00s Movie Review - The Da Vinci Code

Director: Ron Howard
Genre: Mystery/ Thriller
Runtime: 139 minutes
Year: 2006
Starring: Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Paul Bettany, Alfred Molina, Jean Reno

Description: A murder and clues in paintings lead to the discovery of a closely guarded religious mystery

Review: The church wasn’t happy with the book “The Da Vinci Code” by author Dan Brown. But I think the church hates the movie even more, because it’s very detailed, realistic and close to its source material. A plus for director Ron Howard, who gave Browns killer a face, lets the blood visually flow and made the search for the holy grail a mysterious quest. It’s a search full of discoveries, surprises and cliffhangers. Over two hours on the edge of your seat. 

How detailed the movie may be, you can’t be as complete as 429 pages. But there is no need to. Howard used enough references to history from daily life. Why Friday the 13th is an unlucky day for instance. They aren’t flashbacks, it’s like Professor Langdon and Sophie are thinking it all over, to help them with deciphering codes, anagrams and riddles. 

Off course nothing speaks like your imagination. It’s often said that the book is better than the movie, because the characters get a different face than you imaged for instance. But the casting is good. Tom Hanks leads it as Robert Langdon and, as always, does a great job as the leading man. Audrey Tautou convinces as well as Ian McKellen and Jean Reno. But it’s Paul Bettany that steals the show, as Silas. The way he portrayed Silas; possessed, brutal, submissive.

Howard used some modern tricks for the movie. Where Langdon and Sophie use a library database in the book, here they work their way around a pocket computer with wireless internet connection. And the drive in a Smart, that manages to sneak through a gap between two trucks, is also a bit more spectacular than in the book. 

The movie is not as complete as the book, but equally impressive. The movie challenges you to believe, or at least ask yourself questions about it. The truth behind it when it comes to religion and history. For many “The Da Vinci Code” is a collection of factual inaccuracies, but the truth is what you believe. And that’s what Robert Langdon thinks.

Rating: 4/ 5