Inferno doesn't light the box office on fire

Movie Title:   Inferno

Grade:  B

Rating:  PG-13, 121 minutes

In a Nutshell:  I really enjoyed Dan Brown’s book a few years ago when I read it.  Yeah, I know…it’s not high-brow literature, but more of a guilty pleasure.  

It has been 10 years since the last Dan Brown movie and, unfortunately, this one is getting mediocre reviews like that last two action films in the series.

After the rolling credits, right before the words “Columbia Pictures,” it says in bold letters, “Be Moved.”  You might or might not.

Uplifting theme: 

• Cerca trova.   Seek and find.
• The intriguing question asked is: “If you could flip a switch, half of the population dies, or if you don’t do it, mankind will be extinct in 100 years…what would you do?”
• “Things fall apart if you don’t look after them.” – Robert
• “The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis.” – Dante Alighieri
• Create your life.  Don’t let life pull you apart from the one you love, like Dante and Beatrice and two other people in the movie (NO spoiler alert.)

Things I liked:

• Who doesn’t love Tom Hanks?  What was up with his hair in this movie though?
• I LOVE Italy.  I was in Florence and Venice just a couple of years ago. We walked right by Dante’s actual house in Florence.  One thing I love about the Dan Brown books and movies is that you get to traipse around Europe.  While bullets fly around Tom Hanks, it’s fun to do some sightseeing. The set piece in Istanbul is stunning. 
• Felicity Jones does all of the same stunts Tom Hanks does, but in high heels.  I’m excited to see her in the upcoming Star Wars movie “Rogue One.”  She’s always great in everything.

Things I didn’t like:

• If you haven’t read the book, you’ll probably be confused for the first 30 minutes.  The movie starts with a mixture of reality and visions, making it difficult for even fans of the book to know what’s going on.
• The time stamp in various scenes lends a sense of urgency, but the timing of events are pretty unrealistic.
• One of the most compelling things about the character Robert Langdon is his ability to solve complex puzzles.  Unfortunately, he spends the majority of the movie experiencing amnesia and hallucinations, so that people have to tell him what’s happening, making the unraveling of the mystery less than satisfying.
• It takes a really long time for Felicity Jones’ character to have a reason for her to be with Tom Hanks’ character.
• The script writing definitely doesn’t provide the details that the book does. There were some inconsistencies and plot holes that were frustrating.

Interesting lines:

• “Maybe pain can save us.” – Bertrand Zobrist
• “Mankind is its own cancer.” – Bertrand
• “There’s always a way out.” – Robert
• “I’m not afraid to act, but doing nothing terrifies me.” – Sienna
• “Beauty awakens the soul to act.” – Dante
• “The most interesting things happen in doorways.” – Robert
• “Genius doesn’t come with extra rights.” – Robert

Funny lines:

• “Weird kid.  Did I say that out loud?” – Robert
• “I’m sorry.  I’m not like this.” – Robert

“You kind of are.” – Sienna Brooks

• “I studied Dante when I was younger.” – Sienna

“Probably in Kindergarten.” – Robert

• “Young people are disappointing.” – Harry Sims (Irrfan Khan)

Tips for parents: 

• There is a lot of blood, violence, death, beating, stabbing, and scary images.
• 1 F-bomb and some other profanity. 
• 
  

Fun books by Dan Brown that I really got a kick out of:

   


Read Dante's original work: