A Typical Film Adaptation: Abridged and Banal

the Da Vinci Code (2006) - dir. Ron Howard - 2.5 stars

Given the success of the blockbuster novel by Dan Brown, it is not very surprising that Hollywood would want to get in on the fun (a.k.a. MONEY). All they needed were a star-studded cast, inherited action sequences and a kick-ass trailer. And that's all Hollywood did, which is a very cost-effective way to make big bucks in the land of mass-produced celluloid.

As the formula demands, we have Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Jean Reno, among other internationally acclaimed stars. The narrative simply follows the book but is very action oriented. It omits most of the knowledge that's already limited in the book, so the film does not have the same mystery-oriented narrative. As any reader of Dan Brown knows, when you take out the mystery or cliff-hanger aspect of his novels, you're left with a kindergarten level book. Unfortunately, this is what Howard has done with the film.

On a separate note, it would be interesting to see what this film will do for Audrey Tautou's career. Will it become her Hollywood debut which will propel her to international acclaim, much like Penelope Cruz, or will it be a dead-end? I think the most interesting aspect of the film will be revealed in Tautou's future. Can a blockbuster take someone to Hollywood stardom even though it sucks on cinematic terms? We'll all wait and see, but I wish the best for Tautou.