Worth the wait.

Rating: 7/10 (21 May 2006)

After reading the book at breakneck speed several years ago I was interested to see how the movie would develop the characters and the detailed historical background which provided the necessary information to follow the plot. I thought Ron Howard did a masterful job of bringing the viewer along so even one who had not read the book could know and understand what was happening.
While disappointed that many media reports panned the film I found that the movie was reasonably true to the book, created the same sense of suspense found on the written page, and moved at a pace much quicker than I was led to believe. The actors played their roles well, although I thought Audrey Tautou's character could have been a little bit more forceful coming off a little too naive and demure. Funny though issues like the length of Tom Hanks hair neither added or detracted from the movie and to me he made a very believable college professor. Jean Reno and Ian McKellen were up to their usual standards and fit their roles perfectly. Paul Bettany was new to me but he nailed the part of Silas creating a truly sinister and frightening character.