Inferno [Blu-ray] [2016] [Region Free]

I was pretty disappointed in this having read the book. True books are generally always better than the film but I usually do also really enjoy a film if I've enjoyed the book it's based on. The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons films I enjoyed very much despite them not quite living up to the books. But this one...in some ways it followed the general plot well but with a few things changed slightly as they always tend to be in films. Some parts seemed a bit to quickly glided over and happened so fast that you didn't get to experience the effect of them that seem such a big part of the story when you read the book. There didn't feel much mystery or excitement. Then I was even more disappointed towards the end when the whole idea behind the original plot of certain characters and the story in the book was changed. I don't see why that was necessary. This could have been a really good film. I'd say it's still worth a watch if you are a fan of the book and like seeing them put to screen. But I would prepare to be unimpressed... Of course, perhaps a lower expectation would improve it it for some.

Good performances from Hanks and Jones save this film from being worse. The initial premise is, of course, an elite agenda 21/30 to cull the population. A billionaire agrees with this and so creates a virus to wipe out at least half of the world's population or even up to 95%. This he believes is saving the world. Instead of just letting off the airborne virus, he chooses to hide it and creates a trail of clues so his girlfriend can find it in case something happens to him. However, he is tracked by various agencies at the start of the film and chooses to commit suicide rather than tell them where it is, when he could have just let it off as soon as it was created. This is the major flaw in the storyline rather like the 'Lord of the Rings' where Frodo and his pal spend weeks or months trekking to mordor when Gandalf can create magical beasts from moths and they could have flown there instead. Hanks and Jones team up to find the virus before it is too late and solve the puzzle path mainly set in Italy and the beautiful scenery, paintings, murals, sculptures and architecture of Florence and Venice.

I cannot remember the last time I saw a bad Tom Hanks film. Whilst I'm a long time fan of Dan Brown and enjoyed both the Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, this film isn't a patch on either of them. Not that they were spectacular, but both had substance.A few "highlights" from Inferno. The WHO is portrayed as some kind of international paramilitary organisation who can deploy men with machine guns within seconds, to anywhere in the world. There is a large secret conglomerate that can find and assassinate people, anywhere, at the behest of their Indian CEO, the Provost, who has a drawer full of ornamental knives and loves stabbing people in the back of the neck. Neither he nor his "company" have any backstory whatsoever. Last but not least, we have a young doctor, who, having a backstory limited to just a few seconds of the film, indicating she was some kind of child genius, inexplicably partners with a billionaire madman. There's absolutely no reason given for how she would have met him, let alone be persuaded to go along with his plan to murder 4 billion people. Also, it's shown she potentially has OCD, but this is never referenced afterwards, why?The acting ranges from sub-par (Hanks) to downright terrible. Line delivery is wooden to say the least. Supporting actors Felicity Jones, Omar Sy and Sidse Babett Knudsen are simply awful. The latter being akin to a pound shop version of Helen Mirren. I'd go as far as to say they cannot act, or if they can, they were way, way out of their depth. If I were to describe the feeling of watching them struggle through, it was almost as if their dialog was being read by a gender neutral AI assistant on a mobile phone, but at half speed. There is no chemistry between the actors, despite a "what could have been" romance angle in one case. The whole thing is bereft of emotion, be it fear, anxiety, elation or intrigue.The plot is thin, dumbed down and contains several continuity errors. It just falls terribly flat overall. Honestly, it was so poorly put together that I've no idea what Ron Howard was thinking considering his prior filmography.2 stars as the visuals are good on occasion and I happen to like Florence.Don't waste your time or money on this, trying to find enjoyment in this film is like trying to get a squid to do yoga. Don't believe me? Check the ratings on the big film review sites!

As the above title would suggest, I like Dan Brown's Robert Langdon character. I have read all the books and enjoyed the hell (inferno) out of them, but books, and films of books, are always a challenge for any director to unravel in a pleasing cinematic fashion. Ron Howard does a sterling job - as he always does - in bringing Dan Brown's novel to life. And Tom Hanks is highly believable as Langdon. But the way in which the core story unfolds is very different from the novel and the ending is purely an invention of the screen writer. I wouldn't say it's disappointing but the film varies greatly from the book. The sets and locations are all wonderful to behold as Langdon travels around in search of clues and answers. To sum up, the book is not the film, the film is not the book, but as a piece of cinema I found it an enjoyable watch especially when the plot matched that which I recognised from the novel. Overall I am pleased to add this title to my collection.

As I only got half way through the book before giving up I thought I would rent this DVD to see if the film made more sense..I WAS WRONG it was dreadful and the background music only added to one of the worst films I have seen in a long time.I have read all four Dan Brown books before this and thoroughly enjoyed them but they don't seem to translate to the big screen very well.

I enjoyed both The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons but was quite disappointed with Inferno. Part of the joy of these films is the solving of riddles and puzzles yet in Inferno they were few and far between or irrelevant. I would however say that Felicity Jones is the best female side-kick in the series and plays quite well off of Hanks.