Angels & Demons

I was excited for this show as its release approached. The novel of “Angels & Demons” was the first Robert Langdon adventure that Dan Brown wrote and it didn’t become extremely popular until after the release of the second adventure: “The Da Vinci Code”. That should have been a clue to me that “Angels & Demons” would not be better than its preceding film. The only reason why I like film version of “The Da Vinci Code” better than the film version of “Angels & Demons” is because Brown’s original story for “Da Vinci” was better. The film adaptation of “Angels” however was still enjoyable due to the fact that many who worked on the first film returned to make this movie. The special effects were great and the musical score was good as well.

As mentioned, the filmmakers made the film version of “Angels & Demons” as if it was a sequel and not a prequel because they had made “The Da Vinci Code” as if it was Langdon first adventure. As I said in my review for “Da Vinci”, I like that choice. The scale of the sequel is much bigger than the first film. The first two sequences of the film first portray religion and then science, setting up the overlying conflict of the story. During the second sequence set at CERN, I like how you see the guy who stole the antimatter and you can tell that he did something that is about to be revealed. The film seems to be about Langdon trying to earn the trust of the church and this is an obvious deviation from the book. He has no criticism concerning the Catholic Church at all but the church is unhappy with the events of the last film. This creates a running gag of Langdon’s request for access to the Vatican archives in order to complete Part 2 of a book he is writing. Just like in “The Da Vinci Code”, Langdon is once again whisked off to help solve a crime. Because the countdown to the explosion is so important, we have subtitles showing time and location throughout the show. I like how Swiss Guard is kind of annoyed with Langdon’s knowledge of Vatican protocol. In response he says, “Fellas, you called me.” The depiction of papal conclave and other traditions is quite intriguing in “Angels & Demons”. The design of the archives is cool because of how modern it looks. It contrasts the old and historical items also seen in those scenes. I love how Vittoria tears out a page from the last copy of Galileo’s banned book. Langdon’s facial and verbal reaction is so funny. Thus begins the path of illumination that our heroes undertake to stop the criminal. I love the shot in Chigi Chapel where we see boots but as the camera moves upward, no one is wearing them. That is a nice, fun touch. Another interesting element in the film that is faithfully included from the book is the Mickey Mouse watch that Langdon wears. You barely notice it in “The Da Vinci Code” in the scene in the armored car but this movie shows it clearly. I love details like that in movies adapted from books. It kind of sucks how Langdon finally breaks out of the airtight vault and the power comes back on a few moments after that. All that work for nothing. I love the irony of the Swiss Guard officer smoking after that incident. It becomes apparent as the film progresses that at least one of the four kidnapped cardinals must survive. I love how the “Fountain of the Four Rivers” is lit. The beautiful setting contrasts the danger. I like how citizens come to help Langdon save the last cardinal. I also love the opening of the Castel Saint’Angelo sequence because of the music, lighting and cinematography. The explosion’s power during the climax is effectively portrayed. It combines the idea of The Big Bang with an atomic explosion quite well. This is where the special effects shine their best. Replicating the Vatican throughout the entire film was quite well done. I believed the environments for the most part. The following paragraph contains a huge spoiler so feel free to skip it.

Before going to see the show, I had a huge hunch that Ewan McGregor’s character was the villain. Once the Camerlengo suggests cutting power systematically to find the canister, I was certain he was the mastermind behind the plot. His idea seems too time consuming. The fact that the Pope took injections but no one knew was further evidence for me that the Camerlengo was behind all this. Someone must have known about the Pope’s medication and the Camerlengo knew. When the security team goes to look at the Pope’s body, it is depicted that the journals are not safe. Again, this was more proof for me that points to the Camerlengo. As time moved on however, other suspicions arose to that caused me to doubt myself. It was getting to the point that we the audience could trust no one. The Pope was murdered and Langdon almost died in the archives. Then it is revealed that Cardinal Strauss has the ability to become the next Pope if the four kidnapped Cardinals are not saved. My doubts towards Ewan McGregor’s character were becoming convoluted. Then we saw Richter with the journals. Finally, once Richter and Father Simeon are killed and the Camerlengo saves everyone by flying the bomb high over the city, I fully believed that I was wrong. Inside however, I also believed there was more to all this. Then comes the twist and I realized that I was right in the first place. I love how well the original story of the novel was portrayed in such a way that it dispelled my initial premonitions. At one point, Richter was the main suspect in our minds. He stays at the St. Peters but only at the end of the movie do we realize that he found out through the journals that the Camerlengo is a possible suspect. I like how the movie showed him doing this suspicious thing and it appeared to be villainous when in truth it was actually an attempt to stop the real menace behind the plot. Such was the case also when Richter countermands the Camerlengo’s order not to evacuate conclave. Even though it was believed that Richter was behind the plot, the man’s last act before dying is powerful enough to require investigation and this is why Langdon wants to see what was recorded in the Pope’s office. It ends up making all the difference. It explains not only that the Camerlengo is the one behind this attack but why he wanted Father Simeon dead as well. Just like in the first film, we have a well-done depiction of a Dan Brown "grey" villain meaning that he wanted to accomplish something good by doing something bad. I like how Langdon saves the future Pope’s life as opposed to what happens in the book. It is a wonderful way for Langdon to get the understanding of the Catholic Church after the events of the first film. In the book, the crowds were less populated during the Pope’s Election. After the death of Pope John Paul II however, the filmmakers knew that the crowds would have to be much larger.

Other cinematic elements of this show need to be pointed out. Tom Hanks slips easily right back into the role of Robert Langdon. Before watching “Angels & Demons” on one occasion, I had watched another Tom Hanks movie earlier in the week. I noticed there was a slight but noticeable difference in the way Hanks performed both characters. We aren’t watching Hanks himself but rather the character he played on “The Da Vinci Code”. I also liked Ewan McGregor in this show. All the other characters in this story are not as dominant or special for us as those on the preceding film. I believe it is because of the casting; the actors on the first film were more recognizable. For example, I had seen Stellan Skarsgard on "Pirates of the Caribbean" before this movie but without the makeup, I didn't recognize him as Richter. I also sort of wish there were flashbacks like on the first film when history is being mentioned. That was a really fun part of “The Da Vinci Code”. The set for St. Peter’s square was huge, one of the biggest sets ever built apparently. I like the attention to detail in creating the settings, seeing as how this film would be the last film that the Vatican would ever consider allowing to film in their places of worship. The two writers of this script are some of my favorite movie writers by the way. I am glad that one of them, Akiva Goldsman, was involved because he adapted the first film. Hans Zimmer replicates the mood of “Da Vinci” but alters the music slightly. The score does have a less recognizable theme than the first film. Zimmer has good moments in “Angels & Demons” nonetheless such as the Castel Saint’Angelo sequence. Another moment is when Langdon comes to the door of the Vatican archives. The music represents Langdon’s emotions, as they are about to visit a place he has wanted access to for a long time. Director Ron Howard appears to have done a good job with his first ever sequel.

I have a fellow classmate from university, Jared Cook, who was an uncredited assistant for Ron Howard on this show and got to talk with Ewan McGregor. It is hard to keep that in mind while watching “Angels & Demons” because it is a good movie. It is because those involved in the first film returned to make this show. I like the story of “The Da Vinci Code” a little more however. After reading both “The Lost Symbol” and "Inferno", I would have prefered to see a film version of the former but Columbia Pictures went with "Inferno".

4 Stars