The movie was exceptionally cast.....except for the director.

Rating: 7/10 (22 May 2006)

Having read the book twice, once around when it came out, and then again when i bought the paperback, i thoroughly enjoyed the book. I loved the characters, the plot, the time line it followed, everything. The movie, I can't really say the same. I thought it was a decent adaptation, though there were a few glaring omissions that would have made it much better, and a couple characters who's parts were drastically reduced who were larger characters in the book. Though the characters in the movie i found were cast very well. Though i would have liked to see someone else as Langdon, i thought Tom Hanks did quite well, as he always does. Audrey Tatou(sorry if i butchered her name)I found did very well as Sophie, and never have seeing her act before, i thought she did very well. Paul Bettany was impeccable as the misled Silas. I thought Aringarosa could have had a larger part, and how they twisted his storyline i did not like, though Alfred Molina did well with what he had. And what can i say about Ian McKellan that hasn't been said before, this man can do no wrong. He always takes what he is given and makes it his own. His scenes were the funniest, and truly got the character.
The only part cast that i had qualms with was the director, Ron Howard. Why would they give this highly controversial(whether you believe it or not)story to him. This man makes family movies. He washes down what he can to make it less a controversy so that it panders to everyone. I felt that just about anyone, including Lucas could have given this story a better treatment. My choice would have been Scorcese(again, sorry for butchering the name)to direct given his record for making "His" movie, not the "Studio" movie. Even Roman Polanski could have done well, and would have had no problem directing in France, though England would have been problematic.
All in all, the movie was decent for an adaptation, i wouldn't recommend it for a night movie, don't waste the 10 to 12 dollars, see the matinée.