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'The Da Vinci Code' lacks urgency, but still entertains
by Eleanor Ringel Gillespie

Lightning didn't strike the screen and the theater didn't go up in hellfire, but that's not to say "The Da Vinci Code" won't raise some hackles. Ron Howard's movie is extremely faithful to Dan Brown's best-seller. Basically, the more you liked the book, the more likely you are to like the movie. If you haven't read the book, the film version probably won't persuade you to pick it up. And why should you? You've already seen everything in it. Read the full review

TO SUM UP
The murder of a curator at the Louvre reveals a sinister plot to uncover a secret that has been protected since the days of Christ. Only the victim's granddaughter and Robert Langdon, a famed symbologist, can untangle the clues he left behind. The duo become both suspects and detectives searching for not only the murderer but also the stunning secret of the ages he was charged to protect.

FILM FACTS ...

Sony Pictures

'The Da Vinci Code'

Director: Ron Howard
Starring: Tom Hanks, Jean Reno, Audrey Tautou, Alfred Molina, Ian McKellen
Run time: 149 minutes
Release date: May 19, 2006
Rating: PG-13 for disturbing images, violence, some nudity, thematic material, brief drug references and sexual content.
See showtimes

Sneak peek
Take an advance look at action in "The Da Vinci Code" with these stills from the movie.

Decoding the story
• Insightful storytelling or historical blunders?
• Who was the real da Vinci?
• What did early Christians really say about Jesus?

On the web
Official movie site
View the trailer
Trailers require Quicktime

READ THE REVIEW

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: B-
"For those who don't know the book chapter and verse, things may get a little confusing. For those who do, things might get a little boring."

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Austin American-Statesman, Jodi González: 3 of 5 stars
"Mystery and conspiracy blend into an interesting story; the same things that made the book a best-seller make this film mostly entertaining."

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Austin American-Statesman, John DeFore: 2 of 5 stars
"It's hard to imagine anyone getting worked up about "Da Vinci," pro or con."

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The Palm Beach Post: B
"Howard may have crafted the best possible movie version of Brown's novel, but only occasionally does it have visually inventive equivalents of the book's alchemy."