If the dramatic changes from book to screen are overlooked, it is actually a really cool film!

Rating: 8/10 (5 October 2009)

There's something about Dan Brown and his books that make him sort of Michael Moore's best friend, intellectually-wise. With each of his works, he tries to expose a large and important area of society or corporation and make it the latest scandal or controversy. A few years ago, Ron Howard made a film about Brown's "The Da Vinci Code" and it immediately stirred controversy and heated discussion in many countries because of its views exposed towards the church, and of course, no one even mentioned the incredibly creative plot or the masterful writing, but only the religious content. Never mind that Ron Howard (who used to be one of my favourite directors) left the film almost devoid of any of the charm and suspenseful wit the book possessed; but whatever. Dan Brown's other book, "Angels & Demons", the prequel to his Da Vinci Code has now been transformed into a movie, with Ron Howard directing again...and that's enough to make anxious Brown fans flock to the movie theaters, biting their nails in apprehension.
Okay, I know that my job as a film reviewer is to review the film itself, without taking the book as one of the primordial points I should focus on, but before we go on with the review, I just have to get this out of my system: The book is an amazing masterpiece, expertly constructed and so engrossing you actually find yourself reading it all through the night and arriving next day at work with soggy eyes but a content expression. Those of you who are fans of the book and want to see the movie, be warned- it should contain a message that says "this film is loosely based on the book by Dan Brown", because it changes so many things and modifies so much plot that the book and the movie could at some point seem like two completely different things. But what can you expect from a two-hour-and-change film directed by Ron Howard? Having said that, let's continue the review.
Leaving the immense differences between the book and the movie apart, you would have to admit that the film isn't all that bad, really. Yes, we have Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks), the symbologist we've all come to love, who's an erudite and know-it-all respectable professor at Cambridge, and who's written, ooh, tons of books and articles. There's this gigantic nuclear lab somewhere in Europe where top scientists from around the world create the most innovative (and sometimes unbelievable) things; a short number of these scientists are working on the creation of antimatter (the opposite of matter) which could explain the origins of creation and which could become a valuable source of energy. And there's also an important event going on in the Vatican City, namely conclave, where the Pope has died and the world sits still until a new Pope is elected.
Then, a scientist in the nuclear lab is killed, a canister with a small spec of antimatter (which could blow up and entire city) is stolen and suddenly appears to be hidden somewhere in the Vatican City. The people who stole this powerful source of energy and destruction call themselves The Illuminati, an ancient and long-forgotten sect, who have sworn that the four principal cardinals of the Catholic church are to be executed prior to the antimatter canister blowing up at midnight of the same day. And who do you call to solve a crime and stop a terrorist plot involving a long-dead sect? None other than our dear Robert Langdon who, we're not surprised to learn, is an expert in their symbology and history.
Well, that's the premise. What follows is another version of the puzzle-solving, car-chasing, suspense-inducing, church-terrorizing, quick-thinking "Da Vinci Code"...only better and more believable. At least you can rest easy knowing that Ron Howard has made this film into a truly enjoyable experience, and he has learned from his mistakes in his previous film to make this into something you can actually cheer and applaud to. The film is fast-paced but well-structured, expertly acted, intelligent and witty beyond measure. The production design, cinematography and costume design merge to transport us into a breath-taking guided tour through Rome, the Vatican City, and the people and customs involved therein. Hans Zimmer's score is fabulous, transforming his original Da Vinci score into a wonderful listening experience, at times exciting and heart-pounding, at times otherworldly and heart-wrenching.
Yes, truth be told, I really liked the movie. Even the changes that were made from the book to screen are acceptable (because if nothing had been changed, then we would be staring at a five-hour movie, at least). In conclusion, it is better than the Da Vinci Code, it is one of Ron Howard's most entertaining movies, and an all-around fun experience at the movies this year.
Rating: 3 stars out of 4!