The Da Vinci Code (2006)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers (WGA):

Akiva Goldsman (screenplay)
Dan Brown (novel)

Release Date:

19 May 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Seek The Truth

Plot:

A murder inside the Louvre and clues in Da Vinci paintings lead to the discovery of a religious mystery protected by a secret society for two thousand years -- which could shake the foundations of Christianity.

Plot Keywords:

Secret | Murder | Paris | Chase | Holy Grail

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 16 nominations

Cast

Tom Hanks	...	Dr. Robert Langdon
Audrey Tautou	...	Agent Sophie Neveu
Ian McKellen	...	Sir Leigh Teabing
Jean Reno	...	Captain Bezu Fache
Paul Bettany	...	Silas
Alfred Molina	...	Bishop Manuel Aringarosa
Jürgen Prochnow	...	Andre Vernet
Jean-Yves Berteloot	...	Remy Jean
Etienne Chicot	...	Lt. Collet
Jean-Pierre Marielle	...	Jacques Saunière
Marie-Françoise Audollent	...	Sister Sandrine
Rita Davies	...	Elegant Woman at Rosslyn
Francesco Carnelutti	...	Prefect
Seth Gabel	...	Michael
Shane Zaza	...	Youth on Bus

Also Known As:

The DaVinci Code (International: English title) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for disturbing images, violence, some nudity, thematic material, brief drug references and sexual content.

Runtime:

149 min | 174 min (extended cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | Latin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS (8 channels)

Certification:

Ireland:15A | New Zealand:M | Australia:M | Norway:15 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | South Korea:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:12A | Portugal:M/12 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Malaysia:18PL | Philippines:R-18 | Argentina:13 | Brazil:14 | Netherlands:12 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #41475) | Poland:15 | Venezuela:PG-13 | Sweden:11 | Canada:14A (British Columbia/Ontario) | Mexico:B15 | Hungary:16 | India:A | Spain:13 | Hong Kong:IIA | Iceland:14 (original rating) | China:13 | Peru:14 | Italy:T (cinema rating) | Italy:VM18 (tv rating)

Filming Locations:

Albert R. Broccoli 007 Stage, Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Columbia Pictures

Trivia:

Brian Grazer and Ron Howard received an invite from French President Jaques Chirac. They expected a five-minute photo call. Instead they spent an hour in conversation and were told to speak to him if they had problems getting filming in the Louvre. Chirac suggested Reno should have a pay rise and that his daughter's best friend, an actress, should be cast as Sophie Neveu.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Sophie and Robert are in the bank, and they are entering the 10 digit code, instead of 10 beeps being heard, only 9 are.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Silas: Stop now. Tell me where it is.
[removes hood]
Silas: You and your brethren possess what is not rightfully yours.
Jacques Saunière: I don't know what you are talking about.
Silas: Is it a secret you will die for?
Jacques Saunière: Please...
Silas: As you wish.
[cocks gun]

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "South Park: Fantastic Easter Special (#11.5)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Kyrie for the Magdalene

Not deep, not Good and not the book! ...but it made money

I really enjoyed the book. It was a thundering good read. Okay maybe the story lacked consistency and depth, but that doesn't matter: it did what it was meant to do - it entertained. For all those people who poke fun, pick holes or spend ages listing the errors, I have but one response: you are missing the point - it's fiction.

So as you can see I was hoping for an entertaining and absorbing movie. Alright they were going to have to make the puzzles a little harder. I mean was there anyone who failed to solve the anagrams or mirror writing at first sight? (One criticism of the book that is hard not to concur with) In addition the script writers were going to have to be resourceful, since suspense would be difficult to engender given that the story was so well known and the plot admittedly a tad linear.

Unfortunately the movie missed the mark by a country mile. Where the book was fast paced and enthralling the film was slow and uninvolving. The dialogue was trite and unbelievable and the plot completely mismanaged.

The book certainly simplified the subject matter and adjusted facts to fit the plot, but it never insulted the reader - it assumed a knowing intelligence and a willful suspension of belief. The film however was crass and insulting in its treatment of the audience and the way it negligently failed to even bother to try and paper over the cracks and, indeed, chasms in what plot it allowed was extraordinary.

As far as I can see there was but one single intent in making this movie - to make money!