Angels & Demons Parent Guide
For a film promoting the usefulness of science, deduction and modern technology, the script still contains an unreasonable amount of gaping plot holes.
Parent Movie Review
Angels & Demons, set up as a sequel to the controversial film The DaVinci Code (even though the books are written in the reverse order), is sure to spark a storm of discussion among religious sects and fans of author Dan Brown.
Following the death of the Pope, Professor Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) is summoned to Vatican City, which is a surprise considering his last run in with the clergy. However, the religious leaders have received an ominous threat from the Illuminati, a secret society whose members were once sought out and killed by the ancient church. Resurfacing from seeming oblivion, the group has kidnapped the four top papal prospects and is threatening to kill one every hour before detonating a bomb in the Holy City.
As Cardinal Strauss (Armin Mueller-Stahl) prepares to move ahead with the conclave, Inspector Olivetti (Pierfrancesco Favino) of the Roman police hopes Langdon can decipher the code pointing to the locations where the premeditated murders will occur and the explosive device is hidden. With the help of scientist Vittoria Vetra (Ayelet Zurer) and Commander Richter (Stellan Skarsgård) of the Swiss Guard, the symbolist begins a feverish hunt for clues.
For a film promoting the usefulness of science, deduction and modern technology, the script still contains an unreasonable amount of gaping plot lines. While the cardinals all surrender their electronic gadgets before entering the conclave, everyone outside of the church seems to be equally hobbled when it comes to using their cell phones to call for backup. Efforts to locate the bomb also seem primitive in an era when surveillance and decoding equipment is readily available, even to the common consumer. The result is several frantic but fruitless attempts to stop the executions.
The movie doesn’t show a single smooch or embrace, but it is flush with violent and often graphic scenes of death and mutilation. In addition to a host of police officers who either have their necks slit or are shot, there are scenes of human branding, decomposing corpses, and blood splattered bodies along with the disturbing portrayal of victims being burned alive.
Digging up the age-old battle between science and religion, the production also resorts to the overused, stereotypical depictions of corruption in the church. Yet there are also moments when the composure and compassion of the cardinals are sublimely shown, humbling even the self-righteous symbol interrupter with their kindness and good sense.
Though Angels & Demons comes across as more of a pure thriller than The DaVinci Code, this murder mystery set in the heart of the Catholic hierarchy may leave some viewers feeling uncomfortable with the religious portrayals. Meanwhile others will likely find the gruesome deaths and rampant misuse of technology too disturbing or distracting to be worth a visit to this Roman destination.
Directed by Ron Howard. Starring Tom Hanks, Ayelet Zurer, Ewan McGregor, Ron Howard. Running time: 140 minutes. Theatrical release May 15, 2009. Updated July 17, 2017About author
Angels & Demons
Rating & Content Info
Why is Angels & Demons rated PG-13? Angels & Demons is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for sequences of violence, disturbing images and thematic material.
Combining a smattering of profanities and terms of Deity with a few scenes of cigarette use and a brief discussion about the castration or "unmanning" of several statues, this film focuses heavily on depictions of violent deaths and mutilations. While dressing a bullet injury, a man injects an unknown substance into his chest. The results of drug misuse are seen in a decomposing corpse. A female scientist finds blood splattered around a lab and an eyeball from a dead colleague on the floor. Men are branded with hot irons. A character shows disregard for sacred items. Rats are seen chewing on the face of a dead man. After arguing about differing religious beliefs, a riot breaks out between parishioners waiting for the announcement of the new Pope. Blood pours on the ground from a man who has had his lungs punctured. Another man is sprayed with his blood while attempting to revive him. At least two characters are shown engulfed in flames. A man dies in a car explosion. A man is hit in the head with a fire extinguisher. Police officers have their necks slit or are shot. Two men are caught in an airtight chamber and suffer the effects of oxygen deprivation. A man is strapped to a heavy object and thrown into a water fountain. Characters are shown with blood oozing from their nose and mouth. A helicopter explodes high above the city. People are pushed to the ground or hit with flying objects as a result of the explosion. Cars are shown racing through busy city streets. Scientists create a canister of anti-matter that is later used as a bomb.
Page last updated July 17, 2017
Angels & Demons Parents' Guide
CERN, a particle physics laboratory in Europe, is carrying out experiments on the creation of antimatter. They have also posted some information to coincide with the release of the movie Angels & Demons. To learn more about their lab and the development of antimatter, visit http://public.web.cern.ch/public/.
This is not the first time that Science vs Religion have faced off in a movie or the real world. Do you think they are mutually exclusive? Or as stated in the film, are they just saying the same thing in a different language?
News About "Angels & Demons"
Angels & Devils is based on a novel by Dan Brown, who also penned The Da Vinci Code.
Home Video
The most recent home video release of Angels & Demons movie is October 4, 2016. Here are some details…
Re-release of The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons: October 4, 2016
In anticipation of the 28 October 2016 release of Inferno, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is re-releasing the two film prequels (i>The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons) to this chapter of author
Click here to find information about the The Da Vinci Code release.
Angels & Demons (4K Ultra HD) - Feature film in 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR) - Dolby Atmos soundtrack (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 compatible) - Also includes the film and special features on high-def Blu-ray
Angels & Demons (Blu-ray + Digital HD) - All-NEW: Legacy of Langdon: Interviews with Tom Hanks, Ron Howard, Dan Brown and Brian Grazer about Angels & Demons - First Look at Inferno - Deleted / Extended / Alternate Scenes - 7 Featurettes - Theatrical Trailers
Angles & Demons Release Date: 24 November 2009 Angles & Demons on DVD includes the following bonus features: -Featurettes: Rome Was Not Built in a Day, Writing Angels & Demons, Characters in Search of the True Story and CERN: Pushing the Frontiers of Knowledge.
Angles & Demons: 2-Disc Extended DVD offers: -Featurettes: Rome Was Not Built in a Day, Writing Angels & Demons, Characters in Search of the True Story and CERN: Pushing the Frontiers of Knowledge. - Additional Featurettes: Handling Props, Angels & Demons: The Full Story, This is an Ambigram and Hans Zimmer Music Studio Powered by Sequel 2
Angles & Demons: 2-Disc Blu-ray Edition features: -Featurettes: Rome Was Not Built in a Day, Writing Angels & Demons, Characters in Search of the True Story and CERN: Pushing the Frontiers of Knowledge. Angles & Demons: 2-Disc Extended DVD offers: -Featurettes: Rome Was Not Built in a Day, Writing Angels & Demons, Characters in Search of the True Story and CERN: Pushing the Frontiers of Knowledge. - Additional Featurettes: Handling Props, Angels & Demons: The Full Story, This is an Ambigram and Hans Zimmer Music Studio Powered by Sequel 2 - Both Theatrical and Extended Film Versions (with 5.1 DTS-HD MA Audio) - Blu-ray Exclusives: movieIQ, cinechat and The Path of Illumination - Digital Copy of the film for PC, PSP, Mac or iPod
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Rod Howard directed this movie and the The DaVinci Code, which feature historical figures. He portrays other personalities from the past in his films Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man and Frost/Nixon.
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