See more movie reviews

The Da Vinci Code (PG-13, 2006)

common sense media says

Slow-moving, talky translation of popular novel.

parents & educators say
See all 37 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the movie opens with a brutal murder and includes several other bloody scenes, including a naked man beating himself. The subject matter is too convoluted to interest young kids, so unless you want to shush them, leave them home. A couple of characters use mild profanity, although most of the cursing shows up in French and in subtitles. SPOILER ALERT: The film's plot, based on Dan Brown's best-selling novel, suggests that the Catholic Church has for centuries repressed the "truth" that Jesus was human, married Mary Magdalene, and fathered a daughter. Some viewers may find the issues raised -- Jesus' divinity and the Church's cover-up -- upsetting.

Positive messages: To protect a secret, characters kill, lie, rob, and injure -- while others are determined to uncover the truth. The movie's plot presumes upon long-standing, deep-seated cover ups among very important people.
Positive role models: Langdon is resourceful and very intelligent; his determination to uncover the truth never flags. But other characters are far less worth emulating, whether because they lie and betray others or because they purposely harm themselves.
Violence: Shooting murder opens the film; Silas whips and cuts himself, showing blood and cringing/grimacing in pain; grainy flashback scenes repeatedly show violence (Crusades/knights, battles/armies, witch hunts/burnings, visualizing various narrations of "history"); personal flashbacks include Silas' abuse as a child, young Robert trapped in a well, and young Sophie crying/afraid in the harrowing car accident that killed her parents. General action includes shootings, fisticuffs, poisoning, kicks/slaps; Silas kills a nun by smashing her head; blood on shirts and faces.
Sex: Some famous paintings show women's naked body parts; Silas appears naked as he performs self-flagellation (you see only his backside and close-ups of limbs); discussion of gender roles includes mention of penises (emblem of "male aggression").
Language: Some swearing, including French with subtitles ("s--t," "bastard") and English ("Jesus," "hell").
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on The Da Vinci Code

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about the film's premise and the controversy it has inspired. How does the controversy help to promote the movie?
  • What's the appeal of conspiracy theories?
  • If you've read the book, how does the movie compare?

What's the story?

What's the story?
When world-renowned symbologist Dr. Langdon (Tom Hanks) is called by Parisian policeman Capt. Fache (Jean Reno) to consult on a murder case, the scholar is briefly flattered, then daunted when he learns he is a suspect, owing to a note left by the victim. Along with the victim's granddaughter, cryptologist Sophie (Audrey Tautou), Langdon tries to decipher the message, which begins with the victim's arranging of his own body to approximate Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man. "Symbols," says the doctor early on, "are a language that can help us understand our past." The film reveals various characters' pasts, including the murderer's (a self-flagellating albino Opus Dei monk named Silas [Paul Bettany]), Sophie's, Langdon's, and significant events in history. Robert and Sophie end up on a kind of scavenger hunt from Paris to London, and are tracked by Fache and aided by Robert's colleague, Sir Teabing (Ian McKellen), who claims to be thrilled to be on a "grail quest." The mystery involves a Catholic Church's cover-up -- for thousands of years -- concerning Jesus and Mary Magdalene.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Based on Dan Brown's bestseller, THE DA VINCI CODE is surprisingly unwieldy and conventional, despite and because of the controversy surrounding it. While the movie often looks like it's offering subjective views into Robert Langdon's mind, in effect these images are silly and slow. The special effects are unconvincing as paintings and sculptures move, and the explanatory voice-overs tend to repeat what's obvious.

For all the mystical blurring of edges, the film doesn't make smart connections between periods or characters, and it offers too much explanation and tedious literal flashbacks. The untangling of all the plot strands leads not to an interrogation of various institutions (academe, the cops, the Church), but to a pile-on of much less interesting personal pathologies.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Columbia Tristar
Director: Ron Howard
Cast: Audrey Tautou, Ian McKellen, Tom Hanks
Genre: Thriller
Run time: 147 minutes
Theatrical release: May 19, 2006
DVD release: November 14, 2006
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: disturbing images, violence, some nudity, thematic material, brief drug references and sexual content
This review was written by Cynthia Fuchs
 
 

Review It

 

Review The Da Vinci Code

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
 

What parents & educators say

14

Most useful reviews by all members

movieman09
adult
 
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (4) | had useful details (4) | read my mind (2)
elenatheodora
teen, 16 years old
14
 
Fine for teens to watch if they can handle blood and violence
This movie is fine for kids to watch if they can handle blood and violence. Violence is the only reason why this movie is rated PG-13. I personally can't stand blood. I had to fast forward through a few parts of the movie. All in all, it's a good movie and it's worth watching. Just be prepared for blood...
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (3) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (3)
hotkat144
adult
 
LOVED IT
I absolutly LOVED this movie
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (4) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (3)
lolakitty12
teen, 14 years old
13
 
Too violent, but excellent storyline
I watched this with my friends and too be honest it freaked us out. There was overall too much violence, creepiness, and people jumping out. However, the storyline shines through this to make for a great movie with strong characters.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (4) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (2)
streborkb
parent of 12 and 15 year old
14
 
