The Da Vinci Code Blu-ray Review
Extended Cut
Score: 62
from 4 reviewers
Review Date:
Subtle yet atmospheric 'The Da Vinci Code' Blu-ray impresses with faithful audio, extensive extras, and solid video quality.
Disc Release Date
Dolby TrueHD
Video: 59
The Da Vinci Code's Blu-ray transfer is murky, soft but faithful, mixing dimly lit scenes with vibrant moments, subdued yet technically accurate to filmmakers' intentions.
Audio: 64
The Dolby TrueHD track enhances the mood with Hans Zimmer's score, ensuring clear dialogue and immersive sound, creating tension without overpowering, despite minor accent and tone challenges.
Extra: 68
The Blu-ray edition of 'The Da Vinci Code' combines HD visuals and a wealth of extras, including behind-the-scenes featurettes and interviews, blending technical finesse with in-depth explorations of its creation and legacy.
Movie: 51
The Da Vinci Code's adaptation stirs mixed feelings with its controversial theme and lackluster execution, yet remains a divisive popcorn thriller.
Video: 59
"The Da Vinci Code" makes a noticeable entry into the Blu-ray format with its 1080p/AVC-encoded presentation, maintaining the theatrically correct aspect ratio of 2.40:1. The Blu-ray exhibits a faithful adherence to the original source material's cinematography, characterized by Salvatore Totino's use of long Cooke S4 lenses with diffusion filtering, which contribute to a consistent yet intentional softness throughout the film. This stylistic choice results in a somewhat underwhelming sharpness and clarity, particularly in scenes dominated by dense shadows and subdued lighting. Despite these limitations, the Blu-ray manages to preserve the film's rich and intentional color palette, with uses of deep blues, browns, and crimson that feel religious and appropriately saturated for its theme, though skin tones occasionally appear desaturated or marginally orange, aligning with the film's visual style.
In terms of video quality, the Blu-ray struggles to completely escape the murkiness and softness often associated with DVD quality, yet there are moments when the picture quality decidedly spruces up. Daylight scenes offer a brief respite with improved clarity and detail, though a consistent haziness can persist. Black levels are commendably rich, and contrast is both stable and bold, enhancing the visual depth and dimension of darker scenes as well as brightly lit exteriors. Detailing can be sporadically lost in shadows or softer shots, but overall textural nuances and strong shadow delineation are present, contributing to a presentation that is commendable despite its flaws.
A meticulous rendering meant to replicate the filmmakers' intent is evident, from the preserved fine grain structure to the controlled color presentation. Despite its imperfections and occasional softness, this Blu-ray delivers a technically sound transfer that respects the directorial and cinematographic essence of "The Da Vinci Code." Fans of the film should find this release satisfactory, provided their expectations are tempered with the understanding that while this may not be the quintessential showcase disc for a home theater setup, it stands as a true-to-source representation that encapsulates the intended visual atmosphere of this storied cinematic venture.
Audio: 64
The audio presentation of "The Da Vinci Code" on Blu Ray, featuring Sony's English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround track, delivers an immersive auditory experience that greatly enhances the film's depth and tension. Hans Zimmer's score, while criticized by some as underwhelming, plays a crucial role in setting the tone and driving the story forward with its sophisticated orchestration that is both pervasive and subtle. This layer of sound is masterfully reproduced, with the high frequencies and bass intertwined in a harmony that never overpowers the dialogue or disrupts the viewing experience. It's a soundtrack where every element, from the quiet whispers to the booming low-frequency effects, is crafted to perfection, ensuring clarity and immersion without overwhelming the audience.
Dialogue clarity is paramount in a narrative-heavy film such as this, especially given the diverse accents presented by the international cast. The Dolby TrueHD track excels in delivering crystal-clear speech, ensuring that even the thickest of accents does not hinder the plot's comprehension. The mix also deftly employs the rears for ambient sounds and discrete effects, creating a believable sound field that perfectly replicates the film's varied settings, from the echoing vastness of ancient chapels to the confined spaces of vehicles. This attention to detail makes for an engrossing experience that both grounds and draws the viewer deeper into the mystery.
Despite a few minor directional mishaps, such as slightly misplaced sirens, the overall soundfield is thoroughly immersive. The front and rear sound stages synergize effortlessly during action sequences, with sound panning and spatial positioning that are nearly flawless. While the rears are not always active, their selective use contributes to a dynamic mix that enhances both the tension and atmospheric depth of the film. As such, "The Da Vinci Code" stands as a testament to how high-resolution audio can elevate a film, making its evocative score, nuanced dialogue, and ambient soundscape as compelling as its visual counterpart.
