At the Movies with Fatwayne

This movie was adapted from the book of the same name which was published in 2000 by Dan Brown. The Da Vinci Code followed three years later in 2003. The movies, however, were released in reverse order with the Da Vinci Code preceding Angels. If you enjoyed the first movie you will undoubtedly enjoy this one. Ron Howard directs again and Tom Hanks reprises his role as Harvard symbologist, Roberet Langdon.

This time out, the Catholic Church is being threatened by a 400 year old group thought to be a myth. This group, called the Illuminati (enlightened ones), was composed of  physicists, mathematicians and astronomers who disagreed with the Church’s inaccurate teachings. For this, they were hunted down and murdered forcing them to go underground and bide their time in order to perpetrate their revenge. Their opportunity arises with present day scientist managing to capture anti-matter during an experiment. If this anti-matter comes into contact with matter, the result is a very large explosion, one powerful enough to destroy the Vatican and it’s surrounds.

The Illuminati steals a vial of the anti-matter and plans to use it to eradicate their ancient enemy, the Church.  At the same time, the Pope dies and the Church needs to elect a new one. Just before the Cardinals are sequestered for this purpose, four of the preferitti (hopefuls for the Papacy) are kidnapped by the Illuminati who plan to execute one of them every hour until midnight when the bomb will detonate.

The last time we saw Robert Langdon he was not very highly regarded by the Vatican. With no alternative, the acting Pope, Camerlengo Patrick McKenna (Ewen McGregor) is forced to swallow his pride and seek Langdon’s assistance. When Langdon arrives in Rome he meets one of the scientist involved in the anti-matter experiment, Vittoria Vetra (Ayelet Zurer) and the two team up in an effort to find and disarm the bomb and save the perferitti as well as the Catholic Church.

It is fun to watch Langdon and Vetra as they unravel the clues and get closer to the Illuminatti. This is a very dangerous venture for them but an exciting journey for us!  The film is visually pleasing with all of the shots of Rome and all that this city has to offer. It is also entertaining to see the inner workings of the Church as well as its time honored customs.

Quotes posted   http://www.tvmoviequotes.com/angelsdemons.htm

Rating – PG13 -

Fatwayne’s rating  – -