Pop Culture Reviews

Angels and Demons – DVD Review

Distributor: Sony Entertainment  Released: 2009 Genre: Drama/Action/Thriller Credits: Writers: David Koepp, Akiva Goldsman Director: Ron Howard Starring: Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zuror, Skellan Skarsgard Rating: M

This DVD was supplied by Sony Pictures New Zealand for review

For those not familiar with the books, Angels and Demons is the second movie based on the books by author Dan Brown that follow intrepid Symbologist Robert Langdon as he finds himself (yet again) drawn into a circle of mystery, intrigue and secretive cults. The Illuminati and in particular, their involvement with the Vatican, is the focus of Angels and Demons. The movie adaptation (directed by Ron Howard) follows the book closely, only rarely deviating from the book’s storyline for dramatical effect.

Tom Hanks is brilliant as Langdon and continues with his almost perfect embodiment of the character from the book, giving Angels and Demons the backbone needed to support the popularity of the previous movie. Ewan McGregor and Skellan Skarsgard are also strong casting choices for their roles as Carmelengo Patrick McKenna and Commander Richter respectively, and dutifully bring their characters to life.

Although The Da Vinci Code was a reasonably well-made movie in its own right, Ron Howard appears to have pushed the mantle a little further up this time with Angels and Demons and as a result, a much more fluid and cinematic film has eventuated. The beautiful filming locations once again add that extra bit of ‘pizzazz’ as we follow Langdon all over the Vatican city in his feverish attempts to unravel the mystery of the ‘whodunnit’ – Dan Brown style.

If you missed Angels and Demons at the theatre, you should definitely check it out – at the very least via your local dvd store. It’s another solid DVD release for Sony and we’re very much looking forward to seeing how well The Lost Symbol will fare as the follow-up movie rumoured to be in the works.

PCR Rating: