The Da Vinci Code, 2006
Book: Symbologist Robert Langdon uncovers an ancient secret that will shake the very foundations of Christian belief and will reveal the truth about the Holy Grail. But a powerful organization will do anything to keep this secret a secret, and he has to outsmart them if he wants to get to the truth and stay alive.
Movie: Let us put it this way: Tom Hanks is no Robert Langdon.
Verdict: Definitely the book. Although the movie is pretty decent and we all love us our Tom Hanks, he and Tautou are completely miscast. And you know something is seriously off when the action scenes are more thrilling in print than in the movie.
Twilight, 2008
Book: Bella, a typical teenager, catches the eye of the brooding and mysterious Edward Cullen. They fall madly in love despite the fact that he's a vampire.
Movie: The movie pretty much sticks closely to the plot of the book, even copping some of the more popular lines (i.e. the lion and the lamb). It sent the careers of its stars Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, and Taylor Lautner soaring into the stratosphere. Its sequel, New Moon, will be out this month.
Verdict: It's hard to say. We're fans of both, no doubt about it. But we are well aware of the book and the movie's glaring weaknesses. One of which is that there's enough sap in it to put the maple syrup industry out of business. But we can't help ourselves. Both the book and the movie are serious (very) guilty pleasures.
