Ranking the Franchise - Robert Langdon

Based on the famous Robert Langdon book series, by author Dan Brown, director Ron Howard has turned three of the books in the series into movies. By the time I’m rewatching these movies, Dan Brown has just released his sixth book in this series. The books were kind of randomly turned into movies, starting with book 2, then book 1 and the last was book 4.
 

3. Inferno (2016)
This film, based on the fourth book in the series, was released six years after its last Robert Langdon film. It was clearly my least favorite of the three films and the one I remember the least about. Even though it’s the most recent film in the series. Mainly because it’s feels a lot like the other ones and unoriginal. Check our my full review HERE.
 

2. Angels & Demons (2009)
I really enjoyed the mystery here, more than its sequel. The film opens with a bang and I loved the setting. There is a lot of explaining and the runtime is fairly long, but I did enjoy this film. HERE is my full review.  
 

1. The Da Vinci Code (2006)
This is clearly my favorite. I actually first saw it in theaters and was obsessed with it for a long time. I have rewatched it many times since then, but it had been a while since I last watched it. But it still holds up. This is the only really good adaptation of one of the Robert Langdon books. It’s also very true to its source material. The performances in this movie are  very strong overall, which is not the case for the other two films. The characters in “The Da Vinci Code” are more memorable. Read my full review HERE.

00s Movie Review - Angels & Demons

Director: Ron Howard
Genre: Thriller/ Mystery
Runtime: 138 minutes
Year: 2009
Starring: Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Stellan Skarsgård, Ayelet Zurer

Description: Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) works with a nuclear physicist to solve a murder and prevent a terrorist act against the Vatican during one of the significant events within the church.

Review: “Angels & Demons” open with a bang, as well as visual as sound. Director Ron Howard sets the tone to the spectacle we are going to experience. You are overwhelmed with tons of info, see grotesque images of the Vatican and the laboratory of CERN. After that opening, we see Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon for the first time in this film. He is called to the Vatican to help them with the kidnapping of the four preferiti.

The movie has a quick montage and it looks all so impressive. But there is also some room to breathe and reflect. The search for the missing preferiti is exciting, but sometimes a little bit predictable. But overall it’s a well-executed thriller that keeps you on the edge at all times. I loved Tom Hanks in “The Da Vinci Code” but also in “Angels & Demon” (okay, I love Tom Hanks in everything). Ewan McGregor and Stellan Skarsgård are solid supporting actors.

Although I really enjoyed “Angels & Demons”, I prefer “The Da Vinci Code”.

Rating: 5/ 5

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

90s Movie Review - Apollo 13

Director: Ron Howard
Genre: Drama/ Adventure
Runtime: 134 minutes
Year: 1995
Starring: Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Ed Harris, Gary Sinise, Kathleen Quinlan, Ray McKinnon, Clint Howard

Description: NASA must devise a strategy to return Apollo 13 to Earth safely after the spacecraft undergoes massive internal damage putting the lives of the three astronauts on board in jeopardy.

Review: Jim Lovell is working at NASA, in 1970s America. He wants only one thing and that is to set foot on the moon. He has therefore had to wait a long time, but now it’s finally  happening. Due to illness of the original flight leader, Jim and his team are deployed on Apollo 13. During the flight, which initially goes well, some major problems arise. Jim and his team now have to do everything to get back to Earth safely. Jim, and his team members Fred and Jack must survive in a hostile environment, with a dwindling supply of oxygen.
“Apollo 13” tells the true story of the failed trip to the moon on the thirteenth Apollo mission. This was to be the third time humans would walk on the moon, but during the trip, all sorts of things went wrong. Commander of the ship, Jim Lovell, wrote about his experiences in the book “Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13”. This book was the basis for the film, which was directed by Ron Howard. True-life stories van be bogged down quite often in a heavy dose of sentiment and tear-jerking. “Apollo 13” also has several moments where this applies, but overall it is a film that manages to captivate and entertain. the facts told in the story are exciting and dramatic enough in themselves. I actually thought that the whole family drama at home, took the tempo out of the movie a bit. I was more interested in the space part, not the personal lives.
The cast seems to give their all and is extremely empathetic. The roles of the three astronauts are played by Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon and Bill Paxton. Hanks is strong as ever, but Paxton and Bacon manage to hold their own alongside him. The trio manages to convey the desperation and mutual tension well. This makes the whole thing come across as authentic and realistic. Ed Harris and Gary Sinise, in smaller roles, also make  an impression.
“Apollo 13” is clearly created with a lot of love and attention to detail and it looks very realistic. It’s an entertaining movie, even on multiple viewings.

