"Actor: Hanks"

• The Burbs | DVD | (01/06/2009) from £9.98   |  Saving you £0.01 (0.10%)   |  RRP £9.99

  To the disappointment of his wife Carol Ray decides to spend a relaxing week at home and soon gets into trouble with his neighbours - a hefty busybody a freaked-out ex-soldier and a spacey teenager - as they observe the strange happenings next door at the Klopek's bizarre residence. When the neighborhood grouch suddenly disappears the men are convinced the ramshackle house hides some hideous clues. Armed with assault rifles high-powered binoculars and a shovel they decide to see for themselves exactly what is going on in the Klopek place... Tom Hanks portrays suburbanite Ray Peterson whose plans for a peaceful vacation are disturbed by a creepy new family on the block in this outrageous suspense-comedy directed by Joe Dante. Set in an average neighborhood that is anything but average The Burbs blends slapstick comedy and spine-tingling mystery with the type of witty humour that has made Tom Hanks a star.

• The Da Vinci Code | Blu Ray | (19/09/2011) from £14.32   |  Saving you £-0.07 (N/A%)   |  RRP £12.99

  Dan Brown's international bestseller comes alive in the film The Da Vinci Code, directed by Ron Howard with a screenplay by Akiva Goldsman. Join symbologist Robert Langdon (Academy Award(r) Winner Tom Hanks, 1993 Best Actor, Philadelphia, and 1994 Best Actor, Forrest Gump) and cryptologist Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou) in their heart-racing quest to solve a bizarre murder mystery that will take them from France to England -- and behind the veil of a mysterious ancient society, where they discover a secret protected since the time of Christ.

• Pixar Boxset | DVD | (11/11/2013) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £80.99

