It’s like: The Da Vinci Code meets Indiana Jones, but instead of archegology, it’s a study in Italian art history.
Stars you’d know: Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor
Synopsis: Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon (Hanks) works to solve murders and prevent a terrorist act against the Vatican. Having read the book the days before seeing this, I must admit that the illustrated book is far better than the movie (and Angels and Demons is far better than The Da Vinci Code). But the movie, with Hanks playing Hanks in a tweed jacket, and McGregor playing a camerlengo (aid to the Pope) rather perfectly, is entertaining. The shots of the Vatican seem rather rushed, but knowing that the church was not approving of this movie makes that understandable. The running around the city kinda gave me a headache, for Rome streets were not made for handhelds, but the overall impression was well worth the cash. Be careful if you’ve read the book, though, because key characters are left out, and the ending is a tinge different. I wholeheartedly recommend the book, for the fast-paced storyline alone, but knowing what the writers probably went through to make it as close to the book as possible makes the movie worth watching…if only for the art history lesson and finale explosion.
Verdict: Watch it if you liked The Da Vinci Code, don’t mind seeing birds-eye views of Italy, and are fans of Vatican politics.
