Product Description Dan Brown's international bestseller comes alive in the film THE DA VINCI CODE, directed by Ron Howard with a screenplay by Akiva Goldsman. Join symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) and cryptologist Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou) in their heart-racing quest to solve a bizarre murder mystery that will take them from France to England - and behind the veil of a mysterious ancient society, where they discover a secret protected since the time of Christ. .com Critics and controversy aside, The Da Vinci Code is a verifiable blockbuster. Combine the film's huge worldwide box-office take with over 100 million copies of Dan Brown's book sold, and The Da Vinci Code has clearly made the leap from pop-culture hit to a certifiable franchise. The leap for any story making the move from book to big screen, however, is always more perilous. In the case of The Da Vinci Code, the plot is concocted of such a preposterous formula of elements that you wouldnt envy screenwriter Akiva Goldsman, the man tasked with making this story filmable. The script follows Dan Browns book as closely as possible while incorporating a few needed changes, including a better ending. And if youre like most of the world, by now youve read the book and know how it goes: while lecturing in Paris, noted Harvard Professor of Symbology Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) is summoned to the Louvre by French police to help decipher a bizarre series of clues left at the scene of the murder of the chief curator. Enter Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou), gifted cryptologist. Neveu and Langdon team up to solve the mystery, and from there the story is propelled across Europe, ballooning into a modern-day mini-quest for the Holy Grail, where secret societies are discovered, codes are broken, and murderous albino monks are thwarted oh, and alternative theories about the life of Christ and the beginnings of Christianity are presented too, of course. Its not the typical formula for a stock Hollywood thriller. In fact, taken solely as a mystery, the movie almost works--despite some gaping holes--mostly just because it keeps moving. Browns greatest trick was to have the entire story take place in one day, so the action is forced to keep moving, despite some necessary pauses for exposition. As a screen couple, Hanks and Tautou are just fine together but not exactly memorable; meanwhile Sir Ian McKellens scenery-chewing as pivotal character Sir Leigh Teabing is just what the film needed to keep it from taking itself too seriously. The whole thing is like a good roller-coaster ride: try not to think too much about it--just sit back and enjoy the trip. --Daniel Vancini Visit The Da Vinci Code Store On The DVD The DVD extras on a film as popular as The Da Vinci Code should be plentiful, and this version doesnt skimp. With over 90 minutes of special features, including ten behind-the-scenes featurettes, theres a lot here to explore beyond the film itself. The question is, is there anything new here that we havent heard before, in all the hype, pseudo-documentaries, and controversy surrounding the movie, to make it worthwhile? For most viewers, the answer will be "yes." Essentially, if you like the movie, if you enjoyed the book, you will get a lot out of them. Just as the movie is intended to make the book come to life, the DVD extras should make the film come to life by pointing the audience into the world of the filmmakers, connecting the dots between print and film, and for the most part they do just that. The extras here range from the typical look behind-the-scenes to more in-depth features on the supporting characters, the locations, and the Mona Lisa herself. "First Day on the Set with Ron Howard" features the director gushing about the opportunity to film in the Louvre and work with Tom Hanks again (the two worked together before on Splash and Apollo 13). Its a short piece that doesnt reveal much beyond making an attempt to share Howards excitement (with the "Gee, I really loved working with him/her on this project" that you hear in every such featurette), but viewers might enjoy seeing how the stage was set up in the famous museum, down to the spike tape on the floor showing actors where to hit their marks. The Filmmaking Experience, Parts 1 and 2 further explores the creative and technical aspects of the filmmaking process. A Conversation with Dan Brown starts out feeling like a puff-piece (the man who wrote this book got started at age 5 with a story called The Giraffe, The Pig, and the Pants on Fire. "It was a thriller," he says.) and unfortunately it doesnt go very deep into much of anything of interest. But on the other hand, this isnt 60 Minutes here; its intended to give viewers a better sense of the man behind the franchise, which it does. Much of the footage from this interview is sprinkled throughout some of the other featurettes. Meanwhile, the character behind the franchise, Robert Langdon, is examined in his own featurette, as is Sophie Neveu. The cool thing here is getting under the skin of the actors to see how they approached the characters, knowing that most of the movie-going public already has formed their own ideas about the characters from the book. The most interesting extras are the featurettes that focus on the history behind the mystery. Or is it the mystery behind the history? Either way, the first one on the Mona Lisa, and the second featurette on the many codes and symbols that are hidden throughout the movie balance out the remainder of the extras nicely by demonstrating the sense of intrigue, mystery, and game-playing adventure that made The Da Vinci Code so popular in the first place. --Daniel VanciniBeyond The Da Vinci Code The Films of Tom Hanks The Films of Ron Howard The Da Vinci DVDs: Decoding "The Da Vinci Code" More About The ArtistStills from The Da Vinci Code (click for larger image)
S**R
Good, but not as good as the novel
