Da Vinci Code, The (UK - DVD R2)
Scott McKenzie casts his critical eye over Sony Pictures' latest money-spinner...
As soon as Dan Brown’s novel started topping best seller charts around the world, it was only a matter of time until a studio snapped up the rights and turned it into a multi-million dollar blockbuster. The Da Vinci Code is probably the closest thing to a sure thing you can get in Hollywood and as expected it earned a packet at the box office and this DVD is sure to sell by the bucket-load, but when the Sony Pictures board look past the great big piles of cash in front of them, is the film they produced actually any good?

For those of you who haven’t seen The Da Vinci Code, read the book, sat in an office full of people who have read the book or bought the book so you could burn it, here’s the plot…
When the caretaker of the Louvre is killed and his body left surrounded by a series of cryptic messages, the police call on American symbology professor Robert Langdon (played by Tom Hanks avec mullet) to decode the clues. Enter Parisian police cryptologist Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou) who tells him that not everything is as it seems and the pair of them are quickly thrown into a race to discover the dark secrets of Da Vinci’s work, the mysterious Catholic sect Opus Dei and the Holy Grail.
With a cliff-hanger at the end of each three-page chapter, the source material is structured in a way that makes movie adaptation fairly simple. This is also one of the main reasons for the success of the novel-it’s easy to pick up and read just one more chapter, but the movie is partly a victim of the novel’s success. Screenwriter Akiva Goldsman and director Ron Howard knew that the fans wanted their movie to be as faithful an adaptation as possible and as a result the screenplay doesn’t take too many chances.

It’s a commonly held opinion that in general, films based on books are never as good as the fans of the book expect. 400 pages into a 120-page screenplay is a tight fit and fans’ favourite bits nearly always get left out to keep the plot moving along to hit the two-hour target running time, but I think you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who thinks the book is significantly better than the film in the case of The Da Vinci Code. The fact of the matter is that there are no surprises and other than a few clever visual tricks to show how Langdon decodes the many clues along the way, the filmmakers have played it safe by leaving just about everything in. Maybe that’s the reason Ron Howard was given the microphone and director’s chair. Although he has made many successful and critically acclaimed films, Howard isn’t exactly Oliver Stone in the controversy or experimentation stakes.
The casting director wasn’t exactly working overtime either. Other than the possible appointment of Harrison Ford (who would have insisted on creative control) as Langdon, the other members of the all-star cast were shoo-ins for their roles. Nobody does an assertive Frenchman better than Jean Reno and Tautou has an innocent charm as Neveu, even though some of her lines were the corniest on offer. Paul Bettany’s performance is incredibly intense as albino monk Silas, which is particularly powerful in his flagellation scenes but it can grate a little when he shares scenes with characters that aren’t members of Opus Dei.
Unfortunately for Tom Hanks, he doesn’t have much to work with. The character of Robert Langdon is fairly thin and apart from a token phobia and learning the ‘truth’ about Jesus Christ he is pretty much the same person at the end that he was at the beginning. However, Ian McKellen’s effortless performance is incredibly enjoyable and he adds a much-needed dash of humour when everything is about to get a bit too serious.

All the nit-picking in the world doesn’t really matter if you buy into the story. The Da Vinci Code is a thriller at heart and even though critics have complained that there’s a lot of talking and not much action for a summer blockbuster, this is a blockbuster for the part of your brain that enjoys a clever conspiracy theory. At the very least, I was happy just to go to the cinema this summer to watch something that wasn’t a sequel or featured computer-generated animals going on a journey.
That may sound like a back-handed compliment and I guess it is, but I enjoyed reading the book and I was looking forward to seeing the movie. Yes, the filmmakers have played it safe, yes it’s too long, especially in the last half hour and yes, there’s a lot of sitting around talking while the other summer movies were blowing things up left, right and centre, but I still enjoyed The Da Vinci Code for what it is—an intriguing thriller full of twists and turns played by some of the best actors around.
Every frame in The Da Vinci Code is expertly crafted and the whole film, from the halls of the Louvre to the flashback sequences of the Crusades, look great. As expected, the picture quality is of a very high standard with smooth lines, sharp detail in long shots and just the right amount of intentional grain in the right places. With this release split across two discs and the exclusion of a DTS track that can be found on some other releases, there is room on the disc for a high quality picture and I did not notice any signs of compression.

