DaVinci Code

Chuck_Clark · Post by **Chuck_Clark** » Fri May 19, 2006 6:51 pm

I hit the first local showing and there wasn't even a crowd - ah, the benefits of retirement <g>. Has anybody else seen this movie yet? Comments?

djm · Post by **djm** » Fri May 19, 2006 8:21 pm

I heard the film really got panned by the critics. Tom Hanks wouldn't be my first choice. But really, I am getting far more entertainment out of all the secondary films generated to explain all the bogosity in the original book, which itself ripped off most of its ideas from other conspiracy books, who ripped off their ideas from previous sensationalist reports etc. etc.

djm

Chuck_Clark · Post by **Chuck_Clark** » Fri May 19, 2006 10:26 pm

This might be a case where the critics provide little or no proper guidance. My own suspicion is that, like Mel Gibson's Jesus film, the critics attitudes may be informed by more than just objective assessments of the movie's story, actng and technique.

All I can say is that the middle-aged and older audience I saw it with seemed to enjoy the movie immensely, as did I.

brewerpaul · Post by **brewerpaul** » Sat May 20, 2006 6:13 am

I definitely intend to see it soon. I found the book to be an interesting, fast paced story with an interesting premise. Many critics made fun of the books "turgid expository prose" as if they were critiqueing a great work of literature. C'mon guys: this is escapist fiction and as such I think it did a good job. I'm hoping the movie is as entertaining.

Innocent Bystander · Post by **Innocent Bystander** » Sat May 20, 2006 8:29 am

brewerpaul wrote:I definitely intend to see it soon. I found the book to be an interesting, fast paced story with an interesting premise. Many critics made fun of the books "turgid expository prose" as if they were critiqueing a great work of literature. C'mon guys: this is escapist fiction and as such I think it did a good job. I'm hoping the movie is as entertaining.

I didn't expect a great work of literature. I love escapist fiction as much as anyone. (A lot more, according to my wife.) But there are certain minimum standards of writing which make a story readable. If you can turn a blind eye to it, good for you. But this came across as if the manuscript were written in crayon.

Never mind the writing, the plot was like a string vest - and I'm not going into it on the level of nit-pickers who observe that they drove the wrong way down a one-way street in Paris. As soon as they started into the works of Da Vinci, my heart sank. If you buy into the Jesus myth then this story will have an emotional impact for you which you may enjoy. If you don't then it is an utter nonsense.

And having said all that, and admitted that I haven't seen the film, it is possible it is an enjoyable film. I enjoyed "Helsing" and that was complete twaddle. This is twaddle, too. but it might be an enjoyable film.

Miwokhill · Post by **Miwokhill** » Sun May 21, 2006 12:08 am

I think Ron Howard is over-rated. Any movie I've seen that he directed I didn't care for much, even the highly touted A Beautiful Mind. I don't know what it is I just think he does kind of a hokey job.

amar · Post by **amar** » Sun May 21, 2006 3:15 am

Miwokhill wrote:I think Ron Howard is over-rated. Any movie I've seen that he directed I didn't care for much, even the highly touted A Beautiful Mind. I don't know what it is I just think he does kind of a hokey job.

buddhu · Post by **buddhu** » Sun May 21, 2006 4:17 am

Sit on it, Cunningham...

dwinterfield · Post by **dwinterfield** » Sun May 21, 2006 6:11 am

It's hard to make a good movie from a dull book. I finished reading the book last Thursday. (I always wait for the paperback.) It just wasn't very good. I read Angels and Demons several years ago, just before the DaVinci Code began. It has a very similar set up and is a much better book. Better, faster action; more complex art history mysteries; more complex characters (Langdon is still the lead - not much depth there)

Several friends saw the movie. They say it's an okay action/mystery film. I'll wait for the dvd, next week.

Usually when studios open a film on every available screen, they don't expect it to last long. Last evening we drove by the local, indepentent, single screen theatre that shows independent or "off new release" films. Even they had DaVinci Code. It will be on TV this Fall.

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Sun May 21, 2006 10:18 am

Lambchop sent me the book some months ago, but I couldn't make myself read it. It seemed so boring, so I gave it away. I don't watch movies, but if I did I don't think I'd watch this one.

chas · Post by **chas** » Sun May 21, 2006 10:50 am

I thought it was a great read, but have no desire to see the movie. I thought two things made it a really good book. The fast pace, which wasn't any faster than any action movie. And the ideas, which really can't be presented in any depth in a couple of hours.

jim stone · Post by **jim stone** » Sun May 21, 2006 1:34 pm

FWIW, Roger Ebert liked it.

scottielvr · Post by **scottielvr** » Sun May 21, 2006 1:46 pm

Innocent Bystander wrote:As soon as they started into the works of Da Vinci...

Leonardo! It's Leonardo!

Sorry. Just needed to let that out. I feel better now. Please carry on with the discussion.

P.S. I found the book fast-paced and fun, the concept interesting and amusing... but Brown's writing... umm, let's just say he's not a writer for the ages. But who am I to talk? I caught myself almost writing, "prose style," there.

peeplj · Post by **peeplj** » Sun May 21, 2006 2:56 pm

I doubt I'll get to see the film in the theatre...but this will definitely be one to watch. (I rarely get to see any film in the theatre.)

We'll get it when it hits DVD.

--James

In The Woods · Post by **In The Woods** » Sun May 21, 2006 3:07 pm

Actually, according to all reliable evidence, Jesus and Mary Magdalene *were* married, had children, who moved to Spain, and *their* descendants then emigrated to the New World late in the 19th Century. They are now living in the UP of Michigan, and they run a convenience store with Elvis...

With best regards to all,

Steve Mack

PS: This information brought to you by the same folks who did the Gospel of Judas interview, three hundred years after his death, on an early Ampex reel-to-reel tape recorder...