1.5/4  Dissapointment to the Max
This is the most dissapointing film ever filmed. I loved Dan Browns book and I was certain that producer and lead actor, Tom Hanks, would screw up the adaptation, but holy hell... I can't say to much good about it. Maybe it woulda been bet... (read full)

3/4  Illuminati Are Alive
What a great movie. Sure, it wasn't brilliant - but it did keep my interest, much better than "The Da Vinci Code" [the book was better too]. I loved how this movie was able to tell the story as well as develop the characters as well as t... (read full)

3.5/4  It has to be here
A good "follow-up" to the Da Vinci Code, Ron Howard improves upon the criticism of the first Dan Brown adaptation and makes a good, action filled film. While many criticized the first movie as having too much dialogue (people explaining t... (read full)

2/4  Entertaining Nonsense
It looks like someones prayers were answered….Just not mine. In Angels & Demons we have a film with a lot more action than its predecessor The Da Vinci Code. A lot of people out there needed Angels & Demons to pack more of a punch then T... (read full)

3/4  No more bad hair day
Certainly this was a step forward in this franchise but I won't easily say I like this better than the first one. I'm quite happy with this supposed prequel has done and it's a bit refreshing to see Hanks in action once again. Ron Howard g... (read full)

3/4  Better Than "The Da Vinci Code"
I enjoyed “Angels & Demons” more than “The Da Vinci Code” for several reasons. First is Ron Howard’s direction: In its prequel (even though, chronologically, “Angels & Demons” happened before “The Da Vinci Code” so it depends on how one lo... (read full)

3/4  Angels & Demons Quick Review
Solid movie, but I made the mistake of reading the book first. The book really was fantastic and although I wasn't disappointed in the movie by any means, it just wasn't as great as the book.

5/5 Outstanding Blu product with many hours of reading
  by Steve Kuehl (Ben Lomond, CA)
I actually liked how this package ended up taking more time to read than watch (and I did watch both versions). Regardless of your take on the book to film translation or beliefs, the film came across on Blu wonderfully.

The Blu clarity is finite throughout with the only shortcomings being the CGI and green screen lines. The DTS was superb, though the score drowns out some material a few times, but certain sequences were reference (the interior water sounds at unrated 48:10 and several dialogue echoes in chambers throughout). The case is a much stronger hinge than the other Blus I have rated this quarter (wish they were all made this way) and I actually had to work at breaking it.

BD DISC 1: (Films only)
Both versions of the film are playable with CineChat or MovieIQ. There was no one online yet for Cinechat so I was pretty lonely on that one. MovieIQ only takes a minute to load up on my PS3 and provides the usual plethora of IMDBish material and trivia regarding plot, actors, score, etc. The unrated plays eight minutes longer and the edits are scattered equally (1.5 minutes added in by the 24-minute mark, 5 minutes by the burning scene). The main rating change would have been in the burning sequence as they edited out all of the kills in the rated (the gore is graphic so would have garnered an R here).

BD DISC 2: (Supplements only)

Rome Not built in a Day: 17:30 minute making of. Shows the amount of CGI involved and the usual logistical stuff and interviews.
Writing: 10:09 minute Ron Howard interview narration on the script and such.
Characters: 17:10 minutes of interviews and the actors giving their takes on what they were trying to do here.
CERN: 14:50 minute documentary about the science center shown in the film. I liked this the most but I am a dork that way, will probably be the dryest supplement for most people.
Props: 11:35 minute take on the obvious need to make the stuff look good.
Full Story: 9:46 minute further making of with Ron Howard. Covers some wardrobe stuff and could have been included with the first one.
Ambigram: 4:46 minute history of the word history by John Langdon. Interesting little tidbits here adn there - especially the part (they show from the film) where his book is next to the one Hanks picks off a shelf.

Path of Illumination.
Five sections of learning material divided into two parts each, one part has Ron Howard describing the section (Plaza, Pantheon, etc.) and the other part has tons of textual info regarding the location selected. If you read everything offered it can eat up an hour or so. I think the experience is worthwhile and it contained some solid material.

DISC 3: Digital Copy and Zimmer Music software.

