We have all seen the articles talking about how Sony isn’t giving reviewers a very advanced look at The Da Vinci Code, as a matter of fact I am not seeing it until the night before it opens, therefore, when an outlet such as Variety and The Hollywood Reporter publish their reviews I would say it is relatively newsworthy.
So, on this day in which The Da Vinci Code is only hours away from its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival Variety’s big wig reviewer Todd McCarthy takes a stab at the controversial feature, here is how he started it out:
A pulpy page-turner in its original incarnation as a huge international bestseller has become a stodgy, grim thing in the exceedingly literal-minded film version of “The Da Vinci Code.” Tackling head-on novelist Dan Brown’s controversy-stirring thriller hinging on a subversively revisionist view of Jesus Christ’s life, director Ron Howard and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman have conspired to drain any sense of fun out of the melodrama, leaving expectant audiences with an oppressively talky film that isn’t exactly dull, but comes as close to it as one could imagine with such provocative material; result is perhaps the best thing the project’s critics could have hoped for. Enormous public anticipation worldwide will result in explosive B.O. at the start in near-simultaneous release in most international territories, beginning May 17 in some countries — day-and-date with the official Cannes opening-night preem — and May 19 in the U.S. and elsewhere.
Oh dear! Do I want to go see it now?
Well, before we go jumping to any conclusions let’s see what THR’s head reviewer, Kirk Honeycutt, had to say about the film:
For those who hate Dan Brown’s best-selling symbology thriller “The Da Vinci Code,” the eagerly awaited and much-hyped movie version beautifully exposes all its flaws and nightmares of logic.
For those who love the book’s page-turning intensity, the movie version heightens Brown’s mischievous interweaving of genre action, historical facts and utter fictions. In other words, for those who bear witness to the film “The Da Vinci Code,” what you see depends on what you believe. Kinda like religion itself.
Honeycutt caps the review with his Bottom Line saying, “A jumble of historical myth, religious symbology and international thriller-action makes for an unwieldy, bloated melodrama.”
Whoa! You see, I actually fit into that first category since I did not like the book whatsoever. I made it halfway through and couldn’t get past the horrible writing, despite the intriguing story. However, it didn’t take long for me to realize this thing was a movie in the making. Hell, the book is just a poorly written screenplay and with Akiva Goldsman (Cinderella Man, I, Robot, A Beautiful Mind, A Time To Kill) adapting the screenplay I can only assume he beefed this bad boy up. Afterall, A Time To Kill is at the top of my list of legal thrillers. I absolutely love that film!
So, do I want to see it? Actually, I want to see it now more than ever…
Do I have any concerns? Of course, and it starts with the fact that this pic has a 2 hour and 33 minute running time. There better be some serious thrills, especially considering Howard has somehow managed to make this pic longer than the 2 hour and 24 minute Cinderella Man.
Personally, some bad early buzz encourages me and considering McCarthy liked it that also helps the film’s chances in my opinion. I still can’t believe that guy gave Ask the Dust a favorable review! Man, Salma’s breasts must have been a sight for sore eyes for Mr. McCarthy. That’s a joke Todd! Laugh a little.
Anyway, we have to give all films a fair shake and I plan on doing just that. Until my review is posted why don’t you spend some time chewing on a few clips from the flick in our Da Vinci Code Video Feature.
