A very good summer blockbuster...nothing more, nothing less

Rating: 1/10 (21 May 2006)

did have high expectations when this project was first announced. But the final trailer plus the TV spots plus the reviews kind of lowered my expectations. But, to my surprise, the film met the high expectations I initially had.
The film starts out kind of slow, but its interesting. The score and the puzzles in the beginning keep you on the edge of your seat. Plus, there are some great action-chase scenes that make your heart skip a beat.
The film though really starts to become something amazing when Ian McKellen arrives. The way he explains history is very entertaining and it makes the mind ponder about the whole thing(even though you know in the back of your mind that it is all fiction). The puzzles get more and more interesting and even if you have read the book, you're still confused a bit about what is going on.
However, the film starts to take a turn for the worse once Ian McKellen character goes away, as it did in the book. The rest of the film is OK and just finishes everything up. It kind of makes people a bit bored.
That said, the film overall was great. WHile it may seem odd that a drama could be a summer blockbuster, the film has the qualities. Big star, big name, good acting overall(Ian was the only one who did a great job, everyone else was good) and a film that is just very entertaining, nothing more. While it does intrguie the mind, the fact that you know it is fiction sort of takes away this element after the film is over. Its just a film that keeps you very entertained for 2 and a half hours, which is what a summer blockbuster should do. Def. catch this in theaters as the theater sound is very key for this, as the score is amazing.
8/10