This is the movie adaptation of the wildly popular novel by Dan Brown of the same name. The movie was directed by Ron Howard and starred Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon, a professor at Harvard University who is unknowingly the subject of a police investigation into the murder of the curator of the Lurve in Paris. Audrey Tautou plays Sophie Neveu, the granddaughter of the curator who joins Langdon in following clues that point to the Holy Grail.There are different editions of the movie. I have the extended edition which has a running time of 174 minutes. The additional scenes do not change the movie significantly, just add additional material here and there, and end up being about half an hour longer than the theatrical edition. I do think the additional footage helps make the movie make a bit more sense than the shorter version does, so in that sense, it works. There are a ton of extras on the Blu-Ray set including an interactive picture-in-picture experience that plays the movie with behind-the-scenes material and interviews with cast and crew members as the film plays. There is also a selective scene commentary with Ron Howard that breaks down specific scenes from the movie. There is also a second disc just with special features that include the making-of documentary from the original DVD release, a book-to-screen feature about adapting the book into a movie, a feature called Da Vinci props, that discussed bringing the descriptions of Da Vinci's inventions into the real world, and featurettes on the sets, recreating the artwork, the visual effects, and the music, as well as promotional trailers for other Sony movies. So, a ton of material for those who like the bonus content. The movie looks and sounds great in HD, with a ton of great visuals from around Europe.Overall, I think the movie was good as the novel. Which is the case many times when a novel is adapted into a movie. Hanks does a great job as Langdon (aside from having a weird haircut), and Jean Reno as the police inspector is great. Audrey Tautou and Ian Mckellan do a good job in their roles but don't think either of them was necessarily the best casting choice for the roles they played. The book and the movie get a lot of flack as being blasphemous, which I think is unfair. Yes, it has a religious element to it, but it is a fictional story that, while it ties some real historical elements in, it does not claim to be 100 percent historically accurate. Because of that, there will always be a segment of people who will never see the movie or read the book. But, if you can accept that it is a fictional thriller/mystery, and is not pretending to be anything more than that, it is an enjoyable movie that is worth seeing.
Z**H
The Da Vinci Code: A Thrilling Journey of Mystery and Intrigue
"The Da Vinci Code" is a cinematic masterpiece that had my son glued to the screen from start to finish. As part of the gripping trilogy, it's a mesmerizing journey through mystery, history, and intrigue.This movie, based on Dan Brown's best-selling novel, weaves a complex web of secrets, codes, and hidden truths. It's a thrilling puzzle that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and my son was no exception.Tom Hanks delivers a stellar performance as Robert Langdon, a Harvard symbologist thrust into a quest to unravel age-old mysteries. His portrayal of the character is captivating, and you can't help but get drawn into his quest for the truth.The pacing of the film is spot-on. It keeps you engaged, revealing just enough to keep you guessing, and yet leaving room for those jaw-dropping moments of revelation. It's a cinematic rollercoaster that's as intellectually stimulating as it is entertaining.The historical and religious themes explored in the movie add an extra layer of depth. It's the kind of film that sparks discussions long after the credits roll. It's both thrilling and thought-provoking.As a parent, it's gratifying to see my son engrossed in a movie that stimulates his curiosity and love for storytelling. "The Da Vinci Code" is not just a movie; it's an intellectual adventure that leaves you wanting more.In conclusion, "The Da Vinci Code" is a must-watch for anyone who loves a good mystery. It's a cinematic journey that captivates the mind and the heart, and it's the kind of story that stays with you long after you've watched it. If you're a fan of the trilogy, this movie is an absolute must-see.
D**C
Great movie
If you like puzzles and suspense, this movie is for you! So many things I could say but I don't want to spoil it. Definitely worth watching as well as the rest in the series
M**Y
Good version of a great book!
Tom Hanks and Audrey Tatou are well matched in this film version of the immensely popular book, The DaVinci Code. Although the movie had some incredible star power with actors such as Ian Mckellan, Alfred Molina, Paul Bettany and Jean Reno, there was a lack of information concerning the code which was more detailed in the book. All in all, a good movie to watch, but, read the book.
C**L
Interesting
The movie has an interesting premise. I read "Holy Blood, Holy Grail' when it was released back in the mid 90s, so the idea was not new to me. I found the argument and the evidence cited in the book to be fascinating and forceful and a legitimate conclusion based on the sources. Was I convinced? I say again that the conclusion is solid and valid based on the sources. That is the key - the sources and how much value you give them. Reading some of the reviews, it seems that the premise is quite disturbing to many. But many new things can be unsettling.As for the movie, it moved nicely after the early part which I found a little slow. It was clearly a high budget enterprise with good camera work and quite good acting. There were, as there always are, some untidy parts. For example: why does Teabing need to kill his chauffeur? I've seen the movie three times and still don't know. What have I missed? After Teabing gets the drop on our hero and heroine, he sidles up next to Robert who is a young, fit man and Teabing is oldish and unsteady on his two canes. A quick shove would have put the old man on the floor and our two could have run away. Also, very late in the movie, about the 2:18 mark, Robert is looking at an old map to find the Roseline, but that map does not even show the Roseline as passing through Scotland. It was not hard at all for me to find maps that do show the line passing thru Scotland and specifically thru Roslyn Chapel. It is still a five star movie in my opinion.
K**M
Great movie
Easy transaction; product just as described.
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