MOVIE REVIEW: The DaVinci Code

Yes, right after I went to see X-Men-3, (the next day in fact) I went back to the theater to see The DaVinci Code, starring Tom Hanks. I love Tom Hanks in nearly every movie he ever made (except maybe for the lamentably awful Joe and the Volcano - his first cinematic partnering with another favorite of mine, Meg Ryan). While I admire Mr. Hanks for his hilarious comedic mastery, I also salute him for his subdued portrayal of the very serious character he played in this movie.

The DaVinci Code is thoughtfully crafted and suspenseful, with a healthy dose of action and chase scenes that kept me guessing who the bad guy was until right before he(she?) was finally revealed. I like to be surprised by a plot twist or character revelation I never saw coming. Maybe other viewers guessed right away, but not me. And that's OK, cuz like I said, I like to be surprised. I also appreciated the way the end was left open ... what's he gonna do NOW? No beating the viewer over the head with heavy answers. It's left up to the individual to decide.

I fully intended to watch the movie after I'd read the book, but I loaned my copy to a friend and ended up not being able to wait to get it back before rushing to the theater to see the movie. (I do love movies!)

:-D

If you have not read Dan Brown's novel of the same title, on which the movie was based, or have not followed Biblical theories popularized on the History Channel, or have not attended a Christian church in the last year or so, you might not be aware of the premise behind The DaVinci Code. Rather than me messing things up for you by trying to explain what it's about, let me just say this...

What if Christ was not a celebate man during his time on Earth? Think about that for a New York minute, and you will start imagining some of the possibilities explored in the movie and the novel - which by the way was predicated on the theory offered in an earlier nonfiction book entitled Holy Blood, Holy Grail.

Interesting stuff. Somewhat controversial perhaps, but interesting nontheless. Thanks, Mr. Hanks, for bringing it alive.