The Da Vinci Code

*** Stars

The Da Vinci Code, directed by Ron Howard, is a high octane, intelligent thriller, filled with controversy and excitement. It is a summer blockbuster for the book readers and first timers.

Everyone in the world knows this story by now, but let's recap. Famed symbologist Professor Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) has already been through a lot (with the first Dan Brown novel Angels and Demons) and now he's back, being called to the Louvre museum one night where a curator has been murdered. His body has left clues and symbols to let Langdon solve a puzzle that will unveil secrets involving the works of Leonardo Da Vinci. With the help of police cryptologist Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou), the pair set off on a monumental quest through Paris, London and Scotland in search of all the answers. Sir Leigh Teabing (the always fantastic Ian McKellen) who is basically a guru on the subject, joins the dangerous chase.

Now of course Tom Hanks hair looks like a pile of scum found in a sewer, but that is still no reason to bash a film. After all the hype and negative reviews, the movie doesn't let you down. If you are against the ideas of the book written by Dan Brown and then take Howard's advice: "If the movie upsets you, don't see it". The film is really not as bad as you might think.