Finally got to see it on Hotel Selectavision (under slightly moldy releases category). I read the book. I really liked the book. But even while reading the book, I just didn't see this story making the transition to the silver screen. How can you take long streams of dialogue to explain the multitude of hypthoses bandied about in the book and hold the attention of the average short-attention spanned American. Dan Bown's "Angels and Demons" has better potential of being a hit movie because it is non-stop action.
As for DaVinci, the movie had more dead spots than the parquet floor of the old Boston Garden (We'll miss you Red!!!). I dozed off a couple of times. I wasn't too impressed with Tom Hanks portraying Langdon. It's just not his type of role. The character playing Sophie was no great shakes either. And Paul Bettany is so unmenacing in physical presence, he was simply miscast as Silas. The old queer, Sir Ian McKellan, was great as usual.
I gave it a middle-of-the-road review because it did explain some things that were a bit too cryptic from just reading the text in the book.
I know certain religious groups were offended by the movie. But I don't think they have too much to worry about. It's not like I'm hearing about some new cult forming that prays to Mary Magdalene on Thursdays.
