Surprsingly good

Rating: 9/10 (15 May 2009)

I am not a fan of the Da Vinci Code brand of story. We are fascinated by the idea of betrayal and everything not being what it seems. These stories are complete baloney for any learned student of story telling. That being said they are harmless fun. Angels and Demons is a fun film, an adventure film with absurdities to be sure but no one is meant to take the film as fact. I don't wish to rate the controversy surrounding Angels and Demons because it isn't what the picture is.
Angels and Demons is a well made picture. It takes the flaws of the Da Vinci Code adaptation and solves them. Ron Howard's task is to make us swallow this ludicrous premise with a degree of realism. I am amazed by how well staged this picture is. There is a sense of realism in even the most absurd. Hanks solves puzzles in seconds but it is easier to believe here than Da Vinci. With this sense of realism Angels and Demons is an effective ride with style. We aren't plagued down by looking at the flaws.
Angels and Demons greatest strength is that it respects the Catholic Church. Any criticism of the film is unfounded and will only cement this as a bona fide blockbuster. Despite the fact that the film is silly it does follow the Catholic customs with some accuracy. Despite the fact that the Catholics have boycotted this film it is very respectful of them. Howard is smart to make this a sequel to Da Vinci Code despite the fact that it is chronologically out of place. Showing Langdon as the only hope against a threat greater than themselves.
We also have a much better cast than I think this film would get. Hanks is the star here but Angels and Demons is more of an ensemble film than anyone could have thought of. Stellan Skarsgard and Ewan McGregor actually give stronger performances than Hanks.
The sense of urgency is what makes this picture flow. Sure Hanks goes on his little spiels but they are for a reason. For one thing I didn't really care if Christ had a spawn and there really wasn't a race to find out the truth. The idea of a terrorist threat intertwined with a conclave makes this work especially with Howard. ROn Howard is not someone whom I see making a picture like this. Angels and Demons is genuinely suspenseful and very exciting.