Despite some of its self-indulgence, a great romp.

Rating: 8/10 (14 May 2008)

My Take: A well-crafted and intriguing adaptation, Howard's self-importance notwithstanding.
After being a bestseller for many years, as well as being familiar to any literary adult, THE DA VINCI CODE arrived in theaters as one of 2006 biggest and most anticipated blockbusters. Directed by Academy-award winner Ron Howard and written by screenwriter Akiva Goldsman (whose works range from good ones like THE CLIENT and A BEAUTIFUL MIND to bad ones like BATMAN & ROBIN), THE DA VINCI CODE is bound to make a killing at the box-office, despite the fact that a lesser movie would have got better reviews than this did. I may be one of the very few people who hasn't read Brown's novel, but judging this, as a film, it's pretty good. So it does go on for two hours (some scenes look as if Howard was grooming this one up for an Oscar), but I was never bored.
Tom Hanks is just right as Robert Langdon, a symbolist sent to investigate the murder of a museum curator, who has strange markings written all over his dead body. The curator's granddaughter Sophie (Audrey Tautou) joins Langdon as he tries to configure a series of clues hidden in Da Vinci's paintings as well as other clues that could lead to a discovery that might change religion as we know it. Along the way, he is pursued by the French police Dept. lead by a Captain Fache (Jean Reno). Ian McKellen co-stars as Sir Leigh Teabing, a wealthy historian (and provides the best character in the film), as well as Paul Bettany as a tormented monk with a gun (Yeah! A gun.).
The film lacks the excitement it immensely requires. Although there are a certain amount of good car chase scenes, some of them are long and makes the film's already overlong run time longer. It's still good however, with its endless slew of code-crackings and riddle-solving (I was waiting for Indy Jones' father to ask "This is what you call archeology?" at any moment). There's a number of very intriguing plot turns, although the ending is still ludicrous. I haven't read Brown's novel, but the film ain't that bad at all. Catholic controversies aside, THE DA VINCI CODE is pure cinema, and not to be taken too seriously, and enjoy it for what it's worth.
Rating: **** out of 5.