The Da Vinci Code is not one of the noisiest summer blockbusters in recent years but there is still a lot going on in the audio track and it is just as perfectly crafted as the picture. Music is playing throughout most of the film and Hans Zimmer’s impressive score is given the chance to impress without ever drowning out the dialogue, which is clean and crisp and changes appropriately to match the effects you would expect in the many different locations.
Sony Pictures have done it again and packed the empty space left on disc one with as many trailers as they could for upcoming DVD and cinema releases. The rest of the extras can be found on disc two, which houses ten featurettes, which are essentially one long documentary split into ten parts, some of more value than others.
‘First Day On Set With Ron Howard’ does exactly what it says on the tin, showing the director doing his first shots at the Louvre and also includes short interview clips with Howard, Tom Hanks, Dan Brown et al, which is a common theme for the rest of the featurettes.
‘Discussion with Dan Brown’ allows the novelist to talk about his creation and where he got his inspiration from. He also gives away a few details about the follow-up to The Da Vinci Code and comments on the overwhelming success of the novel and how it has changed his life.

‘Portrait Of Langdon’ is a short piece about the character and Ron Howard’s view of how Tom Hanks is ideal for the role because his ‘everyman’ persona helps to draw the audience towards a character that had previously been established to the readers of Angels and Demons, which is scheduled for a cinema release in 2008.
‘Who Is Sohpie Neveu?’ does the same for the female lead as the previous part did for Tom Hanks’ character. Dan Brown makes a point of singling out Audrey Tautou for a personal thumbs-up and there are some comments from the producers about how they decided to cast a French actress. This is a good point because lazier producers would surely have gone for Julia Roberts or some other supposedly guaranteed box office draw rather than trying for a bit of realism. Akiva Goldsman also comments on his decision to make Sophie’s emotional journey the core thread of the story.
‘Unusual Suspects’ is where the documentary starts to lose its way a little, with a bit more waffling about the decisions to cast international actors. Dan Brown states that the only character in the novel he had an actor in mind during the writing process was Jean Reno as Bezu Fache and he personally thanked him for agreeing to the role on the first day on set. I think any filmophile would have thought of Reno in this role while they were reading The Da Vinci Code. I know I did.
‘Magical Places’ takes a look at some of the impressive locations used and the filmmakers discuss the implications of filming at places like the Louvre, where they were on a very tight overnight shooting schedule and were restricted to their lighting choices. However, they were given a lot of support from the French government, even having a meeting with French president Jacques Chirac to discuss their plans.
‘Close up on the Mona Lisa’ is a few minutes of the actors and crew talking about the painting. That’s about it really.
‘Filmmaker’s Journey’ is split into two parts and is your typical 'making of' documentary with behind the scenes footage, more interviews and comments on the characters and symbolism in the film.

For me, ‘Codes of The Da Vinci Code’ was the most interesting part of the whole documentary. I was ready to sum up The Da Vinci Code as a film that doesn’t reward repeat viewings because of the problem-solving nature of the story. You have to take it all in because if you miss an action or line of dialogue, you might miss a link between one scene and the next, but Dan Brown and Ron Howard have added something else into the film for those who want to dig a bit deeper. Throughout the film there are images and symbols that relate to the story and the actions of the characters. We’re given the explanations of a few of them to start us off and a warning that some of them are quite difficult to decode but I have to say it’s made me want to watch it again.
‘Music of The Da Vinci Code’ looks at Hans Zimmer’s score and includes an interview with the composer himself where he talks about his inspiration and states that he put as much into this score as he had into any other in his career.
Though the film didn’t court the same controversy as the novel upon its release, it was still incredibly popular and made plenty of money for the producers. To do this, the filmmakers delivered exactly what the fans were waiting for and I’m sure that anyone who had read the novel could have predicted the tone and style of the final product. This DVD release presents the film with high quality video and audio but the extra features are a little lacking, with the notable exclusion of commentaries and deleted scenes which surely means we’ll get a second, more in-depth release before the release of Angels and Demons.

