INFERNO is one of the few Dan Brown books I haven’t read (I guess Brown’s formula was wearing thin on me by the fourth instalment in the Robert Langdon series). Thankfully, the film still has enough to surprise even a semi-Brown buff such as myself!
I’ll be honest, while I watched both THE DA VINCI CODE and ANGELS AND DEMONS, they didn’t exactly float my boat. I consider both films to be pleasantly satisfactory; “plodding and pretty” is how I’d best describe them.
I was expecting a similar lukewarm reaction to INFERNO….but praise be: This third flick managed to generate more excitement!
INFERNO follows expert symbologist, Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) as he struggles to piece his mind back together after waking in an Italian hospital with amnesia. Teaming up with a puzzle-keen doctor, Sienna Brookes, he races to prevent a global pandemic.
Dan Brown has a (far-fetched) formula to his novels, there’s no doubt. But with the added bonus of Langdon’s dodgy memory, INFERNO offers more plot twists than usual, successfully keeping us engaged, despite it being the third film in the series.
Langdon’s visions/flashbacks also offer scope for creative editing and some visually impressive dreamlike shots. Add to this the pretty (and well-shot) backdrop of Florence, and the result is an arguably more exciting film than its two predecessors.
Hanks is literally 10 years too old to be playing Langdon, but he’s so likeable he can be forgiven. Felicity Jones does a wonderful job as Sienna, and Irrfan Khan is a standout as the ruthless Harry Sims.
The flick runs at just over two hours, but you wouldn’t think so – it’s pacey enough that it seems to fly by in a flash.
Whilst following a similar formula to it’s predecessors, INFERNO still manages to surprise at times. Though far from faultless, it’s arguably the most exciting film in the series, and offers the most visual grandeur. I rate it 7 stars.
