Angels & Demons

My daughters are in the fortunate position to have both their grandmothers within visiting distance. I on the other hand am fortunate because grandmothers make the best babysitters. (My appreciation for extended family has grown and is growing exponentially since having children!) Friday night saw the girls sleeping at their grandparents. My wife I: pizza and a movie...



Angels & Demons is actually the prequel to The Da Vinci Code, and casts Robert Langdon as a protector of the Catholic Church rather than attempting to exposing it. This novel is in the opinion of many, a far better read than The Da Vinci Code. Either way both stories are popular conspiracy theories posing as historical fact.

Ron Howard’s first Dan Brown adaptation failed miserably, not least at the box office. His decision to have another go with Angels & Demons is nothing short of bold. Turning a prequel into a sequel takes big ‘cahones’. Sadly, it seems that the fate of Angels & Demons may be similar to that of The Da Vinci code. At best, it (Angels & Demons) has received a 39% rating.

All that said, the film is fast paced with some good cinematography. (You get to see some of the best of Rome and her churches.) Tom Hanks once again fills the shoes Robert Langdon who is called upon by the Vatican to help them in their fight against one of the churches’ ancient enemies... The illuminati. According to the film the illuminati were a secret society of enlightened scientists who were persecuted by the Catholic Church. They have now returned to avenge themselves and destroy the church. This science conquers faith motif falls short, with the message of the film being that although science and faith are never going to be lovers, they can at least flirt a little.

In the final analysis though being unable to rely on preposterous claims (sorry, no Mrs Jesus here!) Angels & Demons falls short, offering to viewers little more than mindless entertainment, the opportunity to eat fresh popcorn while holding hands in the dark and a significantly lighter wallet. As a result I doubt whether Ron Howard and his team will make an appearance the Oscars.