The Da Vinci Code: Review Thread

9950 Views 305 Replies 69 Participants Last post by Vigil, Jun 4, 2006

WriteSimple

Discussion Starter · May 18, 2006

Another short review, guys.

Let me say first that I've not yet read the book. I was waiting to watch the movie version before I dive into it. So whatever love you have for the book, know that the adaptation will be different from the movie.

Thus it could sound like I'm a goofball when I say that The Da Vinci Code movie doesn't live up to its namesake. Sure there were some scenes where you can see the link with Leonard and Saunierre, but most of the movie is about the other major quest.

Having said that, this is a well-written, well-made, and well-acted movie. It might just tip the Oscar hat for some of its actors. I won't say anything about the plot - not like you could escapse the media frenzy over it right now - except that it was built pretty well.

I haven't seen much of Ron Howard's movies lately but this is one of his best. He directs this thriller expertly. What is amazing is how he flies through the exposition scenes. Dan Brown may have laid the fooundation but Howard just flew off the runway. Thankfully Howard also kept it real. In most of the scenes in France involving the French people - yes believe it or not - the dialogue is entirely in French! So be prepared to read the subtitles.

Tom Hanks never looked this smart since Apollo 13 and after a while, you forget about his hair. His style is subtle but clever; you can see his mind works while he's thinking. People might not see it as Oscar calibre but I think it is. Audrey Tautou is delightful to watch as the smart but naive Sophie. Ian McKellen is brilliant as Sir Leigh Teabing; Gandalf can do no wrong. Paul Bettany portrayed Silas as a layered character, which fits the character well. Jean Reno is underutilized as BÃ©zu Fache but he did the best he could; only near the end do we see depth in his Fache. Like Reno, I think Alfred Molina's role as Bishop Aringarosa is also underutilized.

I can't say much about the sound design - I saw it at the same hall as the Over The Hedge screening - that is to say that it's not as active as some of you would like. But it's certainly there in places. The special effects and how it weaves in and out of the plot is very well done.

The Da Vinci Code is a pretty entertaining yarn, a tale that is tantalizingly delicious if only parts of it is true. It certainly has that replayability factor when it comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray later this year.

fuad

See less See more

Status: Not open for further replies.

1 - 20 of 306 Posts

eweiss

· #2 · May 18, 2006

Wow.

Just when I was ready to flush this thing down the toilet (which is what most reviewers seem to be doing), you give it a thumbs up. And an interesting thumbs up.

Maybe all the negative reviews are because the media wanted this to be an effective church-bashing movie, and when it turned out not to be, they turned against it.

Robertwood needs to read your comments. He's already bought his tickets, I think!

longshot

· #3 · May 18, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by WriteSimple
Another short review, guys.

Let me say first that I've not yet read the book. I was waiting to watch the movie version before I dive into it. So whatever love you have for the book, know that the adaptation will be different from the movie.

Thus it could sound like I'm a goofball when I say that The Da Vinci Code movie doesn't live up to its namesake. Sure there were some scenes where you can see the link with Leonard and Saunierre, but most of the movie is about the other major quest.

Having said that, this is a well-written, well-made, and well-acted movie. It might just tip the Oscar hat for some of its actors. I won't say anything about the plot - not like you could escapse the media frenzy over it right now - except that it was built pretty well.

I haven't seen much of Ron Howard's movies lately but this is one of his best. He directs this thriller expertly. What is amazing is how he flies through the exposition scenes. Dan Brown may have laid the fooundation but Howard just flew off the runway. Thankfully Howard also kept it real. In most of the scenes in France involving the French people - yes believe it or not - the dialogue is entirely in French! So be prepared to read the subtitles.

Tom Hanks never looked this smart since Apollo 13 and after a while, you forget about his hair. His style is subtle but clever; you can see his mind works while he's thinking. People might not see it as Oscar calibre but I think it is. Audrey Tautou is delightful to watch as the smart but naive Sophie. Ian McKellen is brilliant as Sir Leigh Teabing; Gandalf can do no wrong. Paul Bettany portrayed Silas as a layered character, which fits the character well. Jean Reno is underutilized as BÃ©zu Fache but he did the best he could; only near the end do we see depth in his Fache. Like Reno, I think Alfred Molina's role as Bishop Aringarosa is also underutilized.

I can't say much about the sound design - I saw it at the same hall as the Over The Hedge screening - that is to say that it's not as active as some of you would like. But it's certainly there in places. The special effects and how it weaves in and out of the plot is very well done.

