The Da Vinci Code (film)

The Da Vinci Code (film)
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Name	The Da Vinci Code
Director	Ron Howard
Producer	Brian Grazer, John Calley
Writer	Akiva Goldsman
Based on	The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
Starring	Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Alfred Molina, Jürgen Prochnow, Jean Reno, Paul Bettany
Music	Hans Zimmer
Cinematography	Salvatore Totino
Editing	Daniel P. Hanley, Mike Hill
Studio	Imagine Entertainment, Columbia Pictures
Released	May 19, 2006
Runtime	149 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$125 million
Gross	$217.5 million

The Da Vinci Code (film) is a 2006 American mystery thriller film directed by Ron Howard and written by Akiva Goldsman. The film is based on the 2003 bestseller novel of the same name by Dan Brown, which was published by Doubleday and has been translated into over 40 languages, including French, Spanish, and German. The film stars Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon, a Harvard University professor of symbology, and Audrey Tautou as Sophie Neveu, a French cryptologist who works for the Direction Centrale de la Police Judiciaire. The film also features Ian McKellen, Alfred Molina, Jürgen Prochnow, Jean Reno, and Paul Bettany in supporting roles, and was produced by Brian Grazer and John Calley.

Plot

The film follows Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu as they attempt to solve a murder mystery related to the Holy Grail and the Knights Templar, a medieval Christian military order that was founded in the 12th century and was active during the Crusades. Along the way, they encounter a number of characters, including Bezu Fache, a French police captain who works for the Prefecture of Police of Paris, and Sir Leigh Teabing, a British historian who is an expert on the Grail legend. The film also explores the history of the Catholic Church, including the Inquisition and the Vatican Council, and features references to a number of famous artworks, including the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci and the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. The film's plot is also influenced by the Biblical account of the life of Jesus and the apocryphal Gospel of Philip, which is one of the Nag Hammadi library texts.

Cast

The film features a number of well-known actors, including Tom Hanks, who has appeared in a number of other films, including Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, and Saving Private Ryan, and Audrey Tautou, who has appeared in films such as Amélie and A Very Long Engagement. The film also features Ian McKellen, who is known for his roles in Shakespeare in Love and the Lord of the Rings film trilogy, and Alfred Molina, who has appeared in films such as Spider-Man 2 and Chocolat. The film's cast also includes Jürgen Prochnow, who has appeared in films such as Das Boot and The English Patient, and Jean Reno, who has appeared in films such as Léon: The Professional and Mission: Impossible. The film's supporting cast includes Paul Bettany, who has appeared in films such as A Knight's Tale and Wimbledon, and Helen Mirren, who has appeared in films such as The Queen and Calendar Girls.

Production

The film was produced by Imagine Entertainment and Columbia Pictures, and was directed by Ron Howard, who has also directed films such as Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind. The film's screenplay was written by Akiva Goldsman, who has also written screenplays for films such as A Beautiful Mind and Cinderella Man. The film's music was composed by Hans Zimmer, who has also composed music for films such as Gladiator and The Lion King. The film's cinematography was handled by Salvatore Totino, who has also worked on films such as Any Given Sunday and Frost/Nixon. The film was edited by Daniel P. Hanley and Mike Hill, who have also worked on films such as Apollo 13 and The Alamo.

Release

The film was released on May 19, 2006, and was distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. The film was released in a number of countries, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, and Germany. The film was also released in a number of other countries, including Australia, China, and Japan. The film's release was accompanied by a significant amount of marketing and publicity, including trailers and television advertisements that featured the film's cast and crew. The film's release was also accompanied by a number of premieres and screenings, including a premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.

Reception

The film received a mixed response from critics, with some praising the film's plot and performances, while others criticized the film's pacing and historical accuracy. The film holds a Rotten Tomatoes score of 39%, based on 212 reviews, with an average rating of 5.4/10. The film also holds a Metacritic score of 46, based on 40 reviews, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. The film was also a commercial success, grossing over $217 million at the box office worldwide, including over $77 million in the United States and over $40 million in the United Kingdom. The film's success led to the production of two sequels, Angels & Demons and Inferno, both of which were also based on novels by Dan Brown.

Historical and religious themes

The film explores a number of historical and religious themes, including the history of the Catholic Church and the legend of the Holy Grail. The film also features references to a number of famous artworks and historical figures, including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Gutenberg. The film's portrayal of the Catholic Church and the Opus Dei organization was criticized by some, including the Vatican and the Opus Dei prelate, who accused the film of being anti-Catholic and inaccurate. The film's portrayal of the Knights Templar and the Grail legend was also criticized by some, including historians and scholars who accused the film of being inaccurate and sensationalistic. Despite these criticisms, the film remains a popular and thought-provoking exploration of history, religion, and culture. Category:2006 films