Because we are dedicated to honest customer opinions The Da Vinci Code (2 Disc Special Edition) (DVD), we have also included Amazon's customer reviews for this item (of which 6 are displayed below). Amazon customers have given The Da Vinci Code (2 Disc Special Edition) an average rating of 3.0/5.
Top Amazon Review
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.
Customer Review 1
Better than you might think. I remember when this movie first came out and it received an absolute barrage of negative reviews.I have seen it three times now and enjoyed it each and every time.Yes,it is complex and may be a bit too long,but Ron Howard ties everything together very well and does a fine job with his direction.
The acting is fine throughout with Tom Hanks giving one of his best performances despite many people saying that the role didn't suit him.The best performance comes from Ian McKellen though who pretty much dominates every scene he is in.Audrey Tautou does look uncomfortable at times but is lovely and the rest of the cast is fine.
With excellent locations,very good music and a story that makes you think,'The Da Vinci Code' may well come as a pleasant surprise.I have no hesitation in giving it four stars out of five.There are also several interesting extras on the two disc edition.
Customer Review 2
It did well to stick to the book.. The Plot
When the curator of the Louvre is murdered, number one suspect, Havard Professor Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) is called in to solve the cryptic messages that were left behind. Soon enough he is following a trail of clues through the works of Da Vinci, with the help of cryptologist Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tauton). From galleries in France, to churches in England, the pair are hunted by the police and a deadly killer, sent ot stop the truth from ever getting out.
The Characters
Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) - A Havard Professor who's books on Religous Symbols interested the head of a powerful brotherhood, ultimately leading him to discover one of the biggest cover-ups ever.
Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tauton) - The French cryptologist who gets caught up in the mess through family connections and ends up becoming a wanted criminal.
Leigh Teabing (Ian McKellen) - The retired historian who's knowledge on the Holy Grail brings Robert and Sophie to his front door.
Other Characters
Captain Bezu Fache (Jean Reno)
Bishop Aringarosa (Alfred Molina)
Silas (Paul Bettany)
Review
The critiscm following the film is mainly the critics who didnt like the book. The film isnt bad, it is just some people who never liked the story anyway.
Everyone had a good performance (although Hanks was maybe a miss-cast) and Jean Reno and Ian McKellen were especially good.
The film stuck to the book very well for the first half but they probably decided they were running out of time and mist a few majoy bits out towards the end.
Some say the film was too long but it needs to be if you are going to have a realistic attempt of keeping the story close to a 600 page book. It was interesting all the way through and it is defiantely one you can watch again.
Overall a thouroughly enjoyable watch and I recommened it to anyone who liked the book. 10/10!
Customer Review 3
Endless. The Da Vinci Code (it could have been called any number of things) is the type of movie that ages the viewer. Interminable and dull, entire geological ages come and go, glaciers advance and retreat, mountain ranges rise and fall, before the film, having passed through one banal scene to the next, finally releases its tortuous grip on the exhausted viewer. Frankly, I could not care a hoot about the story of Jesus (although a better plot would have been one that questioned his existence at all), so I was, obviously, very bored by the scenes during which sombody explains christ's specious history to another person, and then that person explains it again to the really dull person who wasn't listening.
And then there is the acting. Apart from Gandalf, who is too good to be in this movie, the performances are entirely lifeless, particularly between the two leads who, it would appear, don't like each other.
Finally though, the real villian in all of this, the director. Ron Howard! His pacing of the scenes, and his desire to have absolutely everything explained, destroys any chance the film had of being passable as 90 minutes entertainment. He should be shot.
Customer Review 4
Make up your own conclusion.. Like many I had just finished the book and decided to buy the film.
I think that director has done as good a job as possibly in the 2 1/2 hours. Yes the film does not go into as much depth as some people say, but good effort despite that, I think that if director had tried to make it more detailed then the whole film would have become bogged down with complexity and the majority of viewers would have become lost and confused as to what was going on.
My wife who got lost on the first few pages of the book found the film enjoyable and managed to understand the plot.
My advice to anyone would be this; if you have read the book or not, then buy the DVD and watch the film. Personally I feel it is a good film, and a good film at that to watch on a Saturday night.
Customer Review 5
Oh dear.......... Well, I read the book, loved it, and expected great things from a film with such a fine cast. Wrong. Tom Hanks was mis-cast I thought. He just didn't seem interested, in fact, I thought he seemed bored. Ian McKellen totally over-acted, and, I thought, spoilt it. Audrey Tatou was just irrelevant, in fact, the only strong character was Jean Reno, who was brilliant. I just didn't like it. The book was so much better. I don't know why it didn't work for me, but I just never got into the film like I did the book. I was really disappointed, especially in Tom Hanks. Some times, I think the printed word is better than a film, and this was one of those times. Too much hype maybe, I don't know. I mean, the plot was great, it was all there, it just never made it from the book to the screen, as far as I am concerned. Shame, but there you go. Not something I would recommend.
