ANGELS AND DEMONS

ENGLISH - (18PL) - 14 May 2009 - Thriller/Mystery
Distributor: Sony Pictures (Columbia)
Running time: about 138 mins.
Director: Ron Howard
Producers: Brian Grazer, John Calley
Writers: David Koepp, Akiva Goldsman (screenplay), Dan Brown (novel)
Casts: Ton Hanks, Ayelet Zurer, Ewan McGregor, Stellan Skarsgard, Pierfrancesco Favino, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Armin Mueller-Stahl
Plot: Adapted from the novel "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown, the film follows the story of Robert Langdon, a well-known Harvard symbologist investigating a murder victim, branded with the Illuminati ambigram. Following his investigation, he soon discovers that a cult group is on a trail to murder four cardinals and destroy the St. Peter's Basilica during a papal gathering.

THE VERDICT:

Green Tea says:

WARNING SPOILER! Remembering the bad hair day, bad dialogue and slow pace from "The Da Vinci Code" back in the year 2006 was an agony, a bittersweet for people who have read the book to swallow for. Set aside the bad memories, took a new one and I'm sure this works better than the purpotedly prequel.

If you are nowhere familiar, the film serves as a sequeal to the 2006 controversial The Da Vinci Code although in reality the timeline of the novel is actually a prequel. Smart moves, there is no point going backward again while the production takes a bold move to beautify the movie in every aspect as possible - in which they did. It is a simple manicure treatment and it somehow manage to generate some faith that this one will not be as sloppy and heartbreaking as the first one.



Robert Langdon, the central Harvard symbologist (again played by Tom Hanks) were summoned by the Vatican Papacy to investigate the kidnap of four cardinal in favour of replacing a sudden death pope. In the mean time, an antimatter technology was stolen by a group of secret society with intention to destroy the Catholic Church over some centuries old revenges, with the brotherhood aiming for a resurgence rise from its underworld cult. With puzzles in front, can Langdon decipher the mystery one by one, leading to another extraordinary discovery?

Yes, the story and plot line works well this time. The intergrated plotline features more landmark cultural and historical that dated back into the Roman empire and cults of the early Churches. Audience will be embarked in yet another breath-taking trip of puzzles and clues across several locations in Rome. Great, with the same reimagination and excellent touch on the details, the movie did well in enticing a whole new experience particularly since this movie can be enjoyed in a digital format in selected cinemas in Malaysia. I watched it in digital and I have to say, it's different.

The plots are much faster in pace, so forget about those almost fall asleep moments when watching The Da Vinci Code once. No more sluggish and sloppy embodied dialogue, this time it is much straight forward and more towards common sense. Seriously this time taking a science physic lesson collides it with some religious and thought challenging, you get an explosive lesson of mind challenge. Although the fast pace, you still have time to absorb and digest material, no worry!

However, mind you, the clues and puzzles featured may actually makes you clueless and I don't think it will be easy for you to understand the whole idea (especialy if you have never read the book before) if you do not get the general pictures, imagine and some background knowledges from the novel. Do pick up the novel before or after watching the movie to understand more and I believe it helps!! I believe there is no way for the screen writing to be altered to allow easier understanding because you may not want the essence story been ruined.

Tom Hanks with no bad hair day, is not it awesome? This time no more Nicolas Cage-type of weird hair-do rather the pleasant looking character fits what the novel had described him as. Tom Hanks once again proved he is a charismatic feature in the movie. Ayalat Zurer was however a bit stony but she has her own altitude, different but more striking than previously Audrey Tautou. Somehow, putting Ewan McGregor as one hot priest is making a divident. Ewan is another hot property that shine throughout the movie and making himself noticable. Critics just could not find other supporting roles any benefits at all - criticizing that they are just another bunch of idiots who know nothing and Tom Hanks single-handly did it all.

The special effects and CGIs are just breath-taking, needless to say. This movie is just great but maybe it still easily been one of the top movie so far. It still can't do anywhere near JJ Abrams' Star Trek but it has its own styles and execution. Do not worry so much about the controversial religious talk in here, it is extremely minimal and less offensive.

THE RATINGS.....
CAST - 3.5 stars
STORY - 4.0 stars
CINEMATOGRAPHY - 4.5 stars
EFFECTS - 4.0 stars
an overall>> 4.0 stars
GreenTea-O-Meter: 15.7