The Da Vinci Code is a pretty entertaining yarn, a tale that is tantalizingly delicious if only parts of it is true. It certainly has that replayability factor when it comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray later this year.

fuad

Thanks for the review. Interesting that it is getting creamed by the critics but your review and other non critics over at IMDB have been very good.

See less See more

sprint8

· #4 · May 18, 2006

Ebert has come out with a favourable review...

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/...VIEWS/60419009

Rottentomatoes has it at 21% this morning!

Taperwood

· #5 · May 18, 2006

Well, I read the book but have not seen the movie. As a novel of mystery and suspense, I was totally bored halfway through the book, and it's premise on the church's involvement is laughable. Based on that, I have no desire to see the movie.

So how's that for a review?

Doug

thedeskE

· #6 · May 18, 2006

Write

Thanks - nice to hear a pos review. More often than not, I go against the prof reviewers, so perhaps there's a hope for this one.

E

eweiss

· #7 · May 18, 2006

Ebert makes it sound like what I expected the movie to be. As I suggested, maybe the reason it's getting all the negative reviews is because it is too ludicrous to be able to use to bash the Catholic Church, and that's what many reviewers were hoping they could use/promote it for. Just my guess, though.

So, is the "revelation"
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) Spoiler
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) the fact that the "grail" is the living descendant(s) of Jesus and Mary Magdalene?

eweiss

· #8 · May 18, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by sprint8
Ebert has come out with a favourable review...

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/...VIEWS/60419009

Rottentomatoes has it at 21% this morning!

Ebert makes it sound like what I expected the movie to be. So maybe I will see it. As I suggested, maybe the reason it's getting all the negative reviews is because it is too ludicrous to be able to use to bash the Catholic Church, and that's what many reviewers were hoping they could use/promote it for. Just my guess, though.

So, is the "revelation"
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) Spoiler
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) the fact that the "grail" is the living descendant(s) of Jesus and Mary Magdalene?

See less See more

PooperScooper

· #9 · May 18, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by thedeskE
Write

Thanks - nice to hear a pos review. More often than not, I go against the prof reviewers, so perhaps there's a hope for this one.

E

I'm used to thinking of something else for "pos" than positive.

larry

See less See more

PooperScooper

· #10 · May 18, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by eweiss
Ebert makes it sound like what I expected the movie to be. So maybe I will see it. As I suggested, maybe the reason it's getting all the negative reviews is because it is too ludicrous to be able to use to bash the Catholic Church, and that's what many reviewers were hoping they could use/promote it for. Just my guess, though.

So, is the "revelation"
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) Spoiler
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show) the fact that the "grail" is the living descendant(s) of Jesus and Mary Magdalene?

It's all hoopla. The book is just an entertaining construction of things that poses a different point of view on something that was documented a long long time ago. If people are truly threatened or whatever by the book or movie, even after having reading/seeing it, then..... well, I won't go there.

larry

eweiss

· #11 · May 18, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by PooperScooper
It's all hoopla. The book is just an entertaining construction of things that poses a different point of view on something that was documented a long long time ago. If people are truly threatened or whatever by the book or movie, even after having reading/seeing it, then..... well, I won't go there.

larry

Does it have any cartoons of Jesus wearing a bomb-shaped yarmulke?

NewNameGuy

· #12 · May 18, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by eweiss
As I suggested, maybe the reason it's getting all the negative reviews is because it is too ludicrous to be able to use to bash the Catholic Church, and that's what many reviewers were hoping they could use/promote it for.

FYI - This is the sort of thing that leads to heated discussion and leads to threads getting locked.

eweiss

· #13 · May 18, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewNameGuy
FYI - This is the sort of thing that leads to heated discussion and leads to threads getting locked.

Just a speculation (one which neither I nor anyone else can really run with - unless some reviewers "'fess up"). And ... it's no secret that much of the hoopla about the film is precisely because it slanders Opus Dei and the Catholic Church, as well as supposedly being "blasphemous."

So ... what is YOUR speculation why the huge majority of reviewers are dissing this film that seems to be no more and no less than an Indiana Jones movie - and, per Roger Ebert, not a bad one at that? Too "wordy"? Too "preposterous"? (As if Indy's movies were believable.) Are Hanks and Tautou really that bad (something I find hard to believe)?

VAN HELSING got a 22% on the Tomato Meter (DA VINCI only has 20% as of this post). Surely DA VINCI isn't anywhere near as bad as that. It's got Ron Howard, Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen.

So why are all the reviewers trashing this film? It's barely above THE AVENGERS (15%) and way, way below CHARLIE'S ANGELS: FULL THROTTLE (41%).

