Project-Blu The Da Vinci Code, by M. Enois Duarte

The Da Vinci Code

By: M. Enois Duarte, 12.15.2009

The Movie Itself:
No other book has garnered such controversy or created such a hullabaloo in the last few years as Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code. It seems almost impossible not to bump into someone who hasn't read or at least heard of the fictional search for the Holy Grail. Technically speaking, this tale is Robert Langdon's second adventure involving ancient artifacts and the mysterious, shadowy history of secret societies. Nonetheless, Hollywood heard the magical sounds of cash registers and has translated the book for the silver screen while the frenzy was high. The theatrical version was a choppy, incoherent mess, but the extended director's cut is a great improvement to a narrative which dared to question the legitimacy of the Catholic Church.

When Jacques Saunière is assassinated by a mysterious hooded man, professor of religious iconology and symbology Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) is pulled from a conference lecture and asked by French police to assist. At the Louvre, he meets Captain Fache (Jean Reno) and is told that the museum's curator wrote a puzzling and intricate message before his death. Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou) comes to deliver another message and explains to Langdon that he's the main suspect in the murder. After cleverly eluding the police, the two investigate the crime scene further and discover Saunière left behind a series of anagram messages involving Leonardo Da Vinci's paintings. Soon after, they realize the search to solve the mystery is actually the search for the Holy Grail.

What separates 'The Da Vinci Code' from so many other films about the Templar legend (including one with none other than Indiana Jones himself) is its unique take on the myth, which also happens to be the very reason for the enormous backlash from religious zealots. Rather than being a sacred object within the parable of Christianity's foundation, a traditional story meant to assure followers of the messiah's divinity, the Holy Grail takes a more worldly incarnation and brazenly uses it as a source of doubt. None of this comes to the viewer's attention, however, until Langdon seeks the assistance Leigh Teabing (Sir Ian McKellen), whose radical interpretation of Da Vinci's The Last Supper has also turned some heads.

Whether any of the opinions proposed by the plot are accurate or far-fetched, the attempt to argue against them is ultimately idle and beside the point. They exist only to spark the imagination, incite controversy, and inspire discussion towards other readings. Moreover, they are intended for moving the plot forward, of adding further intrigue to a mystery thriller. In the end, 'Da Vinci Code' is a work of fiction bent only on entertainment. And to that end, the film delivers. In the original theatrical version unfortunately, the Tom Hanks flick was not all that successful. But this new extended cut arrives with a half-hour more of some much needed exposition, filling in the many gaps for those who hadn't read the novel.

Now, the film feels much sturdier, denser (which is a good thing), and willing to take its time with the audience. Most importantly, it has a smoother pace and rhythm as oppose to the rough and muddled ramblings of before. This is definitely the better version of Ron Howard's vision, an intelligent thriller with enough complexity and entertainment to keep viewers involved. It's a fun scavenger hunt through one of the world's oldest legends, mixed with an appealing modern perspective full of conspiracy and mystery. Nothing more and nothing less.
Rating: 7/10

The Presentation:
Originally promised during the format's early days, 'The Da Vinci Code' finally hits Blu-ray with a pretty good AVC encode presented in 2.40:1 window. Three-quarters of the film takes place at night, so brightness levels are essential to the presentation. Fortunately, the picture displays intense, dynamic blacks that create a pleasant depth of field. Moreover, shadow delineation is stable and contrast is spot-on, generating plenty of visibility in the darker areas. The color palette is appealingly warm and full-bodied, showing strong variance and accurate hues. The image is also awash with a very thin veneer of grain for that attractive filmic quality. During flashback sequences, grains spikes significantly, but it's intentional. Only drawback is fine object detailing coming in slightly softer than expected. In the end, Ron Howard's controversial thriller looks good on Blu-ray.
Rating: 7.6/10

The film makes a better impression in the audio department, as the Dolby TrueHD soundtrack is fairly active and compelling. There is much going on in the front soundstage with terrific clarity, clean channel separation, and palpable low frequency effects which add force and depth to each action sequence. Vocals are precise and intelligible while the mid-range remains sharp and spacious. The musical score spreads into the background, extending the soundfield nicely. Even better, pans and movement within the soundscape are convincing and immersive. Gunshots and voices echo inside interior scenes while cars and sirens zoom by the viewer. There are also many moments of discrete effects employed to provide ambiance and envelop the listening area. For a film heavily focused on dialogue and character interaction, this lossless mix is actually quite enjoyable and engaging.
Rating: 8.4/10

Overall Presentation: 8/10

** 9 - 10 = Reference / 8 = Excellent / 7 = Good /
6 = Satisfactory / 5 = Average / 4 & under = Below Average **

The Extras:
Sony Home Entertainment releases this Blu-ray version of 'The Da Vinci Code' in a special two-disc set. The package matches the DVD's collection of supplements and tops it off with a few more special features exclusive to the format.

Disc One

Unlocking the Code: Interactive PiP Experience
Audio Commentary with Director Ron Howard on Select Scenes
Cinechat In-movie chat feature.
Exclusive Look at Angels & Demons (HD, 7 min)

Disc Two

Documentary (HD, 169 min)
BD-Live

Rating: 8/10

Final Thoughts:
Ron Howard's 'The Da Vinci Code' is an entertaining and intelligent thriller which works even better in this extended cut of the controversial novel. This Blu-ray edition of the film arrives with a good A/V presentation and a very nice package of supplements. Fans are sure to enjoy this hi-def upgrade, while others will be safe to give it a rent.
Rating: 8/10