so we went to the theaters to see "the da vinci code" movie. as i read the book, it felt like a movie. but somehow, the movie didn't feel like a movie! it felt boring like a book. hahahaaa no, really, it just didn't have the excitement of a film. it was stale. (i still say that tom hanks should've stuck with "bosom buddies".) this obvious with ron howard directing and all but the movie was very american. there wasn't a subtlety to things. it seemed like everytime someone spoke to give background info, the movie cut to illustrated scenes because americans need to be hit over the head with material. the special effects for this cutaway stuff was nice but the flashbacks of history stuck out sorely. not too much was changed from the book but the thing that bothers me is the ending! let's keep the bookends the same people and mess with what you like in the middle as long as it's a means to the same end. in the film version, by altering the ending as they did, they made the grandfather a bit sinister. not that i had any affection towards that character but the change leaves a bit of a bad taste in the mouth. then there's the question of ian mckellen as teabing. i know he's a good actor but he's not teabing, sorry. hollywood, you know that there are more than 5 english actors out there? use them! same goes for audrey tautou. she's great but i doubt hollywood can even name 3 french actresses! (pretending to be hollywood) "let's see, catherine deneuve, the amelie girl, and ??? ..well catherine is too old for the part, get the amelie girl!"