**Don't** read the book before you see the movie...

Rating: 4/10 (21 May 2006)

I'm sure I would have enjoyed this movie much more if I hadn't read the book in the 24 hours prior to seeing it. From the very start, I felt like too many details had been dropped or completely missed. Overall, the movie captures the adventure and "treasure hunt" style of the book, but I found myself regularly disappointed.
I don't know what all the fuss is about, Audrey Tautou was not as impressive as they say. This might be the result of a bad screenplay, i.e., the scene on the plane with Silas!?!?. Paul Bettany and Ian McKellan made this movie, although their physical appearance does not really match the description of Silas and Teabing from the book. Of course, Tom Hanks was a worthy Robert Langdon, but I'll never be able to read Dan Brown's character without seeing Tom's face. (I have the same problem with Harry Potter...)
The movie itself was really slow before the climax at the end...I felt myself wanting more action. Also, there are some parts of the book that were altered in the movie and therefore, the result is a lack of explanation. For example, after the scene at the Templar Church, Teabing is put in the TRUNK instead of the rear of the car. Of course, Ron Howard tried to make up for this with a riverside scene, but he could have left that out and included the first cryptex instead. It's those small things that reading the book right before seeing the movie "ruined" for me.
Of course, some of the best lines from the book were preserved, such as the three questions Teabing poses to Langdon at Château Villette's gate. Well delivered by McKellan and Hanks.
This movie will probably be best enjoyed by those who have not read the book... Otherwise, go find a copy of the book and read it again.