See less See more

IAM4UK

· #14 · May 18, 2006

eweiss, I think NewNameGuy may have highlighted your comment as potentially incendiary because it ascribes to others a motivation we cannot prove. (Much like the book "The Davinci Code" does, ironically.) As it happens, I consider your speculation entirely plausible and consistent with the words and actions of some folks; however, I can see NNG's point.

And as for Van Helsing: That movie featured Kate Beckinsale in tight black leather outfits. It can't be all that bad.

eweiss

· #15 · May 18, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by IAM4UK
And as for Van Helsing: That movie featured Kate Beckinsale in tight black leather outfits. It can't be all that bad.

Unfortunately, it is. Bad. Very bad (say it with a Russian/Transylvanian accent). It's not even cheesy. More like store-brand Velveeta.

NewNameGuy

· #16 · May 18, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by eweiss
:Just a speculation (one which neither I nor anyone else can really run with - unless some reviewers "'fess up").

This isn't just fun speculation about how the film will do at the box office, or what Audrey Tautou will wear to the Oscars.

You are making a blatant accusation that the media is made up of horrible, Catholic-hating people out to bash the Church. That's a vile accusation.

Do you want to open up a whole discussion here as to whether the media is made up of horrible, Catholic-hating, church-bashing people - people with no journalistic integrity who are bashing the movie because they are disappointed it doesn't share their vile beliefs? Is *that* the discussion you think we should be having on this forum?

Or, do you think you should get to go around making such attacks, but then nobody should respond to them?
Quote:

And ... it's no secret that much of the hoopla about the film is precisely because it slanders Opus Dei and the Catholic Church, as well as supposedly being "blasphemous."

Nonsense. Yes, there are people trying to hype the whole controversy angle. There are people out there who love controversy and revel in discussing that aspect of movies. But the hoopla surrounding the movie is because it is based on a wildly popular book.

Quote:

So ... what is YOUR speculation why the huge majority of reviewers are dissing this film that seems to be no more and no less than an Indiana Jones movie

See, here's the thing. Had I seen the movie yet, I could comment on the movie. That's what I'm interested in talking about. Speculating on hidden motivations behind reviewers isn't what I think we should be talking about.

Just to be clear, there is room for discussing reviewer's motivations. If I *had* seen the movie and disagreed with a reviewer about it, it might be worth speculating about why the reviewer disagreed with me.

But the idea of just discussing whether or not the media is made up of horrible people - for the sake of discussing the media - that's altogether something different.

See less See more

eweiss

· #17 · May 18, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewNameGuy
This isn't just fun speculation about how the film will do at the box office, or what Audrey Tautou will wear to the Oscars.

NNG: You accuse me of too much.

In fact, you charge me with making an accusation, when all I was stating was a speculation.

But for the record here: I WAS JUST GUESSING, SPECULATING. Mea Culpa.

Okay, no more speculations by me as to why the huge majority of reviewers are putting this movie in the trash pile. Maybe the movie really is a turkey.

Speculating about the unspectacular and suspiciously shabby showing of a specious and speculating novel based on a similarly specious and speculating book....

Suffering succotash!!

See less See more

thebland

· #18 · May 18, 2006

I read about 1 book every couple years...Loved this book! Read Angels and Demons after (very similar to Da Vinci). I look forward to seeing the film.

NewNameGuy

· #19 · May 18, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by eweiss
NNG: You accuse me of too much.

In fact, you charge me with making an accusation, when all I was stating was a speculation.

No, I don't think I do. I accused you of making a very serious attack on a group of people who write movie reviews. That they are so filled with Catholic hatred that they are lying about how entertaing a movie is to punish the movie for not bashing the Catholic church enough.

How do you expect people to reply to such an attack (that's a serious question, I honestly am curious how you thing people should reply.) Should they start a whole debate on exactly how Corrupt and contemptible these people are? Or should you get to make such accusations, without people being able to reply?

archiguy

· #20 · May 18, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by eweiss
Maybe all the negative reviews are because the media wanted this to be an effective church-bashing movie, and when it turned out not to be, they turned against it.

......As I suggested, maybe the reason it's getting all the negative reviews is because it is too ludicrous to be able to use to bash the Catholic Church, and that's what many reviewers were hoping they could use/promote it for. Just my guess, though.

No, based on your own comments, I'd say NewNameGuy was right on target, Eric.

It's ridiculous to think the media boogyman (How is it you left out the word "liberal" in front of "media"? Just forgot, I presume; you'll get fined for that omission, you know.) is acting as a disciplined unit in order to "bash" the Catholic Church. That well-oiled persecution complex is getting silly, and old.

1 - 20 of 306 Posts

Status: Not open for further replies.