Inferno

"Inferno" is the first film in this franchise where I have read the book before seeing the film. I enjoyed reading "The Lost Symbol" more than "Inferno" but I'll take what I can get. A few things got in the way of me fully enjoying the film version. First of all, I lean towards congruency in a film franchise and each Robert Langdon film from director Ron Howard seems to be slightly different from the last. Secondly, because I know the plot, I knew all the plot twists that were coming. I do think that this film will entertain those who haven't read the book thankfully. The story was faithful enough to its source material but a lot of changes were made. Sometimes, there were unresolved plot lines. Almost always, the book is better than the movie so I fully expected that. In my opinion, all moviegoers should likewise expect and accept that fact.

Reading the book beforehand does affect my enjoyment of the film version because I already am somewhat familiar with what's coming. It is hard to be entertained when I am one step ahead. In addition, a novel has the means to provide more back-story and the characters feel more alive as a result. A movie doesn't have as much time to do this so we have to accept that. "Inferno" has no religious themes so that is too bad because it feels apart from its predecessors. This is isn't the fault of the filmmakers though because Dan Brown is taking Robert Langdon in a new direction. Maybe I just have to get used to that fact. I had hoped that three years separation between reading the book and seeing the movie would allow me to forget some parts of the plot but the trailers did too well of a job refreshing my memory. The filmmakers made alterations to the plot anyways. Some characters were changed, as was the ending of the story. I had great sympathy for Sienna while reading the book mostly because of her baldness, which came from distress in her childhood years. She wears a wig in the book and at one point, it aids Robert and Sienna in evading the WHO. In the film, Sienna's past isn't focused on very much and she is not bald. Sienna's role in the novel is also somewhat different than in the movie. Christoph Bouchard is a character not in the book at all. He appears to take the place of Ferris in the novel. There is no resolution by the end film with Robert's friend, Ignazio. In the book, he has a heart attack shortly after stealing the mask. Before dying, he sends Robert a voicemail message concerning "Paradise 25". The filmmakers changed the message to an email but had Ignazio go into hiding. That doesn't bother me but the film should have concluded what happened to him. It was annoying for me. Sinskey becomes an old girlfriend of Robert's but that alteration was acceptable. Dan Brown creates "grey villains" for his stories and in "Inferno", Bertrand Zobrist's sexual partner is the antagonist. The portion in the book where you first read about how they met and fell in love was very well written because the reader is so certain who Zobrist's lover is. Brown had me fooled unlike when I read "The Lost Symbol" because that plot twist was quite easy to figure out. This literary flashback was my favorite part of the novel version of "Inferno" and I knew it was going to be very hard to translate this part of the book onto film without giving away the plot twist. The filmmakers didn't try and I don't blame them but I was hoping for some kind of equivalent cinematic deception. I will now address how the ending of the film differs from its source material. In the climax of the book, it is revealed that the date mentioned in Zobrist's video did not have to do with the release of the virus but rather when the virus would reach global saturation. The virus also doesn't kill people. The cinematic version of the climax is simplified and for someone like me who read the book, it was kind of a letdown. Having given my criticisms, I will say that "Inferno" wasn't a waste of time because it appeals to those who haven't read the book. The movie as a whole does create anxiety such as when Langdon feels he could be the carrier of the virus. The attic above the Apotheosis of Cosimo I in the Palazzo Vecchio was exactly how I pictured the scene while reading the book. The final scene between Robert and Sienna is powerful and I loved the concluding scene where Robert returns the mask. I was very grateful that Robert's Mickey Mouse watch is finally given a more significant role in the story. The books mention it here & there and I love how Robert values it in a sentimental way. The special effects for when people fall to their deaths are quite good. It seems hard to render CG bodies in a realistic way but "Inferno" pulls it off.

Seven years separated the film releases of "Angels & Demons" and "Inferno". Only three years passed between the movie releases of "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels & Demons" so I was interested in seeing if the filmmakers in 2016 could affectively pick up where they left off in terms of style. The cinematography is different, even though Ron Howard uses the same director of photography in all three films. The use of handheld shots reflects Robert's mindset it seems. I loved the establishing shot of Venice where you can see the entire sestiere of San Polo. It was cool to see that in IMAX. David Koepp has written original or adapted screenplays before for many hit movies and so I guess my hopes were set too high for "Inferno". He collaborated with "Da Vinci" screenwriter Akiva Goldsman on "Angels & Demons" so this wasn't Koepp's first experience in this franchise. Hans Zimmer has scored the music for all three films and in "Inferno", there was a few allusions to the music from "Da Vinci Code" such as during the end credits. His score for "Angels & Demons" is the most unique out of all three. As for the cast, Tom Hanks was able to recreate this character even after seven years. I was very thankful for that. I first took notice of actress Felicity Jones in "The Theory of Everything", for which she got an Oscar nomination. Her best moments in "Inferno" came in the second half of the film. I am more excited for her next film role "in a galaxy far, far away". I loved Omar Sy as Bishop in "X-Men: Days of Future Past" but I didn't find his performance in this movie all that special. Irrfan Khan, from "Slumdog Millionaire", was good in his role. As a coincidence, both Sy and Khan were in "Jurassic World".

This is Ron Howard's only directorial franchise and I bet a lot would say that it is lacking in value. I can understand that but I am at least grateful for "The Da Vinci Code" because of its story, casting and chemistry between the actors. "Inferno", whether as a book or film, didn't match up to its predecessors and I feel that in part it is because of its story and casting. I honestly think though that this movie will entertain those who haven't read the book. Those who have read it will need to accept what has been provided to us. Otherwise, you will have wasted your time. This movie didn't please critics but neither did the first two films so it is hard to know if the franchise will continue. Not only could "The Lost Symbol" be adapted but Dan Brown has a new Robert Langdon adventure coming out called "Origin". I wouldn’t mind another movie.

3.5 Stars