treat it as a "film" and still find it a strong sleeping pill

Rating: 6/10 (18 May 2006)

I have to say i have quite high an anticipation when i walked in the cinema, and obviously i was not alone to have high emotions tonight: the whole cinema was packed and my friend and i had to move to the front rows. my neck is still sore.
Anyone who had read the book may find the film version terrible as all the twists are known beforehand. But let's be fair and treat it as it is--a "film", there are still a whole lots of things making me bored and yawn. The film's flow is slow and all the twists and suspense you expect from the book are clearly overshadowed by the slow pace and clunky conversations. Ron Howard, as expected, tries his best to shoot this film in a linear way, in the sense that it squarely follows the chapters in the book, and that, makes me bored and yawn. Not did i want it to deviate from the story but if the purpose is to keep the audience' adrenalin going, Ron Howard just did the opposite.
The cinematography and the background sound effect doesn't really add up and help this movie a successful thriller. I don't agree that the movie is "dark" or "nocturnal" as according to the book, the incident happens in the middle of the night and only when the setting moves to London can one see the daytime activities. It is supposed to be 'nocturnal".
In a nutshell, the fatal flaw is it lacks the elements what a thriller should have: the tantalizing puzzles that make the audience baffled and desperate to know what will happen next; the looming sense of insecurity that keep the characters make the whole matters make-or-break. But for this one, you would probably just sit there and like "so?"
Still some good points: The visualisation of the plot, the architecture and the paintings are very much captivating. Ian Mckellen is just remarkable and fitting (though a bit of over exposure recently given his new work: X-Men3 is out soon); Paul Bettany's Silas wins my sympathy; Jean Reno, as some viewers said, was made for the role of Bazu Fache. Who could've done better? Audrey Tautou is convincing as Sophie Neveu. Finally, Tom Hanks, ha, guess we all need to give ourselves some time to get used to his hairstyle.
P.S. (no pun intended for the Priory of Sion or Princess Sophie) the emotions were equally high outside the cinema as some serious Catholics and priests gathered along the street to denounce the screening of this movie. Not that kind of promotion Sony Picture can get even if it pays.