Go ahead and take a crack at 'The Da Vinci Code'

By Kristina Chiapella

Since the best-selling book by Dan Brown made its highly anticipated blockbuster debut last week, the burning question has been whether "The Da Vinci Code" is living up to expectations.

Don't be misled by the number of negative reviews you may have heard, because as readers know, this modern day quest for the Holy Grail is far from the age-old story of knights and sword fights.

In fact, we are told our traditional vision of the grail may be far off the mark. This adventure involves all the sensation of a modern thriller that you could ask for, combined with an element of antique puzzle-solving that captures the imagination.

Those who have read the book will have no trouble following the plot, but if you haven't, it's possible that some of the who, how and why questions may be a little muddled. Of course, there is always going to be difficulty and criticism involved in transferring a best-selling novel to the screen, and many details, along with the element of mental puzzle-solving, get lost in translation.

Yet enough remains of this thriller to make it an engaging film that won't let you get a yawn in edgewise. Director Ron Howard handles the hurdles as skillfully as can be expected, especially for a plot heatedly debated for its controversial religious content.

The plot line, for those who missed the Da Vinci craze or just need a refresher, begins when renowned symbologist Robert Langdon, (Tom Hanks), is summoned to the scene of a shocking murder at the Louvre Museum while on business in Paris.

What Langdon doesn't know is that he is the prime suspect of Parisian police captain Fache, (Jean Reno), and is only saved by the appearance of cryptologist Sophie Neveu, (Audrey Tautou), who just happens to be the deceased curator's granddaughter.

From there, the two are swept into the task of untangling the clues left for them, and only manage to sink deeper into a staggering bog of religious questions and discoveries.

The concept uncovered concerns a secret society charged with protecting the holy bloodline of Christ, and the resulting cover-up by a church wishing to preserve the notion of his divinity.

Such an idea is sure to captivate an audience, yet the theory doesn't come off as radically as expected, given the contention that has surrounded it. The different threads of religion and history explored prove intriguing even in their condensed form, and the movie effectively layers ancient flashbacks onto the modern European scenery of Langston and Neveu's quest.

The constraints of the plot keep Hanks from developing into the strong character that we have come to expect from him in previous films, but critiques of his being unsuited to the role of Professor Langdon are unmerited.

The moments where he is called to put his knowledge to the test are some of the most thrilling, as he takes on riddles that liken to the portrayal of genius John Nash in "A Beautiful Mind."

The movie takes off with the appearance of Sir Leigh Teabing (Ian McKellen), an eccentric grail expert who brings the religious conspiracy theories to the table and keeps the action rising.

And while the villains as a whole don't feel fully formed, Paul Bettany as the creepy albino Silas does an exceptional job in his role as the rogue monk whose idea of "serving the lord" includes murders and ritual self-mutilations.

All in all, "The Da Vinci Code" is worth your time, providing a riveting plot that will be appreciated by those who haven't read the book and respected by those who have.

Be prepared to confront the idea that things shouldn't always be taken at face value, given the great and mysterious melting pot of human history.

Grade: B+

Contact Kristina Chiapella at (408) 551-1918 or kchiapella@scu.edu.