Certainly a 'thriller' and too violent and 'deep' for less than teens
I have only watched the movie - have NOT read the book. Violence is graphic - wondering how it passed the PG-13 rating. Would agree that it is not appropriate for under 13. Movie is longer than average, but kept me (an ADULT) engaged. The violence, deception, suspense and betrayal are fitting for a 'thriller', but not fitting for children under teens. The story would likely not even interest younger kids. Being a person of faith, the movie in no way challenged my beliefs or raised doubts. It was an enjoyable fanciful work of fiction that impressed me with it's attempt to tie together otherwise unrelated details into a seemingly connected storyline. It intrigued me the way "National Treasure" did - purely for it's entertainment value.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (3) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (2)
Ricochet94
teen, 17 years old
14
 
The anti-Christian messages are not as strong as they were in the book. The filmmakers aren't portraying the movie as historically accurate, unlike Dan Brown, who really thinks he was accurate in his history. The movie is a bit intense, (self-flagellation, many murders, bloody corpses, etc.) and unusually long for a thriller, (2.5 hrs theatrical, 3hrs Extended) but it keeps you entertained.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (3) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (3)
Moviefan101
teen, 17 years old
13
 
Perfet conspiracy film!!!!!
The Da Vinci Code is the coolest thriller iv'e watched in years. this movie will have you saying "so dark the con of man" after you see it. This film brings out the beginings of a perfect trilogy. Tom Hanks does a great job playing the role of Robert Langdon (Harvard Symbolgist). This Film is a good conspiracy thriller and I see a sequel coming.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (3) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (2)
copperzinc
adult
14
 
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (3) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (3)
volleypkl
adult
 
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (3) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (2)
moviemogul
adult
 
Go Read the Book... It's So Much Better
This movie adaption is only alright, as it moves at a much slower pace and can drag alon g sometimes, unlike tht book's much better pacing. It feels more like a slow moving (fictional) history lesson or something of the sort, rather than the first-rate thriller it should've been. But for those concerned about the religious controversy, don't worry too much, as Ron Howard decided to take out the questioning of JESUS's divinty, and also made Langdon somewhat spiritual. I consider myself a devout (albeit, young) Catholic, and reading the book changed me in no way, and I think can actually strengthen one's faith (for all you good, Catholic parents worried about the content). But anyways, go read the book, and you'll have a much better time.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (3) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (3)
willbarchi
adult
 
Its quite good, not great, but good
It was a so-so film, the book IS better and the film does drag on abit, especially towards the end. I enjoyed it because it was so interesting. Paul Betoney is really good a Silus but Hank fails to show much emotion in his role as Robert. It is quite violent (I had to turn away at the flaggelation part) and there is some sexual content (a brief scene of a sex ritual thing, but its only a quick glimpse and images of prostitues getting in mens cars) and a drug reference (drug addict in park). Good film, but some caution is recommended.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (2) | had useful details (4) | read my mind (2)
Ccharron
adult
 
this is not meant to be an action flick...
Despite numerous reviews stating movie has too much dialogue, it had just the right amount to make the story understandable. This is NOT an action flick. It's cerebral treasure hunt for the holy grail and as such, it is very well put-together and enjoyable. If you want action+holy grail, see Indiana Jones instead.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (2) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (3)
pinklover27
adult
 
umm....the book is sooo much better
ok...here's the thing: the movie sucks. the book was so much better. tom hanks is a great actor but he didn't seem like robert langdon. langdaon and sophie didn't have any on-screen chemistry like thet did in the book. and..they change sooo much, like the whole ending. it sucks!!
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (2) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (3)
booklover33
teen, 15 years old
13
 
Depends on the teen...
I loved this book and movie! Sophie and Robert are great role models. But with the violence...I think it depedns on the teen who watchs it, and what they think. But in my point of view, this is one of the best movies I've ever seen, even if I don't believe in all the conspiracies in the movie
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (2) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (3)
kayvan_922
teen, 16 years old
14
 
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (2) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (3)
oniongirl
teen, 14 years old
11
 
i was plesently supprised!
i really enjoyed this movie, although i had to skip over a lot of scenes in which the guy is torturing himself. parents should know that there is a LOT of violence, (guns, knifes, and physical torture.) no language that i noticed, no sex, although there is some nudity. (a naked dead body, and a man who is naked while praying to god, don't worry; you only see from the torso up!) overall this is a good movie, if not a tad long, but only for older tweens and up.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (2) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (2)
CSM Screen ...
adult
 
I think its sad
it's good so you can know the truth
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (3) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (2)
Fireeyes7
adult
 
Get real
This is a movie that was not made for children, use your brain befor you take the whole family along. Unless you are ready to answer some questions, wait until junior is more mature to take him. Above all know you own kids, some are more than ready to go see, talk to them about what is in the movie, and explain why you believe what you do. The violence is there but it's easy to see coming. The back story has been changed a bit for the movie, some of the claims have been soften. My suggestion read the book, see the movie, then go out and buy one or more of the guids that have been written to fact cheeck the Da Vinci Code.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (2) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (3)
quicksilver369
adult
 
Adults Only Please
The violence is really disturbing in this film even for adults. It is not suitable for kids. My husband and I thought if you read the book then you will know exactly what to expect...the movie follows the book. Enjoyable but just remember this in not an action film...
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (2) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (2)
bob102
teen, 15 years old
 
Quite scary
It was a hard to follow movie. Tom Hanks did not do a quality job.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (1) | had useful details (1) | read my mind (1)

More reviews ...

An independent voice for families
Age-appropriate reviews
Advice on the big issues
 

vote now

Will you see The Da Vinci Code?

Won't miss it
On the fence
No way

Already seen it? What do you think?

I recommend it
It's a pass
 

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

Better globe-trotting adventures
Browse more movies
About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age
Our child development rating guidelines