Tag Archives: Ron Howard

Angels and Demons (Theaters)

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Between the Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons, most will agree that A&D had the far superior storyline. With such high expectations coming into this film, I must admit that I wasn’t overly impressed with Ron Howard’s translation of A&D onto the silverscreen. Much like the Da Vinci Code before it, I found it very difficult to appreciate this film because I was such a huge fan of the literature. With so many important aspects of the story being left out or abridged, it really didn’t feel like the same story at all.

The film itself wasn’t a total wash, and will probably peak the interest of those who haven’t read the books or are just looking to be entertained. Unlike The Da Vinci Code which stayed true to its script, A&D was far less pretentious than its predecessor and was definitely much better paced. Set primarily in Vatican City, A&D had a lush canvas to work with, and it felt as if I were taking a free tour through Rome itself. The cinematography was stunning to say the least, but with little more to offer than a few “postcard” quality shots, this film still falls quite short.

To his credit, Ron Howard tried his best to answer the call of the heavily criticized Da Vinci Code. Rather than staying true to the script, he along with his team of screenwriters attempted to create a film far more appealing to its general audience by writing a script which moved at break neck speed. In this case however, he probably should have kept with original. Although a tad better than the Code, A&D still fails by epic proportions.

I’d recommend you skip this one in the theaters and wait for it on DVD. Its not worthy of its price for admission.

Synopsis: Angels and Demons re-teams director Ron Howard and star Tom Hanks for the sequel to their international blockbuster adaptation of Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code. Although the book Angels and Demons was written before the novel The Da Vinci Code, the movie transpires after the events of the earlier movie. Hanks stars as professor Robert Langdon, the most respected symbologist in the United States, who uses his knowledge in order to decode a symbol on the skin of a murder victim. The clues put him on the trail of an international conspiracy involving the Catholic Church. Ewan McGregor and Ayelet Zurer also star in the Sony Pictures production. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

Angels and Demons Theatrical Trailer

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I read both The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons and instantly became a fan of Dan Brown’s work. I’m looking forward to this sequel.

When Robert 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.

The Da Vinci Code (Theaters)

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The Da Vinci Code is very hard to review fairly if you have read the book. When I picked up a copy from a friend to read, I simply could not put it down. I read the entire book in less than a day. I needed to know what happened next. The story was very well paced, the plot complex yet exciting, and the characters were very intriguing.

This causes problems for the movie. Fans of the Da Vinci Code expect that same thrill of a ride, but it falls short for us. Once you have read the book and know the plot, the movie loses the suspense factor. Its no longer a mystery. I think that many fans of the book gave the movie an unfair review due to this, but thats what happens when you try and put a best seller on the bigscreen. Many times it just falls short and does not live up to its expectations.

I do give Ron Howard alot of credit for staying true to the story. I think that for those who have not read the book, this movie will be enjoyable. The actors did a good job and the screenplay remained extremely faithful to the storyline.

Synopsis: While in Paris on business, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon receives an urgent late-night phone call: the elderly curator of the Louvre has been murdered inside the museum. Near the body, police have found a baffling cipher. Solving the enigmatic riddle, Langdon is stunned to discover it leads to a trail of clues hidden in the works of Da Vinci – clues visible for all to see, and yet ingeniously disguised by the painter. Langdon joins forces with a gifted French cryptologist, Sophie Neveu, and learns the late curator was involved in the Priory of Sion – an actual secret society. In a breathless race through Paris, London and beyond, Langdon and Neveu match wits with a faceless powerbroker who appears to work for Opus Dei – a clandestine, Vatican-sanctioned Catholic organization believed to have long plotted to seize the Priory’s secret. Unless Langdon and Neveu can decipher the labyrinthine puzzle in time, the Priory’s secret – and a stunning historical truth – will be lost forever.