The film disappointed me...it could've been so much better!

Rating: 4/10 (5 June 2006)

I loved the book and was hoping the movie would be just as entertaining, but it wasn't. As has been stated before, the movie dragged in several spots. It could've been edited much tighter than it was. My main issue with the movie came because of the filmmaker's decision to change two major plot points from the book for no apparent reason. (Caution, spoilers ahead...)
First, making Sauniere not be Sophie's grandfather. That was just arbitrary and really didn't need to be changed. Second, changing the reason why Aringarosa and Silas were after the Priory and the "Grail". In the book, they were like rogue agents working for their own specific purposes, but the movie had them as part of this secret organization within the Catholic church that was (and always had been) trying to kill off the family and the Priory. In my opinion, this change gives the Catholic Church every reason to be upset about the movie (theological implications aside).
The only bright spot in the whole movie was the decision to cast Sir Ian McKellen as Teabing. He brings a sense mischievous humor to every role he plays that makes you want to root for his character whether he's playing a villain or not.
My recommendation...if you haven't read the book, you'll probably enjoy the movie.