Check Out the Trailer

Based on Dan Brown’s controversial bestseller, Ron Howard’s new thriller reminded me of Joel Schumacher’s ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’S PHANTOM OF THE OPERA in that fans of the source material will probably like the faithfully adapted film, however for everyone else they may have problems with the quality of the source material.

The controversy surrounding the book and the film centers on the story’s premise that the Catholic Church has been in a covert war with a secret group descended from the Knights Templar, which have been protecting the bloodline of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. So as one could guess, Jesus having sex with a “whore” might ruffle some feathers in certain circles. However, one should take the film at face value; it’s a thriller with a complexly thought out, alternative history twist. Its intricate conspiracy theory is actually ingenious. The religious debate that the subject presents is also interesting. However, the film isn’t nearly as remarkable in the area of religious debate as the equally controversial film from Martin Scorsese — THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST.

DA VINCI has Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks, APOLLO 13) implicated in the murder of the Louvre curator Jacques Sauniere (Jean-Pierre Marielle), who was part of the Priory of Sion that know the truth about where the Holy Grail is located. However, we know that Sauniere was killed by a flagellation-loving, albino monk named Silas (Paul Bettany, A BEAUTIFUL MIND), a member of the Catholic organization Opus Dei.

Coming to aid Langdon is French police officer Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou, AMEILE), the estranged granddaughter of Sauniere. As Langdon and Neveu run from police captain Fache (Jean Reno, THE PROFESSIONAL), Silas helps his mentor Bishop Aringarosa (Alfred Molina, SPIDER-MAN 2) kill off the last known members of the Priory. In their effort to unravel the mystery, Langdon and Neveu call on Grail expert Sir Leigh Teabing (Ian McKellen, GODS & MONSTERS) for help.

For all intents and purposes, the story is a treasure hunt, however the heavy amount of exposition kills some of the adrenaline fun that the similar NATIONAL TREASURE possessed. The opening conceit that has Sauniere being shot in the stomach and then having the time to leave elaborate clues is absolutely ridiculous, straining all credibility from the get-go.

However, the plot does pick up with some thought provoking ideas. Yet, the film doesn’t have the time to fully develop its characters, except for McKellen’s scene-stealing portrayal of Teabing. Hanks is fine as Langdon and is able to bring life to the character when debating Teabing, however we never get the sense that he’s really involved in the plot. He’s only a tag-along as the plot unfolds in front of him. Tautou, who in her native French is amazing, brings nothing special to her role. Molina is wasted.

Then comes the big secret that’s saved to the end, which can be figured out by anyone who hasn’t read the book pretty early on in the film, which creates an anticlimactic ending. This is why I think fans of the book will enjoy the film more, because they already know the ending. I can’t say whether the film works better than the book, however I can say I have no desire to read the book after seeing this average thriller with a really wasted twist.

A great film probably could have been made from the tome, however the filmmakers’ pressure to be true to the source material have all but ruined any chance to fix the many weaknesses that exist in the original story. I recommend fans of the book see the film, because they will probably enjoy it, however readers who found the book a poorly structured thriller hiding behind a preposterous conspiracy will probably think the same of the film. Film fans looking for a fun, treasure hunt adventure featuring the Holy Grail should wait to catch the film on DVD and rent INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE in the meantime.