A Superb Adaptation Of Dan Brown's Controversial Bestseller

Rating: 8/10 (14 June 2006)

Because I love the book so much (and because I had heard from a lot of people that the film really was not that good), I went into "The Da Vinci Code" a couple of weeks after its release with mild/low expectations. I honestly never thought that the film could retain the fast-paced and energetic feel of the book, I didn't think that Tom Hanks could portray Harvard professor Robert Langdon very effectively (haircut or not), and I didn't see how a book that goes by so quickly could take up 2 1/2 hours of screen time.
I was proved very wrong.
"The Da Vinci Code" is a superb adaptation of Dan Brown's controversial bestseller. It manages to keep the feel of the book present throughout, it meshes fact, fiction and history together seamlessly, the flashbacks were not irritating or unwelcome at all, and the casting is top-notch.
For those who have been living in the middle of nowhere for the past three years or so, "Code" tells the story of the murder of the curator of the Louvre, Jaques Sauniere, which leads Harvard professor Robert Langdon and French cryptologist Sophie Neveau on a scavenger hunt to unlock the secrets of the clues Sauniere left behind for them, leading them to a startling revelation about Jesus Christ , the Church, and the Holy Grail.
As I mentioned before, the casting is top-notch. Tom Hanks effectively portrays the intelligent Langdon, Audrey Tautou fairs well as Sophie, Alfred Molina is fairly good in whatever little screen time he has, and Jean Reno is stellar as usual. Two actors that really stood out were Ian McKellen and Paul Bettany. McKellen has always been a favorite of mine, but his portrayal of Sir Leigh Teabing is unforgettable, providing the perfect blend of intelligence, wit, and comedy. Paul Bettany is chillingly cold as Silas, the albino assassin. His scene of self-mutilation is arguably the film's most disturbing sequence.
However, "Code" is not perfect. I still did feel that the film was rather long. Cutting about ten to fifteen minutes at the end wouldn't have hurt. Also, the whole subplot of Sophie meeting her relatives from the book is, although shown differently, still there, which bothered me because I never liked that point in the book and I was hoping that they would discard it in the film (this could have helped with the aforementioned length issue).
Overall, "The Da Vinci Code" is another example of how to effectively translate a beloved novel to the big screen. It's not perfect, but its very close (one particular scene near the end that I was not too fond of in the book was done much better in the film). The cast is top notch, the directing is fine, and the film makes for a thrilling and entertaining 2 1/2 hours.
My suggestion, however: Read the novel first.
Rating: ***1/2