Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou and Jean Reno in the Ron Howard movie ‘The Da Vinci Code’

Released as a movie in May 2006, the adaptation of the 2003 Dan Brown book The Da Vinci Code became the Ron Howard directed movie The Da Vinci Code (2006). With screenplay writing credit for Akiva Goldsman, the movie focuses on “art history, Christianity’s origins, and arcane theories,” as mentioned here.

(Jean-Pierre Marielle as Jacques Saunière in the Ron Howard movie The Da Vinci Code).

The movie begins with the pursuit if Louvre Museum curator Jacques Saunière, as portrayed by Jean-Pierre Marielle, in the world famous Paris, France art museum by Roman Catholic, albino monk named Silas; Silas was portrayed by Paul Bettany. Saunière, while coming out of the exchange dead, leaves clues amongst the artwork of Leonardo da Vinci, the namesake for the movie, the book, and the clues embedded in the art around the museum that lead the police to summon renowned Harvard University symbologist Robert Langdon to the case.

(From left, Paul Bettany as Silas and Alfred Molina as Bishop Aringarosa in the Ron Howard movie The Da Vinci Code).

Robert Langdon, as portrayed by Tom Hanks, initially is suspected of the murder of Jacques Saunière, by police captain Bezu Fache, as portrayed by Jean Reno. Police cryptologist Sophie Neveu, as portrayed by Audrey Tautou, disagrees that that Langdon should be suspected of her grandfather’s, that is Saunière’s, murder; Neveu and Langdon shake Fache’s pursuit and deduce that Saunière was a grand master of the French founded Priory of Sion.

(From left, Audrey Tautou as Sophie Neveu and Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon near the Louvre Museum in the Ron Howard movie The Da Vinci Code).

Silas, meanwhile, works for an anonymous to him person he calls The Teacher, which has links to the Bishop Aringarosa led Opus Dei. Aringarosa, as portrayed by Alfred Molina. Circumstances send Langdon and Neveu to Sir Leigh Teabing, as portrayed by Ian McKellan.

(Jean Reno as Police Captain Bezu Fache in the Ron Howard movie The Da Vinci Code).

It was Teabing, a purported expert on the Holy Grail, who introduces a theory contrary to accepted religious canon about a relationship between Mary Magdalene and Jesus, which motivated much of the subtextual mystery functioning in the movie. Charlotte Graham portrayed Mary Magdalene in The Da Vinci Code.

(Ian McKellen as Sir Leigh Teabing in the Ron Howard movie The Da Vinci Code).

The thriller aspects of the movie, along with the intrigue underpinning the mysteries animating the story for the movie, largely worked. That the resolution went in the direction it did was a bit provocative for my taste, though that does not mean the fiction did not work. I give The Da Vinci Code as directed by Ron Howard 3.75-stars on a scale of one-to-five.

Matt – Saturday, March 23, 2024

Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz and Jeffrey Wright in the Matt Reeves movie ‘The Batman’

The Matt Reeves directed movie The Batman (2022) offers a new and modern view of Gotham City with a series of takes on the notion of vengeance in a city of lies, corruption and the riddles of masks obscuring just notions of truth. We review a dark movie that asks less for understanding of motives of the film’s central stars, but in shining light on the past in seeing its influence on the future.

(From left, Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne, Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle, John Turturro as Carmine Falcone and Colin Farrell as Oswald ‘Oz’ Cobblepot, aka Penguin in the Matt Reeves movie The Batman).

Robert Pattinson starred as Bruce Wayne and Batman, whose introduction follows a shocking murder beginning to the film on Halloween‘s night. As portrayed by Paul Dano as the Riddler, whose unmasked persona we meet as Edward Nashton, we witness a shocking event that speaks to the larger theme that drove the movie’s story. The brooding perspective of Wayne and Batman introduces us to Batman himself fighting an unrelated crime with Wayne’s personal narration mirroring the action. While Wayne sets a stage for how he views the crusade he is on, we sense the motivation of fear and vengeance driving Wayne as his persona of Batman.

(Paul Dano as Edward Nashton, aka the Riddler in the Matt Reeves movie The Batman).

The murder lands lieutenant James Gordon and his team of policemen investigating the murder, with Batman along for the investigative ride. The notion of riddles begins with a message left for Batman and discovered by lieutenant Gordon, as portrayed by Jeffrey Wright. A second message at a second murder adds to the intrigue.

(From left, Jeffrey Wright as James Gordon and Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth in the Matt Reeves movie The Batman).

