Mixed Reviews, Panned at Cannes

The screening of the film at Cannes was less than a resounding success. Toward the end of the movie, when an as-yet-undisclosed revelation is made by Tom Hanks' Robert Langdon, the audience responded with hoots and catcalls; and when the film concluded, it was greeted with not even a smattering of applause.

Of course, Hollywood blockbusters do not normally receive a warm embrace from the industry insiders and critics who habituate the festivals at Cannes, which typically honor films of international and independent sensibilities. So a cold shoulder at Cannes is never a true indicator of a film's quality or chances of success.

But early reviews are definitely split, though both FoxNews and Roger Ebert give the movie pretty solid marks.

Here's a smattering of summaries of the debut at Cannes:

• Arthur Spiegelman, Reuters
• Mike Collett-White, Reuters
• David Germain, Canadian Press