Actually better than the book

Rating: 8/10 (17 February 2007)

It doesn't happen often, but in this case, the movie is better than the book. What the author didn't execute well in print the screenwriter and director *greatly* improve upon in this film adaptation. Gone is the cliché-ridden dialogue and, in its place, a fast-paced, well-executed thriller. It's not a great film, but certainly much better than most reviews would lead one to believe: the cast is solid and make the characters much more believable than the book, the flash backs and overlays representing historical events make events much more compelling than the book did, and the intrigues and red herrings just keep coming. As usual, Ron Howard delivers a visually-stunning film. A movie that will more than hold your attention until the final credits roll.