Inferno

Inferno ***

After tip toeing over The Lost Symbol Dan Brown's third book in his Robert Langdon series the producers ended up picking the forth book Inferno to follow up The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons. 


Tom Hanks returns as Robert Langdon the symbologist who's greatest asset is his mind but here he is thrown into new territory by having amnesia after he awakes in hospital in Florence with no recognition and somebody is trying to kill him. 

The film quickly gets into gear with unsettling visuals, quick flowing plot and intrigue. Langdon with the help of his Doctor (Hot from Rogue One star Felicity Jones) most go on the run to prevent an eccentric billionaire from releasing a virus that will wipe out half the world's population.  

The book was very convoluted and the film's screenplay has done a good job of structuring the adaption for screen as well taking quite a few liberties with the story that change quiet considerably. 

Some work well such making Harry Sims (CEO of the private security company called "The Consortium") a much more engaging, physical character and played by a scene stealing Irrfan Khan (Life of PI). Another change is to principle character is more forced and gives Langdon a slight love interest in the movie. This I imagine was to make his role a bigger ark after three films but fails to elevate the concept past the idea stage making it a wasted unfilled concept. 

However despite the concept being engaging the film never really elevates itself from a solid thriller to brilliant one. Perhaps due to the source material of the book not really being better than the previous three you were not necessary going to make a better film than the previous films. The editor goes into over drive to make things seem more frantic then the material has allowed.

The movie is a enjoyable thriller that may have been better suited as TV mini series with it's twits and turns that beat through effectively however the film hits the motions but fails to innovate, take risks or really push the lead actor or director out of their comfort zones to raise the bar of this third film. 

When you get to the third film you really need to raise the bar not lower it. There are numerous examples of third films really delivering building upon the success of previous films in their franchise such as: The Bourne Ultimatum, Prisoner of Azkaban, Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, Lord Of The Rings: Return of the King.



Inferno is certainly not a bad film it is by all means it's a enjoyable film with the ever enjoyable solid Hanks but lots of potential is replaced with a by the numbers thriller that is fun but not mind blowing or that memorable.

By Chris Hembury