Vatican City, Illuminated

The most beloved and progressive Pope is dead. A canister of “anti-meter” is stolen from the CERN laboratory in Switzerland. A threatening note from Illuminati to blow up Vatican City is sent along with the [murderous] kidnapping of four Cardinals.
Those are enough as start up for making Angels and Demons a ticking-clock thriller with the background of the hidden long war between the Catholic Church and Illuminati, the religion and the science.


So, if you are all coming to see this movie in the sense of getting entertained, I can say, Angels and Demons, is a promise that make your wish come true. In a breakneck speed and fabulous production values, Ron Howard stuns you with his unbelievable set up of Sistine Chapel, the Pantheon, Roman Churches, Tombs, Crypts and off course, the drama.

But if you are just like me, a movie avid with a hope to see a better movie than its predecessor: Da Vinci Code, all I can say, there is no time to care about what you’ve known or hoped for. This movie requires a big forgiveness.

Pope election is always a big deal. Thousand hundreds eyes and faith are gathered together in Saint Peter’s square to witness the white puff blows out from the Sistine Chapel stating who is the successor of the late Pope. Here is when Illuminati plans to blow their revenge kiss towards the Catholic Church.
How?
Well, I don’t want to spoil anything, but everything is revealed on the very beginning. The scene of CERN laboratory, Geneva and the appearances of beautiful and brilliant Vittoria Vetra as Langdon’s sidekick to: 1. Explain why Illuminati are stealing the “anti-meter.” 2. To seek for her father’s secret journal. 3. To provide Langdon the clues and you know…being an urgent partner of Langdon on his 4 hours quest to safe the kidnapped Cardinals and the Vatican City.

And when it comes to Illuminati trouble, well, Professor Robert Langdon is to the rescue. Racing against time on his Mickey Mouse watch, asides from his brilliance and great help from Vittoria, God is on Langdon’s side this time, I believe. With no much hassle and great uncanny luck, he spots and correctly identifies every clue no matter how well hidden they are.

Meanwhile, the intrigue is also happening within the church itself, involving the young Camerlengo who also is the adopted son of the Pontiff, the Commander as the protector of the Pope and Cardinal Strauss who is in charge of the Pope election.

This movie portrays a balancing conflict between science and religions without taking side on none. Langdon is not a religious man and the church is not either an anti-science. As Langdon says: the existence of God is beyond his mind to determine and his heart is not worthy.

I don’t know how to call it, whether it's better or worse or even, compared to the previous movie, but all I can say is, this time less controversy, less Dan Brown, more entertainment to the eyes, including Hank’s more convincing hairdo ☺.