  Monsters Inc.Loveable Sulley (John Goodman) and his wisecracking sidekick Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) are the top scare team at Monsters Inc. the scream-processing factory in Monstropolis. When a little girl named Boo wanders into their world it's the monsters who are scared silly and it's up to Sulley and Mike to keep her out of sight and get her back home. Monsters UniversityThe story of how two mismatched monsters met and became lifelong friends in a movie screaming with laughter and oozing with heart. Ever since college-bound Mike Wazowski (Billy Crystal) was a little monster he has dreamt of becoming a Scarer-and he knows better than anyone that the best Scarers come from Monsters University (MU). But during his first semester at MU Mike's plans are derailed when he crosses paths with hotshot James P. Sullivan 'Sulley' (John Goodman) a natural-born Scarer. The pair's out-of-control competitive spirit gets them both kicked out of the University's elite Scare Program. With their dreams temporarily dashed they realise they will have to work together along with an odd bunch of misfit monsters if they ever hope to make things right. BraveTake a heroic journey with Merida a skilled archer and headstrong daughter of King Fergus and Queen Elinor. Determined to carve her own path in life Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the unruly and uproarious lords of the land. When Merida's actions inadvertently unleash chaos in the kingdom she must harness all of her skills and resources to undo a beastly curse before it's too late and discover the meaning of true bravery. CarsHotshot race car Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) is living life in the fast lane - until he hits a detour and gets stranded in Radiator Springs a forgotten town on Route 66. There he meets Sally Mater Doc Hudson (Paul Newman) and a heap of hilarious characters who help him discover there's more to life than trophies and fame. Feel the sound of roaring engines and rock to the rhythm of some smokin'roadhouse riffs. Cars 2Star race car Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) take their friendship to exciting new places when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world's fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes detours and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage! Toy StoryAn astonishing world where toys play while their owners are away. Woody (Tom Hanks) Buzz Light-year (Tim Allen) and all their friends in an adventure filled with humour heart and friendship. This groundbreaking computer-generated classic started it all and set the stage for the equally amazing Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3. Toy Story 2While Andy is away at summer camp Woody is toy napped by Al a greedy collector who needs Andy's favourite toy to complete his Roundup Gang collection. Together with Jessie Bull's-eye and the Prospector Woody is on his way to a museum where he'll spend the rest of his life behind glass. It's up to Buzz Mr. Potato Head Hamm Rex and Slinky Dog to rescue their friend and remind him what being a toy is all about. Toy Story 3In Toy Story 3 Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) Buzz Light-year (voiced by Tim Allen) and the rest of the Toy Story gang return for a new adventure along with a few new faces - some plastic some plush - including Barbie's counterpart Ken (voiced by Michael Keaton) a thespian hedgehog named Mr. Pricklepants (voiced by Timothy Dalton) and a strawberry-scented bear named Lots-o'-Huggin' Bear (voiced by Ned Beatty). As Andy prepares to depart for college Woody Buzz Jessie and the rest of Andy's faithful toys wonder what will become of them. But when a mix-up lands them at Sunnyside Day care. UpCarl Fredricksen a retired balloon salesman is part rascal part dreamer who is ready for his last chance at high-flying excitement. Tying thousands of balloons to his house Carl sets off to the lost world of his childhood dreams. Unbeknownst to Carl Russell an overeager 8-year-old Wilderness Explorer who has never ventured beyond his backyard is in the wrong place at the wrong time - Carl's front porch! The world's most unlikely duo reach new heights and meet fantastic friends like Dug a dog with a special collar that allows him to speak and Kevin a rare 13-foot-tall flightless bird. Stuck together in the wilds of the jungle Carl realises that sometimes life's biggest adventures aren't the ones you set out looking for. Wall-EAfter hundreds of lonely years of doing what he was built for the curious and lovable WALL-E discovers a new purpose in life when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. Join them and a hilarious cast of characters on a fantastic journey across the universe. RatatouilleIn one of Paris' finest restaurants Remy a determined young rat dreams of becoming a renowned French chef. Torn between his family's wishes and his true calling Remy and his pal Linguini set in motion a hilarious chain of events that turns the City of Lights upside down. Ratatouille is a rare treat you'll enjoy again and again. The IncrediblesKnown to the world as superheroes Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl Bob Parr and his wife Helen were among the world's greatest crime fighters saving lives and battling evil on a daily basis. Fifteen years later they have been forced to adopt civilian identities and retreat to the suburbs to live 'normal' lives with their three kids Violet Dash and Jack-Jack. Itching to get back into action Bob gets his chance when a mysterious communication summons him to a remote island for a top secret assignment. He soon discovers that it will take a super family effort to rescue the world from total destruction. Finding NemoIn the depths of the Great Barrier Reef Marlin (Albert Brooks) an overly protective clownfish embarks on a daring rescue mission when his beloved son Nemo gets scooped up by a diver. With his unforgettable friend Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) by his side Marlin encounters an ocean full of memorable comedic characters on his momentous journey - to find Nemo. A Bug's LifeOn behalf of 'oppressed bugs everywhere ' an inventive ant named Flik hires 'warrior bugs' to defend his colony from a horde of greedy grasshoppers led by Hopper. But when Flik's cavalry turns out to be a motley group of flea circus performers the stage is set for comic confusion... as well as unlikely heroes! Cars Toon: Mater's Tall TalesCars Toons starring Mater the loveable and hilarious tow-truck from the hit movie Cars. Nine highly entertaining 'Tall Tales' involving bull fights drag races rock concerts monster truck showdowns and even UFOs. Join Mater the heart and soul of Radiator Springs! Includes Pixar Shorts: Volume 1 and 2

• Bachelor Party | DVD | (06/10/2003) from £5.19   |  Saving you £0.80 (15.41%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Bachelor Party may not be the first trashy sex comedy but it is perhaps the definitive trashy sex comedy. The movie makes its first breast joke before the opening credits have even finished. A cheerful school bus driver (Tom Hanks) has somehow got himself engaged to a lovely young heiress, much to the chagrin of her family and vengeful ex-boyfriend. The bus driver's roustabout friends decide to throw him a bachelor party--and you can pretty much guess the rest: scantily clad hookers, rampant drug use, bad 1980s new-wave music, really bad 1980s fashions, full frontal nudity (curiously, due to a scene in a Chippendales strip club, there's almost as much male flesh on display as female), bestiality, racial stereotypes, blackmail, attempted suicide, all played for unrepentant cheap laughs. Throughout, Tom Hanks floats along with a carefree (if slightly sheepish) grin, projecting such an air of impish innocence that it's hard to be offended by any of it. And it all ends in a wedding, just like a Shakespearean comedy. Also featuring the blinding white teeth and big hair of Tawny Kitaen (playing the good girl Hanks marries), buxom scream queen Monique Gabrielle and Adrian Zmed, whose career has not fared as well as Hanks's. --Bret Fetzer

