The Da Vinci Code (www.the-usher.com)

"Can you crack the code?"

After the murder of curator at the Louvre, Robert Langdon (Hanks) is asked by the French police to help in their investigation but Captain Fache (Reno) believes that the American academic could be involved. When Sophie Neveu (Tautou) arrives at the scene however, she revels that the victim has left messages for him and her to follow that could lead them to discovering a secret that could shake the very foundations of human history.

Author Dan Brown's phenomenally successful novel was always bound to be adapted into a movie but can the film capture what drew the readers in?

When it was announced that Oscar winners director Ron Howard and actor Tom Hanks were going to bring the best selling novel to the silver screen, fans of the book must have been ecstatic and for most part they had the right to be. Both the director and actor's track record for success has been relentless over the years and it continues here but most of this is more to do with the cinematic plotline of the book than anything either of the two Hollywood big hitters could do.

Dan Brown's novel has been surrounded by controversy ever since it was released. Because of the nature of the storyline that deals with Catholic Church, the validity of the Bible and the Holy Grail, religious groups were bound upset and even distressed by the book and the film's revelations. The author and the filmmakers have always stressed that 'The Da Vinci Code' is only a work of fiction and an adventure story that shouldn't be taken seriously but both the way the novel and the film are written and produced, you can see why organised Christian religion could see this as blasphemous work. This attention however has made the book one of the most successful novels in recent history and might make the film just as much of a hit.

A behemoth of a novel doesn't always make a good movie and just because 'The Da Vinci Code' is an almost legendary book it doesn't guarantee that it can be adapted to the silver screen. Director Ron Howard and his fellow Oscar winning screenwriter capture the essence of the story but fail in parts to make it as exciting as it could have been. Due to the constraints of the story and the continuous flashbacks that offer insights into the two lead characters backgrounds, the pace of the movie is a little slow in parts with only two supporting characters pulling you back into the story.

Silas, the devoted to cause monk and Sir Leigh Teabing, the Grail obsessed scholar are expertly played by Paul Bettany and Ian McKellen. Both of these characters are key to the momentum of the story and inject some much needed pace into the movie. Bettany excels as the albino assassin, who is totally committed to keeping the secrets of Vatican-sanctioned organization Opus Dei. His level of devotion is extreme and relentless with Bettany throwing himself into the role. Whenever you cast Sir Ian McKellen in a role you know he is going to steal every scene he graces. As the world's foremost authority on the Holy Grail, his studies have almost become an obsession and McKellen reflects this is his expertly driven performance.

Were the two supporting character are strongly played, the same can't be said for the two leads. Tom Hanks sports a mini-mullet and a constant frown as Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon and the problem is that he doesn't really have what it takes to convince as Dan Brown's protagonist. The beautiful and talented Audrey Tautou seems to struggle as French cryptologist Sophie Neveu. She just doesn't look comfortable in the role but she is still a lot more watchable than many Hollywood actresses.

Even with all the hype and controversy, 'The Da Vinci Code' is in essence an intriguing fictional thriller that will draw you in from the off. While the film is overlong and the fact that the two leads are miscast, it is Dan Brown's story that will get you thinking and even asking some questions about what you have seen unfold onscreen. The code may take a while to break but you will be trying to trying to do it all the way through.

PICTURE & SOUND

DVD
Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1 with Dolby Digital 5.1, the movie is presented extremely well.

Blu-Ray
The Blu-Ray disc presents the movie in High Definition wide screen 2:35 up to 1080p, with Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround sound. This is the extended version of the movie, that fleshes out the story a little more. We see more of Paul Bettany's Silas character and with a greater emphasis on the narrative, this is the complete movie that fans will revel in.

BONUS FEATURES

Disc 1 (Blu-Ray only)

Unlocking the Code
Watch the extended version of the film with picture in picture interviews, storyboards, prop talk, B-Roll footage, photos, symbols & codes, Langdon's journey featurette and location trivia.