Feature
For those of you who haven’t seen The Da Vinci Code, read the book, sat in an office full of people who have read the book or bought the book so you could burn it, here’s the plot…
When the caretaker of the Louvre is killed and his body left surrounded by a series of cryptic messages, the police call on American symbology professor Robert Langdon (played by Tom Hanks avec mullet) to decode the clues. Enter Parisian police cryptologist Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou) who tells him that not everything is as it seems and the pair of them are quickly thrown into a race to discover the dark secrets of Da Vinci’s work, the mysterious Catholic sect Opus Dei and the Holy Grail.
With a cliff-hanger at the end of each three-page chapter, the source material is structured in a way that makes movie adaptation fairly simple. This is also one of the main reasons for the success of the novel-it’s easy to pick up and read just one more chapter, but the movie is partly a victim of the novel’s success. Screenwriter Akiva Goldsman and director Ron Howard knew that the fans wanted their movie to be as faithful an adaptation as possible and as a result the screenplay doesn’t take too many chances.

It’s a commonly held opinion that in general, films based on books are never as good as the fans of the book expect. 400 pages into a 120-page screenplay is a tight fit and fans’ favourite bits nearly always get left out to keep the plot moving along to hit the two-hour target running time, but I think you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who thinks the book is significantly better than the film in the case of The Da Vinci Code. The fact of the matter is that there are no surprises and other than a few clever visual tricks to show how Langdon decodes the many clues along the way, the filmmakers have played it safe by leaving just about everything in. Maybe that’s the reason Ron Howard was given the microphone and director’s chair. Although he has made many successful and critically acclaimed films, Howard isn’t exactly Oliver Stone in the controversy or experimentation stakes.
The casting director wasn’t exactly working overtime either. Other than the possible appointment of Harrison Ford (who would have insisted on creative control) as Langdon, the other members of the all-star cast were shoo-ins for their roles. Nobody does an assertive Frenchman better than Jean Reno and Tautou has an innocent charm as Neveu, even though some of her lines were the corniest on offer. Paul Bettany’s performance is incredibly intense as albino monk Silas, which is particularly powerful in his flagellation scenes but it can grate a little when he shares scenes with characters that aren’t members of Opus Dei.
Unfortunately for Tom Hanks, he doesn’t have much to work with. The character of Robert Langdon is fairly thin and apart from a token phobia and learning the ‘truth’ about Jesus Christ he is pretty much the same person at the end that he was at the beginning. However, Ian McKellen’s effortless performance is incredibly enjoyable and he adds a much-needed dash of humour when everything is about to get a bit too serious.

All the nit-picking in the world doesn’t really matter if you buy into the story. The Da Vinci Code is a thriller at heart and even though critics have complained that there’s a lot of talking and not much action for a summer blockbuster, this is a blockbuster for the part of your brain that enjoys a clever conspiracy theory. At the very least, I was happy just to go to the cinema this summer to watch something that wasn’t a sequel or featured computer-generated animals going on a journey.
That may sound like a back-handed compliment and I guess it is, but I enjoyed reading the book and I was looking forward to seeing the movie. Yes, the filmmakers have played it safe, yes it’s too long, especially in the last half hour and yes, there’s a lot of sitting around talking while the other summer movies were blowing things up left, right and centre, but I still enjoyed The Da Vinci Code for what it is—an intriguing thriller full of twists and turns played by some of the best actors around.
Video
Every frame in The Da Vinci Code is expertly crafted and the whole film, from the halls of the Louvre to the flashback sequences of the Crusades, look great. As expected, the picture quality is of a very high standard with smooth lines, sharp detail in long shots and just the right amount of intentional grain in the right places. With this release split across two discs and the exclusion of a DTS track that can be found on some other releases, there is room on the disc for a high quality picture and I did not notice any signs of compression.