• Saving Private Ryan | DVD | (01/11/2004) from £5.49   |  Saving you £14.50 (264.12%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Seen through the eyes of a squad of American soldiers the story begins with World War II's historic D-Day invasion then moves beyond the beach as the men embark on a dangerous special mission. Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) must take his men behind enemy lines to find Private James Ryan whose three brothers have been killed in combat. Faced with impossible odds the men question their orders. Why are eight men risking their lives to save just one? Surrounded by the brutal realities of war each man searches for his own answer - and the strength to triumph over an uncertain future with honour decency and courage.

• Cloud Atlas | Blu Ray | (01/07/2013) from £13.00   |  Saving you £9.99 (76.85%)   |  RRP £22.99

  Cloud Atlas explores how the actions and consequences of individual lives impact one another throughout the past, the present and the future.

• Fargo Season 1-3 Complete DVD Boxset | DVD | (30/11/2020) from £19.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  The Coen Brothers' award-winning film transforms into a new "true crime" story with new characters.all chilled in the trademark dry wit, voilent foul play and "Minnesota nice" of the original classic film. In SEASON ONE, Billy Bob Thornton stars as Lorne Malvo, a manipulative master criminal. Kirsten Dunst and Ted Danson co-star in SEASON TWO, a gripping saga that kicks off with bloodshed at a South Dakota Waffle Hut. Finally, in SEASON THREE, Ewan McGregor shines in dual roles as the "Parking Lot King of Minnesota," Emmit Stussy, and his brother, Ray, a potbellied parole officer with a chip on his shoulder.

• Roswell: Seasons 1-3 | DVD | (31/10/2005) from £38.35   |  Saving you £51.64 (134.65%)   |  RRP £89.99

  The complete box set of all the episodes of the cult sci-fi fan favourite that blends youthful drama sci-fi and humour with mysterious government plots. In the New Mexico desert in 1947 an object falls from the sky and crashes on a remote ranch. Reports detailing the mysterious event soon begin to appear in newspapers across the country as a possible UFO crash but are quickly denounced by the US government. Years later two six-year-old children are found wandering around in the de

• The House Bunny | DVD | (16/02/2009) from £5.58   |  Saving you £14.41 (258.24%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Anna Faris charms as Shelley Darlington, a Playboy Bunny who teaches an awkward sorority about the opposite sex - only to learn that what boys really like is what's on the inside.

• Elvis & Nixon | DVD | (31/10/2016) from £4.90   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  A recreation of the meeting at the White House between Elvis Presley and President Richard Nixon.

• Sleepless In Seattle / Maid In Manhattan / French Kiss | DVD | (03/10/2005) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Sleepless In Seattle (Dir. Nora Ephron 1993): Christmas is a magical time when anything can happen. And for Annie Reed (Meg Ryan) a down-to-earth newspaper reporter it's just about to. Whilst driving to her fianc''e's house on Christmas Eve she hears a radio broadcast that will change her life. Eight-year-old Jonah is worried about his recently widowed father and calls a radio station agony aunt. Persuaded onto the phone Jonah's dad Sam (Tom Hanks) tells of his love for his dead wife and how their time together was pure magic. Annie is so touched by his heartfelt sentiment that she becomes determined to meet him. But there are a few problems: Sam's in Seattle Annie's in Baltimore and Sam doesn't even know that Annie exists! Maid In Manhattan (Dir. Wayne Wang 2002): Marisa Ventura is a single mother born and bred in the boroughs of New York City. She works as a maid in a first-class Manhattan hotel. By a twist of fate and mistaken identity Marisa meets Christopher Marshall a handsome heir to a political dynasty who believes that she is a guest at the hotel. Fate steps in and throws the unlikely pair together for one night. When Marisa's true identity is revealed the two find that they are worlds apart even though the distance separating them is just a subway ride between Manhattan and the Bronx. French Kiss (Dir. Lawrence Kasdan 1995): Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline are a Paris match made in heaven in this hilarious adventure-filled romantic comedy. Straight-laced Kate (Ryan)has her future all planned out: marry her fiance Charlie (Timothy Hutton) and live happily ever after. What she didn't count on was Juliette the beautiful French woman Charlie falls for on a business trip to Paris! Determined to win him back Kate jumps on a plane where she meets Luc (Kline) a petty thief whom she immediately dislikes. But when Luc sneaks a stolen necklace into Kate's purse she finds herself travelling through France with him on a trip full of surprises: the biggest one being that this con man is stealing her heart! A sexy savvy and very funny romantic romp 'French Kiss' is a passionate heartfelt reminder that life can always surprise you.

