21 Responses for "Angels/Demons"

1. Matt Loewen October 30th, 2008 at 1:09 pm 1

   The book ANGELS & DEMONS has one of the most convincing pro-Religion speeches I have ever read.

   That said…

   MAKE IT STOP!!! DAN BROWN, STOP THIS MADNESS!!!

2. Ryan Adams October 30th, 2008 at 1:10 pm 2

   Daniel P. Hanley & Mike Hill have been nominated for 3 Oscars each (A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man, Apollo 13)

   Hans Zimmer has been nominated for 7 Oscars and won once (for the Lion King) (none of the noms were for Ron Howard movies)

   Cinematographer Salvatore Totino has never been nominated for an Oscar — or anything else — ever.

3. Ryan Adams October 30th, 2008 at 1:12 pm 3

   Angels and Demons is a far better novel than The Da Vinci Code, don’t you think, Matt?

   But with Ack-iva Goldman adapting both, the quality of the source hardly matters.

4. RichardA October 30th, 2008 at 1:26 pm 4

   This book is a lot easier to adapt to the screen than Da Vinci’s Code because it’s a lot of running around from point A to B rather than a lot of explanations about what’s what.

   I hear Tom Hanks doesn’t have the weird hair in this movie.

5. Jonathan Spuij October 30th, 2008 at 4:12 pm 5

   Angels & Demons is a lot less controversial and much more Hollywood friendly. It has action, chases, a brilliant climactic action scene and excitement. Should be a perfect studio-movie that’s enjoyable without the religious hubbub and sitting around talking that stunned The Da Vinci Code. Oh, and Zimmer’s score was brilliant and the adaptation in the trailer is truly terrific.

6. Matt Loewen October 30th, 2008 at 4:33 pm 6

   Yes, the book is better than THE DA VINCI CODE. Really, I think all his other books are better than THE DA VINCI CODE.

   That doesn’t mean it’s not a bad book: completely conventional, badly written, with another bad writer adapting it, etc. etc. ETC!

   And I guess I hate the book a lot more because of its ending.

   *SPOILER!!!*

   The priest, as I said before, gives an incredibly well-written (okay, I’ll give that to Dan Brown), very convincing pro-Religion speech that made me feel like cheering. He is a wonderfully warm character, and a great presence.

   And he’s almost killed by the “real” bad guy near the end.

   And he still turned out to be the bad guy! THE PRIEST WAS THE BAD GUY! JUST LIKE IN EVERY OTHER BOOK EVER WRITTEN!!!*

   *Note, this is an exaggeration. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t true.

7. Ryan Adams October 30th, 2008 at 4:57 pm 7

   We can thank Dan Brown for one thing. His success inspired a lot of imitators — and many of them outdid him.

   The Egyptologist by Arthur Phillips
   The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl
   The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

   Predating The Duh Vinci Code, anything by Arturo Perez-Reverte, and the author who got me hooked on this kind of novel, Umberto Eco (The Name of the Rose and Foucault’s Pendulum)

   Conspiracy of Paper by David Liss is excellent too.

   Any other favorite historically-themed thrillers?

8. Saltire Flower October 30th, 2008 at 6:40 pm 8

   The Footprints of God was pretty good, though it’s focus on history is a lot more broad and involves everything from the Big Bang to Jesus. It weaves a lot of different elements together – science, artificial intelligence, history, religion, and God. It’s borderline surreal actually, which makes it a pretty interesting for a thriller, and also makes it downright impossible to translate into a film.

9. Zac October 30th, 2008 at 9:58 pm 9

   Any truth to the rumors that Hanks will be paid at least $50 million for this movie, salary plus a percentage of the box office profits?

   I haven’t seen DVC since theaters and I don’t own the DVD, but I imagine I’ll see AAD in theaters opening weekend. Disposable entertainment.

10. Jonathan Spuij October 31st, 2008 at 3:23 am 10

    Anyone know the Monaldi & Sorti novels? They’re based on actual historical documents bringing into the light some nasty stuff about the Vatican, the Spansih Royalty and Louis XIV insanity.

11. Proman October 31st, 2008 at 10:12 am 11

    The obligatory Ron Howard sucks/Ron Howard sucks post.

12. Ryan Adams October 31st, 2008 at 10:18 am 12

    I wouldn’t say it that way, Proman.
    More like: Ron Howard is Ron Howard is Ron Howard.

    Unlike, say, Danny Boyle, a Ron Howard movie by any name will still smell like a Ron Howard movie. If you think that smell is sweet, so be it.

13. Ryan Adams October 31st, 2008 at 10:27 am 13

    Thanks Saltire, for the tip to Footprints of Gods. I know Greg Iles from a roadtrip audio-book of Spandau Phoenix.

    Jonathan, the only Monaldi & Sorti novel Amazon lists is Imprimatur. Is there another better one I should try to find?

14. Will October 31st, 2008 at 1:53 pm 14

    The book is just as pro religious as it is pro science. Its a good book with amazing action scenes. Still, Hanks is not Langdon.

15. Harry October 31st, 2008 at 2:19 pm 15

    I always felt Howard/Hanks were the wrong team for this series. The material just doesn’t really play to either party’s strengths.

16. Proman October 31st, 2008 at 3:39 pm 16

    “I wouldn’t say it that way, Proman.
    More like: Ron Howard is Ron Howard is Ron Howard.

    Unlike, say, Danny Boyle, a Ron Howard movie by any name will still smell like a Ron Howard movie. If you think that smell is sweet, so be it”

    I certainly agree that all Howards film have a certain sameness to them so Ron Howard is Ron Howard is Ron Howard is Ron Howard is teh suck.

17. B R November 1st, 2008 at 12:16 pm 17

    I also agree that Angels & Demons was the better of the two novels, as well as the better fit for the film adaptation. The trailer looks okay, but the first film was near deplorable by my standards (both as an adaptation and a film). While I am a fan of Mr. Hanks I do not really feel that he adds anything particular to the story, and I actually feel that the first film limited his abilities as an actor. So, I guess I would agree with the poster who said that these films don’t really play to either Mr. Howard or Mr. Hanks’ strengths. Also thanks for the book recommendations, Ryan and everyone else, looks like I have quite a bit of reading to do.

18. chrisw November 1st, 2008 at 2:41 pm 18

    This movie will make money and that’s the only reason they’re making it. I’m not the biggest fan of Howard’s, but Apollo 13 is one hell of a film.

19. Friedl November 1st, 2008 at 4:21 pm 19

    I simply cannot yawn loud enough. But I am trying.

    “a Ron Howard movie by any name will still smell like a Ron Howard movie. If you think that smell is sweet, so be it.”

    ah ha ha ha ha ha. Well said.

    I really liked Cinderella Man.

20. Alan of Montreal November 1st, 2008 at 5:49 pm 20

    However the movie turns out (the production values in the trailer look pretty good), I think the voiceover for the trailer is awesome.

21. 2videos best videos for you July 1st, 2009 at 12:44 am 21

    Angels & Demons…

    When a murder of a physicist, Leonardo Vetra, finds a symbolist, Robert Langdon, and Mr. Vetra’s daughter, Vittoria, on an adventure for a secret brotherhood, The Illuminati. Clues lead them all around the Vatican, including the four alters of sc…