Excellent Adaption of the Book

Rating: 7/10 (6 June 2006)

"The Da Vinci Code" is highly entertaining due to its substance. There have been many negative reviews about its length and tedious pace, but I think that Ron Howard took the right approach when he converted the book to cinema. It's not a Hollywood blockbuster - action-packed, thrilling, or suspenseful as the book ever was. It's smarter than that.
The movie delves deep into a secret that could shake the foundations of the Catholic community, and it emphasizes this aspect of the book more than the pacing. Sure, at times I felt like sleeping, but it was rewarding to see that they really explained the story that has been getting so much controversy lately.
In other words, although the movie was stripped of its excitement, the fundamental part of what made the book intriguing and remarkable remains intact.
The acting won't get any academy awards, but Tom Hanks makes a good Robert Langdon and so does the actress who plays Sophie. Ian McKellen is the perfect Teabing too.
In the end, I wouldn't recommend this movie to anybody who doesn't have the patience to hear about Catholocism (maybe you have to be Catholic to truly appreciate the message?) At any rate, it's that part of the movie - the plot that Dan Brown made so famous - that is the movie's highlight. If you've read the book, I think you'll genuinely enjoy it.
I did. =)