• A League Of Their Own | DVD | (13/03/2000) from £17.97   |  Saving you £-11.98 (N/A%)   |  RRP £5.99

  Penny Marshall's popular 1992 comedy sheds light on a little-known chapter of American sports history with its story of a struggling team in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The league was formed when the recruiting of soldiers during World War II resulted in a shortage of men's baseball teams. The AAGPBL continued after the war (until 1954), and Marshall's movie depicts the league in full swing, beginning when a savvy baseball scout (Jon Lovitz) finds a pair of promising new players in small-town Oregon sisters (Geena Davis, Lori Petty). The sisters are signed to play for the Rockford Peaches near Chicago, whose new manager (Tom Hanks) is a former home-run king who wrecked his career with alcoholism. They're all a bunch of underdogs, and Marshall (with a witty script by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel) does a fine job of establishing a colorful team of supporting players including Madonna and (in her movie debut) Rosie O'Donnell. It's a conventional Hollywood sports story (Marshall's never been one to take dramatic risks) but the stellar cast is delightful and the movie's filled with memorable moments, witty dialogue and agreeable sentiment. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

• 100 Years of Warner Bros. - Modern Blockbusters 5-Film Collection (1990s - Today) | Blu Ray | (18/09/2023) from £40.00   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Warner Bros. 100 years - Celebrating Every Story Celebrate 100 years of Warner Bros. with this essential 5-film collection, bringing together some of the greatest films from the Modern Blockbuster era (1990s to today). The collection includes films that expanded Hollywood around the world, bringing legendary characters, powerful stories and diverse new voices. The collection is housed in an embossed and foiled slipcase, revealing a unique unfolding 10-disc digipak with a Warner Bros. timeline tracking the studio's history at the turn of the century to today. Goodfellas From Nicholas Pileggi's true-life bestseller Wiseguy, GoodFellas explores the criminal life like no other movie. Directed and co-written by Martin Scorsese, it was judged 1990's Best Picture by the New York, Los Angeles and National Society of Film Critics and named to the American Film Institute's Top-100 American Films List. Electrifying performances abound, and from a standout cast that includes Robert DeNiro, Ray Liotta, Lorraine Bracco and Paul Sorvino, Joe Pesci walked off with the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award®. Unforgiven Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman play retired outlaws who pick up their guns one last time to collect a bounty. Richard Harris is a killer. And Gene Hackman is a lawman of sly charm. The Shawshank Redemption Few movies capture the triumph of the human spirit as memorably as this. Red (Morgan Freeman), a lifer who knows how to get things inside the bleak walls of Shawshank State Prison, finds himself drawn to new inmate Andy (Tim Robbins), a quiet banker with an indomitable will. As Andy brings hope and change to the entire prison, he turns out to be full of surprises - and the best comes last, leading to one of the most satisfying finales in movie history. Training Day Alonzo Harris is a twisted but charismatic L.A. undercover narcotics detective who both attracts and repels as he becomes the kind of thug he's supposed to collar. Jake Hoyt is an idealistic rookie on his first day of patrol with Harris...and it's a day of reckoning. Elvis This epic drama explores the life and music of Elvis Presley as seen through the prism of Presley's complicated relationship with his enigmatic manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Featuring Over 20 hours of Extra Content Product Features Goodfellas 2 Commentaries with Cast and Crew Scorcese's Goodfellas Featurette Getting Made Featurette Made Men: The Goodfellas Legacy Featurette The Workday Gangster Featurette Paper is Cheaper than Film Featurette Theatrical Trailer And More! Unforgiven Commentary by Eastwood Biographer Richard Schickel 4 Documentaries Classic Maverick Episode Duel at Sundown Theatrical Trailer The Shawshank Redemption Commentary by Frank Darabont Two Documentaries: Hope Springs Eternal: A Look Back at The Shawshank Redemption, and Shawshank: The Redeeming The Sharktank Redemption Featurette Two Storyboards: Bogs Takes a Fall, New Fish Arrive Photo Galleries Training Day Director Commentary with Antoine Fuqua Crossing the Line Featurette Music Videos from Nelly and Pharoahe Monch Theatrical Trailer Alternate Ending Deleted Scenes Elvis Bigger Than Life: The Story of ELVIS Featurette Rock 'n' Roll Royalty: The Music and Artists Behind ELVIS Featurette Fit for a King: The Style of ELVIS Featurette Viva Australia: Recreating Iconic Locations for ELVIS Trouble Lyric Video

