For those who don’t know, or have managed to avoid television, bookstores, and have been living in a cave for more then a year, the story behind “The Da Vinci Code” is as follows. After he is called upon to help with cryptic messages and symbols left by a murdered Louvre curator, Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks,) is thrust into the middle of a conspiracy that many would and have killed to keep secret. Helped by Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou), a French cryptologist, Langdon must decipher the clues and stay alive in the process. They are on the path to exposing a secret that has been kept silent for many years. A secret so big that exposing it would shake the faith of Catholics all over the planet.
As a fan of the book, I went into this movie putting aside all feelings toward the book. I knew that if I went in expecting the same from the movie that I got from the book, then I was destined to be disappointed. The movie left out a lot that was in the book, but I’m not here to nitpick. My job is to see the film as a stand alone piece and not look at where it fails in comparison to the book.
From the first time I heard that Tom Hanks was going to play Robert Langdon, I always thought they could have done better casting. When I read the book, I thought he was younger. Hanks is 50, and starting to look it. I had always thought of Langdon as late 30’s at the youngest to early 40’s. I was asked who should have played Langdon, and I couldn’t answer that. I do think that Hanks did a decent job (feel free to voice differing opinions.) I did feel that he didn’t bring anything special to the role and it was lacking in what Langdon could have been.
No one really impressed me in the film. The only person I really thought embodied the role they were given was Ian McKellen, Sir Leigh Teabing. Teabing, a scholar and friend of Robert Langdon was called upon to help the two fugitives. He has a great knowledge of The Priory of Scion and Holy Grail myth. Now this could just be my bias, I happen to think that McKellen can play any part given to him.
I feel that I have to address the controversy surrounding this movie and the book it is based on. It goes without saying that a film like this was bound to make some people angry. It had been banned in a few countries and condemned by religious groups. I personally don’t see what the fuss is about. IT IS A MOVIE. No one ever said this is the truth and what you know is wrong. The movie leaves everything open to interpretation. You can choose to agree or disagree with it.
At the end of the film Langdon says a line that I’m positive was put in for all the protestors. He tells Sophie that it doesn’t matter what everyone else thinks “What matters is what you believe.” The movie/book is there as a story and never preaches to be the truth. What it gets down to, and as misanthropic as this may sound, is the fact that most people are stupid. There are people who hear things and refuse to question it. They take what they are told as truth and believe it. This movie/book is not for those people, you must go into this film with an open mind and be willing to accept it for what it is. It’s not there to tell you what to believe, it is there to bring up questions. I will echo what I said in my “Vendetta” review. You must see this for what it it-A MOVIE. So please stop saying its bashing Christianity and have an open mind, or just keep your irrational hatred to yourself
7 out of 10
Rated PG-13 for disturbing images, violence, some nudity, thematic material, brief drug references and sexual content.
Runtime: 149 min
