Angels & Demons

Genre: Thriller

Language: English, Italian, Latin
Director: Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon)

Cast: Tom Hanks (Charlie Wilson's War) , Ewan McGregor (Miss Potter), Ayelet Zurer (Vantage Point), Stellan Skarsgard (Mamma Mia!)

Runtime: 138min

Plot:

When Langdon discovers evidence of the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati - the most powerful underground organization in history - he also faces a deadly threat to the existence of the secret organization's most despised enemy: the Catholic Church. When Langdon learns that the clock is ticking on an unstoppable Illuminati time bomb, he jets to Rome, where he joins forces with Vittoria Vetra, a beautiful and enigmatic Italian scientist. Embarking on a nonstop, action-packed hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and even to the heart of the most secretive vault on earth, Langdon and Vetra will follow a 400-year-old trail of ancient symbols that mark the Vatican's only hope for survival.

Watched the movie on 15 May night @ The Grand Cathay with Sylvia and Vanessa.

I first read the novel in 2005, after I finished reading the Da Vinci Code novel that got so hot. It was also about the time when Pope John Paul II passed away as well thus I found the atmosphere was so coincidence. And in the end, I completed Angels & Demons faster than I took to complete The Da Vinci Code.

When the Da Vinci Code was made into movie, the news of making Angels & Demons was out too. I was thrilled because of the fact that I preferred A & D then DV Code. And after watching, I wasn't so disappointed too, since I last read the story 4 years back.

I have never been to Europe. Since young, I learned about Vatican as the smallest country in the world. I always loved movies that linked Vatican City in them. This time, although the movie couldn't film in location, I was glad that the production team built a scale replica of St. Peter's Square since Vatican officers banned the movie from being filmed in its grounds, so that I have got a chance to see the replica in my lifetime (as I'm unsure if I even have a chance to go to the real location.)

Although the novel upon which this film is based is set before the events of the novel The DV Code, the film has been written as a sequel instead of the prequel of The DV Code. The movie is probably also a great tourism promotional video with a nice showcase of the many prominent touristy landmarks that would entice many around the world to go pay a visit.

As usual, Tom Hanks the hero solved the mystery and saved the Pope. He did an expected performance which i couldn't pin-point. The only thing is probably that he wasn't the only focus of the film and was not given enough space to show how the infamous Symbolist analyses the clues and symbol that leaded to the rescue. On the other hand, I liked how Ewan McGregor who did a convincing performance as the quiet but knowledgeable Patrick McKenna, famous accent included.

Overall, a pretty impressive project for any everyday movie goer. But Dan Brown's fans may be disappointed.

ah-deng says: 4 / 5 I wondered if they are going to make Dan Brown's new novel - The Lost Symbol, the 3rd episode of Robert Langdon's expedition into movie? Tom Hanks may be too old for the role then.