Much like the book easily surpasses The DaVinci Code in style, story, and character!

Rating: 9/10 (23 August 2009)

The DaVinci code film was a decent movie. I had very high expectations for it and I must admit that they didn't really fulfill them although in watching the film again prior to this one I think I enjoyed it more the most recent time through. Still there was something almost campy about it and it certainly wasn't meant to be campy but rather an intellectual spin, a dramatic take on religion and Christianity. I read Angels and Demons and enjoyed the book much more than The DaVinci Code book so I was really looking forward to the newest film. Despite those expectations I was not disappointed for a moment with the film. Was it different than the book? Absolutely. Did they take liberties? They have to. Regardless the pace, the story, the characters, the suspense all easily surpassed The DaVinci Code film. Perhaps Angels and Demons was less complicated but I think for everything director Ron Howard did right in the first one there were plenty of complaints and advice and I think he kept what was right about the first film and fixed most or some of the wrongs making this one even better and really giving the character of Robert Langdon legs to go a long ways on the big screen.
Of course truly giving Langdon legs is the amazing and unstoppable Tom Hanks who is literally one of the greatest actors in the history of theatrics (in my opinion.) Now Robert Langdon is a bit of a laid back character, doesn't have a lot of zest necessarily, same in the books but Hanks makes him likable and he definitely gives him more personality in Angels and Demons that was lacking from DaVinci Code. Hanks is just fun in the role and best of all his chemistry lights up the screen and makes the whole adventure a blast. Ewan McGregor, who I have not always been a fan of, is downright brilliant (award worthy dare I say) as Camerlengo Patrick McKenna. Hanks and McGregor have terrific chemistry opposite each other and McGregor's character is fantastic. Stellan Skarsgård gives a terrific performance, but rather understated as Commander Richter, an anti-hero that really helps the story along. Langdon's female companion this time is Ayelet Zurer who does a great job in the role but she seemed so similar in look and personality to the girl in the original film that it was like watching her all over again so she kind of gets swept under the rug in my opinion. Legendary character actor Armin Mueller-Stahl has an appropriate but subtle performance as a main Cardinal hoping to become Pope.
In some ways it was only natural that Angels and Demons be a more entertaining film. The action and suspense is higher, the religious overtone while absolutely present isn't the driving force behind the plot, and Tom Hanks and director Ron Howard had time to learn and hone the characters and story and everything else. Sequels are rarely known for surpassing their originals but this one does in every sense of the word. Both films are worth seeing and both are cutting a place in film history for box office success and it is certain that they will do the third Robert Langdon film and I will definitely want to be there to see because so far they have only improved and Angels and Demons turned out to be one of, if the not thee, best sequel of the summer! 9/10