Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #712 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-01-15
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 143 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Reviews
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 (games and action figures are sure to follow). 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 story is concocted of such a preposterous formula of elements that you wouldn't envy Akiva Goldsman, the screenwriter who was handed a potentially unfilmable book and asked to make a filmable script out of it. Goldsman's solution was to have the screenplay follow the book as closely as possible, with a few needed changes, including a better ending. The result is a film that actually makes slightly better entertainment than the book.

So if you're like most of the world, by now you've read the book and know that it starts out as a murder mystery. While lecturing in Paris, noted Harvard Professor of Symbology Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) is summoned to the Louvre by French police help decipher a bizarre series of clues left at the scene of the murder of the chief curator, Jacques Sauniere. Enter Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou), gifted cryptologist and Sauniere's granddaughter. Neveu and Langdon are forced to team up to solve the mystery, and from there the story is propelled across Europe as it balloons into a modern-day mini-quest for the Holy Grail, complete with alternative theories about the life of Christ, ancient secret societies headed by historical figures like Leonardo Da Vinci, secret codes, conniving bishops, daring escapes, car chases, and, of course, a murderous albino monk controlled by a secret master who calls himself "The Teacher."

Taken solely as a mystery thriller, the movie almost works--despite some gaping holes--mostly just because it keeps moving forward at the breakneck pace set in the book. Brown's greatest trick might have been to have the entire story take place in a day so that the action is forced to keep going, despite some necessary pauses for exposition. Hanks and Tautou are just fine together but not exactly a memorable screen pair; meanwhile, Sir Ian McKellen's scenery-chewing as pivotal character Sir Leigh Teabing is just what the film needs to keep it from taking itself too seriously. In the end, this hit movie is just like a good roller-coaster ride: try not to think too much about it--just sit back and enjoy the trip. --Daniel Vancini, Amazon.com

Synopsis
Dr. Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks, FORREST GUMP) and cryptologist Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou, AMELIE) set out to uncover the truth about The Holy Grail, encountering a mysterious ancient society on the way. Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon is on business in Paris when he is called to the Louvre, where a curator he was due to meet has been murdered. There he meets police cryptologist Sophie Neveu, the granddaughter of the murdered curator. A number of symbols and riddles have been found at the murder scene and the duo set about solving the complex mystery. However, Bezu Fache (Jean Reno, LEON)--the police officer in charge of the investigation--believes that Langdon is implicated in the killing. This leads to Langdon being chased by the French police as he attempts to solve the mystery by following secret clues found in the works of artist Leonardo Da Vinci. Langdon and Neveu escape to England to continue their search for clues in the mystery that has the possibility to upset the very foundations of Christianity, a search that brings them into conflict with Catholic organisation Opus Dei and their dangerous monk Silas (Paul Bettany, GANGSTER NO. 1). Screenwriter Akiva Goldsman (I, ROBOT) manages to transform Dan Brown's tremendously successful novel into a thrilling and fast paced script that is expertly directed by Ron Howard (APOLLO 13). The film was the target of criticism by the Roman Catholic Church but this didn't stop THE DA VINCI CODE becoming a worldwide smash hit.

Customer Reviews

[3.5]-Books adapted to films are the hardest to please.
After finally viewing this film last night I thought it was alright. Movies such as this seem to be a great challenge for directors. This story been read by so many and I know the film is almost 2.5 hours long, but this could, and should have been a bit longer or expanded in the correct places. The first 200 pages of Dan Brown's book are adapted into about 20 minutes. All of the anagrams, the Fache (Jean Reno) stuff, investigating the crime scene. ALL of that goes by in an incredibly rushed 20 minutes. You have to give those 20 minutes your full, undivided attention or you'll miss important details. Langdon being Fache's number 1 suspect isn't the least bit surprising. You had just been introduced to both characters 2 minutes beforehand. The film finally decides to slow down and take it's time once we meet Ian Mckellen's character, Leigh Teabing. They should have added at least 30 minutes to the first 20 minutes, and probably put some of those extra minutes into the irksome flashy flashback sequences.

The acting is pretty good. Tom Hanks has his weak points in the film, but he's given such little time to react to things, I don't blame him. He gets better as the film goes along. The same can be said about Audrey Tautou. If the film wasn't so swift, I'm sure they'd give great performances. Paul Bettany, Jean Reno, Ian Mckellen and Alfred Molina all gave good performance. I'm not surprised that Dan Brown had Jean Reno in mind for Fache when he was writing the book. Ian Mckellen is great as the lovable and humble old man, Teabing. In my opinion, he has the best lines in the film. And Paul Bettany stands out as the albino monk, Silas. I think he gave the best performance in the film.

Ron Howard does a good job in the directing chair but if he hadn't rushed and gave more respect to the first 200 pages of Dan Brown's novel I'd probably give this film a higher rating. I do recommend this film but it's better to read it before you see it.

Am I the Only One
I never read the book as I've tried reading Dan Brown before and find his writing somewhat laboured.

The film however (when not compared to the book) was simply a good mystery yarn.

The special effects were nicely done and I have to say that I loved the incidental music by Hans Zimmer.

Maybe not for the purist historian but for a couple of hours of escapism, I thought it was great.

Somewhat basic production
This contains the 1 DVD.

The basic plot of Da Vinci (2006) is very interesting. There are some genuine moments of horror brilliantly done with fantastic sound effects. There are plenty of surprises. The adventure has something of a Bourne Identity (2002) action thriller to it, with the nauseating torture of Passion of the Christ (2004). Moreover, the opening sequence is memorable drama, but on the whole the film lacks a bit of edge.

The fanfare score is nauseating - your head swirls after being subjected to it for so long and on so many occasions. A darker score, more variation, and a darker direction would have orientated the film firmly into the horror genre, where it would have performed better.

The production teams seem to have got away with putting in only a very basic job. For example, costume is one area where there could have been more inspiration and originality. The design of the franchise - the DVD cover in particular, is uninspiring and the design team should be warned. "Uncover the secret" it declares, but the whole point about Da Vinci (2006) is that it isn't quite uncovered.

A lot in this film is centred on Tom Hanks- indeed, the film ends with a fade on him. But I can't help thinking something else could have been done.

Perhaps, the book is much better to read.