They had a chance to re-inspire people, but failed utterly

Rating: 7/10 (4 June 2006)

was a well done film with good acting and direction. But if you are expecting to be inspired as you were when reading the book, you will be disappointed.
Like the Harry Potter books, the book 'Da Vinci Code' caught the public's imagination and drew us into a wonderful world of ancient intrigue via the paintings of Da Vinci and the various organizations depicted like the Knights Templar, Opus Dei, etc. as well as opening up for public discourse some questions about the role of the sacred feminine. The hunt took us to exciting places full of rich history and tremendous architecture. It inspired people hugely in many different ways.
The film focused on none of the elements from the book that made it so unique. Rather, it pulled out incidents of violence and highlighted them, beginning with gratuitous scenes of flagellation, taking us far too often into the murky madness of Silas, and bombarding us with a cops and robbers fugitive hunt that offered absolutely nothing new for the viewer.
It was uninspiring. Compared to the book, it was insipid.
Whereas the Harry Potter films succeeded completely in bringing the books alive on the screen so that viewers were transported visually into the same wonderful ambiance created in the books (except for the one stupid bus scene), the movie Da Vinci missed the point entirely.
With Ron Howard as the producer, I don't know how this could have happened. I was gratified when I knew he was going to be in charge of the film. Did none of the people involved with this project have any idea of what they were dealing with? What a disappointment.
If you forget the book and just expect another Hollywood shoot 'em up assembly line hit, then you won't be disappointed.