• Cast Away | Blu Ray | (02/07/2012) from £7.99   |  Saving you £12.00 (150.19%)   |  RRP £19.99

  Tom Hanks is Chuck Noland, a man in a hurry. His job for Federal Express has him traveling the world on a moments notice, exhorting the company's employees to speed things up--never turn your back on the clock. When he's suddenly called away for business on Christmas night, his tolerant longtime girlfriend Kelly (Helen Hunt) drives him to the airport. They have their Christmas in the car--and Chuck plunks an engagement ring into her lap right before he gets on the plane, telling her, I'll be right back. But an unexpected storm cuts the plane's crew off from radio contact and blows them off course. Chuck is the sole survivor of the resulting crash, and washes up on a completely deserted island. Stranded there, he must give up everything that he once took for granted and learn how to survive all alone in the wilderness. From director Robert Zemeckis, CAST AWAY is a story of adventure and discovery surrounding one man's will to stay alive.

• From the Earth to the Moon (1998/ TV) | Blu Ray | (15/07/2019) from £19.79   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Digitally Remastered in Stunning HD.Throughout human history, we have reached for the heavens- and dreamed of touching the stars. With the Apollo program, America turned that dream into reality. These are the never-before-told stories of the men, the women, and the machines that led us on our greatest adventure: From the Earth to the Moon.

• Disney & Pixar's Toy Story 2 UHD | Blu Ray | (21/10/2019) from £17.00   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  From the filmmakers behind Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc. and Cars comes Toy Story 2. Enter Disney/Pixar's incredible world with Woody, Buzz, Jessie and Bullseye in the movie that shows us what being a toy, and a friend is all about. Bonus: Toy Story 3 Trailer Buzz Lightyear Mission Logs: International SpaceStation 3 Animated Studio Stories Pixar's Zoetrope Making Toy Story 2 Toy Box: Outtakes & Alternate Scenes Deleted Scenes & Design Galleries And Over 60 Minutes More Bonus!

• Toy Story 3 Double Play | Blu Ray | (22/11/2010) from £5.02   |  Saving you £18.97 (377.89%)   |  RRP £23.99

  What made the original Toy Story so great, besides its significant achievement as the first-ever feature-length computer animated film, was its ability to instantly transport viewers into a magical world where it seemed completely plausible that toys were living, thinking beings who sprang to life the minute they were alone and wanted nothing more than to be loved and played with by their children. Toy Story 3 absolutely succeeds in the very same thing--adults and children alike, whether they've seen the original film or not, find themselves immediately immersed in a world in which Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), Jessie (Joan Cusack), Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head (Don Rickles and Estelle Harris), Ham (John Ratzenberger), Rex (Wallace Shawn), the aliens, and the rest of Andy's toys remain completely devoted to Andy (John Morris) even as he's getting ready to pack up and leave for college. Woody scoffs at the other toys' worries that they'll end up in the garbage, assuring them that they've earned a spot of honor in the attic, but when the toys are mistakenly donated to Sunnyside Daycare, Woody is the only toy whose devotion to Andy outweighs the promise of getting played with each and every day. Woody sets off toward home alone while the other toys settle in for some daycare fun, but things don't turn out quite as expected at the daycare thanks to the scheming, strawberry-scented old-timer bear Lots-o'-Huggin' (Ned Beatty). Eventually, Woody rejoins his friends and they all attempt a daring escape from the daycare, which could destroy them all. The pacing of the film is impeccable at this point, although the sense of peril may prove almost too intense for a few young viewers. Pixar's 3-D computer animation is top-notch as always and the voice talent in this film is tremendous, but in the end, it's Pixar's uncanny ability to combine drama, action, and humour in a way that irresistibly draws viewers into the world of the film that makes Toy Story 3 such great family entertainment. (Ages 7 and older) --Tami Horiuchi

