The DaVinci Code (2006)

When respected American symbology expert Dr. Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) is summoned to the Louvre by the French version of the FBI, led by Captain Bezu Fache (Jean Reno), he soon discovers that he is the #1 suspect for the murder of a historian Langdon had been scheduled to meet with. Assisted by a French cryptographer and government agent named Sophie Neveu (Audry Tautou), Langdon is challenged to decipher a chain of cryptic codes and puzzles, all the while trying to stay ahead of Fache's lawmen in a chase through the Louvre, and out into the Parisian cityscape, and finally across the channel to England. Hilarity ensues. Can Langdon and Sophie decipher the nature of a secret that could shake the foundations of the church before those responsible for a string of murders add them to their hit list?

Trivia: "24" (2001) creator Joel Surnow thought that "The DaVinci Code" would provide a great storyline for the show's third season. Surnow asked his boss, producer Brian Grazer about acquiring the film rights to the book. Author Dan Brown had no intention of his book being adapted for a TV show, and rejected their bid. Months later, Sony Pictures paid $6 million for the book and hired Grazer as producer. Brian Grazer and Ron Howard received an invite from French President Jaques Chirac. They expected a five-minute photo call. Instead they spent an hour in conversation and were told to speak to him if they had problems getting filming in the Louvre. Chirac suggested Reno should have a pay rise and that his daughter's best friend, an actress, should be cast as Sophie Neveu. To protect both the fabric of the building and the works of art it contains, the production's use of the Louvre Museum in Paris was carefully controlled. For instance, no equipment was allowed inside the Louvre during the opening hours, so filming took place at night. Since the crew were not permitted to shine light on the Mona Lisa, a replica was used to film instead. No blood or mysterious writings were permitted on the wooden floor of the museum so these scenes were shot at Pinewood Studios outside London.

I liked this movie. The problem I see is that so many people have read or know of what the book is about that no movie would have been able to satisfy all and that is why it is getting the lower reviews. There is also the fact that the material is so volatile to so many people. I mean the Discovery Channel, or the Learning Channel or one of those channels devoted a full weekend to shows about the DaVinci Code. When was the last time a movie opened to that much scrutiny? It's a good movie. Go watch it.