Cast: Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Jean Reno, Alfred Molina, Paul Bettany.
Dir: Ron Howard.

The Da Vinci Code film, based on Dan Brown’s best-selling book is causing controversy around the world. It is hard to be apathetic about it. There are those who will defy the film as an affront to Christian beliefs and a tissue of lies and fabrications. The hostility The Da Vinci Code has provoked in some sectors of the Christian community has increased interest in the film. It does not hurt to have a two-time Oscar-winner like Tom Hanks in the lead either. Or, so one thought.... The end result does not justify the hours of coverage that have already been lavished on it.

As famed ’’symbologist’’ Robert Langdon, a miscast Tom Hanks sports a ludicrous hairpiece and bags under his eyes the size of suitcases. One night he’s called to the Louvre museum, where the curator has been brutally murdered by Paul Bettany’s mad albino monk, leaving behind a mysterious trail of symbols and clues.

With his own survival (not to mention Hank’s acting credibility) at stake, Langdon, aided by police cryptologist Sophie (played by a wooden but cute Audrey Tautou), unveils a series of codes hidden in the works of Leonardo Da Vinci, all leading to a covert society - Opus Dei - dedicated to guarding an ancient secret that has remained hidden for 2000 years. The pair set off on a roller-coaster ride through Paris, London and Scotland, collecting clues as they desperately attempt to crack the code and reveal secrets that will shake the very foundations of mankind.

With it’s tremendous plot, this should have been an excellent film - but something has gone badly wrong. Despite it’s great cast and production values, this film is catatonic. Tautou is very, very bad and looks uncomfortable, while Hanks performs like a lump of dough in a wig. Director Ron Howard patronises us with historic flashbacks.Only Ian McKellen somehow manages to keep the film grinding to a complete halt. As the brilliantly named Sir Leigh Teabing, McKellen saves the day.

Apologies to all you Dan Brown disciples, but I found the whole plot simply ludicrous from start to finish. Having not read the book, I struggled to keep up. I blame that on Ron Howard’s one-paced direction.

The most funniest moment came when Hanks says to Tautou ’’that means you’re related to Jesus’’ and the whole audience burst out laughing...Judge for yourselves.

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