Angels & Demons

Angels & Demons has partially lived up to the expectations and hype that it has created among the movie going community in last one year’s time. It started on a high note and maintained the pace well enough to keep the viewer on the edge of the seat, till the last 20 minutes. Director Ron Howard missed it in the last 20 minutes and you have that odd after-taste once the movie is finished.

The movie started with the death of the Pope and is followed by the theft of a canister containing Anti-matter. From there, a Harvard symbologist, Robert Langdon takes over. The story is well written by Dan Brown, which never lost the attention of the reader in its novel form. Akiva Goldsman did a fine job in adapting the story as a screenplay. There was enough of wit thrown in extremely fast paced story making sure that you will not get bored.

The good point that is to be noted is Ron Howard has learnt from his past mistakes of adapting the Dan Brown novels. Davinci Code was a slow paced movie and it really never kept the viewer riveted to the plot. Also, in trying to stick to the novel, it made fun of itself at points. But, Angels & Demons has lot of deviations from the original novel which resulted in a better movie. Actually, Davinci Code was a failure as a movie. You will enjoy the movie only if you have already read the book. But, A&D can be enjoyed by people who haven’t read the book also.

Go watch the movie, if you like fast paced thrillers with a plot twist at the end.

The DaVinci Code

The Da Vinci Code.....A secret maintained by Leonardo Davinci from the world. But the Government of the place where I live also wanted to maintain the movie a secret by banning it. My country is the world's biggest SECULAR country, and the state where I live is an epitome of it. But, the state government has banned this movie...after almost whole of its educated population read the book, religiously. So, I had to travel almost 600Km shelling some Rs.2000 to catch this movie, just to feel the spark of independence. I hate anything that is controlled by someone.

I expected a lot from the movie. And mostly I got what I expected. Ron Howard excelled in what he does. Some scenes were exceptionally handled on the celluloid. And there is nothing I can say about the Oscar nominated(and also won..twice) actors. Sir Ian McKealan, Audry and Tom Hanks did what they are expected of....But, the surprise is Paul Bettany. He was one villain that is going to haunt me for quite some time. Very convincing performance in the role of Silas.

If I had to say some bad things about the movie, then it would be the time. I enjoyed this story in the form of a book more than a movie. The book builds the tension of the plot over a period of your reading it...say 4 to 5 days for me. All that tension and whatever other feelings are shown in three hours. But a movie can't be longer, you know...Mixed feelings about the movie.

I think this movie will be more enjoyed by those who didn't read the book. But, there is a chance of not understanding it completely.

On the whole, "The code" is a fiction and that is all. When everybody knows that it is a fiction, why to make a big scene out of it, by banning it. When the movie is working fine at cinemas in Rome City, why/how the hell it would hurt people elsewhere on religious grounds? Since when are better Christians living here in India? Any ways, I don't want to give a political tag for this issue now..

My rating for the movie is 8.