It was never surprising that this movie was going to be made, just how it was going to turn out. With a cast that includes Tom Hanks, Ian McKellan, Jean Reno, and Ron Howard as director, I had high hopes. However, as those of you who read the book know, the subject matter is dense and the book includes much background and imagery that is very difficult to do in film. Not to mention the fact that there is a whole first chapter of the main character’s life (told in the book Angels and Demons) that the film world never sees. While its a valiant effort, the film ultimately falls short despite the promising cast and source material.
For those not in the know, the book and subsequent film focus on the basis of Christianity and the secrets of the bloodline of Jesus Christ, mainly through the codes and clues left behind by the group that is responsible for guarding the secret. If this sounds a bit too religious for your tastes, dont worry. Number one, its not meant to be cold hard truth; number two, the problem solving and the story are the focus here. Think the movie National Treasure with a religious twist.
The book sold so well that it wasn’t even released in paperback until about a year and a half later. It was quite a page turner, but the film version is pale by comparison. The book accomplished so much backstory and suspenseful imagery that, even at 2½ hours in length, the movie seemed rushed and some points seemed forced. With some of the more complicated imagery, such as the dark and brutal dedication of the main opposing cult and the connections of certain key points, you could tell what they were going for but not quite pulling it off. Sometimes I felt that my knowledge of the book was the only thing that kept me understanding what I was watching or hearing. And while not Tom Hanks best work, the performances were good enough. There are however a lot of subtitles and accented speech which, while adding to the authenticity, I think would hinder things without reading the book beforehand.
Its not all bad though. The story is still intriguing and if you like puzzles and mysteries then I think you will enjoy it, but don’t expect it to do the book its full justice. As disappointed as some of you may be to hear it, I would recommend a matinee, but not full price. Devon thought it was awesome, but she hasn’t read the book. If you haven’t read it, but had decided to simply watch the movie instead, its definitely your loss! If you watched the movie first, you’ve only gotten half the enjoyment. Bottom line: read the book you lazy bum. It’s only been out for two years now!