Extra: 68
The 2-disc Blu-ray edition of "The Da Vinci Code" enriches the viewing experience with a bounty of extra content, merging both the expected and the exceptional. In addition to HD upgrades and BD-Live capabilities, it explores the movie's comprehensive production through interactive Picture-in-Picture (PiP) experiences and select-scene commentary by director Ron Howard. Despite the lack of a full film commentary, Howard's insights into specific scenes enrich the narrative and production context. The documentary content sprawled across the second disc offers an in-depth exploration into the adaptation process, character development, and the challenges of replicating historical artwork and locations. While some features like the BD-Live Cinechat might appeal to only a niche audience, the overall package—bolstered by exclusive previews and in-depth featurettes—demonstrates a meticulous commitment to engaging both fans of the film and Dan Brown's original work. The attention to detail extends to recreating art pieces and sets, providing a rich behind-the-scenes look that rivals the film itself.
Extras included in this disc:
- BD-Live Functionality: Download featurettes and engage in Cinechat.
- Unlocking the Code Interactive PiP Experience: Access interviews, art, and trivia.
- Selected Scenes Commentary with Director Ron Howard: Insights into specific scenes.
- First Look at Angels and Demons: Extended preview in HD.
- A Discussion with Dan Brown: Insights from the author.
- A Portrait of Langdon: Exploring the main character's development.
- Who is Sophie Neveu?: Focusing on the female lead.
- Unusual Suspects: Details on the supporting cast.
- Magical Places: Behind-the-scenes at filming locations.
- Close-up on Mona Lisa: Insights into the iconic painting.
- Recreating Works of Art: The process behind replicating famous artworks.
- The Da Vinci Props: Exploration of film props.
- The Da Vinci Sets: Overview of set construction and design.
- The Visual Effects World of The Da Vinci Code: Delving into visual effects.
- Scoring The Da Vinci Code: Composer Hans Zimmer discusses his work.
- The Music of The Da Vinci Code: More on the film's score.
- Book to Screen: The adaptation process from novel to film.
Movie: 51
In adapting Dan Brown's polarizing bestseller, "The Da Vinci Code," director Ron Howard and screenwriter Akiva Goldsman undertake a tumultuous journey alongside symbologist Robert Langdon and cryptologist Sophie Neveu. The duo embarks on a quest filled with ancient secrets and religious conspiracies, tracing a murder mystery through the heart of Europe. Despite an enticing premise and a star-studded cast including Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, and Sir Ian McKellen, the film stumbles, ensnared by its convoluted plot and underwhelming script. Howard’s rendition, while faithful to the novel, fails to translate its page-turning tension to the screen, resulting in a movie that oscillates between tedious expositions and lackluster action sequences.
Visually, the film struggles with a murky video transfer that dims its scenic locales, further hampering its narrative aspirations. What should have been a thrilling exploration of history's clandestine layers is often bogged down by prolonged dialogue and a palpable lack of pacing. While performances from Hanks and Tautou bring credibility to their roles, they are overshadowed by the script's inability to effectively convey the novel's intricacies or provide enough character depth to engage the audience fully. Moreover, despite the controversy surrounding its thematic elements, the film fails to leverage this into a compelling or thought-provoking presentation; instead, it languishes as a ponderous adaptation that hardly scratches the surface of its source material’s intrigue.
Contributions by McKellen, Bettany, and Molina introduce moments of brilliance but are not enough to salvage the film’s overarching execution. Its attempt to blend historical mystery with action-packed sequences falls short, rendering "The Da Vinci Code" a lackluster adaptation that neither enraptures its audience nor does justice to its controversial premise. As such, this cinematic endeavor is a testament to the challenges of adapting complex narratives, where even a narrative ripe with potential can result in a forgettable viewing experience when its execution falters on fundamental cinematic levels.
Total: 62
The Blu-ray release of "The Da Vinci Code" presents a nuanced viewing experience that, while not dazzling with explosive visuals, presents a soft but intentional video quality that adheres closely to the director's stylistic intentions. The TrueHD audio track is standout, meticulously reproducing composer Hans Zimmer's atmospheric score without relying on overwhelming action sequences to make its impact. Instead, the audio's finesse lies in its subtlety and atmospheric craftsmanship, complemented by an ample low-frequency extension (LFE) that enriches the auditory experience without dominating it. The supplementary material is generous, providing an array of behind-the-scenes insights, though the absence of a dedicated director's or cast commentary track and storyboards or concept artwork is notable. Despite these omissions, the existing commentary and the wealth of extras offer significant value to fans and newcomers alike.
Regarding equipment compatibility, our testing across a broad spectrum of high-end devices, including the JVC DLA-RS20 1080p High Definition Front Projector and several Blu-ray players such as the Oppo 970HD and Sony PlayStation 3, reveals consistent performance. The playback experience benefited from the nuanced audio-visual handling, particularly when paired with high caliber audio setups like Sherbourn Technologies’ amplifiers and Canton Ergo Series speakers. Such setups emphasize the Blu-ray's strengths, especially its audio quality, underscoring the release’s appeal to audiophiles and cinephiles who demand excellence in home cinema presentations.
In conclusion, "The Da Vinci Code" Blu-ray is a compelling purchase for dedicated fans of the film, offering a faithful video transfer and an exceptional auditory experience that elevates Zimmer’s score to new heights. Despite its visual softness and the few missing pieces in its extras, this edition provides a comprehensive viewing experience, particularly for those invested in the finer details of sound and picture quality. Potential buyers new to the film might first explore through rental, but aficionados will find the depth of content and quality of presentation makes this version an indispensable addition to their collection.
avforums review by Mark BotwrightRead review here
Video: 60
Unfortunately the resulting image is one that falls closer to the murky and drab, with shadow detail not being anything to write home about and much of the various locations feeling somewhat obscured....
