Slightly More Bearable Than 'The Da Vinci Code'

Rating: Null/10 (13 June 2017)

Suffering from the same set of issues that plagued its predecessor, Angels & Demons manages to be at least a little more entertaining than The Da Vinci Code, thanks to its swift pace & consistently moving narrative, but the ridiculous twists & endless expositions don't make the ride any smoother.
The story of Angels & Demons follows symbologist Robert Langdon who this time teams up with a nuclear physicist to solve another murder and prevent a terrorist act against the Vatican while the Roman Catholic Church prepares for one of its most significant events; the election of the next Pope.
Directed by Ron Howard, this sequel utilises the original's blueprint and is once again marred by a slew of nonsensical twists & absurd revelations, however, this time, it doesn't feel as stationary as the first film. A better pace does help in keeping the interest alive for a longer duration but the end result is still underwhelming.
Performances offer no improvement, for Tom Hanks plays Robert Langdon in the same flat manner as he did the last time and the new cast around him is just as forgettable. Its dynamic camera-work keeps the plot in motion and while its fast pace is a welcome upgrade, its never-ending exposition rarely makes sense yet keeps on rambling.
On an overall scale, Angels & Demons is another incompetently directed, poorly written & lifelessly acted entry in Robert Langdon's film series but it's richly photographed, briskly edited & features a thrilling score which makes it slightly more bearable than The Da Vinci Code. A lesser trudging film of the two, Angels & Demons may still evoke a yawn or two.