Movie Rendition

            Let’s be honest here, movies can’t keep it all.  So, the question remains: What’s gonna get the boot and what’s gonna stay?  Pivotal moments in the book are essential to keep the same in the movies though because how could The DaVinci Code be the same if Robert and Sophie hadn’t had that secret rendezvous in the bathroom to set-up their big “escape”?  Some moments just can’t be cut.  But then what gets to high-tail it to the dumpster—now there’s the crux of the issue.  When reading a book, everything seems super important right down to the turtleneck and tweed jacket duo that marks Langdon’s Harvard geeky professionalism.  It’s important to know what is imperative to keep, though, first because that is what creates the skeleton of the movie.

            Firstly, I would keep Langdon and Sophie’s meeting and escape the same because those first few moments of their meeting are what bring the inseparable pair together in order to trust each other enough to solve the case together.  From the fake call from the U.S. Embassy to their finding of the key and rush out of the museum—nothing should change.  The next scene of crucial importance is in the Teacher’s house when Langdon and Sophie go to him for sanctuary from the police and more information as to how to open the cryptex.  These illuminating moments mark an academic prominence in the book that must be kept in the movie as well.  It also displays Silas’ attack on the group which is deflected by the Teacher which further indebts Langdon’s loyalty to him which brings even greater betrayal in the book.  The last scene that is imperative to keep is when the Teacher reveals himself to Robert and the betrayal sinks in—this moment is when all the pieces fall into place and we begin to completely understand what is going on in the story.  In that scene we comprehend the motives and the reason behind all of what’s previously occurred which before had been unclear and cryptic.

            While choosing which scenes to delete might seem difficult, there are just some things that the book could go without and still be comprehensible.  For example, Silas’ and the priest’s background are unneeded in the book; while their backstory certainly strengthens Silas’ bond to the priest, going in-depth into their meeting and how they came to know each other is simply and unnecessary addition.  The next scene that would be removed from the book would be the banker’s attack on them.  It was clear in the book that the banker was having a guilty conscience in the book, but it would be hard to see that visually without prior knowledge of the book’s understanding.  This additional struggle in their escape adds and air of illusion and mystery around why the cryptex is so significant, but the book could do well without it clogging up space.