Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon works with a nuclear physicist to solve a murder and prevent a terrorist act against the Vatican during one of the significant events within the church.Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon works with a nuclear physicist to solve a murder and prevent a terrorist act against the Vatican during one of the significant events within the church.Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon works with a nuclear physicist to solve a murder and prevent a terrorist act against the Vatican during one of the significant events within the church.
- Awards
- 1 win & 5 nominations
- Cardinal Baggia
- (as Marco Fiorini)
- Director
- Writers
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- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaCrew members visited Vatican City as tourists and extensively photographed the city to capture as much detail as possible, knowing they were unlikely to be allowed to film there, so that they could recreate the sets as faithfully as possible.
- Goofs(at around 1h 5 mins) When Langdon is in the Vatican library, he passes the book he is reading over to Chartrand and asks him to look for any reference to fire. Chartrand glances at the book and mentions the word "seraphim". Directly above this is a far stronger reference to fire, "di fuoco", which actually is Italian for fire.
- Quotes
Camerlengo Patrick McKenna: Christianity's most sacred codices are in that archive. Given your recent... entanglement with the Church, there is a question I'd like to ask you first here in-in the office of His Holiness.
[Walks towards Robert Langdon]
Camerlengo Patrick McKenna: Do you believe in God, sir?
Robert Langdon: [pause] Father, I simply believe that religion...
Camerlengo Patrick McKenna: I did not ask if you believe what man says about God. I asked if you believe in God.
Robert Langdon: [pause] I'm an academic. My mind tells me I will never... understand God.
Camerlengo Patrick McKenna: And your heart?
Robert Langdon: [pause] Tells me I'm not meant to. Faith is a gift... that I have yet to receive.
Camerlengo Patrick McKenna: [pauses to consider his words] Be delicate with our treasures.
- Crazy creditsAt the very beginning, when the Columbia girl is standing holding aloft the torch, it flickers like the anti-matter.
- Alternate versionsThe UK release was cut, this film was originally shown to the BBFC in an unfinished version. The BBFC advised the distributor that the film was likely to receive a 15 classification but that the requested 12A classification could be obtained by making reductions in four scenes. In particular the BBFC suggested that sight of blood splattering onto a character's face, sight of a character screaming in pain as he burns, sight of a wound being injected and sight of a character self-immolating and burning should all be reduced. When the finished version of the film was submitted, all these reductions had been made satisfactorily and the film was classified 12A.
- ConnectionsEdited into Yoostar 2: In the Movies (2011)
- SoundtracksGregorian Chant: Requiem Aeternam-Introitus (VI)
from "Liturgia Defunctorum, Missae Pro Defunctis"
Traditional
Performed by Schola of the Hofburgkapelle, Vienna
Hubert Dopf S.J.
Courtesy of Decca Music Group Limited
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises
The movie hangs loosely on the actual novel itself. Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon (Hanks) jets off to Rome after the Pope's sudden death and the re-election through Papal Conclave. Arranging all of this is the carmelengo, Patrick McKenna (McGregor). However, he soon learns of a new threat, one that involves a secret brotherhood making its presence known, an anti-matter time bomb that Vatican City is now targeted with and the kidnapping of four cardinals. Langdon, using his intellects (and trust me, you'll be hearing a LOT from it) is given the task of finding and rescuing them using the mysterious Path of Illumination. Aiding him on the quest is CERN scientist Vittoria Vetra (Zurer), who is also the co-creator of the anti-matter.
The movie itself runs at an uneven pace. One minute Langdon and the Swiss Guard are speeding to save a branded cardinal, the next minute he bores you with pointless information about every random object he passes, evidently slowing the book's much anticipated action/thriller sequences down. It makes for an interesting read on paper, but on screen it can go either way.
The character's are decently written onto the big screen. Ewan McGregor does a convincing performance as the quiet but knowledgeable Patrick McKenna, famous accent included. Tom Hanks is slightly more agile, intellectually and physically, since his last performance in the mediocre Da Vinci Code. Stellen Skarsgard plays Commander Richter, the straight-faced leader of the Swiss Guard. Unfortunately, neither his nor Ayelet Zurer's performance are worthwhile ones, and instead of playing a part in the story, they are just kicked aside as assets.
However, Angels & Demons accomplishes what DVC could never; a thrilling fast-paced movie filled with satisfying explosions, beautiful recreations of St. Peter's Square and Basilica (including many of the churches) and a pulsing bomb counting down the midnight hour. Ron Howard does a decent job at directing this second Langdon adventure, this time taking in much criticism and almost completely exchanging the boring dialogue for tense chases (almost).
While newcomers might call it a "National Treasure 3" with a much larger threat, there is still enough contagious suspense/thriller eye-candy and brilliant still shots of Rome to breathe in. Fans of the book might feel differently towards the movies drastic changes, but considering the amount of blasphemy and inaccuracy it generates, A&D does exceedingly well at keeping the viewer locked on to the screen this time rather than on their sleepy shoulder.
A good book-to-movie adaption that will both appeal and entertain.
7.4/10
Details
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- Also known as
- Obelisk
- Filming locations
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- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $150,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $133,375,846
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $46,204,168
- May 17, 2009
- Gross worldwide
- $485,930,816
- Runtime2 hours 18 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1