July 5, 2006

When watching “The Da Vinci Code” moviegoers have to get rid of the notion that this is a true story. Could it be? Sure.

Is it? Who knows?

But you’re better off going into the film, which was pretty much carried page-to-page from Dan Brown’s novel, thinking it’s purely fiction and a good story. That’s what fans are going to find, an intriguing mystery that leads to beautiful locations with likeable characters.

For those few people who haven’t read the book the main character is Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks), a chubbier, less charming version of Indiana Jones. Langdon isn’t going to bed any voluptuous beauty, but he’ll tell you a few things you didn’t know about symbols. When a murder at The Lourve points in his direction, Sophia Neveu (Audrey Tautou), a French officer, helps Langdon get out of trouble and goes on the run with him to open secrets of the Holy Grail, Opus Dei, the Knights Templar and the Priory of Scion.

Director Ron Howard did a fabulous job of not overpowering the viewer with the religious message that got many in the Christian community riled up. Hanks was calm and poised, which no one should ever expect less, and Neveu was a fabulous French actress that conveyed enough emotion to capture her now role in life.

Hanks character wasn’t like many of his other quirky characters he has played in the past. He had to be a serious professional, who was in the second (see Angels and Demons) greatest puzzle of his life. Hanks still puts a face on Langdon, gave him depth and understanding.

The movie is worth seeing if you aren’t afraid to listen to a story. And only a story.

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