Good entertainment - don't expect much else

Rating: 7/10 (20 May 2006)

The Da Vinci code (the book) is a clever story. The film makes excellent work of a clever story in a well-directed way. It cuts out the unnecessary sub-plots and complications (e.g. instead of solving a puzzle-within-a-puzzle, they just solve a puzzle), and adds to a somewhat drab book a certain elegance, grandeur and ethos. For worried book-fans, don't worry - it follows the book pretty faithfully, with obvious licenses necessary for a film.
The soundtrack is fantastic and atmospheric - although not so much so that it becomes over-the-top. The director must be commended for pulling off the story without taking it all far too seriously. Epic is not overdone and is sparse, mystery is not blown out of proportion but is gripping. It is very delicately handled by Ron Howard in light of the obvious success of the book: a very good adaptation; in my mind better than the book.
The film introduces (or emphasises) certain motifs and themes not as strong in the book, for instance putting more of an influence of the visual motif of a rose. This adds a certain style and director's license to the film which makes it more than just a book-to-film transcription.
Despite certain poor performances (odd extras, and Sophie Neveu), Hanks and McKellen, plus particularly Bettany, pull off their characters very well indeed. Silas (Bettany) is done extremely well.
Overall I feel this film was an enrichment to a good story, certainly worthy as a counterpart, if not as a replacement altogether. Grand and visually rich, it was certainly worth watching - but maybe only once.