The movie has received mostly negative reviews from movie critics. I couldn't agree with more. I approach the movie with somewhat high expectations with all the hype surrounding the A-list stars and director making this film, and I was a tad disappointed with the end product.
For one who already is aware of the plot (as the 60.5 million and still counting, people worldwide who read the book), the sequence and intensity of the movie fails to impress. DVC doesn't capture my attention as much. Except for the occasional wit of Sir Leigh Teabing (played by Ian McKellan) Watching the movie isn't as satisfying, tantalizing and heart-racing as reading the book. The adrenaline rush I expected wasn't there. To be honest, towards the end, I just couldn't wait to get out of the theatre. The main problem is the pace, which suffers when the director, who wanted to stick as closely as possible to the Dan Brown's original script, attempts to squeeze in 359 pages (UK hardback version) worth of dialogue and storyline into a 2-and-a-half-hour film. The thrill of wanting to discover more as the plot thickens dissipated as the movie drags on. Some audience simply gave up mid-way and snoozed throughout.
However, to give due credit to the director Ron Howard, he stayed unbelievably true and accurate to the original novel nonetheless. There was simply just too much dialogue. The dash of mystery that have gripped millions of Dan Brown's readers flipping the novel till the last page was regretfully missing. The built-up to the finale is an agonising 2.5 hours wait. We grew restless as the movie dragged on to two and a half hours and spun a long sequence of anticlimactic revelations that instead of satisfying the palate, left a much less-desired bitter aftertaste.
A film critic at the Cannes Film Festival likened it to the Energizer Bunny who just kept going, and going, and going... and not in a good sense. Perhaps some bestsellers do indeed make poor screenplays.
A little less conversation, a little more action please
All this aggravation ain't satisfactioning me
A little more bite and a little less bark
A little less fight and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and baby satisfy me
Satisfy me baby
Baby close your eyes and listen to the music
Drifting through a summer breeze
It's a groovy night and I can show you how to use it
Come along with me and put your mind at ease
A little less conversation, a little more action please
All this aggravation ain't satisfactioning me
A little more bite and a little less bark
A little less fight and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and baby satisfy me
Satisfy me baby
Come on baby I'm tired of talking
Grab your coat and let's start walking
Come on, come on
Come on, come on
Come on, come on
Don't procrastinate, don't articulate
Girl it's getting late, gettin' upset waitin' around
A little less conversation, a little more action please
All this aggravation ain't satisfactioning me
A little more bite and a little less bark
A little less fight and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and baby satisfy me
Satisfy me baby
'A Little Less Conversation' by Elvis Presley
