Dan Brown’s original novel Angels & Demons, (the first Robert Langdon adventure, technically a prequel) has been adapted as a sequel to the filmed version of The Da Vinci Code. As with that book, this one continues to be plagued with historical inaccuracies, outright fiction, and hostility to Catholicism, all under the guise of a find-the-next-clue thriller.
This time around, the character of Robert Langdon (played again by Tom Hanks) has changed. Formerly reserved and somewhat helpless, he’s become more hands-on and cocky, with an air of smugness about him. He knows more about Vatican procedures than the security forces do, and whenever he’s asked a question, his “you mean you don’t know that?” facial expression comes out. He fast-tracks through fake history and espouses baseless assertions against the Church, without anyone challenging his statements. They have to be facts of course, because he’s the expert!
Commander Richter is in charge of Vatican security, and he comes across as removed and unlikable, questioning Hank’s character at every turn. At one point he scorns Langdon saying something like, “My church feeds the poor, shelters the homeless and cares for the sick. What does your church do? Oh, that’s right. You don’t have one.” A good comeback to be sure, but one that showcases his character as mean-spirited and arrogant.
Vittoria Vetra is a beautiful scientist (are there any other kind?) who’s job apparently is to back up Robert Langdon and agree with everything he says. She’s credible, but not given much to do.
Then you’ve got Cardinal Strauss, the stereotypical leader of the church, aloof and uncaring, who only wants to grasp authority. When requested by a priest to clear the crowd of people out of St. Peter’s Square because of the bomb threat, the Cardinal responds by saying something like “we’re all going to heaven some day, sooner or later.” Ooh, I get it! Leaders in the church don’t care if innocent people die. As long as the Church’s image is upheld.
No doubt bowing to Hollywood pressure to be Politically Correct, the novel’s villain, a Muslim, in the film has been turned into of all things, a Danish Terrorist. That’s right. Danish. Because I cannot count the number of times I’ve heard about Danish Terrorists in the news.
And finally we get to the one priest who appears to be well-meaning, progressive, and reasonable. The Camerlengo Patrick McKenna, played superbly by Ewan McGregor. Wow! Someone in the church we can actually like. He’s smart, boyishly handsome, has well thought-out ideas and argues in a direct yet concerned way. He questions authority and pleads with the other priests to be more open and transparent. He actually seems to care, and we as the audience are meant to like him.
SPOILER (drag below with your cursor to reveal):
Of course, he turns out to be the villain.
(Gee, I didn’t see that one coming!)
As expected, we get the usual barbs against the Church:
-they didn’t allow the use of the English language at mass
because it was “too free thinking.”
-the Church adopted pagan holidays to
“make conversion less of a shock.”
-the Church has, and continues to suppress, Science.
-press releases from the Vatican are patently false.
Then there are specific scenes to drive the author’s point of view home:
-Dialogue in the Vatican archives where a representative tells Langdon that the Church is “not a corporation” ending with a shot of the hood ornament on a Church-owned Mercedes.
-Church members having arguments with non-believers in the Square over “stem cell research.” Of course, we aren’t told what KIND of stem cell research, just that believers are blanket-against it.
-A discussion concluding that the Church is desperate to prevent the Illuminati from acquiring antimatter because “if Science is allowed to claim the power of creation, then what is left for God?”
And finally some completely fabricated “facts” and “history”:
-The Illuminati were seekers of “scientific truth”
(They weren’t, they just didn’t want to support the Catholic Church)
-There was a purge of the Illuminati (La Purga) by the Church in 1668
(this never happened, as these Illuminati were founded in 1776)
-That Galileo was a member of the Illuminati.
(He wasn’t)
-That antimatter exists in large quantities.
(It doesn’t)
There is actually one good line in the movie that co-screenwriter David Koepp added (he also used it in the last Indiana Jones movie). Asked if he believed in God, Robert Langdon eventually replies, “Faith is a gift I that have yet to receive.” No truer word in this film has been spoken.
So there you have it. Another movie treat from agnostic novelists and secular Hollywood, engineered to go down like hot buttered popcorn. Of course, like that popular movie snack, at the end of the night it might make your stomach sour. And if movies like this are all you consume, you’re bound to get sick. Enjoy!
For more information on the discussions surrounding Angels & Demons, click here.
We'll be revisiting the film this fall at THE DECODER RING.
No comments:
Post a Comment