Movie Review: ANGELS & DEMONS
Comments(8)
- By drvenkman
‘Angels & Demons’ gives you exactly what it advertises in the trailers that you have seen so if you liked what you saw chances are you’ll like the movie, if you didn’t then chances are you wont. But I thought it ended up being much better than the first film ‘The DaVinci Code’. I really couldn’t help but enjoy this film. It moved along at a faster pace and the story was told a little bit more clearly. In the end I think this story translated to film much better than the first film.
The main aspect of the movie that stood out for me was that there was a real sense of danger. The threat is real in this movie and there is a sense of urgency to figure things out before it’s to late. The movie plays out like a pretty deadly scavenger hunt. Where if the characters don’t pick up on the clues, and figure out where to go next, and get there on time people will die.
One thing that kind of bugged me about the movie was all the thinking out loud. I understand that the audience needs to be filled in on what’s going on, but the dialogue felt unnatural and forced. In the moment of a highly intense situation I just don’t think a person is going to bust out a history lesson about the Catholic church and the Illuminati and what all their symbols are leading too.
In this story we once again go on a adventure with world-renowned Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon as he is summoned to Vatacan City shortly after the death of the pope and the kidnapping of the four Pope candidates, to analyze a cryptic symbol. What he discovers is a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a ancient underground organization called the Illuminati. Desperate to save the four kidnapped Cardinals and the Vatican from a powerful antimatter time bomb, Langdon joins forces in Rome with the scientist Vittoria Vetra. Together they embark on a frantically deadly hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and the most secretive vault on earth…the long forgotten Illuminati lair.
It is as exciting as it sounds. I wish this movie would have been made before ‘The DaVinci Code’ I think it would have been received better by the audience.
Ron Howard did a fine job directing the film, at the same time there is nothing that really makes it stand out. All the acting in the film including Tom Hanks and Ewan McGregor was alright, nothing to make a big fuss over, we have seen them do much better.
As much as I love the work of all of the people involved with ‘Angels & Demons’ they put together a fun yet mediocre film that was better than the first one. If you feel your going to be disappointed with the movie then there is no need to see the film on the big screen because chances are you have already made up your mind that your not going to like it. If you have a interest in the film then go and check it out you might just like it, but there is always a chance that you won’t. That’s the gamble you have to make with a movie like this.
According to a REAL Harvard physicist, the film as well as the book lacks one major thing – TRUTH! When something is purely fiction, i.e. sci fi, I have no problem with it and can enjoy it and have fun! But when you try to purport your fiction as truth and be all serious about it- then when your fake truth falls down all around you – well then… I’m sure that technically speaking, for the acting and the film making part it was very well crafted, however I’m sure it is not worth the big screen this summer – too many other really good summer movies to compete with.
I thought the movie was entertaining. Unlike its predecessor the pacing on this one was more suspenseful and the acting more taught. I liked for the reasons of escapism. The purported historical beliefs should be left at the ticket counter because less one forgets this is just a fictional movie. Great entertainment all around…maybe.
It's just a movie, I don't think Dan Brown ever said it's novels were the truth.
The movies are like present time Indiana Jones films, they take some loose legends and make some histories around them.
Why it that so hard to grasp?
i just got back from the theater, I liked it a whole lot! I felt like a little disappointed when i predicted the "ending", just to have things turn and mind f*ck me. Great flick.
The book is pure fiction, Dan's just good at making it sound authentic.
Your REAL Havard physicist needs a REAL chill pill
I haven't seen this yet and somehow my prediction was spot on with your review. After seeing the first film, I was expecting a mediocre follow-up. The DaVinci Code wasn't a bad movie by any means, just mediocre. I feel like they were relying on the story to carry itself without giving all the necessary thought to transfer the suspense from the book to the big screen.
I mean, when you read the books the first thing that comes to mind is (for me at least) "Hey! This would make a great movie!" Given the impression of an easy transition to a film, I feel like they could have blown this project up and done a much better job with it if they really wanted to. I'm sure the movie is alright, but what bothers me is that both of these could have been so much more than "alright."
I would rahter watch mold gow on dog poop!!!
That movie was crap compared to the book…hated teh fact that it was set after the Da Vinci Code for continuity's sake, hated the changed ending, and hated the fact that there was so much time and epic music wasted on car chases. It just seemed so bland, whereas in the book everything moved more quickly, they were more focused on the people and the plot rather than the intermediary driving scenes, and Robert and Vittoria's relationship actually went somewhere. Also it is way more obvious in the movie who the real bad guy is (who I won;t reveal in case others havent read/seen it). And don't even get me started on Tom Hanks. I feel like completely betrayed the book by watching this movie. That's two and a half hours of my life that I can never get back.
What can I say that's positive? Well…I did love the setting, and cardinal on fire was pretty cool (excuse me being shallow for a moment but I like fire…so sue me), but these movies could have been so much better than they were.