Angels and Demons is a whole lot better than The Da Vinci Code.
Written: May 20 '09 (Updated May 20 '09)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Bang For The Buck |
 |
|
|
Pros: Really just a surprisingly fun film.
Cons: Yeah, there are some plot holes and whatnot.
The Bottom Line: Pretend The Da Vinci Code wasn't so lousy and go check this one out!
|
|
|
| chelledun's Full Review: Angels & Demons |
After being relatively underwhelmed with Tim Hanks in The Da Vinci Code, I was hesitant to sign on for more symbology adventures in Angels and Demons. Fortunately, this second Dan Brown adaptation is a good bit better than the first, and mr_chelledun and I both left Angels and Demons feeling fulfilled in our quest for a good summer popcorn movie.
Plot Information
Angels and Demons kinda sorta picks up where The Da Vinci Code leaves off, although references to the prior film are few and far between. The story centers around two major events occurring almost simultaneously - the Vatican City's conclave for selection of a successor pope and the scientific development of antimatter particles. Both events are disrupted by a kidnapping, a murder, and a cryptic video threat by a centuries-old underground group known as the Illuminati. In a desperate attempt to save lives and face, the Vatican calls in American symbologist Professor Robert Langdon (Hanks) as well as anti-matter scientist Vittoria Vetra (Ayelet Zurer). Mayhem, puzzle-solving, and high speed chases around Rome ensue.
My Thoughts
By way of comparison, I should note that I'm part of the minority who preferred Brown's Angels and Demons novel over the more popular The Da Vinci Code novel. For many of the same reasons, I am now part of the majority who believes the Angels and Demons film is about a million times better than The Da Vinci Code film. Angels and Demons has an excellent story which lends itself naturally to either book or movie format. The movie's puzzles and symbology focus on the elements of "earth, wind, fire, and water," and seem somehow more logical and legit than The Da Vinci Code's helter-skelter scavenger hunt. Finally, Angels and Demons demonstrates substantial tweaks from novel to film format. I never mind when modifications are made from one medium to another, but in this case I feel compelled to comment as virtually all the changes are well-conceived improvements. Those who haven't read the book will still probably enjoy the film more because of the plot twists, but even those who have are in for some pleasant surprises.
In addition to offering a good story and an intriguing set of puzzles, Angels and Demon excels in its visual effects. The film takes advantage of the story's Vatican City/Roman setting, with plenty of crowd shots of St. Peter's Square and intimate, creepy sequences set in chapels and crypts all over Rome. Some of the most visually interesting scenes are those set in the Vatican's conclave itself, where the cardinals' scarlet garments contrast harshly with the dark costumes of those surrounding them. Unfortunately, Angels and Demons is less effective from a soundtrack perspective than from a visual one - the clunking, foreboding tones at certain points all but give away the film's plot twists!
As to acting, I griped at length in my review of The Da Vinci Code about Tom Hanks' portrayal of Robert Langdon. While I still think Hanks moves too slowly for a film of this type, he certainly fares better the second time around. He seems more confident, more competent, and more the type of person I would trust with my emergency symbology needs. I can't say much good or bad about Ayelet Zurer as Hanks' female counterpart. The character simply isn't given a whole lot to do. It almost feels like some scenes showing interaction between Vetra and Langdon were cut, as the relationship between the characters is never really developed. In contrast, without giving anything away, I will note the most important characters in this film - the "bad guys" - are fully developed in intriguing ways.
Overall . . .
I thoroughly enjoyed Angels and Demons. This isn't the type of film one should think too hard about, but it is an entertaining pick for a summer evening or a rainy Saturday afternoon. Even if you found the first installment of Dr. Robert Langdon's adventures lacking as I did, consider giving this second film a try.
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.