Audio
The Da Vinci Code is not one of the noisiest summer blockbusters in recent years but there is still a lot going on in the audio track and it is just as perfectly crafted as the picture. Music is playing throughout most of the film and Hans Zimmer’s impressive score is given the chance to impress without ever drowning out the dialogue, which is clean and crisp and changes appropriately to match the effects you would expect in the many different locations.
Extras
Sony Pictures have done it again and packed the empty space left on disc one with as many trailers as they could for upcoming DVD and cinema releases. The rest of the extras can be found on disc two, which houses ten featurettes, which are essentially one long documentary split into ten parts, some of more value than others.
‘First Day On Set With Ron Howard’ does exactly what it says on the tin, showing the director doing his first shots at the Louvre and also includes short interview clips with Howard, Tom Hanks, Dan Brown et al, which is a common theme for the rest of the featurettes.
‘Discussion with Dan Brown’ allows the novelist to talk about his creation and where he got his inspiration from. He also gives away a few details about the follow-up to The Da Vinci Code and comments on the overwhelming success of the novel and how it has changed his life.

‘Portrait Of Langdon’ is a short piece about the character and Ron Howard’s view of how Tom Hanks is ideal for the role because his ‘everyman’ persona helps to draw the audience towards a character that had previously been established to the readers of Angels and Demons, which is scheduled for a cinema release in 2008.
‘Who Is Sohpie Neveu?’ does the same for the female lead as the previous part did for Tom Hanks’ character. Dan Brown makes a point of singling out Audrey Tautou for a personal thumbs-up and there are some comments from the producers about how they decided to cast a French actress. This is a good point because lazier producers would surely have gone for Julia Roberts or some other supposedly guaranteed box office draw rather than trying for a bit of realism. Akiva Goldsman also comments on his decision to make Sophie’s emotional journey the core thread of the story.
‘Unusual Suspects’ is where the documentary starts to lose its way a little, with a bit more waffling about the decisions to cast international actors. Dan Brown states that the only character in the novel he had an actor in mind during the writing process was Jean Reno as Bezu Fache and he personally thanked him for agreeing to the role on the first day on set. I think any filmophile would have thought of Reno in this role while they were reading The Da Vinci Code. I know I did.
‘Magical Places’ takes a look at some of the impressive locations used and the filmmakers discuss the implications of filming at places like the Louvre, where they were on a very tight overnight shooting schedule and were restricted to their lighting choices. However, they were given a lot of support from the French government, even having a meeting with French president Jacques Chirac to discuss their plans.
‘Close up on the Mona Lisa’ is a few minutes of the actors and crew talking about the painting. That’s about it really.
‘Filmmaker’s Journey’ is split into two parts and is your typical 'making of' documentary with behind the scenes footage, more interviews and comments on the characters and symbolism in the film.

For me, ‘Codes of The Da Vinci Code’ was the most interesting part of the whole documentary. I was ready to sum up The Da Vinci Code as a film that doesn’t reward repeat viewings because of the problem-solving nature of the story. You have to take it all in because if you miss an action or line of dialogue, you might miss a link between one scene and the next, but Dan Brown and Ron Howard have added something else into the film for those who want to dig a bit deeper. Throughout the film there are images and symbols that relate to the story and the actions of the characters. We’re given the explanations of a few of them to start us off and a warning that some of them are quite difficult to decode but I have to say it’s made me want to watch it again.
‘Music of The Da Vinci Code’ looks at Hans Zimmer’s score and includes an interview with the composer himself where he talks about his inspiration and states that he put as much into this score as he had into any other in his career.
Overall
Though the film didn’t court the same controversy as the novel upon its release, it was still incredibly popular and made plenty of money for the producers. To do this, the filmmakers delivered exactly what the fans were waiting for and I’m sure that anyone who had read the novel could have predicted the tone and style of the final product. This DVD release presents the film with high quality video and audio but the extra features are a little lacking, with the notable exclusion of commentaries and deleted scenes which surely means we’ll get a second, more in-depth release before the release of Angels and Demons.
Review by Scott McKenzie
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Scott, the film is not spread over two discs. The entire film is one disc 1! At least it is on my r2 two discer!!!!
Sometimes the movie is better than the book. Fight Club, The Godfather, and (I've heard) Angel Heart are some good examples.
Oh, not to mention Lord of the Rings (yeah, I said it again).
Oh, not to mention Lord of the Rings (yeah, I said it again).
Ah sorry Scott, I misread totally lol.
Quote: I think there's a bit of intellectual snobbery, with all the movie critics desperate to bash the film because they didn't like the book... I could just sense in some magazines like Empire that they were a bit too eager to knock the film based on their views of the book.
I agree, totally. I watched it two days after finally seeing the book and was slightly let down by it, but I re-watched it again the other day and enjoyed it more.
Quote: I think there's a bit of intellectual snobbery, with all the movie critics desperate to bash the film because they didn't like the book... I could just sense in some magazines like Empire that they were a bit too eager to knock the film based on their views of the book.
I agree, totally. I watched it two days after finally seeing the book and was slightly let down by it, but I re-watched it again the other day and enjoyed it more.
GavSalkeld wrote: You mention DTS, but there is no DTS on this release.
I mentioned that there isn't a DTS track, which can be found on other releases.
Quote: Its really nowhere near as bad as everyone else seems to be saying.
I knwo what you mean. I think there's a bit of intellectual snobbery, with all the movie critics desperate to bash the film because they didn't like the book. I'm not saying that everyone who hates the film is wrong, all opinions count, I could just sense in some magazines like Empire that they were a bit too eager to knock the film based on their views of the book.
I mentioned that there isn't a DTS track, which can be found on other releases.
Quote: Its really nowhere near as bad as everyone else seems to be saying.
I knwo what you mean. I think there's a bit of intellectual snobbery, with all the movie critics desperate to bash the film because they didn't like the book. I'm not saying that everyone who hates the film is wrong, all opinions count, I could just sense in some magazines like Empire that they were a bit too eager to knock the film based on their views of the book.
You mention DTS, but there is no DTS on this release.
Other than that, I'm really pleased to read a positive, balanced review of this film. Its really nowhere near as bad as everyone else seems to be saying. So good call
Other than that, I'm really pleased to read a positive, balanced review of this film. Its really nowhere near as bad as everyone else seems to be saying. So good call

