A little less controversy still makes a fun movie

Rating: 7/10 (23 May 2009)

Ron Howard made a splash three years ago with his adaptation of Dan Brown's best seller The Da Vinci Code. The Catholic Church and countless religious groups protested the films release, only to make it one of the highest grossing films of 2006. It only made sense that Howard would take the helm of Brown's other book, Angels & Demons.
Now, I have not read either of Brown's books so I cannot give a comparison to the films. I did however really enjoy The Da Vinci Code and looked forward to Angels & Demons with great anticipation.
After watching it, I felt close to the same as I did with Da Vinci: satisfied. I won't say that this film is better or worse than the previous one because it isn't really. I'd say it's right on par and there is no reason why people shouldn't see it.
The story follows Professor Robert Langdon, played by Tom Hanks who reprises his role from the previous film. He is called upon by the Vatican police to help them locate four missing cardinals. Simultaneously, a group of scientists create, without going into details, something that can blowup, only to have some of it stolen. The two stories are linked and Langdon must sort it all out. What makes matters worse is the Pope has just passes and a new one must be chosen, ideally one of the four kidnapped cardinals.
The group who is responsible is an underground cult called the Illuminati, people who were hunted down by the Church for their beliefs in science. They say they will kill the cardinals and that the device they stole will detonate by midnight, wiping out Vatican City and part of Rome.
Langdon and Vittoria Vetra (Ayele Zurer), one of the lead scientists involved with the explosives, race around Vatican City and Rome to find the cardinals and the device before time runs out. Howard takes us on a labyrinthian ride through archives, catacombs, and churches to try and stop the Illuminati from destroying Vatican City.
Puzzles, symbols, and history take up most of this film, culminating in a thrilling journey that will have you guessing until the very end. Hanks will keep you engaged with the story and his supporting cast is not so bad either with Ewan McGregor, Stellan Skargard, and Armin Mueller-Stahl.
Unlike Da Vinci, this isn't nearly as controversial and is more a work of fiction. There is a message being sent that science and religion should work hand in hand and whether or not faith is something you earn or learn, but it really downplays the story and that is the best part. There is a pointless monologue that McGregor's character gives to the conclave in the Sistine Chapel. What he should be saying at that time isn't said and he goes on about religion and science, at a time when he should be worrying about the bomb that is about to go off and so forth.
There were times when I thought certain characters knew more about something than they should have (like Vittoria). I also would have liked a little more background on Langdon. They touched upon it but I think more would have been nice. Some parts of the story that were a bit too ridiculous as well (a portion of the ending made me think "Are you kidding me?"). All that said, I thought the story with all of its twists and turns was enjoyable. It isn't perfect, but it kept my attention, which is exactly what Howard was intending to do.