:Japan )

Went to see the Da Vinci Code last Friday and it didn’t live down my expectations. Sure it was a little entertaining to see how the guy unwound his puzzle but just like one other story of his that I actually read, it was way too predictable. I never read the book The Da Vinci Code but I did happen to inherit another book of Brown’s, Digital Fortress, when I moved into my current residence. It’s another mystery/suspense like story only this time involving cryptography, the NSA, and big powerful computers. Digital Fortress also had brilliant code breaking characters. But the most annoying thing about these characters is they can crack these really hard codes in no time using some form of photographic memory or drawing on past puzzle solving history yet they get to these puzzles that I can work out or immediately see and I have to sit reading while they muddle their way through.

Initially I gave Digital Fortress a little slack because I was a little too close to the subject of computers and tech news but then when I saw the same formula taking place in The Da Vinci Code, I wrote it off. I flipped through the book and saw what looked like muddling through the puzzle of Da Vinci style writing. I thought surely anyone who has taken high school Art History has heard about Da Vinci writing in a mirrored style. Then to make matters worse, when that part comes up in the movie, the writing is English! Way to stick to authentic Da Vinci style guys.

Final verdict: As entertaining as a prime-time TV show in the U.S. but not close to being worth the hype that surrounded it.

I doubt I will give him a third chance on my dime.