I loved this movie. I have never read the book because I wanted to judge the movie as a movie and not have the bias of the book hanging over my head. I thought it was well written, very smart and the directing was fantastic. The acting was a bit spotty at times but overall the cast did a very good job. I cannot wait to pick up my copy in Novemeber over here in the US.
I couldn't stand the book and hated the movie just as much (I really can't get into Brown's style of writing; he just kills me with those action sentences stacked upon action sentences which is really ridiculous considering the first third of Da Vinci, a book which is suposed to be about a chase, occurs pretty much entirely in the Louvre).
The movie bugged me just because the book was so slow and it trained to jump start it as much as it could but not only the way he abridged passages but also the way the passages themselves, the acting (Paul Bettany specifically), and some of the dialogue ("Godspeed," anyone?) just made me loathe the project.
I respect people who enjoy both projects so don't take this as me saying anyone who enjoys it is a complete idiot.
My sister loved the book but hated the movie so it just shows ta go ya that everyone has their own likes.
What kills me though is when people insist that I should've read "Angels & Demons." I didn't like Brown's must hi=profile book, and though a friend of mine is giving all of his books a chance though he is hating all of them, I have no such patience. I'd rather read "Name of the Rose" or even "Rex Mundi."
The movie bugged me just because the book was so slow and it trained to jump start it as much as it could but not only the way he abridged passages but also the way the passages themselves, the acting (Paul Bettany specifically), and some of the dialogue ("Godspeed," anyone?) just made me loathe the project.
I respect people who enjoy both projects so don't take this as me saying anyone who enjoys it is a complete idiot.
My sister loved the book but hated the movie so it just shows ta go ya that everyone has their own likes.
What kills me though is when people insist that I should've read "Angels & Demons." I didn't like Brown's must hi=profile book, and though a friend of mine is giving all of his books a chance though he is hating all of them, I have no such patience. I'd rather read "Name of the Rose" or even "Rex Mundi."
Bradavon wrote:
Quote: With this release split across two discs
What they've split the film across both discs? Thanks I'm definitely not getting the UK DVD then. I hate it when films that "can" fit on a DVD-9 are split regardless.
No, the release is split across two discs - feature on disc one, extras on disc two.
£ukasz D wrote: P.S. what program did you use to capture screens for that review...and if it was PowerDVd..than on what Video setings..if I may ask
??
Yes, it was PowerDVD. Not sure about the video settings though, I think they're the installation settings. I'd check but I'm at a different computer as I write this. As Chris said, it did look a bit blurry on the screencaps I shrank down but I didn't have any problems watching it on a 32" TV.
Quote: With this release split across two discs
What they've split the film across both discs? Thanks I'm definitely not getting the UK DVD then. I hate it when films that "can" fit on a DVD-9 are split regardless.
No, the release is split across two discs - feature on disc one, extras on disc two.
£ukasz D wrote: P.S. what program did you use to capture screens for that review...and if it was PowerDVd..than on what Video setings..if I may ask

