Published: Friday, January 1st, 2010 @ 10:23 pm
By: Brandia Deatherage   ( More Entries )
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Suspense and Intrigue to the Embattled End, "Angels and Demons" Kept Me on the Edge of my Seat

     Tom Hanks returns as Harvard professor Robert Langdon in Ron Howard’s cinematic rendition of Dan Brown’s best selling novel Angels and Demons. The result is a suspenseful, fast paced thriller that will keep viewers with a steady pulse on the edge of their seats for the duration of this worthy follow-up to the international blockbuster The Da Vinci Code.

    Set in Vatican City (Rome, Italy), the movie is worth a viewing for the scenery alone, but director Ron Howard doesn’t stop there. The plot progresses quickly enough to keep even the most ADD among us focused intently on the murder/mystery surrounding the world’s most powerful religious institution, the Roman Catholic Church.

    The story begins with the death of a Pope, the theft of antimatter (a real life substance) from CERN (a real life nuclear research center near the international airport in Geneva) and the kidnapping of four Cardinals by a powerful secret society known as the Illuminati. When a mysterious anagram and an ominous threat is received by authorities investigating the abductions, professor Langdon is summoned to assist the legendary Swiss Guard in their race to save the abducted Cardinals and Vatican City, itself. The ensuing race against the clock takes professor Langdon all over Rome and to some of the world's most amazing works of art.



    Both practical and ethical road blocks kept Ron Howard and his team from filming the entire movie in Vatican City. Much of Angels and Demons was filmed in Rome under the fake title Obelisk, but heavy tourist traffic prevented certain shots from being captured. Also, the Holy Roman Church had found The Da Vinci Code offensive and forbade filming inside their churches. Instead, Sony recreated Saint Peter's Square, St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel in California.



    The success of Angels and Demons can be attributed to its seamless bridging of fantasy into facts, actors into well known historical figures, and digital effects and sets into what seem like authentic moments in actual places. The film will certainly leave a lasting impression on viewers and inspire further research into the many mysteries presented. The Catholic Church decided not to spawn further curiosity in the movie by boycotting it and, instead, was satisfied with a frigid statement made by the Catholic League that the movie is full of "malicious myths."



    Angels and Demons carries a PG-13 rating, which seems appropriate, as there are a few scenes containing gore and violence that may be a bit too disturbing to be viewed alone by young children. That being said, this movie certainly provides an experience that everyone in the family can enjoy. The acting is fantastic, the characters nuanced, the plot line and special effects are mind blowing. The relentless twists and turns will keep everyone guessing and breathless until the end. In three words: See this movie! It will be time well spent.

    This Article is provided courtesy of our sister site: Better Angels Now.