Enjoyable movie - recommended!

Rating: 9/10 (22 May 2006)

I saw this movie on Saturday and I really enjoyed it. I never read the book and didn't know very much about the plot going in besides the idea of the cover-up about the marriage of Jesus. If I'd read the book, it would probably be a little easier to follow. The different groups and their agendas were a little hard to keep up with. Other than that, I thought it was really cool how the seemingly meaningless flashbacks of the character's childhoods ended up playing a major role in furthering the plot along. I liked how every time I thought it was going to end, it wasn't quite over yet. I also liked how the characters weren't strictly good or evil. The monk did seem evil at first, but we see he a different side of him when he shoots the bishop. He seemed almost childish instead of a cold-blooded killer. I did predict a few things like the butler being a bad guy and Sophie being the descendant and the old historian being "the teacher", but I didn't figure it out too early that it ruined the movie for me. There were quite a few funny lines too! About all the controversy this movie is stirring up, I wasn't offended by it at all. It's not like it's trying to make you believe all those things about Jesus. At the end of the movie, did you believe Mary Magdelane is buried under the Louvre? No. No one is going to go there and try to dig her up. I thought it was a very interesting and clever conspiracy to create, but in no way was it trying to change your beliefs. It's fiction! Take away all the "controversial" (I use that word loosely) parts, and this was a very well written, cast, acted and executed movie. The locations were beautiful and the story never dragged. I definitely recommend it.