And, what? Or so what?

Rating: 5/10 (21 May 2006)

Fabulous cinematography, fascinating places, still, in the end a film to no-where. Afterwards, you are saying to yourself, huh? No mystery, no suspense, no truth, no values. Watching was sort of like eating sunflower seeds, a lot of work but no meat. The film came up short of expectations on almost all fronts. It didn't follow the book very well. The casting was not credible, the acting dead pan, really flat. It took little advantage of the depth of talent of the cast. Except maybe Ian McKellen, whose character is self centered evil to the core throughout, and ends up a defeated raving lunatic. Still, for him, that's probably more his natural persona than acting. Tom Hanks falls far short of a Harrison Ford professor portrayal. Audry had none of the verve of her Amelie role or even her Senay role in Pretty Dirty Things. Jean Reno's "Leon" talent completely suppressed. The film lacked PASSION! Speaking of which, the whole promise of some great revelation undermining God or His Son Jesus Christ was so clearly fiction, that the film came across as false advertising. National Treasure, or any Indiana Jones film can be watched repeatedly and deliver great entertainment. This film is more like a handsome man or beautiful woman of allure, until they open their mouths and a hollow inside is revealed. For mystery or suspense novel/movie seekers this one will leave you unsatisfied on most any level. You feel cheated. Still, great cinematography.