Yes, it was PowerDVD. Not sure about the video settings though, I think they're the installation settings. I'd check but I'm at a different computer as I write this. As Chris said, it did look a bit blurry on the screencaps I shrank down but I didn't have any problems watching it on a 32" TV.
I read The Da Vinci Code. I'm currently reading Angels and Demons. I can't wait to see the film on DVD (for Reno and Tatou).
o comeon...bring up your opinion..try to do it in as nice way as you can

Nope. I'm refering to my self. You guys are being gentlemen and I'm so tempted to wreck it all. But I'll be good.
did I offend anyone..we are just discusing like gentlemans
...i promise to keep it easy


Must...bite...tongue...musn't...offend...
Bruno Billion wrote: £ukasz D wrote:
If it is completely false story..than what is the problem..why is chourch so frustrated about it, doe sit mean that they do not belive in inteligence of catolics ?????
I'm catolic, and somehow I don't feel offended by this film, and the book..i find it good thriller, enjoyable.
There are many reasons why the Church, and other people, are not happy with this book/film.
First of all, tourists are now desecrating some religious places to try and find the "answers" in the Da Vinci Code book. Most of the details given about Rosslyn Chapel, the Church in Paris and other geographical places are pure invention.
The basis of the book (the Priory of Scion) is a well-known fake conspiracy created in the sixtied by French intellectuals.
Members of the Church are described as murdering conspirators, which doesn't help the book being like by the Church.
And that's only the tip of the iceberg concerning all the inconsistencies and mistakes in the book.
But the big problem is: Dan Brown says that everything is true when we know that all of this (and more) isn't.
If you know that what Brown's saying is fals, and everybody knows that, then what is the problem ??????
If the Priory of Scion is well known fake conspiracy, then what is the problem ??????
U don't know anything about Opus Dei...and I don't knwo to...but the fact that there is a kind-of secret and not accesible organization in open Catolic church is at least questionable.
On one other thing, as you sayd, not all church is against it, not all church acted like it was made by stana....actulay cardinale Dziwisz (the closet assistant of pope JP II) sayed about it , that it is a good fiction-story, and there is no reason to ask people not to read or watch it.
P.S> there is well know truth....if the thinks someone says about you are fals, you tend to not comment them.....but if what they say is..let's say uncomfortable......
P.S.2 i'd like to say that i'm catolic and not a fan of conspiracy theories.
If it is completely false story..than what is the problem..why is chourch so frustrated about it, doe sit mean that they do not belive in inteligence of catolics ?????
I'm catolic, and somehow I don't feel offended by this film, and the book..i find it good thriller, enjoyable.
There are many reasons why the Church, and other people, are not happy with this book/film.
First of all, tourists are now desecrating some religious places to try and find the "answers" in the Da Vinci Code book. Most of the details given about Rosslyn Chapel, the Church in Paris and other geographical places are pure invention.
The basis of the book (the Priory of Scion) is a well-known fake conspiracy created in the sixtied by French intellectuals.
Members of the Church are described as murdering conspirators, which doesn't help the book being like by the Church.
And that's only the tip of the iceberg concerning all the inconsistencies and mistakes in the book.
But the big problem is: Dan Brown says that everything is true when we know that all of this (and more) isn't.
If you know that what Brown's saying is fals, and everybody knows that, then what is the problem ??????
If the Priory of Scion is well known fake conspiracy, then what is the problem ??????
