The Da Vinci Code -the movie

I have never been the movie-crazy fanatic to catch a movie on its first day out. But with this one, it was different. And catch it I did, with a friend.

After its showing in Cannes, and the world wide release on Friday, there were enough reviews to curb my enthusiasm about it. Still, a book that had me hooked even during the third read, when made into a movie....I had to watch it.

This might be just me, but this is what I felt about the film. It was taken for those who had read the book. (ofcourse that is a big majority). The few like my friend who had not, had concepts whizzing over their head. (now she has resolved to give the book a read:)) For those who had read the book, their imagination as projected by Ron Howard was not good enough.

There were some instances though, a few scenes that were just like I imagined they would be...with very little alterations from the book. The expressions, the environment, the faces, it was an image I had while reading the book. Rest, I felt was rushed. Certain characters who needed more emphasis did not get what they deserved. Like Silas, though he was menacing, was not menacing enough and Sir Teabing...there did not seem to be a big let down when there was a twist in his character. There seemed something wrong about him from the start. The trust that I had in him in the initial phase of his appearance in the book was not there in the movie. (again maybe that's just me)

But excellent casting. Especially Alfred Molina as Bishop Aringarosa was the best choice for that role. Also with regard to the costumes and make-up...No! Tom Hanks' hair was not distracting at all. :) It did not pull away any seriousness from Langdon's character and I did not laugh everytime I looked at him...maybe just once!

The grainy flashbacks that were considered cheesy by some, did it for me. It was exactly the way I pictured those scenes while reading the book. Simple and to the point. As with any book-to-movie-conversion, it is hard to fit in a whole novel with intricate details into a 2-2.5 hr movie, but this attempt was good enough.

Ultimately, this movie is a big hit for 2 reasons. All those who read the book would want to check out how Ron Howard projected it on screen. Those who had not read the book at first might opt to get into all the hype (better late than never) the easy way, and after watching it, might feel the need to read the book 'cuz 'it just does not add up!'

Either way, Dan Brown has had his impact all over again.

The Yahoo!Groups Laments

If you are a member of any Yahoo!Group, or any email group for the matter, you'll know what I mean.

• Nearly 20 emails might flood your inbox with single worded replies and smilies, (sometimes with no messages at all) overnight.
• Most of the content of the email would make one think 'why do I care?'.
• From a common email, with a common content, and a common subject line.....one might also receive personal email conversations, with completely irrelevant or totally unintroduced content, BUT with the SAME (!#$@%^&*$#%) subject line.
• The new person who joins a group, somehow feels part of the group if he/she forwards the mails about poor little girl Cindy, who has every organ failed in her body, or the mails stating 'It is True! Microsoft and AOL will pay me $XXX for every person I forward this mail to', or the mail detailing the ill effects of cola, or the one with the wonderful illusions. But one ends up receiving the same set of forwards EVERYTIME a new member joins the group.
• A mail is sent to a Yahoo!Group by John Doe-I. (Due to some setting) When the reply button is hit, the reply still goes to the group and not to John Doe. Here comes the VERY personal response from John Doe-II!!!
• And then comes another mail from John Doe-II, with the subject line: 'Previous mail was personal response to John Doe-I: please ignore: Sorry about the inconvenience'. Now! Not only do I have 2 (may be 3) mails that in no way concern me sitting in my inbox, but John Doe-II has tempted me to open the personal email and see 'What can be SO personal that he will send another mail asking me not to read it'.
  

With all my lamenting, why be in a group at all? And miss out on all this fun and 'mis'communication? No way! 8-)

PS. (Message to my very few loyal readers) There's a reason I haven't been posting regularly lately... I have had a case of severe writer's block, but have been enjoying the 'clicker's flow' and have been very busily updating my Photoblog. Do pop in once in a while 8-)