David Neubert Homepage

If you read the book I don’t think you need to see The Da Vinci Code.  Since I found out there was going to be a movie I avoided reading the book.  I’m glad I did. I think if I had I would have fallen asleep.  While I found the plot and its twists to be very entertaining, my date, who had read the book, fell asleep on several occasions.  Even the 48 ounce Diet Coke we shared couldn’t keep her in the land of the conscious. 

The plot is fun and all the information provided about a semi-invented history of Christianity is interesting.  If you have never been to Paris or France seeing all the cathedrals, chateaus, and churches certainly will whet your appetite.

Tom Hanks doesn’t seem smart enough to be believable as Professor Robert Langdon, but Audrey Tautou who plays Sophie Nevue is a drop dead cutie.  I just wanted to reach up to the screen and hug her every time she appears.  Jean Reno, who I have never seen playing anything but a French police detective, managed to get Ron Howard to put him in that same role.

In conclusion:

Reasons to see The Da Vinci Code:

1. Audrey Tautou.

2. You’ve never seen a documentary about the Crusades and have never heard of the Knights of the Templar.

3. You like mysteries.

4. You enjoy movie theatre popcorn.

5. You miss Paris and want to see some great filmographic shots of it.

6. You saw a documentary of the Crusades and love that sort of historical intellectualizing, even if it’s made up.

7. You like guessing obvious plot twists.  This can be especially fun if you keep telling the person next to you what’s going to happen next. (p.s. make sure the guy behind you is smaller than you are).

You should not see The Da Vinci Code if two or more of the following conditions apply to you:

1. You read the book.

2. You have been to France.

3. You don’t like pretty French women.

4. You don’t find history interesting.

5. You are an intolerant Christian (I believe the vast majority of Christians are tolerant) who cannot handle intellectualized fictitious theories that conflict with your highly intolerant world view.