A demonic waste of time and resources

Rating: Null/10 (18 May 2009)

In short: this film simply does not work. It fails to engage and involve on every level. There is not a hint of character development, and the one-dimensional characters are little more than generic transporters of a weak and diluted plot.
It is almost impossible not to compare with the book when trying to understand why this movie fails so badly. The book may not be great literature, and it also suffers from a weak plot and poor character development (though nowhere near as badly as the film), but it still manages to be exactly what it sets out to be: page turning entertainment. The book is highly readable entertainment whereas the movie is, for lack of a better word, boring. Fast paced, but nonetheless boring.
We've seen it before: a fast paced story with lots of physical activity does not equal real action. On some level, we need to understand the characters and what drives them in order to get involved with the action. Furthermore, we need to be able to follow the story, and the action must make sense in this story, and carry it somewhere. Who hasn't already seen lots of fights, car chases and explosions? On their own, they are nothing new or exciting. It is only when we understand who is fighting/chasing whom, and why, that the action becomes meaningful and interesting. Story action is so much more than just elaborate stunts and CGI. It is about producing curiosity, dispensing information, character development and providing surprise. In Angels & Demons, we get none of that. We get to watch Tom Hanks jumping from one clue and its conclusion to the next at breathtaking speed, but it produces as much excitement as having last years lotto numbers read out at double speed.
There is a huge difference between a fast paced STORY and just fast pace...
In essence, watching Angels & Demons is similar to watching someone you don't know play a computer game.
Spare yourself the experience and save the money.