Good Movie, Engrossing Movie

Rating: 7/10 (25 May 2006)

I haven't read the book, but I've heard good things. Tom Hanks and Ron Howard seem like a great movie-making combination... I was looking forward to this.
Having not read the book, I wasn't quite sure what to expect; however, from the opening murder in The Louvre, to brief discussions of Christian dogma, to Hanks telling stories about secret societies, I was utterly engrossed. Hanks seems to, as usual, be hypnotizing in his lead role. Audrey Tatou, playing the lead counterpart to Hanks, isn't quite Oscar-worthy here, but she does a pretty decent job. The real scene stealer is Paul Bettany, playing the most engrossing character of the movie, Silas. Jean Reno also lends his talent to the film, though he's not fully utilized.
Ron Howard is undoubtedly one of today's greatest directors, and he works his magic here quite well. Scenes are beautifully shot, pacing is great, and everything related to the director is top-notch. Kudos to Ronny H. here.
I can't comment on the story in comparison to the book, but as a newcomer, it was quite good. The mix of action here, dialogue there, and a theological background all over is quite good. Is it better or worse than the book? I can't say, but if it's worse than the book, I wouldn't imagine it would be by that much.