Dan Brown stories are endlessly enticing, from page to film – but the way these stories translate for the silver screen are always an interesting one. I’ve held the notion that Dan Brown books are unfilmable – at least if you want to capture the essence of what makes the books so great. The Da Vinci Code, specifically, was an interesting movie – but ultimately a mess when it tried to explain things…between that and Angels & Demons, The Da Vinci Code was the book I favored. On the other hand, this is the movie I personally prefer
When it comes to the two films, Angels & Demons is more cohesive and works better on film than the other, even if I prefer the first movie’s story more. Both stories are compelling, but one tries to persuade you of a certain idea – while this one doesn’t. Instead what you have here is a story that you can comprehend and get behind. It still introduces exciting questions regarding secrets and faith…just not secrets that change the way the entire world operates.
I like to balance these films on a notion between entertainment and importance. The Da Vinci Code had a pretty good balance between the two – but they go over the top trying to explain everything to you. Angels & Demons is just more entertaining, period. I think more people will enjoy this as a film because it doesn’t demand that you trust its neverending crazy conspiracy theories. You can watch this like any other film. You’ll just be interested in the Vatican archives and maybe the large hydron collider. In the end, as weird as this may seem, the first movie is probably more memorable because it’s insane.
Regardless on how good or bad this movie is, or even the predecessor – both films are obviously based off books, and books that you should read…because even though they follow the basic plot – you’re missing a lot of very interesting details that stick with you for years. I’ve read all the books, and I’m still upset over the fact that they aren’t apparently planning to make the third book in the series – The Lost Symbol – a movie…because that was basically my favorite book. But hey, who knows? They are coming out with a 5th book next year, and you know I’ll be all over that.
I just recently finished reading the book, and against my better judgement I decided to watch the movie. Why do I do this to myself? The movie just kept making me madder and madder and I hadn't even gotten 15 minutes in. I'm sure for what it is, it was a decent movie... but having read the book it was 15 minutes of "NO! NO! That is NOT how it happened!" Ugh. Either read the book or see the movie. Don't do both. Save yourself the frustration.
the duration too long for me.most of the time i waiting the best part. disappointing
I really liked the story and the ending was extremly unexpected for me. 10/10 for the story! However I will not watch it again since it was too brutal for (but that is just a note for myself so I won't forget). Hans Zimmers music is fantastic as always.
Man, 15 years later and Hans Zimmer's scores for this and The Da Vinci Doe still have no right to go this fucking hard!
And at least Hanks lost that awful wig.
ewan mcgregor in that priest outfit...forgive me father for i have sinned am i right
rewatching the movie after so many years, having already forgotten the details in the book, and I found out it is actually a very legit movie!
I liked the film, good suspense, deaths well done. Unfortunately it is different from the book, of course it has certain scenes the same but still had different paths from the book itself, which is understandable given the time limit of a film but still it is a pity.
Fantastic book; nice movie but why not keep true to the story?
Some people call it a good thing. That Angels & Demons doesn’t follow the book as closely. As the Da Vinci Code adaptation. Since I read the book. I found it disappointing that key characters were left out.
Otherwise Angels & Demons is a decent adaptation. Due to a fine cast and plenty of suspense.
I really enjoyed this film. Is it Indiana Jones? No, of course not. But the movie was gripping and I was into it. I get criticized fairly often for liking the artsy films but I think this movie proves that we can appreciate art on many different levels. The film was full of flaws but at the end of the day it was a lot of fun to watch. Of course, the book was better :-).
This one had more action and was a little bit shorter than The Da Vinci Code but I found the story to be super uninteresting and a lot more boring.
Eu gostei pra cara***!!!!! Suspense, ação, tudo de bom. Ansiosa pra ver Inferno.
Eu gostei pra cara***!!!!! Suspense, ação, tudo de bom. Ansiosa pra ver Inferno.
Two sides of this review, as a movie and as an adaption of the book.
as a movie it's entertaining, focus the essential of the plot, good story nice acting. average movie but not time wasted. Rome is always a sight to see.
after reading the book.... oh my. as someone said, that's not how it happened at all. wrong characters, wrong details, wrong situations that just ruined the movie for me. based on the book? mediocre. disappointing.
Good acting and the story seemed ok. Essentially a treasure hunt ensues thru Rome with loads of action and explosions and all that.... BUT, so many elements that some characters did a zillion years ago that just happened to be eternally helpful out of the blue. Destroyed it for me...
More interesting than Da Vinci Code.
In all honestly I didn't quite like the film adaption of Dan Browns 'The Da Vinci Code' all that well, even though it was directed by Ron Howard. Weirdly as a novel this is the prequel to Da Vinci Code, the novel Angels and Demons having been released in 2000, 3 years before Da Vinci Code was released. Considering Ron Howard directed this as a sequel and I have to admit that decision really helped Angels & Demons. What's not to like Tom Hanks recreating the role of Robert Langdon, a score by Hans Zimmer, Aylet Zurer playing Dr. Vittoria Vetra (Munich, Vantage Point and the upcoming 2016 Epic Ben-Hur) Ewan McGregor (Trainspotting) and Stellan Skarsgård (Ronin, Thor, Avengers) rounding off a good supporting cast. Enjoyable with a good mixture of suspense, drama and action. Looking forward to the third film 'Inferno' due sometime in 2016 and again directed by Ron Howard.
Muito triste ver uma adaptação tão ruim quanto esta.
Review by drqshadowBlockedParent2020-02-03T19:25:28Z
Tom Hanks returns as Robert Langdon, dedicated cryptologist and all-around smartest guy in the room, just in time to save Catholicism from conspiracy and MacGuffin alike.
The film moves at a rapid pace, and excels at white-knuckled, buzzer-beating thrills, but it's got problems. Not the least of which is Langdon himself, who spouts like a broken nozzle atop the fountain of knowledge for the duration. OK, we get it, he's exceptionally smart and this is what he does best, but his act quickly grows redundant and tiresome. Not only does he know all the answers almost as soon as the riddle presents itself, robbing the audience of the joy of working anything out for themselves, he's also immediately ready to fire off a lengthy dissertation about the relevant historical figures, masterpieces and religious movements while muscling about various set pieces.
That evil becomes necessary when the film quickly paints itself into a corner, setting a merciless time limit on each puzzle that pushes suspension of disbelief right out the window. Now, not only are we unraveling mysteries older than recorded time in less than sixty minutes, but we're also visiting libraries, slicing through political red tape and effortlessly navigating the whole of Vatican City, swamped by humanity in the midst of a papal election.
Despite all that, I still held the film in good graces until the calamitous final act, which is capped by exploding helicopters, ludicrous swerves and a parachutin' pilot priest. More generic than The Da Vinci Code, it places a much heavier emphasis on nail-biting than convention-challenging, which is a shame because that's precisely the trait that set the original apart. Not quite disastrous, but dangerously close.