it was like watching a documentary on the History Channel

Rating: 4/10 (13 June 2006)

I've given this a 4 because I don't want to be entirely evil, but I really just didn't like this movie. I read the book about 3 years ago, and the main points that I remembered from the plot were neglected from the movie (last supper emphasis). I'm a fan of the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings movies, so I am not just pulling the "book will always be better" mentality. I found many points that could have been better executed as well, in terms of clarifying certain points and making it truer to the book and thus more comprehensible to the viewers.
*spoilers* From the very beginning of the movie when Langdon first set foot in the museum, they made no mention of why Sophie was there- how she was an intellectual. Well in this movie, her "grandfather's" secret code that he left for her was not mentioned and didn't give her any reason to be there or a reason for Langdon to trust her and her opinions.
I also felt that whatever Langdon discovered something or solved a riddle, we were watching him figure it out and not figuring it out with him, very similar to a college lecture or, as stated in my title of this review, a television documentary. Hilighting the letters of the "secret code"? Really Ron Howard? I've suddenly moved from the History Channel to PBS Kids: Let's Read!.
Oh and the ending??? Seriously. Come on now. There was no reason for that. The book is excellent, why not take SOME advice from it? *spoilers over* The flashbacks I found ridiculously corny and just seemed like an easy way out of explaining the plot through other cinematography aspects and an alteration of dialogue.
Which brings me to the dialogue. Dan Brown may write amazing novels, but he ain't no script writer.
The leads I found had no chemistry at all, and while they may have been independently good, that's not what movies are about.
This movie did not hold my attention and I will say that I did find myself nodding off through many parts though, upon questioning friends each time I awoke, I was told I didn't miss much.
Some scenes were much too long. Other scenes that needed to be longer were way too short.
Other people I notice worship this movie, so no offense to you. I just found this film a terrible waste of time and money, and a disappointment after all of the anticipation I felt. I really was watching through rose colored glasses and I still came out with this opinion.