Wretched disappointment

Rating: 2/10 (23 May 2006)

This is my first ever review.
People who haven't read the book will be totally bewildered by this lackluster recital of Dan Brown's text. The movie does not stand on its own. It's as if every creative idea had by anyone involved was tabled by committee. My guess is there was conflict in the creative process. The movie is flat and uninteresting instead of being an exciting cinematic exploration of a contemporary masterpiece. For my $8.50, it was a disappointment to say the least - it reminds me of 'Star Trek: Nemesis'; lots of unmet expectations and a waste of top-notch talent. Howard and Hanks are capable of much better work.
The casting is so bad I can't believe it. The albino has blue eyes and whiskers. (hint to folks who've never seen an albino: red eyes and no pigment in hair - none.) Audrey is a chiseled waif, not a woman with words or body that "curved richly". Sophie is green-eyed and has burgundy hair. Fache is supposed to be a guy that looks more like Danny DeVito on steroids than unshaved Tommy Lee Jones. The guy that played Fache looked totally wrong and Jack Palance should have played Teabing - totally botched. Gates McFadden should have played Sophie.. or maybe even Jennifer Connelly (with burgundy hair and green contacts).
The scene where Sophie is in the bathroom with Langdon is supposed to result in the authorities thinking he committed suicide - this is totally botched in the movie as is the murder scene from chapter 94 - which is supposed to occur inside a car.
Read the book. It's a good story. Don't waste your money on this movie.