Director Ron Howard and actor Tom Hanks pair up for Angels and Demons, just a few short years after making The Da Vinci Code. Both movies are based on popular books by Dan Brown, so it is only natural to make comparisons. The Da Vinci Code movie did not receive great reviews, so the question is: Is Angels and Demons any better?
Angels and Demons Plot Summary
The movie takes place in Vatican City right after the death of the pope. Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) is a professor called in to help find the Illuminati, a group that is threatening to blow up Vatican City. The Illuminati want revenge for crimes the Catholic Church had committed against Illuminati members centuries ago.
The Illuminati have taken four hostages, the four church leaders who are favorites to take over as pope, and plan to kill one each hour for four hours. Then, they will blow up the city. This is where Langdon’s expertise comes in. He is a professor who studies ancient symbols, and it is his job to decode ancient Illuminati texts to find clues that will lead the police to the hostages and the bomb.
A Lack of Suspense
While there are plenty of close calls and near-deaths for Robert Langdon, there isn’t much suspense in the movie. It has a predictable chain of events, even for those who have not read the book first. Though a “twist” is set up at the end of the movie, it too comes as no real surprise for the perceptive viewer. Overall, the plot is predictable and lacks the necessary tension to keep viewers interested.
Cast and Characters
Tom Hanks and Ewan McGregor are both good actors. With that being said, these roles do not allow them to do what they do best. Hanks’s Robert Langdon is a non-believing intellectual who figures out the mystery, just as he does in The Da Vinci Code. McGregor’s Camerlengo Patrick McKenna is slightly more interesting of a character, but it is still not a role where McGregor can showcase his ability.
Hanks’s character doesn’t change throughout the course of the movie, but rather remains static throughout. McGregor’s character doesn’t really change either, though he might seem more complex than Hanks’s Robert Langdon. Because there isn’t much meaningful development of the characters, it is difficult to care much about what happens to them during the action of the movie.
Comparison to The Da Vinci Code
Angels and Demons is more fast-paced than The Da Vinci Code, but that doesn’t mean more entertaining. However, the action is a strong point for Angels and Demons. The special effects are well done, too and make for a few visually-appealing scenes. Lastly, both films have awkward dialogue.
Overall, Angels and Demons is about as good as The Da Vinci Code, for what it’s worth.
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