Select scene commentary with director Ron Howard
The director of 'The Da Vinci Code' provides commentary for key scenes during the movie, which is a must listen for all fans of the film and those of the director himself.

Cinechat
A new function of BD-Live, which allows you and friends to instant message during the movie

BD-Live
Place the disc in an internet enabled player or PS3 and gain extras content to the movie

Disc 2 (Blu-Ray + extras for the DVD release)

First Day on the set with Ron Howard (2.00 mins)
Director Ron Howard talks about his first Day on 'The Da Vinci Code' and filming in the Louvre.

A discussion with Dan Brown (5.00 mins)
The author of 'The Da Vinci Code' talks about the origin of the story and the amount of research that went into the developing the plot. The also talks about the impact the book has had on publishing and him personally.

A Portrait of Langdon (7.00 mins)
Director Ron Howard, producer Brian Glazer, author Dan Brown and star Tom Hanks discuss bringing Robert Langdon to the silver screen. The look and approach to the character is discussing and what it was like working with Tom Hanks again.

Who is Sophie Neveu? (7 mins)
Director Ron Howard, producer Brian Glazer, author Dan Brown and star Audrey Tautou talk about the importance of Sophie Neveu in 'The Da Vinci Code'. After seeing nearly every young French actress, they reveal what the beautiful and extremely talented Audrey Tautou brought to the role and how the actress thought about playing the part.

Unusual Suspects (18.00 mins)
Director Ron Howard, producer Brian Glazer, author Dan Brown and stars Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Jean Reno, Paul Bettany, Alfred Molina, J�rgen Prochnow and Jean-Yves Berteloot talk about bringing the characters of 'The Da Vinci Code' to the silver screen.

Magical Places (16.00 mins)
From Paris to London and from Scotland to Lincoln, 'The Da Vinci Code' travelled around Europe during the production. The featurette looks at filming in the Louvre in Paris, the Mason Chapel in Scotland, on the streets of London and recreating Westminster Cathedral inside Lincoln Cathedral. Close-up on the Mona Lisa (6.00 mins) Director Ron Howard and star Tom Hanks talk about what it was like filming in the Louvre in Paris and seeing the Mona Lisa really up close for the first time.

Filmmaker's Journey Part 1 & 2 (37.00 mins)
Director Ron Howard, producer Brian Glazer, author Dan Brown, director of photography Salvatore Totino, writer Akiva Goldman, casting director Jane Jenkins, production designer Allan Cameron, executive producer Todd Hallowell, costume designer Daniel Orlandi, hair and makeup designer Frances Hannon and stars Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Jean Reno, Paul Bettany, Alfred Molina, J�rgen Prochnow and Jean-Yves Berteloot take you behind the scenes of the making of 'The Da Vinci Code'.

The Codes of the Da Vinci Code (5.00 mins)
Director Ron Howard and author Dan Brown reveal the secret codes imbedded in the film version of the best selling novel.

The Music of The Da Vinci Code (3.00 mins)
Director Ron Howard, producer Brian Glazer, author Dan Brown and composer Hans Zimmer talk about creating a tone and feel for the movie via the score.

BLU-RAY OVERALL

The Blu-Ray version of 'The Da Vinci Code' has mainly the same extras as the original DVD release but the inclusion of the extended version and the 'Unlocking the code' feature make this the much better release. For those who have upgraded to HD and are a fan of the movie, this is a must buy.

BLU-RAY

DVD OVERALL

With every aspect of the film's production covered in the extensive featurettes, the only thing missing from this release is a commentary track. Fans of the novel and the movie will should be pleased with the bonus features but cinema would have been hoping for a little more detail and more on the visual effects.

DVD

National Treasure

Raiders of the Lost Ark

The Usher Home | Hush, Hush... | The Big Story | The Usher Speaks

Stuck @ Home | Coming Soon | Links | Contact the Usher

2006