“The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crises”
That sentence in particular stuck with me ever since I read the book back during the Ramadan of 2014. Inferno is the third Dan Brown novel made into a motion picture and stars the usual; Tom Hanks as professor Langdon (yes, the mickey mouse watch does return as well). Starring alongside him is the Oscar nominated actress Felicity Jones from the critically acclaimed movie “The Theory Of Everything”.
Avid Dan Brown book followers are pretty much aware of the storyline. mA brief synopsis for those who have not read the book: Langdon wakes up in a hospital suffering from amnesia and in possession of certain “items”. He teams up with Dr. Sienna Brooks (Felicity Jones) as they hunt for a deadly virus across Europe.
Unlike my previous reviews where I praise Tom Honks (a lot I might add), the sheer pace of this movie is what kept me on the edge of my seat. Do not misunderstand me; Tom Hanks was brilliant, as always. Another positive contributing factor was the runtime; 120 minutes was just right when compared to 140 minutes for its predecessor (Angels and Demons). Hanz Zimmer was at his A-game, especially during the last scene; it just shows how he easily is the best composer of our generation. Oscar winning director, Ron Howard, showcases the exceptionally aesthetic locations of Europe along with breath-taking shots of the Blue Mosque. I do not remember about a potential Langdon love interest in the book but it was definitely in the movie; this was not necessary since Langdon has better functioned alone in his previous “adventures”.
However, for those who have read the book, it just might turn out to be a let-down. There is a minor twist half-way through the movie which was definitely not in the book. Additionally, the ending was completely different! Whether or not the movie one’s better is open for you to decide. An interesting addition to the cast was that of Irrfan Khan as the “Provost”. Having previously read articles that highlighted the acting skills of this Bollywood actor, I was still reluctant to see him take the Provost’s role on; to my surprise, he pulled it off really well. Personally, in spite of having a run time of almost 180 minutes, The Da Vinci Code is still, in my opinion, Ron Howard’s best work when it comes to Robert Langdon movies.
The question still remains; should book readers go and watch this? If you ask me, then yes. Regardless of which version you end up favouring, the utter impact of the background score and the chase across Europe is definitely not to be missed.momaouusc
Featured Image Credit: (Goldposter.com Photo)
EYAS 