Speaking as a woman, I was insulted, but not how you'd expect.

Rating: 4/10 (9 June 2006)

In the book, Neveu and Langdon work as a team, solving codes, orchestrating escapes, protecting each other. In Dan Brown's story, History and Religion provide a backdrop to a terrific thriller with strong characters. I was insulted by the elimination of strength and intelligence in Sophie's character. The actress has the ability, so I lay the failure on Ron Howard, and ultimately, on the producer, Tom Hanks. He has to become the brains and the brawn of the whole show and fails miserably. Too bad. If he had kept the actual plot, this could have been a good movie.
There are bright spots. Paul Bettany does his usual spectacular job as the monk, Silas. Please, World, make this man a star! Also, the only thing in Hank's favor is that he does manage to look confused in some of the right places. The story is about someone who has not had enough sleep when the plot begins, and doesn't get more than a catnap for most of the intrigue. He's dragged into a murder investigation and hasn't a clue how he got there. He really should have looked MORE confused! Sophie does seem to know how to act like she can handle a gun. Too bad the policewoman was so dumbed and gentled down that she became a non-entity. Definitely not Ron Howard's usual deft touch with his characters.