The underlying themes focus Batman, the police investigation and the public on the notion of corruption within Gotham City. The notion takes the story to known criminal elements in the city, with the Iceberg Lounge introducing us to waitress Selina Kyle, her roommate Annika Koslov, nightclub operator Oswald ‘Oz’ Cobblepot, aka Penguin, and finally Carmine Falcone. John Torturro, Colin Farrell, Zoë Kravitz and Hana Hrzic portrayed Carmine Falcone, the Penguin / Oswald Cobblepot, Selina Kyle / Catwoman and Annika Koslov, respectively. The intermingling of storylines for these characters each were individually strong, though the depth of these characters alongside Batman and the Riddler contributed a movie length that struck me as unnecessarily long.

(From left, Robert Pattinson as Batman and Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman in the Matt Reeves movie The Batman).

An especially effective part of The Batman as a movie for me included the revelations for Catwoman, the Riddler, Batman and the interplay between Alfred Pennyworth and Bruce Wayne, the man. Andy Serkis portrayed Alfred, who offered a contextual insight to Bruce Wayne as Batman that, in a way, saved the character of Bruce Wayne / Batman for me. The stories of the Riddler and Carmine Falcone combined to shed a darkness upon Wayne that thankfully were rescued in the end. How the budding romance of Catwoman and Batman played out are something I commend, yet leave to you to discern from the movie.

(From left, director Matt Reeves and actor Paul Dano in the Matt Reeves movie The Batman).

The Batman as a movie offers storylines sufficiently true to what I know of the comic series to keep me encouraged where future stories in subsequent films will take this precise movie. Choosing the Riddler and Batman as subjects of this film’s origin stories worked for me. The movie length was the hardest part of the film for me overall. The love interest angle further worked. Overlapping these with a henchman and criminal mastermind storyline was the individual story that I wish had been less embellished. I grant The Batman as directed by Matt Reeves 3.75-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Saturday, May 14, 2022

Wonder Woman is a leader in the DC Comics movie universe

Perhaps a little late to the party, the movie Wonder Woman (2017) was an entertaining telling of the origin story of Greek Goddess and Amazon warrior Diana Prince, aka the person we know as Wonder Woman. A foray into the DC Comics movie universe, Wonder Woman rated well among audiences and critics alike on Rotten Tomatoes.

Actress Gal Gadot reprises her role as Diana Prince in the summer blockbuster movie Wonder Woman, after first appearing as the character in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) as the same character. Gadot again appeared as the character later that year in Justice League (2017). Before playing Diana Prince, some will recognize Gadot from her role as Gisele in The Fast and The Furious (2009).

(Gal Gadot, left, and Connie Nielsen, right)

Much of the origin story for the feature film first focuses on Diana Prince getting raised on the Paradise Islands. Diana’s Amazon Goddess mother Hippolyta (played by Connie Nielsen) looked to protect Diana from the fate that laid ahead of her, which slowly became clear was a fight with Greek God Ares, the God of War and chief enemy of the Amazons. It wasn’t until much later in the film that we learn if such a fight would actually occur … it would have been a disappointing turn of events if this story line were put on hold for another movie.

(Gal Gadot, left, and Chris Pine, right)

It was roughly 40 to 60 minutes into the movie, characteristically for DC Comics movies, that the events began moving from origin story to live action movie with action, conflict, and the story that makes comic books appealing to fans of the medium happy. Robin Wright as Antiope starts training Diana. Chris Pine as Steve Trevor brings in the means by which Diana Prince will leave the Paradise Islands.

(Robin Wright)

Other than knowing that Diana Prince was first seen in France with a reference back to Batman v Superman, much of when the origin story for Diana Prince occurs is a mystery. The Steve Trevor story line sets the remainder of the movie firmly in the last year of World War One. The story takes on quest for justice in bringing an end to the war while simultaneously resolving the origin story of Diana Prince and the Amazon colony from which Diana, Wonder Woman came.

(Elena Anaya, left, and Danny Huston, right)

Having already revealed much more of the plot than is fair, the fair thing to say is that I found much of the story and character development engaging. Many of the personal stories of the characters were engaging, though the most interesting story lines were those for Diana Prince, Steve Trevor, and that of some of the characters pitted against Trevor and Wonder Woman in the film’s climax. Many of the remaining characters were understandably more two-dimensional as they were present to serve the larger story.

(David Thewlis)

My personal judgment is that much of the film’s being received by critics and audiences alike is that there were large themes, CGI-influenced comic book action, and character growth through a story that you can largely take something from. For fans of movies with strong female leads, this movie is for you. I for one was entertained.

Matt – Sunday, March 25, 2018