Rating: 4 / 5

10s Movie Review - From Up On Poppy Hill

Director: Gorô Miyazaki
Genre: Animation/ Drama/ Family
Runtime: 91 minutes
Year: 2011
Starring: Sarah Bolger, Anton Yelchin, Gillian Anderson, Chris Noth,
Alex Wolff, Beau Bridges, Bruce Dern, Christina Hendricks, Ron Howard, Aubrey Plaza

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2020 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 49: AN ANIME

Description: A group of Yokohama teens look to save their school’s clubhouse from the wrecking ball in preparations for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
 
Review: “From Up On Poppy Hill” is yet another great animated film by Studio Ghibli. This time not by Hayao Miyazaki, but by his son Gorô Miyazaki.
This animated film is striking because it doesn’t contain any magical or fantasy elements like we are used from the Studio Ghibli movies. So it is a more realistic animation, similar to “Whisper of the Heart”. 

The story takes place in the harbor of Yokohama in the year 1964. 16-year-old Umi lives and works in her grandmother’s boarding house, together with her younger sister and brother. Her mother is a doctor and studies in America and het father died as a sailor during the Korean War. 
Every day Umi still raises a flag for her father, the guesthouse is located on the highest point of the harbor town. 
During a school day Umi is confronted with the boy Shun who, together with his clubmates, take action against demolition of the old and dilapidated school clubhouse. The two bond and start working together. However, pas events put their friendship to the test. 
As usual, this Studio Ghibli film contains beautiful animations and landscapes. Visually there is nothing wrong with this film. And I loved the soundtrack, which is similar to that of “Kiki’s Delivery Service”. The characters are captivating and the story is beautiful. 
“From Up On Poppy Hill” is probably one of the most overlooked films by Studio Ghibli, because it’s so simple in its premise, but it will certainly not disappoint. I even think this is one of my favorites. I loved the images, characters and the story. 

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 27: Night Shift

Director: Ron Howard
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 106 minutes
Year: 1982
Starring: Henry Winkler, Michael Keaton, Shelley Long, Clint Howard

Description: A morgue attendant (Henry Winkler) is talked into running a brothel at his workplace after a deceased pimp is sent there. However, the pimp's killers don't look too kindly on this new 'business', nor does the morgue's owner.

Review: “Night Shift” will not be in the AFI’s top 100 list, but it is funny. Chuck works in a morgue. His friend Bill talks him into running a brothel at his workplace, after a deceased pimp is sent there. Silly story, but pretty original if you ask me.
Why is this movie funny? I got two words: Michael Keaton! He is hilarious. His character Bill is very annoying, but Keaton made him loveable. Henry Winkler is okay and so is Shelley Long, but the constantly stand in Keaton’s shadow.
The plot is a bit silly, like I stated before. And the film targets a 17 to 25 year old male audience. “Night Shift” probably doesn’t hold up as well, its typical eighties humor.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 18: Inferno

Director: Ron Howard
Genre: Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 121 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Tom Hanks, Felicity Jones, Ben Foster, Irrfan Khan, Omar Sy

Description: When Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) wakes up in an Italian hospital with amnesia, he teams up with Dr. Sienna Brooks (Felicity Jones), and together they must race across Europe against the clock to foil a deadly global plot.

Review: In 2017, author Dan Brown will release his new book “Origin”. This will be the fifth book where Robert Langdon tries to solve puzzles and mysteries. It was actually time for “The Lost Symbol” to be turned into a film, but director Ron Howard preferred to work on “Inferno”.
Robert Langdon wakes up in a hospital in Florence, with a nasty head wound. He doesn’t know how he got there or what happened to him. Langdon doesn’t have a lot of time to think about that. While Langdon is constantly hallucinating, he has to flee the hospital and doctor Sienna helps him. Eventually Langdon finds out more about what happened to him and together with Sienna he has to stop a catastrophe from happening.
Dan Brown took Dante’s Inferno as his theme for this story. The story and execution are very entertaining, but everything that happens goes a little bit too easy. Langdon sees a riddle or clue and within seconds he gives us the answer to it. And logics is also something they didn’t use a lot for “Inferno”. When you set that aside, you’re going to enjoy “Inferno”.
Tom Hanks is still really good as Robert Langdon. If it wasn’t for him, “Inferno” wouldn’t be as interesting. The chase scenes in the film exciting, but the plot is sometimes predictable. The plot twist in “Inferno” was a little strange. I didn’t really like that part.
I’m a big fan of Dan Brown’s books. So far “The Da Vinci Code” is still the best book to movie adaptation and sadly “Inferno” is my least favorite. Still not a bad movie, but it’s not that refreshing or surprising.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 70: American Graffiti

Director: George Lucas
Genre: Drama/ Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 110 minutes
Year: 1973
Starring: Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips, WOlfman Jack, Harrison Ford, Bo Hopkins, Kathy Quinlan, Suzanne Somers, Manuel Padilla Jr. Beau Gentry, Jim Bohan, Jana Bellan, Deby Celiz

Description: A couple of high school grads spend one final night cruising the strip with their buddies before they go off to college.

