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Critics crack 'The Da Vinci Code'
Can the film possibly survive the critical mauling it has taken in the UK?
May 19 2006
After years spent on the bestseller list and months and months and months of movie hype, the eagerly anticipated big screen adaptation of 'The Da Vinci Code' finally makes it into cinemas this weekend. But will it be the sure-fire hit that everyone (including myself) predicted?
In Time Out's Summer Preview, I called the film 'critic-proof' and the 'safest bet of the summer', but that was before Ron Howard's film took a caning from journalists this week.
Empire called it 'inert and borderline dreary', the Guardian referred to it as a 'bizarre succession of baffling travelogue escapades' Total Film said it was 'talky, too long and not a little turgid', and our very own Dave Calhoun called it 'two-and-a-half hours of relentless, ridiculous exposition.'
Will this critical mauling be enough to destroy the film's box office chances? One look at the comments section below Time Out's review suggests not, with a succession of die hard Dan Brown fans writing off our review and laying into our esteemed film editor with Silas-like rage.
So it seems that no matter how bad the film may be, audiences the length and breadth of the country will still be heading to theatres to find out for themselves, resulting in a massive opening weekend.
But just wait until week two. When those reviews have had time to sink in and word-of-mouth begins to circulate, I suggest that far from being the 'safest bet of the summer', 'Da Vinci' will fail to muster any kind of momentum at the box office, that gross will tail off massively and within weeks we'll be wondering what all the fuss was about.
User comments on this story
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- Master tang said...
- I've got some yellow liquid for your popcorn, and its non diary... Posted on May 30 2006 16:32
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- Betty said...
- Hmn... Go get some snacks perhaps a carbonted soda... Posted on May 29 2006 14:00
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- Dim said...
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I think the film was OK but to understand it one has to read the film first. Overall I think there is definitely a degree of truth said in the book - and the film. Don't you think there are toooo many coincidences? Why would the church order the murder of the knights templar? Is the church suppose to murder - why would they do that if it wasnt for a secret?? Do you know the dead sea manuscript?
Hey like no jews wanted to believe in Jesus - that's exactly what some people are doing in refusing to see the truth and just ban the film! Posted on May 28 2006 19:53 - Report as inappropriate
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- Chris Morgan III said...
- I have seen this movie and my thoughts on this is that this is a good thriller. People get carried away because this movie messes with religion and people think it's true, although they do not realise da vinci is a fiction thriller. It's a good movie that should not be compared to anything as itis in it's own category of just been a movie. If the book never existed and da vinci himself never existed then it would have received a much better review from those plonkers called critics! Posted on May 22 2006 23:08
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- Jaggesh kariya said...
- That sophie chik makes me so hot i can't think straight o yeah!! Posted on May 22 2006 10:49
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- Laura, UK said...
- No matter how many people say they were pleasantly surprised, it was hardly blockbuster material let's face it. This film was boring! I go to the cinemas about 3 times a week and never in my life have I ever fallen asleep at a film --- until I saw this one! The dreary and dull script, it was all too much --- I'm not thick but I found it hard to follow having not read the book. After watching this I certainly won't be rushing out to buy the novel! Posted on May 21 2006 17:24
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- Gregory Paton said...
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Having read and greatly enjoyed the book, I had anticipated this film release since it's announcement. Then to hear the critical panning, my expectations had all but plummeted to the point that I was uncertain whether to pay for a film, which would diminish the chasing thriller of the book. Well I took my wife and two early teenagers to the film this evening and was more than pleasantly surprised to find the critics grossly inaccurate.
Ron Howard has presented an authentic merging onto the screen of Dan Brown’s novel with what I believe is a sincere attempt using sweeping camera views and chaser view points to roll the audience along in the thrilling chaser and tale it weaves. Having read the book, the plot and character turns of the tale were anticipated but for my family which had not read the book they were delighted with the film.
My family enjoyed a healthy discussion after the film and I do not believe that our faith in Christianity is the less for it. The film was worth the wait.
Don’t believe the critics for a moment on this film, as their attention span simply cannot last the 2 ½ hours. Their divine mothers should have ensured they had brushed their hair and been dosed with Ritalin before being allowed out to play with the general public. Posted on May 21 2006 15:40 - Report as inappropriate
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- M hari prasad said...
- This movie rules! U critics can kiss ron howard's hairy ass!!! Posted on May 21 2006 11:45
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- Mithun said...
- It rocks... Posted on May 21 2006 11:30
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- Mark Habb said...
- Tedious & Psuedo-Intellectual in its attempt to "uncover" the greatest conspiracy ever thrust upon the masses [no pun intended]. Tom Hanks is miscast and seems wooden at times. He never finds his mark in the scenes, perhaps he's really lost with this script? Besides, where does he find his hair stylist? This bomb will go down as one of his worst films ever. Posted on May 21 2006 04:48
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- Bob Brewster said...
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Reluctlanly went to see the film last night after reading the reviews and both myself and the wife were pleasantly surprised how good it was considering the critics bashing
We found it both entertaining and enjoyable,well acted by all and were amazed at some of the criticism which we found to be the opposite on all accounts.
Ignore the critics and go and enjoy it.
A normal persons thougts Posted on May 20 2006 13:46 - Report as inappropriate
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- Ed said...
- Unlike many, I do think that reviewers tend to be in tune with mainstream public opinion and they have got this turkey spot-on. This snails-pace trawl through a primary school script is nothing short of laughable. Taking itself staggeringly seriously, whilst reducing Hanks and Tatou to wooden pegs, this car-crash of a movie deserves all the bile it has heaped on it . Howard, competent in Apollo 13, but always overbearing, has been exposed as hapless by this dreadful waste of space. Hard to see Hanks fully recover from his involvement with this. Posted on May 19 2006 23:37
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- Fred said...
- I just came from seeing the movie and nothing the critics say is true. We both read the book and thought the film was very good ( just there wasn't much suspence only because we knew what was going to happen next). Here's a new conspiracy theory for you- Maybe the church paid them off to bash the film. Ha ha Posted on May 19 2006 22:01
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- Zach M said...
- Most people (like myself) have been waiting two years for this film to be available to the the public eye. I highly doubt any of us will take these reviews seriously, because for one it was a amazingly written book. Two, Audry Tatue is a great actress and we have been waiting to see her in a english film. And three come on need i say more then Tom Hanks and Ron Howard? Posted on May 19 2006 20:38
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- alex v said...
- ".... 'Da Vinci' will fail to muster any kind of momentum at the box office, that gross will tail off massively and within weeks we'll be wondering what all the fuss was about...." Mmmm you think? To be honest critics nowerdays really dont have much pull with alot of the public, i think it's still gonna be a moneyspinner no-matter what is printed...... Posted on May 19 2006 17:46
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