Angels & Demons - Movie Review and Synopsis

When Langdon discovers evidence of the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati – the most powerful underground organization in history – he also faces a deadly threat to the existence of the secret organization’s most despised enemy: the Catholic Church. When Langdon learns that the clock is ticking on an unstoppable Illuminati time bomb, he jets to Rome, where he joins forces with Vittoria Vetra, a beautiful and enigmatic Italian scientist. Embarking on a nonstop, action-packed hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and even to the heart of the most secretive vault on earth, Langdon and Vetra will follow a 400-year-old trail of ancient symbols that mark the Vatican’s only hope for survival.

Angels and Demons was the reclusive authors third novel after he gave up his job as an English teacher. It tells the story of Langdons brush with a shadowy secret society, the Illuminati, and his frantic quest for the worlds most powerful energy source, in the company of a beautiful Italian physicist whose father, a brilliant physicist, has been murdered.

The team behind the global phenomenon “The Da Vinci Code” returns for the highly anticipated “Angels & Demons,” based upon the bestselling novel by Dan Brown. Tom Hanks reprises his role as Harvard religious expert Robert Langdon, who once again finds that forces with ancient roots are willing to stop at nothing, even murder, to advance their goals. Ron Howard again directs the film, which is produced by Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, and John Calley. The screenplay is by David Koepp and Akiva Goldsman.

This Da Vinci Code prequel was one of the first casualites of the writers’ strike, which took screenwriter Akiva Goldsman away from the keyboard and onto the picket line. No matter — it should make a mint-load of money anyway, and be predictable if handsome fun. Director Ron Howard did make a few interesting choices, though: the relatively unknown Zurer as the female lead (you might remember her as Eric Bana’s wife in Munich) and the nice one-two supporting punch of Ewan McGregor and Stellan Skarsgård. We’re hoping one of them steps into Ian McKellen’s scenery-chewing shoes.

Oh, the Vatican unsurprisingly did not give the filmmakers permission to shoot on its sacred grounds; most everything you’ll see will be a loving re-creation of St. Peter’s Square and the buildings that surround it.

Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence, disturbing images and thematic material.

Director: Ron Howard
Stars: Tom Hanks, Ayelet Zurer, Ewan McGregor
Studio: Sony Pictures Releasing
Release Date: 14 May 2009 (Australia), 15 May 2009 (Indonesia ,USA)
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller

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