Good book, mediocre movie

Rating: 5/10 (27 May 2006)

I don't care one way or another if the story is pure fiction, true, or a combination of both. If people are so uninformed about history or religion that they have to learn the truth from a Hollywood movie, then they have greater issues in their lives. However, I do care about spending my money on a movie that is not entertaining. I thought the book was very good, it was thought provoking, and moved along at a fast pace. I cannot say the same for the movie. Maybe because I knew what was coming, but the movie just seemed to move along at a snail's pace and I found none of the conversations between any of the actors enjoyable. It was like everyone was going by the numbers just to get the movie made. Tom Hanks is a very good actor but I found none of the qualities that made him such a good actor in this performance. The one word that comes to mind is bland. The whole movie for me was just too bland. Paul Bettany was good, Sir Ian McKellan was OK and Audrey Tautou was adorable, but where was the fire, the passion, the levity, the chemistry? I would not have cared if they came right out and said that God is a woman, if they could have made a more entertaining movie.