A fun, easy to enjoy study of science v. religion.

Rating: 7/10 (1 June 2009)

I didn't read the book Angels and Demons, but I had loved the Da Vinci Code, and I had enjoyed that movie, despite it's flaws. When I saw this film I was a bit more skeptical, but I was rewarded with a fun and fast paced thriller.
The plot is, well, present, but not really important. This movie is much more about the structural hierarchy of the Catholic Church and the evolving relationship between science and religion than about any conspiracy, as was the case with the first film. The Illuminati are more of a distraction than anything else.
If you are a nerd like me, then you will love the shots of the Large Hadron Collider; also every scene set inside the Vatican does a good job of portraying the inner workings of the Papacy without presenting it in an overly negative or conspiratorial light.
About the only thing that surprised me was the level of violence present in this PG-13 movie. Two years ago the MPAA would have given it an R rating. This didn't bother me at all, but if you are at all squeamish or thinking of taking younger children, keep this in mind.
All in all, this isn't the greatest film in the world, but it is one of those movies that really is better seen on the big screen.
Michael