Early Reviews Mixed for Da Vinci Code

Posted on May 18, 2006

Columbia Pictures did not provide advanced screenings for the Da Vinci Code but some film critics were lucky enough to watch The Da Vinci Code premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. Many of them have already have filed their reviews.

The reviews are mixed, which is not a surprise for a controversial subject. The Hollywood Reporter hated The Da Vinci Code, saying the film exposes the book's "flaws and nightmares of logic." The reviewer also claims that the film's code-solving plot works in the novel but not on screen.

Rogert Ebert gives the film three stars in his review. The Seattle Times loved it, saying that the film is even better than the book. The Miami Herald gave it a bad review but the reviewer clearly clearly didn't like the book either. Kenneth Turan at the L.A. Times gave Da Vinci Code a so-so review. He said the script had "paint-by-numbers qualities of a Classics Illustrated comic book."

Of course, no negative reviews -- or warnings from Vatican officials -- should stop you from seeing the film for yourself and coming up with your own opinion, if you're so inclined. Director Ron Howard said that the film is meant to be "entertainment, not a documentary" and that people who might be offended by the film shouldn't go see it. Ah, Ron, using a bit of the old negative sell, eh?

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