* The Music part (copy/pasted from text info):
" This trial version provides the full functionality of the Sequel 2 retail version. While it contains only a selection of the retail version's content, three Hans Zimmer projects with audio material from the movie Angels & Demons have been added. Feel free to modify the projects with the sounds and tools Sequel 2 Trial Angels & Demons Edition has to offer. Pictures taken from the movie have been added to the list of track icons, which are used to label individual tracks."

The installation process takes a bit as it puts in several programs - but I must not be musically inclined because the program looks overwhelming. LOTS to go through with music creation, recording, and so on - wow.

* There are weblinks and Sony website sign-up info for getting Sony stuff.

Overall, a large volume of material added to another history/drama/Hanks/Howard production that entertains the masses. Enjoy.

4/5 Following the Clues
  by The Movie Man (Maywood, New Jersey USA)
"Angels & Demons" is the sequel to "The Da Vinci Code" and stars Tom Hanks reprising his role as symbologist Robert Langdon. As the film opens, the Pope has died. Before the Conclave of Cardinals can assemble to select a new Pope, the preferitti, the four leading contenders for the position, are kidnapped. A threat of their assassination as well as the total destruction of the Vatican City is made, and a mysterious symbol is found. Langdon is summoned to the Vatican and determines that the kidnapping is the work of the Illuminati, a centuries-old deadly secret society.
"Angels & Demons" is filled with red herrings, some obvious, others that come as a surprise. Director Ron Howard keeps us guessing as a literal bomb ticks away and the lives of four cardinals hang in the balance. There are several strong supporting performances. Ewan McGregor plays Camerlengo Patrick McKenna, the man in charge of the Vatican during the transitional period between the death of one Pope and the election of the next. Stellen Skarsgard plays the head of the Swiss Guard, the Pope's personal security staff. Armin Mueller-Stahl portrays the elector in the Conclave of Cardinals.
Author Dan Brown's formula -- creating maze-like mysteries in the milieu of the Catholic Church -- allows him to combine murder with clouded motives and Church history to elevate what would otherwise be fairly ordinary whodunits. "Angels & Demons" is a stylish film directed with care by Mr. Howard, who understands the importance of good casting in making a movie click.
"Angels & Demons" is available in three editions: single-disc DVD, two-disc DVD, and two-disc Blu-ray. The two-disc DVD edition's bonus extras include the featurette "Handling Props," in which the filmmakers discuss bringing the props from Dan Brown's book to life; and "Angels & Demons: The Full Story," a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film. The Blu-ray edition contains these extras as well as both the theatrical and extended film versions; "The Path of Illumination," which follows Robert Langdon's path through Rome; "Movie IQ," containing loads of production facts, cast and crew details, and music and soundtrack info; and a digital copy of the movie.

1/5 Buller? Buller? Buller?
  by T. Boards (Im out here somewhere ;))
This is a bunch of BULL! How can you explain leaving out THE MAIN VILLIAN OF THE BOOK!? That's like leaving out Lex Luthor of a Superman comic, Joker from Batman etc, how do you leave out the villian of the novel when it's the villian that has a vendetta with the church that's displayed in the movie!? The "hashassin" of the movie was just a sideshow character no where near the importance that's giving to him in the book, this movie was made strickly to please hollywood and the church.


1/5 Pathetic anti-Christian movie
  by Guitar Doc (Michigan)
This is a horrible movie. Made by atheists for atheists.
Steer clear if you are a Christian.

1/5 Most painful book to movie conversion ever!
  by J. K. C. Carter (Clover, SC)
I am an avid reader, and have thus seen many movies that were based on novels. I understand quite well that the story must be changed in order to make the movie work within its time limit. For the first time in my life, however, I was ready to cry when I left the movie theater. I would like to believe that it is probably a perfectly lovely movie if you have not read the book. Unfortunately for me, I felt betrayed that afternoon. It seems that the screenwriters missed the entire point of the book or perhaps failed to read it at all.

The short of the matter is this - don't buy this book for someone just because you know they read and enjoyed the book. Buy it only for people who have no interest in the book at all.