Critics Consensus: Angels & Demons Isn't Quite Heavenly
It's still several notches above The Da Vinci Code, however.
This week at the movies, Robert Langdon is back on the case, investigating shadowy machinations around the Catholic Church in Ron Howard's Angels & Demons, starring Tom Hanks and Ewan McGregor. What do the critics have to say?
36%
Angels & Demons
The Da Vinci Code was a worldwide phenomenon; adapted from Dan Brown's bestseller, it raked in box office receipts despite widespread critical derision (and the threat of boycotts from Catholic groups). The good news is that critics find the follow-up, Angels & Demons, to be tighter and more exciting; the bad news is that their reaction is still pretty tepid. This time out, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) isn't challenging Catholic orthodoxy; he's trying to protect church officials from attacks by the mysterious Illuminati, with help from Italian scientist Vittoria Vetra (Ayelet Zurer). The pundits say Angels & Demons is briskly paced, avoiding the speechifying of the previous film while offering a picturesque tour of Rome. However, others say it's still bogged down in absurd plotting at the expense of characterization. (Check out this week's Total Recall, in which we run down Hanks' best-reviewed films.)
Also opening this week in limited release:
- Revue, Sergei Loznitsa's portrait of Soviet life in the 1950s and 1960s, is at 100 percent.
- Summer Hours, a French drama about complex intergenerational relations within a family starring Juliette Binoche, is at 96 percent.
- Big Man Japan, a deadpan mockumentary about a superhero outcast, is at 90 percent.
- Jerichow, a minimalist thriller about a love triangle in an impoverished German town, is at 83 percent.
- Management, starring Jennifer Aniston and Steve Zahn in a quirky romantic comedy about a casual encounter that leads to stalking, is at 58 percent.
- The Brothers Bloom, a whirlwind con man flick starring Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, and Rachel Weisz, is at 53 percent (check out director Rian Johnson's Five Favorite Films).
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(1-20 of 40 posts) | Reply
on May 14 2009 04:39 PM I was hoping that Angels and Demons were a better film...oh well. (Reply to this) |
on May 14 2009 04:51 PM I was hoping that Tom Hanks' hair was better in this film. Nope. (Reply to this) |
on May 14 2009 05:39 PM Good lord, what is it with people and Tom Hanks' hair in these films? It doesn't seem *that* horrible to me...I mean, *I* wouldn't have *my* hair styled like that, but...sheesh. (Reply to this) |
on May 14 2009 06:07 PM In reply to this comment (#2476291) Oh, it's better. But not much. These Dan Brown films aren't terrible, just a great big shrug. A great big "Meh". So it's faithful to his books. (Reply to this) |
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on May 14 2009 06:35 PM In reply to this comment (#2476291) who gives a Phuck about his HAIR u idiot!!! they totally scewed up the book. they changed so much I dont even want to see it. A&D was way better book then TDC! (Reply to this) |
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on May 14 2009 06:59 PM Lol, jeeze. I didn't think his hair was such a touchy subject with people. (Reply to this) |
on May 14 2009 07:03 PM Terrific. The critics don't like it, now I know I will. Now I will go see it in the theatre rather than rent it. Thanks critics! gerry (Reply to this) |
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on May 14 2009 07:04 PM Terrific. The critics don't like it, now I know I will. Now I will go see it in the theatre rather than rent it. Thanks critics! gerry (Reply to this) |
on May 14 2009 07:11 PM Nothing's been really drawing me into the theaters these passed couple of weeks. I'm waiting for the crowds to calm down over Star Trek. Otherwise, it seems like nothing interesting at the multiplex. I may catch Hunger at the local University and then that's it. (Reply to this) |
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on May 14 2009 07:16 PM I'm waiting for the History and Discovery channel to come out with actual history like they did with the Davinci code. (Reply to this) |
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on May 14 2009 07:25 PM In reply to this comment (#2476448) the book was one million times better than the film of DaVinci code. I hope that this time the film supersedes the book this shows that the human imagination just by reading is far more stronger than a movie (Reply to this) |
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on May 14 2009 07:50 PM In reply to this comment (#2476437) Good thinking! Critics are never right. Casablanca? Worst movie ever. Godfather? Horrible! (Reply to this) |
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on May 14 2009 08:20 PM I was going to see this. But I've decided to see Star Trek again instead. (Reply to this) |
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on May 14 2009 08:20 PM I was going to see this. But I've decided to see Star Trek again instead. (Reply to this) |
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on May 14 2009 08:21 PM My friend recommended me a very interesting place *** W ealthyF inder COM *** It's where wealthy singles and celebrities looking for someone to enjoy their wealthy lifestyle with. (Reply to this) |
on May 14 2009 08:41 PM Angels and Demons and the Da Vinci Code are just like the National Treasure movies, but with serious dramatic actors. If find it amusing that Roger Ebert was willing to forgive its faults, and he admitted to be forgiving of its shortcomings, but he does not do the same with Star Trek. (Reply to this) |
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on May 14 2009 08:42 PM Angels and Demons and the Da Vinci Code are just like the National Treasure movies, but with serious dramatic actors. I find it amusing that Roger Ebert was willing to forgive its faults, and he admitted to be forgiving of its shortcomings, but he does not do the same with Star Trek. (Reply to this) |
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on May 14 2009 08:54 PM I enjoyed reading the Da Vinci Code. once you realize its a park your brain for the duration mindless bit of fluff it is fun. However finding out that Dan Brown and legions of fans took it with complete seriousness a lot of the pleasurre leaked out for me. The movie by taking the high stupidity of the book seriously lost it for me. If only Ron Howard had done the movie has a farce / parody it would have been brillant! instead he took its idiot plot and history seriously. I see no reason to see Angels and Demons given the reverential way Ron howard treated similarly stupid material in the Da Vinci Code. (Reply to this) |
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on May 14 2009 11:38 PM Looks like Star Trek might get one more weekend at number 1 after all. (Reply to this) |
on May 15 2009 03:47 AM The plot suffers from being absurd? Hmm... just like the book. 38% is about right. It's a good book for a one time read. Too bad Ron Howard decided not to rewrite the story for his own use. (Reply to this) |
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