U don't know anything about Opus Dei...and I don't knwo to...but the fact that there is a kind-of secret and not accesible organization in open Catolic church is at least questionable.
On one other thing, as you sayd, not all church is against it, not all church acted like it was made by stana....actulay cardinale Dziwisz (the closet assistant of pope JP II) sayed about it , that it is a good fiction-story, and there is no reason to ask people not to read or watch it.
P.S> there is well know truth....if the thinks someone says about you are fals, you tend to not comment them.....but if what they say is..let's say uncomfortable......
P.S.2 i'd like to say that i'm catolic and not a fan of conspiracy theories.
£ukasz D wrote:
If it is completely false story..than what is the problem..why is chourch so frustrated about it, doe sit mean that they do not belive in inteligence of catolics ?????
I'm catolic, and somehow I don't feel offended by this film, and the book..i find it good thriller, enjoyable.
There are many reasons why the Church, and other people, are not happy with this book/film.
First of all, tourists are now desecrating some religious places to try and find the "answers" in the Da Vinci Code book. Most of the details given about Rosslyn Chapel, the Church in Paris and other geographical places are pure invention.
The basis of the book (the Priory of Scion) is a well-known fake conspiracy created in the sixtied by French intellectuals.
Members of the Church are described as murdering conspirators, which doesn't help the book being like by the Church.
And that's only the tip of the iceberg concerning all the inconsistencies and mistakes in the book.
But the big problem is: Dan Brown says that everything is true when we know that all of this (and more) isn't.
If it is completely false story..than what is the problem..why is chourch so frustrated about it, doe sit mean that they do not belive in inteligence of catolics ?????
I'm catolic, and somehow I don't feel offended by this film, and the book..i find it good thriller, enjoyable.
There are many reasons why the Church, and other people, are not happy with this book/film.
First of all, tourists are now desecrating some religious places to try and find the "answers" in the Da Vinci Code book. Most of the details given about Rosslyn Chapel, the Church in Paris and other geographical places are pure invention.
The basis of the book (the Priory of Scion) is a well-known fake conspiracy created in the sixtied by French intellectuals.
Members of the Church are described as murdering conspirators, which doesn't help the book being like by the Church.
And that's only the tip of the iceberg concerning all the inconsistencies and mistakes in the book.
But the big problem is: Dan Brown says that everything is true when we know that all of this (and more) isn't.
I think i'm one of the 3 people on the planet that didn't see this movie. heard the Vangelis inspired soundtrack but never saw the movie
as for oscar nods mr. savas I think he may get some strong competition from "United 93" and "Charllote's Web"
as for oscar nods mr. savas I think he may get some strong competition from "United 93" and "Charllote's Web"
Lincoln6Echo wrote: This film (and book for that matter) should be categorized as a comedy, not a thriller. Some of the creative liberties they take are laughable.
I entirely agree with you there... Was laughhing all the way while reading the book and even more so when I saw the movie... Since so many things in the book are total bull***t, I was kind of expecting the worse when I saw the movie... and it happened
I'll admit the book was entertaining, but for all the wrong reasons... Starting with the fact that the book is based on the Priory of Scion, that was an invention of the 1960s by French intellectuals who wanted to have a bit of fun...
I entirely agree with you there... Was laughhing all the way while reading the book and even more so when I saw the movie... Since so many things in the book are total bull***t, I was kind of expecting the worse when I saw the movie... and it happened