Audio: 80
There isn't much in the way of utilisation of the rears but when they occasionally come to life the result is generally well produced and gives the required effect....
Extras: 90
The film maker's journey part 2 - 12:20Slightly shorter than part 1 and somewhat less interesting, it tends to place the emphasis on the enthusiasm generated by those involved and comes across as a bit...
Movie: 50
The problem is that the film's score is entirely that of my own take on things and as the massive profits and rabid fan-base for this movie and Brown's works will attest to, there are those for whom this...
Total: 60
The only omission is perhaps the now oft included feature of storyboards and concept artwork as it would have been interesting to see what Brown's initial visions for some of the settings, prior to viewings...
Blu-ray.com review by Kenneth BrownRead review here
Video: 80
Detail is almost entirely obscured by darkness, soft close-ups and establishing shots dominate the majority of scenes, and textures simply cease to exist every time the lights grow dim....
Audio: 80
Instead, dialogue is generally crisp and well-prioritized (only a handful of hushed whispers fall by the wayside), reliable LFE support kicks in whenever Langdon has to flee the authorities, and the rear...
Extras: 90
In addition to the 174-minute extended cut of the flick itself (sorry Langdon enthusiasts: Sony hasn't included the theatrical version), the 2-disc Blu-ray edition of The Da Vinci Code offers all of the...
Movie: 40
Don't get me wrong, I can understand the outrage of those who take great offense to the assertions The Da Vinci Code so vigorously presents as truth, but the time these well-intentioned individuals spend...
Total: 70
Newcomers would do best renting the film before committing any cash to a purchase, but fans can be assured that the Blu-ray edition of The Da Vinci Code is the version to own....
High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 80
This is a very detailed transfer as well, with strong clarity and healthy shadow delineation -- even the murkier areas of the picture held pretty firm (there is some black crush, but it usually isn't bothersome)....
Audio: 80
The score may be a bit over-the-top, but it's bled well all around and certainly adds to the sense of envelopment and atmosphere....
Extras: 20
The opener "First Day on the Set with Ron Howard" and "Filmmaker's Journey" are such segments, with great behind-the-scenes footage, and I also liked "Magical Places," which tackles some of the controversies...
Movie: 60
And it's also hard to criticize Brown for committing any crime except being pulpy -- 'The Da Vinci Code' may place itself in a religious milieu, but its plotting, villains, big secrets and general structure...
Total: 80
And more often than not, it does, even if I find its big revelations etc., a bunch of malarkey....
AVSForumRead review here
Video: 84
I saw some softening in both close up and mid level camera angles that appeared to be innate to the photography....
Audio: 86
This is a fairly active and at times dynamic surround mix that employ’s the subwoofer and rear channels to stimulate the senses and draw you into the film....
Extras: 80
The codes of The Da Vinci Code - 6 minutes The Da Vinci sets - 9 minutes Scoring The Da Vinci Code - 10 minutes The music of The Da Vinci Code - 3 minutes $10 Movie Cash for Angels and Demons - Instant...
Movie: 60
Join symbologist Robert Langdon (Academy Award® winner Tom Hanks, 1993 Best Actor, Philadelphia, and 1994 Best Actor, Forrest Gump) and cryptologist Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou) in their heart-racing quest...
Total: 78
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Director: Ron Howard
Actors: Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou, Jean Reno
PlotSymbologist Robert Langdon is visiting Paris when he is summoned to the Louvre Museum to examine the curious circumstances surrounding the murder of the museum's curator, Jacques Saunière. Saunière's body is found posed in a peculiar way that suggests a cryptic message; a pentacle is drawn on his stomach in his own blood, and a series of codes are left beside his body. With the assistance of cryptologist Sophie Neveu, Saunière’s granddaughter, Langdon begins to decipher the riddles, discovering that Saunière was part of a secret society—the Priory of Sion, which has ties to historical figures such as Leonardo da Vinci. The pair find themselves embroiled in a web of secrecy related to the Holy Grail.
As Langdon and Neveu delve deeper into the mystery, they uncover a trail of symbols hidden in Da Vinci’s artworks, most notably the Mona Lisa. These clues point to an ancient truth protected by the Priory, which could potentially shake the foundations of Christianity. Pursued by a determined French police captain and a shadowy religious zealot, they must piece together fragments of history and legend, navigating through a landscape of hidden passages and churches in Paris and beyond. The chase becomes deadly as they close in on the secret that Saunière sacrificed his life to protect, which has been sought after for centuries by many, including the clandestine Opus Dei faction.
Writers: Akiva Goldsman, Dan Brown
Release Date: 19 May 2006
Runtime: 149 min
Rating: PG-13
Country: United States, Malta, France, United Kingdom
Language: English, French, Latin, Spanish