Jun 22, 2006 03:52 PM
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Ok, I had the opportunity to watch this film overseas but passed up on that since I was assured by comments that the Indian censors and the Indian Central / State Governments were not going to yank the movie off the theaters or cut out some of the interesting bits. I went and saw this movie last fortnight and I was quite satisfied. I choose the word very carefully.
The film follows the central plot in the novel as faithfully as possible. It however presupposes that most (if not all of the audience) would have read the book as well and are therefore quite familiar with the historical/mythological background that the book contains. If you are looking to see a thriller like any other, without being too concerned about the origin of any (or all) theories behind the plot (conspiracy or otherwise), go for it. On that basis, I would give this plot 7/10...
On cast performance, nothing spectacular. Each actor went about their roles without any overly done histrionics and aligned themselves to the central plot. Audrey Tautou who plays the role of Sophie Neveu, seemed quite apt for the role, although Tom Hanks could have put some more oomph into his role... He did manage to look convincingly hazzled, albeit needlessly, in The Castway anyways. As for Alfred Molina, I liked him better as Doc Ock in Spiderman 2... Hardly the catholic type, much less a bishop... Very lukewarm performance... And both Jean Reno as Bezu Fache and Sir Ian McKellan as Leigh Teabing played their roles brilliantly, I thought they were the real show stealers, no humbug there... Cast performance rated at 5.5/10
Choir music sound track, befitting an anglo-saxon-neo-pagan-christian-catholicconspiracy hush up-themed film although they could've done a tad better, for example the scene where Silas undergoes penitence with a cilice... the music in my opinion should have been a tune that captures the torment of a human in physical pain, not something that appears to be sombre in parts and punctuated by a harsh spike in sound at times, almost sounding like an organ that burst a pipe. Funnily enough, the sound track was what cost this film its U rating in the UK... It was rated A there since the censors believed the music to be too frightening for children (and these are the very same children who play Doom 3 or Grand Theft Auto San Andreas to the sound track of a Marilyn Manson equivalent or some equally punked out Goth rocker who is urging them to "Kill 'Em Ho's. Quickly"!!! Sound track rated at 6/10
I have just one crib on cinematography... Remember the old adage, "a picture is worth a thousand words"... I think Ron Howard probably forgot this during parts of the movie... The imminent sense of urgency that the book conveyed thereby making it an impossible-to-put-down-read was completely absent in the movie... Ya well, there are a a few chases and pursuits but still did not make me grip the edges of my seat... Overall rating for this 7/10.
Summary: Go see the movie if you haven't already. You do not have to have read the book to follow the plot and its a nice weekend thriller to get your mind off whatever.
Cheers, S
