Review: The DaVinci Code

After receiving much criticism before its long awaited release, The DaVinci Code has proved a success among Brits, taking �120m in its first weekend at the box office.
Ron Howard's direction of Dan Browns mystery thriller, sees Professor Robert Langdon called to the Louvre in Paris, as the elderly curator has been murdered inside.
Near his body a baffling cipher leads to the paintings of Da Vinci, and Langdon joins forces with French cryptologist Sophie Neveu to try and decipher the puzzle.
Langdon and Neveu learn that the curator was involved with the Priory of Sion, a secret society, and they come up against a catholic organization, Opus Dei, who has long planned to seize the Priory's secret.
If Langdon and Neveu don't manage to decipher this puzzle in time, the priory's secret and an amazing historical truth will be lost forever. This film boasts many big names, with Tom Hanks playing Robert Langdon, Audrey Tautou as Sophie Neveu and Paul Bettany and Ian McKellen also making appearances.

Author: Craig Davies

Tameside iJourno group

Edmonton brush aside helpless Anaheim

The Edmonton Oilers took a one game lead over the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in the first game of the Western Conference finals.
It was early in the first period when Anaheim scored the first goal. It began when Edmonton managed to break through the Anaheim defence, when Steve Rolson managed to intercept the puck, and clear it deep down the ice. Michael Peca read the pass well, and drilled it home to give the Mighty Ducks an early one-goal lead. The lead however, didn?t last very long. Ales Hemsky scored the equalising goal, which made it all even as the first period came to a close.

The second period was definitely quieter than the first period. Neither of the two teams could break through each other?s defences. It wasn?t until the dying seconds that Edmonton took the lead. The goal was scored by Todd Harvey, who did well to force goaltender out of his net, to leave it wide open for him, as he taped in the puck to give them the lead at the end of the second.

As both teams entered the final period of play, Anaheim were determined they were not in the playoffs because of a fluke. Anaheim really tried to break the Oilers tight defence, but they couldn?t break through. They were given a golden opportunity though when Chris Pronger was sin binned for elbowing. However, the Oilers created a superb play with a man down, when Peza broke away, one on one with Anaheim goal tender Ilya Bryzgalov, and scored a perfect backhander, to win the game for Edmonton.

After the game, Rolson was asked about his fabulous goal. He said: ?I used to do that in college all the time?. His teammate, Peza, said that he realised he had to turn up the speed. ?It?s not something you practice, but you know he has the ability to get into the centre of the ice,? Peza said. ?We had never connected on it, he knows I am going to look for that ice and I know he?s going to try and get the puck in that spot if he has the time to do it.?

The Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said: ?Their goaltender is strong on his backhand, and we didn?t read the situation properly when we allowed Peza to get in behind us, I guess it caught us by surprise.?

Author: Eric Wood
Rochdale iJourno Sports group