I'll admit the book was entertaining, but for all the wrong reasons... Starting with the fact that the book is based on the Priory of Scion, that was an invention of the 1960s by French intellectuals who wanted to have a bit of fun...
Thanks for mentioning Hans' score, I really think he's going to be nominated for it, and honestly there hasn't been another standout score this year, except Zimmer's Pirates Of The Caribbean.

RalphFiennes wrote: Lincoln6Echo wrote: This film (and book for that matter) should be categorized as a comedy, not a thriller. Some of the creative liberties they take are laughable.
Agreed. It's been condemned by most respected scholars (religious or not) as tripe, with no historical basis at all. I wouldn't normally be bothered about that, but Dan Brown claimed on a chat show in America that it's entirely based on fact.
If it is completely false story..than what is the problem..why is chourch so frustrated about it, doe sit mean that they do not belive in inteligence of catolics ?????
I'm catolic, and somehow I don't feel offended by this film, and the book..i find it good thriller, enjoyable.
And I think that you all are smart enough to know , that it is just fiction..jet you all bashing it like it was some kind of truth.
Agreed. It's been condemned by most respected scholars (religious or not) as tripe, with no historical basis at all. I wouldn't normally be bothered about that, but Dan Brown claimed on a chat show in America that it's entirely based on fact.
If it is completely false story..than what is the problem..why is chourch so frustrated about it, doe sit mean that they do not belive in inteligence of catolics ?????
I'm catolic, and somehow I don't feel offended by this film, and the book..i find it good thriller, enjoyable.
And I think that you all are smart enough to know , that it is just fiction..jet you all bashing it like it was some kind of truth.
Lincoln6Echo wrote: This film (and book for that matter) should be categorized as a comedy, not a thriller. Some of the creative liberties they take are laughable.
Agreed. It's been condemned by most respected scholars (religious or not) as tripe, with no historical basis at all. I wouldn't normally be bothered about that, but Dan Brown claimed on a chat show in America that it's entirely based on fact.
Agreed. It's been condemned by most respected scholars (religious or not) as tripe, with no historical basis at all. I wouldn't normally be bothered about that, but Dan Brown claimed on a chat show in America that it's entirely based on fact.
I didn't see it at the cinema, but once I rented it it wasn't so bad. Sure, too long, and like Scott said Howard doesn't take enough risks with either story or characterisation. I supported Hanks as Langdon when he was cast but ultimately he is bland (and the hair is so uncool).
I do hope Angels and Demons is a better film though, given it's more action packed anyway.
I do hope Angels and Demons is a better film though, given it's more action packed anyway.
This film (and book for that matter) should be categorized as a comedy, not a thriller. Some of the creative liberties they take are laughable.
The HK R3 and Aussie R4 are the Extended Cut (Exclusive to those regions I believe, at the moment). I'd get the HK R3 from CD WOW myself which also has DTS not found anywhere (along with the Extended Cut).
Quote: With this release split across two discs
What they've split the film across both discs? Thanks I'm definitely not getting the UK DVD then. I hate it when films that "can" fit on a DVD-9 are split regardless.
Quote: With this release split across two discs
What they've split the film across both discs? Thanks I'm definitely not getting the UK DVD then. I hate it when films that "can" fit on a DVD-9 are split regardless.
Sorry, still not convinced it's worth seeing. Heard from too many people that it's simply a boring and uninspired film, with by-the-numbers acting and filmmaking (McKellen and Bettany excepted). If I wanted a good conspiracy theory movie, I'd watch The Constant Gardener again.
Good review Scott. It made me want to watch the film despite the flaws you mention. I skipped it at the cinema because I didnt really have time and had read the book so knew the story anyway. But will definitely have a watch now on DVD.
Why is it when I read the name Tautou, I think of Tattoo from "Fantasy Island"? I am a bit weird I spose... 
Great review Scott - especially with this movie and the "controversy" it spurned...

Great review Scott - especially with this movie and the "controversy" it spurned...
The ultra-blurry setting by the looks of it
A lot of Sony's transfers look like that though.

great review Scott..exactly my point of view about this films, as I jus watched it yesterday....and realy enjoyed it.
I'd rate it somewhere betwen 7 abd 8...7,5 would be fair.
Once again..good job Scott.
P.S. what program did you use to capture screens for that review...and if it was PowerDVd..than on what Video setings..if I may ask
??
I'd rate it somewhere betwen 7 abd 8...7,5 would be fair.
Once again..good job Scott.
P.S. what program did you use to capture screens for that review...and if it was PowerDVd..than on what Video setings..if I may ask



Suitable only for persons of 12 years and over
Disc Details
Release Date:
16th October 2006
Discs:
2
Disc Type:
Single side, dual layer
RCE:
No
Video:
PAL
Aspect:
2.35:1
Anamorphic:
Yes
Colour:
Yes
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Subtitles:
English
Extras:
Ten Featurettes: First Day on the Set with Ron Howard, A Discussion with Dan Brown, A Portrait of Langdon, Who is Sophie Neveu?, Unusual Suspects, Magical Places, Close-Up on Mona Lisa, Filmmaker's Journey, The Codes of The Da Vinci Code, The Music of The Da Vinci Code
Easter Egg:
No
Feature Details
Director:
Ron Howard
Cast:
Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Jean Reno, Paul Bettany, Alfred Molina
Genre:
Mystery and Thriller
Length:
142 minutes
Ratings
Amazon.com
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