Angels & Demons

Once again, a winner of two golden statues, Tom Hanks, is a good guy, side by side with his two companions - Vittoria Vetra, a CERN scientist and Inspector Ernesto Olivetti. Playing a role of Robert Langdon, a Harvard University professor of symbology, his name was on the lips of the Vatican; frightened by the threat of the long lost enemy - The Illuminati, the central authority of the Roman Catholic Church sought his help.

The Illuminati, throughout history known as a shadowy secret society came after the Church. The moment is perfectly timed - Pope Pius XVI is dead. While the world awaits for the white smoke from the conclace, signalling the election of the new Pope, the 400 year old society kidnaps the four most likely candidates.

The plan is simple - kill the four preferiti and destroy the Vatican by blowing it up. That’s where Vetra and CERN pop in. A vial of antimatter has been stolen and planned for destruction of the Vatican in a burst of light. Symbolically, at midnight. Tom Hanks as the smart one takes care of deciphering the threat while the Italian police tries to follow his sharp mind and help him. Still, the trio cannot work individually. They need each others’ skills to save the Vatican.

Surrounded by the smart sidekicks but also a very smart opponent, Hanks does his best, knowing that the clock is ticking. It wouldn’t sound as a spoiler if said that the things weren’t what they seemed to be. Of course, the anticipation during the 140 minutes of the movie can only lead to a twist ending. Even more when you’re familiar with the fact that the movie was adaptation of Dan Brown’s novel by the same name.

The movie merges crime, drama, action; viewed both from the side of good and the side of evil. Of course, differently. But this time, the Church was blended in. It raised the movie to a higher level; to me, to the highest possible. The Church theme has been chewed on too many times through movies, novels. And it always seems to have a controversial effect. Why? Because we all have our own opinions, we’re entitled to them. As for this movie, there’s only one ending - the Church was put on the side of the good guys.

An ever lasting theme focused on the Church is always a good theme. Only this time, the questions have stayed underground. It was basically a fight between good and evil; this time the Church was the saint, and the Illuminati - the devil. If there’s to follow a biblical saying, there’s no question about who has won this battle.