The Da Vinci Code Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

The Da Vinci Code Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman October 17, 2016

Sony has re-released 'The Da Vinci Code' to Blu-ray to celebrate the film's 10th anniversary, tie-in with the upcoming release of 'Inferno', and pair it with the film's UHD debut. This new 1080p disc features new video and audio and a blend of new and old supplemental content. This release also ditches the extended version, which was all that was previously available on Blu-ray, in favor of the tidier theatrical cut. Unfortunately, those who prefer the film's longer presentation and wish to view it under the newly remastered video are out of luck.

On the trail.

The film's theatrical cut runs about 26 minutes shorter than its monster extended version. In this format, the film plays with an improved cadence and more refined storytelling chops, still dragging, at points, but finding a firmer footing as it explores Dan Brown's controversial story of history and religious worldview. The film is well done, technically and stylistically. Performances are a bit unintentionally hammy and the story itself plays out as an all-too-serious sort of filmed beast version of some wall-of-text, conspiracy-laden chain E-mail. It has its moments of interest and intrigue, but between some of the more absurd plot lines, flat characters, and overextended runtime (even in its theatrical form), even Ron Howard's rather fluid and complimentary filmmaking approach isn't enough to save the movie.

For a more in-depth film review (of the extended cut, but it by-and-large still applies), please click here.

The Da Vinci Code Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Sourced from a new 4K remaster, Sony's 1080p Blu-ray release of The Da Vinci Code impresses a great deal, at least within the film's inherently soft and largely shadowy cinematography. The picture is beautifully filmic, retaining a light and pleasant grain structure that accentuates near-field details like skin pores and hairs, evident even in lower light conditions and contrasting against dark backgrounds. Details push a little soft by the film's nature, though it manages to reproduce ornate props and set pieces with striking efficiency. Brick-laden streets and stone façades, particularly seen in better daytime lighting in the third act, are very well realized. The color palette is somewhat muted, not drastically but within the film's bleaker settings, and even later on when more awash in direct sunlight, there's not a real sense of punch or vividness to it. Red blood and warmer shades are the standout, though splashes of support colors across the spectrum stand apart nicely enough. Black levels are excellent. They're critical to the film and their ability to hold deep and true without crush only enhances the movie's atmosphere and the quality of the Blu-ray presentation. Flesh tones can push mildly pale but, again, seem more or less in-line with the film's stylistic approach. Print wear seems nonexistent and artifacts are incredibly scarce. This is a very impressive remaster from Sony.

The Da Vinci Code Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Sony has once again refused to include the Dolby Atmos soundtrack from its premium UHD release on the companion 1080p Blu-ray disc. And rather than simply port over the existing release's Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack, the studio has re-encoded for DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 for this 10th anniversary edition. That seems like double the work for no real obvious return other than to further differentiate one release from another. The bottom line is that this release does not feature the best soundtrack available, but that's not to decry the included 5.1 track. It's perfectly fine, and quite excellent, really. Music is beautifully fluid and precise, presenting with high end clarity, excellent balance between front and back information, and a beautifully presented and balanced low end support. The subwoofer thumps with impressive depth in the film's open, which nicely defines the scene's mood and sets the tone for the remainder of the movie. The film's soundtrack isn't awash in high end information beyond, or much that requires it to stretch a system to its limits. Some heftier support details do present very well, particularly some rattles, maneuvers, and squeaks and squeals heard from inside, and subsequently all around the listening area, the cramped confines of an elevator, which sets into motion one of the movie's subplots and character traits: Langdon's fear of enclosed spaces. Dialogue is firm and accurate with quality prioritization and natural center placement. Dialogue does drift nicely when necessary on several occasions, featuring a tangible sense of reverberation throughout the stage.

The Da Vinci Code Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The Da Vinci Code contains extras on both discs and all of the supplements from the original release's second disc on the disc labeled "disc two," which is simply a repressing of that 2009 bonus disc. Below is a list of what's included by disc. New material is marked as such. Gone are the following: Unlocking the Code Interactive PiP Experience, BD-Live Cinechat, 'Angels & Demons' Extended Preview, and BD-Live functionality. For reviews of previously released supplemental content, please click here. Also included is a UV digital copy code.

Disc Two (Legacy Supplements):

• First Day on the Set with Ron Howard
• A Discussion with Dan Brown
• A Portrait of Langdon
• Who Is Sophie Neveu?
• Unusual Suspects
• Magical Places
• Close-Up on Mona Lisa
• The Filmmakers' Journey Part One
• The Filmmakers' Journey Part Two
• The Codes of The Da Vinci Code
• The Music of The Da Vinci Code
• Book to Screen
• The Da Vinci Props
• The Da Vinci Sets
• Re-Creating Works of Art
• The Visual Effects World of The Da Vinci Code
• Scoring The Da Vinci Code

Feature Disc Plus Supplements:

• Audio Commentary
• NEW! Launching a Legacy with A First Look at Inferno (1080p, 4:26): Cast and crew chat up the upcoming movie, covering core qualities including characterization, plot, translating Dan Brown's novels to the screen, how the stories reflect on the world, and story details from the new film. Clips from all three films are included. Note that the back of the box advertises this supplement (labeled as "A First Look at Inferno") as well as "A Look Back with Tom Hanks, Ron Howard, Dan Brown and Brian Grazer." That latter supplement doesn't appear to actually exist on its own, so it seems like Sony made it sound like two extras when it is, in reality, just this one (Hanks, Howard, Brown, and Grazer all appear in this extra). The packaging listing definitely demarcates them with a "-" symbol. Pretty shady if that's the case.
• (Sort Of) NEW! Extended Cut Scenes (1080p, 35:27): While audiences cannot watch the extended cut in full, the trimmed scenes are at least here to peruse separate of the picture proper. Included are How Well Did You Know the Curator, Containment, In the Air, The Pentacle, In the Bathroom, They Didn't Send Her, He Reached Out to You, The Sacred Feminine, I Will Destroy the Painting, The Getaway, Silas Flashback, You Let Them Get Away, Patrol, Money, Prayer, Welcome Bishop, Petty Cash, The Teacher, Quite a Performance, Silas Sins Flashback, I Chastise My Body, You Don't Believe in God, Sophie Was Trained, At the Hospital, Hot Tamale, Looking Through the File, He's Fantastic with Sauces, The Holy Grail, Mortal Man, Opus Dei, They Never Wanted You, Tell Me Next Time, To London, Temple Church, Glove Box, Holy Land, Listening Post, He Forgot Everything, Da Vinci, She Was Here, His Last Breath, and Through the Streets.
• NEW! Teaser Trailer (1080p, 2:05).
• NEW! Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 2:20).

The Da Vinci Code Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Sony's re-release of The Da Vinci Code makes for a quality product, but one that could have been so much better. The absence of the Atmos soundtrack is disappointing to say the least, and the studio's failure to present both versions of the film is sure to leave more than a few fans out in the cold. Still, if one can be content with one new "real" extra, the extended scenes separate of the movie proper, an improved 1080p transfer, and a high quality DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack, then all is well in reissue land.