Angels and Demons the Movie

Angels & Demons is a prequel to the famed The Da Vinci Code film and book, but it's no wonder they started with Da Vinci. Angels & Demons offers up a lot of treats, but it doesn't reach its predecessor's level of engagement or clever script-writing.

The basic premise is that Harvard symbology professor Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) is being called to the Vatican once again (in the movie the Da Vinci affair is treated as though it happened first) to solve the mystery of a secret society called the Illuminati, rumored to have disappeared ages ago. Unfortunately, the Illuminati have returned and are taking the Preferiti (the men most likely to become the next pope) hostage, bent on killing one every hour until midnight in revenge for wrongs done to the Illuminati by the Catholic Church in the distant past. On top of this there's a stolen vial of antimatter lurking somewhere in Vatican city set to explode around that same time, creating a massive nuclear-esque total devestation. Major players besides Langdon include Dr. Vittoria Vetra (Ayelet Zurer) who desperately wants to recover the antimatter she helped create, Commander Richter of the Swiss Guard (Stellan Skarsgard) is being suspiciously uncooperative, and the Camerlango (Ewan McGregor) wants to save the people of the Vatican city while investigating the Pope's recent death.

This movie has several strengths, including directing and pacing, as well as the simple pleasure of seeing parts of the Vatican the public eye will never be privy to in life and some of the finest sites Rome has to offer. In terms of a mystery/thriller it's fast-paced and entertaining with several twists. But a glance beneath the surface reveals several gaping plot holes not easily explained away--for instance why the perpetrator lines up the clues so neatly for Langdon, and then tries to kill him in the middle of the movie. Or why Langdon can enter a church and within two seconds declare, "the angels are pointing to it!" and run wildly down the street. Also be prepared for a really nasty rat-eating-decayed-face scene, and little to no character development.

Also Ewan McGregor steals every scene. Because he's just that amazing.

All in all it's the script which has the real problems. If you're just looking for a fun, engaging ride this is your movie, but be sure to keep it cursory.

-elln