Pretty close to the book. Unfortunately, the book already had its flaws.

Rating: 7/10 (25 May 2006)

I like Dan Brown's novels. His choice of words is weak, his research is poor, his plots are painfully similar. But they are entertaining as hell and you can't lay his books down until you finished them. You like his characters - protagonists and antagonists alike. And while the central idea behind each book is nonsense, it makes for a hell of a great read.
I like the Da Vinci Code. Jesus marrying Maria Magdalena and getting kids is bull, of course. Besides, it has been done to death. And it's been done better. But the book wraps this tired (and cheesy) theory in a captivating thriller. While the theological conspiracy theory doesn't work, the thriller leaves you on the edge of your seat. What more do you expect from a movie?
The casting was inspired. Hanks as Langdon is the only weak point. The books describe Langdon as Harrison-Fordish, I would have picked Gary Sinise. Hanks comes off as too tired and too boring. Audrey Tautou however is beautiful and fits the character perfectly. Ian McKellen steals every scene he's in, and his almost childish excitement is infecting. Jean Reno is the only one who could have played the role of Bezu Fache. I missed the part (that is in the book) which set up Fache as a red herring, but the film is long enough as it is. Great performances from Alfred Molina, Paul Bettany and JÃ¼rgen Prochnow as well.
All in all, a very faithful adaptation of a pretty entertaining book. I'm looking forward to adaptations of Angels and Demons, Deception Point and Digital Fortress (and Brown's upcoming Langdon book about the Freemasons and Washington, DC). But I'm really starting to wish that Brown and the filmmakers do better research next time. The whole DaVinci code theory that ties the plot together is the weakest part of the book (and the movie) and the Opus Dei? Don't get me started.