The Story was the Star

Rating: 9/10 (25 May 2006)

Most people judge a movie based on the book. I did this for Tom Clancy's Clear and Present Danger. The book was far better than the movie. I bought the Dan Brown book last weekend knowing I wouldn't have a lot of time to read it since work comes first. I made it through the first 10 chapters. Then I went to see the movie. The critics harped on a poor "wooden" performance by Hanks. But I am one of those that remembers the critics that hated Star Wars. The loved The Royal Tenenbaums. The so called experts have repeatedly told us would we will like and not like. The Aviator was so painful to sit through, I almost walked out. Gangs of New York was so bad, I returned the DVD to the place I bought it from, claiming it didn't play. I judge a movie in the theater based on how many times I look at my watch. I know when I entered the theater. I know before I enter the theater how long the movie is. If I look at my watch more then once, the movie doesn't hold my attention. The DaVinci Code held my attention and then some. The ending somewhat predictable, once the movie got to that point. The way Ron Howard ended it, I was impressed. If you loved the book, great. I will be finishing it in the next week. But this is a movie I will be buying on DVD in a heartbeat. I left the theater feeling the same way as I did about Spielberg's War of the World. I wanted to turn around and see War of the Worlds again just after I left. It was extremely entertaining. This is what I am looking for. Russell Crowe deserved the Oscar for "A Beautiful Mind" over Washington. Anyone could have played the heavy in a 'bad cop' movie. But Russell Crowe was everything to "A Beautiful Mind". Ron Howard found a way to make a movie about a mathematician entertaining. One of the best movie in a while. "Training Day" was a good movie. Not great...... Ron Howard did a very good job with this movie. I was entertained. And I am Catholic. Enjoy this movie. Screw the critics. They don't know JACK !!!!!!!! Like Star Wars, the movie and the story is the STAR.