The Da Vinci Code

Despite all the bad reviews I've been hearing about the movie, after reading The Da Vinci Code numerous times, not going to see this movie simply was not an option. This occasion marks the first time in many years that I've gone to see a movie on it's opening weekend.

Marc and I headed to the 8:30 showing tonight with high expectations. First off -- I don't think the negative reviews of this film are justified, well, most of them anyway. Directing a story that is so well known has got to be a tough thing to do, but I think Ron Howard did an excellent job. Tom Hanks was outstanding in his role as Robert Langdon. Foreign film actress Audrey Tautou introduced herself to mainstream America in excellent fashion in her role as Sophie Neveu, and the rest of the cast, for the most part, were good.

I didn't really like Paul Bettany's portrayal of Silas the albino. I'm not quite sure what it is that I didn't like about the role, but throughout the entire movie I was pulled away from the story by his character. Another part of the movie I didn't necessarily like were the flashbacks, which I found visually unpleasing for the most part, and it seemed as though all of them were done in different styles which kind of took away from the whole deal.

Although not as good as the book -- not even close -- the movie does it's job of telling Dan Brown's story quite successfully. Howard and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman stuck to Brown's story quite faithfully and it makes for an interesting watch. If you haven't read the book, you might want to read it before you run out to the theatre -- chances are you've already seen it though, as apparently it's taken in just under $80 million dollars on it's opening weekend.