A well crafted film

Rating: 9/10 (19 May 2006)

Just watched The Da Vinci Code and I have to say I'm quite impressed with the way they dealt with this Controversial book to adapted film. I read the book over a year ago and I had a pretty good idea of how it was going to be. I went to watch it with no reviews read, beforehand of the film but yes, while watching the film I had to keep comparing it to the much talked about novel. So this is what my account of the film was -
The film starts of a bit slow paced and I wasn't very attached to the first few of scenes because they weren't so vivid and dramatic as I had seen it in my head while reading the book and I was having doubts whether it was going to hold me on the edge of my seat. I felt even the ending dragged on a little tiny bit too much. Also I was having a difficult time Acclimatizing with the characters in the beginning especially Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon but all that suspicion goes after a good half an hour when we start getting right into the crux of the story.
There were some aspects I really liked about this film such as the use of flash backs which really worked in favour of bettering the story understanding. The book goes into great deal with explaining the whole story behind Jesus Christ and the Blood line and I felt that was well assembled on in film. I was watching the film with my parents (who haven't read the book) and wondering whether they were actually understanding the story and it turned out they were following it, which was a relief for me because i literally dragged them in to watch it.
Over all the actors did a wonderful job I was totally blown away with Paul Bettany's performance as Silas. Audrey Tautou was very much in character mode and the same goes for Ian McKellen and Tom Hanks (although I didn't think Tom Hanks hair style was necessary, short hair was the way to go).
I also really loved the cinematography for this film, it was really well done. The whole feel of the film was very much like the book, the colour, contrast, composition, lighting and architect was very much Da Vinci like.
There have been minor changes to the narrative in the film to the book but that of course had to be done. The filmmakers pretty much stuck to the whole plot and how it unravels, which was delight to compare with, with the Book. I enjoyed watching the ending, quite provoking, the way Tom Hanks leaves it to us to believe what we want to and that this whole episode means nothing if want it to mean nothing cause at the end it doesn't effect our relationship with God, its just our thinking.
The Da Vinci Code, I believe lived to its expectation and Director Ron Howard crafts a very delicate subject with the right touch of spice and presents it in style. I would rate it 9 out of 10 watch it, -1 for the beginning and pace of film :-)