Angels and Demons-Neither Angelic nor Demonic-Mostly Blah

Against my better judgment, I went to see Angels and Demons on its debut weekend. I read the book about 10 years ago (feels like 10 years anyway) and so I new from my experience with The DaVinci Code that this movie would probably be the same mess.

Strike one: Tom Hanks plays Robert Langdon. I would like to go on record as saying that I don't know what the big deal is with Tom Hanks. He made two good movies; Forest Gump and The Money Pit. That's right. Those are the only good movies in which he plays lead that I find enjoyable. Mr. Hanks owes me the price of admission for his movie Cast Away, which I also saw in the theater. The best part of the movie was when he made it back from the island. The rest of the time I spent praying that a leathal coconut would fall on his head so that I wouldn't have to endure another conversation with Wilson the volleyball.

Anyhoo, getting back to Angels and Demons. Strike two: Ron Howard changes stuff from the book too much. I'll give you an example. In the movie version, Vittoria's colleague from CERN is murdered. In the book it's her father (who also worked at CERN) that was murdered. Am I being picky? I think it's highly important to note that it was Vittoria's father that was killed as opposed to a colleague because it makes Vittoria's involvement more emotionally charged. Could the actress not express emotion well enough or does Ron Howard just say forget about it, we're taking a central part of this character's experience and making it minute? Also, Ron made everything way too easy for the Robert and Vittoria to find the clues and convince the Vatican to help them. I remember from the book they struggled every step of the way. Refer back to the title but it was almost as if there were demons working against them.

Strike three: The movie was just plain dull. Perhaps it was because I already knew what was going to happen or at least what was supposed to happen from the book but the only times I raised an eyebrow was when I noticed Ron deviating from the events of the book. I remember the book having me on the edge and that parts of it were quite graphic. I'm not one for gratuitous carnage but the point was that the "Illuminati" killing the clergy members were evil and those poor priests died in hideous ways. I think it could've been a bit scarier without being revolting. Ron's idea of scary is showing some slightly malevolent angel statues in half shadow with lightening flashing around.

If you haven't read the book, this movie is probably OK. Also if you heart Tom Hanks with every fiber in your being, you can see him play himself. Otherwise, I recommend waiting for the DVD. Even better, skip the DVD entirely and buy or borrow the book to read. Trust me peeps, your imagination is way better than what happens on the movie screen.