Review: “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones” are the first movies that come to mind when thinking of George Lucas. But he also directed “American Graffiti”, a film that cost less than it made. And it even got five Academy Award nominations.
We follow a group of friends on the night before their adulthood starts. Curt and Steven will go to college. Both got a scholarship. Steve is excited to go to college, but Curt isn’t to happy about leaving his secure environment.
The characters feel realistic, which makes you care for them. The film takes place over the course of one night and we follow several storylines. “American Graffiti” feels a bit slow sometimes, because every storyline gets an equal amount of attention. But it doesn’t reallt bother you.
“American Graffiti” is a fun teen film that is relatable.

Rating: 4/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: Ron Howard Movies

Ron Howard is one of my favourite movie directors. Who knew that the Richie from “Happy Days” would be such a magnificent filmmaker? Here are my five favourite Ron Howard directed movies.

5. The Da Vinci Code
I know it was discussed when it came out, I was one of the few people that really loved this film. It kept me on the edge of my seat and I enjoyed every minute of it. I’m actually very sad that Ron Howard isn’t going to direct “The Lost Symbol” which is the next film in the Robert Langdon series.

4. Cinderella Man
One of the best boxing movies and such an amazing story. It’s a movie that people don’t really talk about anymore, but it should never be forgotten.

3. Apollo 13
I’m somehow always intrigued by space and “Apollo 13” is one of the best movies in this genre. Tom Hanks is fantastic as Jim Lovell.

2. Rush
Ron Howard managed to amaze me with this film, even though I don’t like Formula 1 racing. I was drawn into the world and it kept my attention at all times.

1. A Beautiful Mind
This is actually one of my all-time favourite movies. I was so amazed by Russel Crowe’s performance. I just love this movie, it’s so well made.

They Almost Made the Top 5: Frost/ Nixon, The Paper, Ransom, How the Grinch Stole Christmas

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 31: Rush

Director: Ron Howard
Genre: Action/ Drama
Runtime: 123 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Brühl, Olivia Wilde, Alexandra Maria Lara

Description: Based on the true story of a great sporting rivalry between handsome English playboy James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth), and his methodical, brilliant opponent, Austrian driver Niki Lauda (Daniel Brühl). The story follows their distinctly different personal styles on and off the track, their loves and the astonishing 1976 season in which both drivers were willing to risk everything to become world champion in a sport with no margin for error: if you make a mistake, you die.

Review: In the 70’s two talented Formula 1 drivers go head to head: the flamboyant James Hunt and the pragmatic Niki Lauda. They both come from wealthy families, but that’s the only resemblance they have. Hunt trusts his gut and intuition, where Lauda leaves nothing to chance.
Ron Howard is at his best when he tells someone’s true story, look at “Apollo 13” and “A Beautiful Mind”. “Rush” belongs in that row, because this movie is anything but forgettable. Even if you’re not into Formula 1 racing, you get dragged into this fascinating world. The cinematography is fantastic and also a big plus for the well written script.
The ones who steal the show are the leading actors Chris Hemsworth and Daniel Brühl, who easily could have gotten an Academy Award nomination. The dynamic between the two is clearly present. The two characters they play have an ongoing rivalry, but because of their sublime performances it’s easy to find sympathy for both drivers. The best thing is that even though they are rivals, they want to get better, they motivate each other and also have a mutual respect.
“Rush” is an engrossing film, with strong acting and a vibrant story. It’s more than your standard film about racing. “Rush” is a winner.

Rating: 5/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: Movie Directors

I know a lot about movies, its stars, genres, you name it. Directors I don't know as much about, but I do know my favorites. Here are my favorite movie directors.

5. Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood has always been a fantastic actor, but in my opinion he’s an even better director. He has a good eye for telling a great story. I love all his movies.

4. David Lynch
David Lynch dares to be different. I wish I could get into his head someday, so I could find out how his mind works. His movies always make you think, more than usual. What seems like average stories turn out to be the most complicated stories ever. And even after seeing the movie you end up in an internal monologue with yourself, trying to figure out what you just saw.

3. Steven Spielberg
Maybe a bit cliché to put him on this list, but I always enjoy a good Spielberg movie. He made some classics like “Jurassic Park”, “Jaws”, “E.T.” and “Schindler’s List” and that’s just some I can come up with right now. They are always a great treat and they garantuee an entertaining night.

2. Ron Howard
Ron Howard started out as a childstar and grew out to be a succesful director. He became an actor so he wouldn’t be typecasted as an actor and he also refused to become a typecast director. Although all of his films are explorations of the human experience, he has ventured into many genres: science fiction, fantasy, epic adventure, romance, comedy, drama, satire.

1. Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino is my go-to-director. He hasn’t done many movies, but the once he made are all great pieces of work. He really takes his time to create a film. I like his controversy, the fantastic dialogues, the memorable characters and his style. Tarantino is one of a kind and I can’t believe he hasn’t won an Oscar yet.

They almost made the top 5: Frank Darabont, Sofia Coppola, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Martin Scorsese, Peter Jackson and The Coen Brothers.