The Da Vinci Code (2006) Movie Information:

The Da Vinci Code (2006) Directed by: Ron Howard The Da Vinci Code (2006) Written by: Akiva Goldsman The Da Vinci Code (2006) Cast: Paul Bettany, Tom Hanks, Ian McKellen, Alfred Molina, Jean Reno, Audrey Tautou

The Da Vinci Code (2006) U.S. Distributor: Columbia Pictures The Da Vinci Code (2006) U.K. Distributor: Columbia Pictures

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The Da Vinci Code (2006) Synopsis:

While in Paris on business, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) receives an urgent late-night phone call: the elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum. Near the body, police have found a baffling cipher. While working to solve the enigmatic riddle, Langdon is stunned to discover it leads to a trail of clues hidden in the works of Da Vinci -- clues visible for all to see -- yet ingeniously disguised by the painter. Langdon joins forces with a gifted French cryptologist, Sophie Neveu, and learns the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion -- an actual secret society whose members included Sir Isaac Newton, Botticelli, Victor Hugo, and Da Vinci, among others. In a breathless race through Paris, London, and beyond, Langdon and Neveu match wits with a faceless powerbroker who seems to anticipate their every move. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle in time, the Priory's ancient secret and an explosive historical truth will be lost forever.

The Da Vinci Code (2006) Movie Review:

In adapting Dan Brown's contentious mega-selling potboiler, the filmmakers wisely keep the novel's tone intact. This is a gripping adventure with an outrageous premise that seems oddly believable, even though it's pure fiction.

Professor Robert Langdon (Hanks) is lecturing in Paris when becomes the prime suspect in a murder case. The forensics expert Sophie (Tatou) helps him escape--she's personally linked to the case--and the pair set off to find out what really happened. This involves following a series of coded riddles laid out by the victim, while a fervent monk hitman (Bettany) and a tenacious French cop (Reno) are on their trail. They seek refuge with a sardonic old Brit (McKellen) who may be able to unlock the secret, which could shake Christianity to its roots.

This isn't filmed like a normal Euro-thriller; Salvatore Totino's cinematography is lush, velvety and dark, establishing a sinister, creepy vibe that draws us in as a flurry of confusing action set-pieces set things off. It's not until McKellen enters at the one-hour mark that the film shifts into full-speed. He adds a badly needed spark of personality and wit, and also explains the entire plot for us, to set the ball rolling toward the big climax, which is nicely understated and beautifully played by Tatou.

As with their previous collaborations (A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man), Howard and Goldsman avoid all subtlety to make sure we get what's happening here. If the dialog and images aren't obvious enough, they're ready with an elaborately staged flashback (childhoods? the crusades? an 18th century London streetscape? check!). Or perhaps a glowy halo around a key item will help us spot it better. It's beautifully done, but without any real character development, the film never really grabs us.

At least the theological controversy doesn't swamp the fun. The filmmakers cleverly diffuse it with "what if" dialog that questions the theories in lively on-screen debates. In the end, it's clearly just a big-budget detective movie, complete with car chases, shifty characters, massive secrets and rather a lot of gruesome killing. That makes it thoroughly entertaining. And what makes it unmissable is how it gives us something to talk about for months afterwards.

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The Da Vinci Code (2006) review written by: Rich Cline