haven't read the book

Rating: 7/10 (29 November 2009)

"Angels & Demons" precedes "The Da Vinci Code" in literature, but in film it's reversed. I admit I haven't read either book, and I liked "The Da Vinci Code" better. It was a more fascinating premise.
"Angeles & Demons" is a magnificently produced, elaborate film starring Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, Armin Mueller-Stahl, and Stellan Skarsgård.
The emphasis here is on action and a fairly fast pace, with Hanks and Zurer racing all over Vatican City while angelic music plays. The plot concerns Robert Langdom (Hanks) being summoned by Rome after the Pope's death, and as the conclave of cardinals gather to elect a new one. It appears that the Illuminati, a secret brotherhood, wronged by the church, is now seeking revenge. The group has kidnapped four cardinals, - in fact, those thought to have the best chance of becoming Pope, intending to kill one an hour. They have also stolen an antimatter bomb from a science lab. Langdon is needed to interpret some ancient symbols and find the Illumination Path. In order to get the information he needs, Langdon has to arrange everything through the carmelango, Patrick McKenna (McGregor) who acts in absence of a pope. Along the way, Langdon realizes that there is probably an inside man at the Vatican helping the Illuminati.
Hanks is in the film for his name value. He's very good, but to my mind, this isn't a particularly challenging role. It needs someone authoritative and mature who comes off as intelligent. Hanks fills all of those qualifications, as would David Strathairn or any number of other actors. Ayelet Zurer doesn't have much to do as the scientist trying to recover the antimatter bomb. Both Ewan McGregor and Armin Mueller-Stahl make great impressions in their roles. It's an excellent cast all around.
Though filmed only partly on location, the whole thing comes off as a magnificent travelogue, and the soundtrack is haunting and beautiful.
Definitely worth seeing though not nearly as provocative as "The Da Vinci Code," and if you can see it on a big flat TV screen, you'll like it even more. Today, we're used to seeing smaller, independent films, or films with big special effects. This movie has special effects, all right, but the huge budget also allows for the top drawer all the way, including gorgeous locations, an enormous cast, beautiful color, a top director, exotic lighting, stunning photography, and great music. The opportunities of seeing all of that in one film are becoming rarer and rarer.