Tight, slick adaptation - recommended

Rating: 9/10 (22 May 2006)

After much anticipation, I was disappointed to read the negative reviews of DVC. Having seen the movie, I can see why reviewers have disliked it, though I think much of this criticism is misplaced and misunderstands what the movie and the book it accurately translates is trying to do.
I loved it. In spite of its tremendous complexity, the movie adaptation is true to the book in nearly every way. Great care has been taken to recreate Dan Brown's vision, and the result is superb.
Even without some of the stodgy editing, the movie's much-maligned heaviness is unavoidable. It is apparent to me that great care was taken to include in the movie only the essentials - there is much dialogue but most of it essential to the story. The movie is tight, and it is apparent to me that great care has been taken to use every moment in those 2.5 hours.
A common criticism I have read is that various characters' flashbacks are superfluous. I disagree. In addition to rounding out the characters, many flashbacks are important to the story, particularly Sophie's. Hanks' character's childhood experience might be an exception. But the flashbacks are always brief anyway; they don't get in the way of the story.
Performances are solid - but stars are rarely given a chance to shine. For me standouts were Hanks and, in particular, Bettany. McKellan was wonderful. Tatou was solid enough but far from exceptional. Reno was given one moment to shine (in explaining his pursuit of Langdon) and took it.
This is not a book that is easily adapted to screen - there is much information to convey and this crowds out character development. The challenge for director Howard was parsimony: to squeeze as much into the movie as possible while preserving a storyline. I think he achieved this admirably.
Highly recommended.