Tom's Demons
"Angels and Demons " Review
NEIRAD enilno edition
As the G-5 jet holding Harvard professor Robert Langdon raced across the top of Rome towards the Vatican I couldn’t help but look down at my watch, and sure enough it was only five minutes into the movie. So I sat back in my seat and prepared for a ride, which I got in spades.
The movie I was about to see was “Angels and Demons.” This film is the sequel to the bestseller “The Da Vinici Code” by Dan Brown. Both scripts and books follow the journey of an American symbolist (the study of symbols through history) who finds himself cracking codes and deciphering a centuries old legend to save the fate of the Vatican and the entire city of Rome.
The script is tied to this historical thriller concept. It is based around on a plot that an ancient organization called the Illuminati has resurfaced in Rome with the intent to kill four Catholic Cardinals along with the destruction of the entire Vatican in order to bring “light” into the Christian world through the means of science. The history of the Illuminati is used by Brown and the directors of “Angels and Demons” to base the plot on historical fact. This is accomplished well through the use of references to classic artists such as Bernini as well as scientists such as Galileo.
If you’re looking for a lazy Sunday movie, “Angels and Demons” is not for you. From high speed races against time through the busy streets of Rome to dashing helicopters and motorcycles this movie is a constant jolt. But what elevates this thriller from others like it is the historical baggage it takes along for the ride. Using his knowledge of ancient history tandem with the Vatican archives, Tom Hanks plays the lead role of Professor Landgon. He tries to unravel a mystery that threatens to tear apart the Catholic Church. Hanks plays a great Langdon in the movie and fit very well into the professor’s physique and the character who is torn between the two worlds of his scientific integrity and the power of the church.
The lead female role of the movie is named Vittoria Vetra who is a scientist involved with antimatter and plays sidekick to Langdon to help solve this great historical mystery of the renegade Illuminati challenging the church’s religious supremacy. Vittoria is played by Israeli actress Ayelet Zurer who brings a great attitude to the movie in her role as the radical scientist who delivers in her many key scenes.
For fans of “The Da Vinci Code” who were fascinated with its fictional changes and different perspective to Christian history you will not be disappointed with the handling of your beloved movie’s sequel.
With a historical time line that begins with Langdon & his sidekick Vittoria delving into the Vatican's top-secret archives to ferret out clues from some of humankind’s greatest thinkers, it then veers its way back to modern science with the use of antimatter. This new age technology is used as a bomb threat that is set to destroy the Vatican in an explosion of light.
The plot also capitalizes on the age-old fight and balance between religion and science. Using the shrouded organization known as the Illuminati for the champions of science, Brown pits the Catholic Church and its mass of following, which are continuously seen as the crowd in Saint Peter’s Square, against science and its progressions. Using history of the churches past, such as its early attacks on scientists such as Galilleo to connect the plot with some historical fact, Brown creates a intricate story line that takes its views and readers through the underworld of Roman and Catholic history along with a very comprehensive tour of the cities ancient churches and squares.
In order to not spoil the great twists and turns of the plot I can’t go any further but with no question this movie is perfect for any history or religious scholars that need a good thought-provoking night out on the town, and comes highly recommended.
