Message delivered, so why worry about the effects?

Rating: 6/10 (1 August 2009)

If the Joker form the Dark Knight see Angels and Demons, he may pat on his hips saying, "why so serious?" Actually all the commentors were complaining about the cast, the stiffy portrait of several center characters and the incomplete story that is cut from the novel...But my point is, the movie got its message perfectly delivered, so why so serious?
First off, the movie is quite a sightseeing trip, reflecting last year's In Bruges. Vatican is absolutely a must-go on all the tourists' list! That is what I told myself after this entertaining viewing. Despite the fact that the movie was portraying Catholics in a negative way in a absolutely negative context, the movie was still allowed to be shot in Vatican. How ironic! Anyway, I quite enjoyed the effects they put in this one, much more than I did in the first one. Davinci Code was almost entirely handicapped compared to Angels and Demons, in terms of technical sophistication, cinematographic, plot development and most importantly, pacing. In fact, the pacing alone is worth seeing for those who like thrillers. Robert Langdon played by Tom Hanks and the religious fanatic Ewan Mcgregor were fun, or at least funny.
However, under its sophisticated skin, Angels and Demons failed to be a better mystery thriller. The more obvious reason being the plot development. Wait, did I say it's better than 1st one, sure. But it's still weak. The ultimate bad guy in the movie could be figured out almost instantly in the branding iron scene with Mcgregor, not to mention his personal show thereafter. The movie is too dark to be Indianna Jones while too professional in religious history to be National Treasure, yet it didn't have much to offer a really unique style. That's why it ended the same pale way like its predecessor. The less obvious reason is different. To make a clarification, I am not a Catholic, but a believer in Jesus. So this movie for me, should be offering some really interesting(or meaningful) perspective to offset its apparent lack in goodwill. Unfortunately, I didn't find much. Simply stating, the movie sells its plot and message in a outright way that is considered outrageous by many, and that's weighted too much to bore all the audiences(presumably all non-Catholics). The problem is it's as superficial as it's based on the writer's historical knowledge(fantasy?), which is something you can't sell twice so easily. The climax reminded me of L.A. Confidential, however with all the flat roles and outright anti-Catholic propaganda, it got tired and tasteless.The worst thing about such a novel-adapted movie is that all the retarded assumptions look more retarded live, as if Catholics is the only religion the world knows, and the election of a new pope is hotter than US presidential trial, which gives Vatican a Hollowan. It's just too clichéd to appreciate. "Can you really give me something more detailed and solid so maybe I can scientifically prove this religious group's hyper-critic nature?That might be fun... " The joker raised his right hand......The teacher didn't pick him. Sadly, the Joker had to make a list of messages the movie sells by himself. So: 1, Catholics(or all Christians) have a defending nature that protects all the dirty little secrets here and there, which is unforgivable for people who claim to be holy. 2, Since a pope unmanned all the scriptures some hundreds years ago for the sake of mind purity, this religion's teaching should be inhuman at all. 3, If you are a charity group as well as a bank, you are naturally a hypocrite. 4, The highest ranks of Catholics are a mess, since they can't overcome their superstitious/exaggerating nature that is dwelled in their faith and directly produced their hypocrisies and murders and all the worse-than-ordinary sins. Ah, please remember they did this one in special favor to the writer and director of "Angels and Demons" the movie. See you next time.
OK, if anyone tells you he hates/loves this movie by its messages, do notfight him. Just say you respect any given religion or philosophy, and the problem should be solved. Good luck!