Movie Review: Angels and Demons, Starring Tom Hanks

Posted by NessWorld on Oct 13, 2009 in Entertainment | 5 comments

Summary: Wow! Some of the best special effects that I’ve ever seen in a movie… and the most recent movie during which neither the husband nor I could bring ourselves to pause in order to make tea.

Yes, Angels and Demons is *that* good!

The Da Vinci Code was the first movie based on Dan Browns’ Book (of the same name), and this is the second.

It also features Tom Hanks, reprising his role as Professor Robert Langdon, the eminent symbologist.

Now while it once again, features the Christian church as pivotal to the plot, it does not come as close as The Da Vinci Code did, in frightening the religious populace into denouncing the movie as they did the one before.

What it does do, is make us hurtle headlong  right alongside the main characters in a race against time to find an explosive device hidden somewhere in Vatican City.

The pressure is added by the fact that the entire catholic world, is in suspense, waiting to hear (see) the announcement of the new pope, and crowds have gathered in St Peters Square.  All the cardinals are cloistered away in ‘conclave’ to select the new pope, and with all this added drama it makes for a heady, suspenseful movie, during which you are absolutely unable to move from your seat.

Once again, Professor Langdons seemingly encyclopedic knowledge of history, symbols and religious iconography is called into play to solve the clues left by the mysterious Illuminati, who have claimed to be behind it all.

Some interesting points:

• Tom Hanks hairstyle is much better than in The Da Vinci Code . Thank god.
• Ewan McGregor, is still hot, even as a priest. Sorry, but it must be said. One thinks that one would have a hard time seeing him as anything other than Obi Wan Kenobe, but thankfully his acting is so polished and he establishes his character so well, that you aren’t even slightly reminded of roles that he has played in the past.
• Stellan Skarsgard (can’t do that funky Swedish thing on his name with my keyboard) is brilliant in his role as head of Vatican Security, and the character we all love to hate. It doesn’t help that he too, is brilliantly good looking as well.
• For the guys, they’ll be pleased to know that the one and only female featuring in this movie, Ayelet Zurer, is your typical gorgeous Italian babe, so they need not feel left out in the eye-candy stakes. Although, the story really doesn’t leave any time for ogling.

Angels and Demons will leave you with the desire to handle ancient documents, with special archival gloves. Academics have never seemed so cool!

So, would I recommend getting this for movie night? Yes, but with the following provisos:

1. Please do not let your kids watch Angels and Demons . It has some very violent scenes which are just NOT meant for childrens eyes.
2. Do not make popcorn for this movie, any sound whatsoever will distract you from the incredible pace of the story. Best not to shift around on your leather sofa too much either while watching unless you can do it silently.
3. Visit the loo before pressing ‘play’ on the remote. There are no slow bits, so you’ll either have to keep it in, or rupture your bladder. Up to you. Pressing pause, is an option that you will NOT consider.
4. You can order your copy of Angels and Demons right here through NessWorld, with Amazon.com.

Related posts:

1. Movie Review: Defiance, Starring Daniel Craig
2. Movie Review: Side Effects, Starring Katherine Heigl