• The War - A Film by Ken Burns | Blu Ray | (11/08/2017) from £35.99   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

• Toy Story 1/Toy Story 2 | DVD | (10/05/2010) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £22.99

  Toy Story: As six-year-old Andy's favorite toy Woody (Tom Hanks) a take-charge pull-string cowboy is confident in his role as room leader. But after Andy's birthday party newcomer Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) a flashy space ranger with laser action and pop-out wings crash-lands into Woody's world. Buzz instantly wins the admiration of Andy's other toys igniting a rivalry that lands the duo inside the home of Sid - the toy-torturing boy next door. To escape Sid's evil plans Woody and Buzz must work together and realize they've got the perfect friend...in each other! Toy Story 2: The original all-star voice cast from Toy Story is joined in Toy Story 2 by a new gang of unforgettable characters including Jessie the cowgirl Bullseye the horse and Stinky Pete the prospector. While Andy is away Woody is abducted by a greedy toy collector. Before you can say to infinity and beyond Buzz Lightyear Mr. Potato Head Hamm Rex and Slinky Dog spring into action in this thrilling and hilarious rescue mission. Winner of the Golden Globe for Best Picture Toy Story 2 won raves from critics and audiences alike..

• The Da Vinci Code | Blu Ray | (08/02/2016) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £N/A

  Critics and controversy aside, The Da Vinci Code is a verifiable blockbuster. Combine the film's huge worldwide box-office take with over 100 million copies of Dan Brown's book sold, and The Da Vinci Code has clearly made the leap from pop-culture hit to a certifiable franchise (games and action figures are sure to follow). The leap for any story making the move from book to big screen, however, is always more perilous. In the case of The Da Vinci Code, the story is concocted of such a preposterous formula of elements that you wouldn't envy Akiva Goldsman, the screenwriter who was handed a potentially unfilmable book and asked to make a filmable script out of it. Goldsman's solution was to have the screenplay follow the book as closely as possible, with a few needed changes, including a better ending. The result is a film that actually makes slightly better entertainment than the book. So if you're like most of the world, by now you've read the book and know that it starts out as a murder mystery. While lecturing in Paris, noted Harvard Professor of Symbology Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) is summoned to the Louvre by French police help decipher a bizarre series of clues left at the scene of the murder of the chief curator, Jacques Sauniere. Enter Sophie Neveu (Audrey Tautou), gifted cryptologist and Sauniere's granddaughter. Neveu and Langdon are forced to team up to solve the mystery, and from there the story is propelled across Europe as it balloons into a modern-day mini-quest for the Holy Grail, complete with alternative theories about the life of Christ, ancient secret societies headed by historical figures like Leonardo Da Vinci, secret codes, conniving bishops, daring escapes, car chases, and, of course, a murderous albino monk controlled by a secret master who calls himself "The Teacher." Taken solely as a mystery thriller, the movie almost works--despite some gaping holes--mostly just because it keeps moving forward at the breakneck pace set in the book. Brown's greatest trick might have been to have the entire story take place in a day so that the action is forced to keep going, despite some necessary pauses for exposition. Hanks and Tautou are just fine together but not exactly a memorable screen pair; meanwhile, Sir Ian McKellen's scenery-chewing as pivotal character Sir Leigh Teabing is just what the film needs to keep it from taking itself too seriously. In the end, this hit movie is just like a good roller-coaster ride: try not to think too much about it--just sit back and enjoy the trip. --Daniel Vancini, Amazon.com