The Da Vinci Code

[innerSpaceman]

Seems word of mouth is decidely fair-to-meh, following on a tidal wave of critical disasterism. Opening weekend was always going to be critic-proof, and I'm sure Sony was betting on the film simply compelling every reader of the book to be a payer for the movie ... hence profit guaranteed regardless of quality or reviews.

Ironically, it's not any Christian broo-ha-ha that's making this a must-see, but rather the critical drubbing itself ... which I think created a have-to-see-it-for-themselves sorta backlash with the public.


Pfht, even with "meh" being the best I've heard, I'm still going to see it with zapppop on Tuesday. But I popped in a DVD tonight of a movie that Hanks really sold with a tremendous performance ("Cast Away"), and I think a phoned-in Tom Hanks performance is going to be a big disappointment.

And the movie version of The DaVinci Code being only so-so is itself a pretty big disappointment.

[Gn2Dlnd]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Pfht, even with "meh" being the best I've heard...

Huh. I was pretty sure I said I liked it.

[Prudence]

I suppose I'll see this eventually, but I'm a bit afraid to. I know I'm supposed to reject the book as unsuitable fluff, poorly written by an insufferable hack, but the reality is that I found it quite entertaining. The history of the early Church and related heresies is one of my pet research hobbies, so I tend to enjoy historical fiction in that genre. (In much the same way as I enjoy, from time to time, a good bodice-ripper involving a strong-willed Elizabethan era heroine who will, at some point, disguise herself as a man to get her own way, before being tamed by the studly heir she's supposed to hate.) I'm bound to be disappointed by the movie, I think. Which is a pity.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Yeah, likewise.

[Gemini Cricket]

Yeah, likewise.

[innerSpaceman]

To quote The Commodore's review - - the entirety of his review: "I enjoyed it." I'll grant that's a better-than-fair review. I misspoke.

Gemini Cricket posted that he liked it, but not a lot. How's that for a Meh review?

Motorboat Cruiser did say that he enjoyed it very much. I apologize for mischaracterizing his review. There was indeed a bit of enthusiasm in his comments that I did not detect in anyone else's review of the film.


I am nonetheless pleased that word of mouth seems to indicate the critics tarred this one unfairly. But, as I posted above, anything less than a gem is -to me- a disappointing adaptation of The DaVinci Code.

[scaeagles]

I am wondering if the box office receipts will fall off dramatically.

The hype for this and loyal following of the book would seem to suggest that perahps the avid fans would have had to have seen it on the opening weekend. With the overall poor reviews by critics and the overall lukewarm receipt my the majority of those who have seen it (ISM's "meh" reviews), I wonder how many people that still really, really want to see it haven't yet and also how many repeat viewers there will be.

[Gemini Cricket]

I think the box office will drop off next weekend. 'X3' is coming out, I'm thinking that will be number one.

With that being said, $147 mil worldwide is huge. The movie has already grossed $224. That's pretty amazing.

Btw, 'Meh' to me is not liking it/not hating it. ie. 'Spiderman 1'. But I hear what you're saying, iSm.

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

I think the box office will drop off next weekend.

Good. Then maybe I will see it.

I've really hated going to the movies lately - with the exception of the Cemetery.

[innerSpaceman]

Pretty much hated it. How they can have made such a tedious film from this source is simply beyond me. But the movie had so little zest that it simply ran out steam way before the end. I don't think there was a non-snore-inducing moment once Sir Ian was whisked away in a squad car raving like a madman.