movie I've seen so far about the whole holy grail thing that i actually like (and yes people face it) its Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade besides not believing in it One of the things i hate about people its that they are willing to believe in these things instead of face reality giving credit to nothing i remember a quote from a movie (i cant remember which) that says "Yeah right if you succeed in something yeah right sure THANK GOD now if that thing goes wrong its the DEVILS fault" Honestly do you except me to believe this? If you succeed getting a job you say "thank god for this" so you did nothing? Its zero effort for ya the thing about god its the same thing that applies for "asking help to others" and its simple: NONE GIVES YOU ANYTHING IF YA WANT IT GET IT YOURSELF BECAUSE NONE IS GOING TO HELP YOU NOT GOD NOT ANYONE and if ya want to give "God" a meaning, an explanation, fine from another movie i give you this "Gosd its just a child playing with an ant farm ain't doin nothing for mankind"By the way my family is catholic jeje