Professor Robert Langdon is back in action, solving religious/scientific mysteries. The Pope has unexpectedly died and the Vatican fears a return of the Illuminati, as the Pope's four most likely successors have been kidnapped. They subtly turn to Professor Langdon to figure out where they are and why.
I didn't care for The Da Vinci Code, I thought it was too much like the National Treasure movies, in that everything falls into place too easily and they figure things out way too easily. Angels & Demons still has some of that but not so much that I'm thinking "yeah right" every time they figure out a piece of the puzzle. This is a fun, interesting and exciting mystery/action movie that brings up interesting thoughts about the balance between science and faith and how they can compliment each other. There's also some interesting and touching twists at the end. The acting is good enough all around. The running time is a little too long, but it keeps you interested throughout.
*** out of 4 - Maybe theater worthy
(PG-13 for violence)
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8 comments:
I think you missed the point about science and faith complementing each other. Langdon, as the representative of science, stays true to the non-overlapping magesteria position of modern day scientists, and never gives credence to faith. The Camerlengo is the anti-science adversary attempting to revive the church's radical opposition. The cardinals make an attempt at reconciliation, but with nothing other than the trite old platitudes.
How do you figure that we missed the point? Granted neither of us drilled that point out in our reviews and although I am sure that juxtaposition is made quite clear in the book, in the movie other than the scene where Hanks is asked if he believes in God, his position is not a main focus in the film. I thought it was more centered on the historical relationship the church had with science and/or the illuminati.
I said it shows how faith and science CAN support each other. Obviously Langdon isn't converting to Catholicism and the church isn't funding his research by any means. But Langdon does say something to the effect that "Faith is a gift he hasn't been given yet." And his detective/hero work basically ensures the continuity and survival of the Catholic church. While the church turns to Langdon to save the cardinals and in the end grants him access to a portion of their archives to complete his book; thus showing how they can coexist and help each other.
Matt, they don't think they compliment each other, and although there's more to that topic, I see the movie only illuminating the slow whittling down of the religion. Consider the following. What was the one thing Langon wanted from the Vatican? Access to historical documents the church was HIDING from the world. Notwithstanding the dubious assertion that History is a science (when it is mostly fiction), the absence of interfering with progress is hardly complimenting. Would the church have requested Langdon's help if they were not under attack? And lastly, was Langdon's concern with the preservation of the church (I'd like to see the part in the movie where THAT happens), or is it concern for humanity?
PS, Oh, and on the "Faith is a gift" quote. I'd like to hear if Mandy has ever let someone down easy, like a "let's just be friends" talk. Kinda sounds like that huh?
"I" don't think, not "they"
That's part of my point. Yes Langdon probably wouldn't mind seeing religion whittled down and the church wouldn't mind Langdon's books/research/opinions put to an end, yet they the both have to rely on each other to get what and where they want.
Not to beleaguer the point, but it wouldn't be any fun if we agreed completely. In the movie, the Vatican obstructs until it cannot any longer, it does not cooperate. Were real cooperation to exist, you would see Lagndon in the archives at the end of the movie with the place to himself. God forbid an academic should have access to all the information the Vatican keeps secret.....oops, I meant sacred.
I also think the movie missed out on a nice twist that's in the book. The Carmerlengo is revealed at the end to be the illegitimate child of the former pope. That's something that could have been a nice twist.
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