Just got back from seeing it with my dad ('twas his birthday today). Possibly one of if not THE greatest films I've seen in my life. Ewan McGreggor was fantastic.
Best points (some major spoilers)
Spoiler:
Great acting
Great Final Plot Twist
NO EWAN! NO SUICIDE! NOOOOOOOO!
Catholic Church... who doesn't love Catholic conspiracies???
Illuminati=SECRET SOCIETY
ANTIMATER EXIIIIIIISTS!!!!
Immolation scene.
Best... movie...ever...
Discuss.
Lord Vexen
I loved it...but they messed up the ending. I wanted it to be true to the book...
I was so looking forward to the 12 second pope, as I call him.
Crozeus
I found the movie TERRIBLE! The book was excellent, and the movie totally ruined it.
Journey
A colleague of mine went to see it at the weekend. Said it was the biggest waste of money in his life.
RainaRose
Whats it about anyway?
Lord Invictus
Lord Vexen wrote:
I loved it...but they messed up the ending. I wanted it to be true to the book...
I was so looking forward to the 12 second pope, as I call him.
What was the book's ending? Sorry, never read it (unfortunately, time seems to escape me this year. I'll try to read Da Vinci Code this summer). Actually, don't tell me the real ending; or at least put it in spoilers.
Rainna, essential background:
A large amount of anti-matter (WHICH EXIIIISTS) was produced in a Cern lab in Switzerland. One container was stolen, and anti-matter has the possibility to be used as a WMD if it collides violently with matter, which it would if two electronmagnets suspending it in the container were to run out of power and fail.
The Pope died expectantly and the Cardinals of the Catholic Church (high-ranked Bishops) have gathered in Conclave in Vatican City (to elect the new Pope). At this point comes the driving storyline of the movie: The four Preferidi (sp?), or Cardinals likely to become Pope, were kidnapped in the night, and a taunt was sent threatening that they'd be publically executed every hour from 8-12 Midnight on the hour, and at Midnight Vatican would be destroyed by the anti-matter container.
Here's where I must use spoilers:
Spoiler:
Robert Langdon, a symbologist, begins work at recovering the Bishops at secret "Pillars of Science" hidden throughout Vatican. (Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and the fifth secret important theme).
The first Cardinal- earth- was in a tomb below a chapel, his body filled with various CRAP and rats eating his flesh.
Later, the second Bishop-air- had his lungs punctured.
The Camerlengo (person who substitutes for the Pope in his death) wants an immediate evacuation of Vatican City, but it is denied multiple times.
Some filler plot later....
Third Cardinal, fire, is hung by chains across a church (which contains a statue celebrating the Ecstasy of Sister Teresa) whereupon he is killed via a disturbing immolation.
Fourth Cardinal is rescued from being drowned in a water ceremony.
BTW, all Cardinals were branded like cattle on their chests with the element they were sacrificed in dedication of.
THe killer is executed via a coup in the destruction of his car.
The final stage involves branding of the Pope... Being as their is none, the Camerlengo is the substitute.
The main characters rush into the Camerlengo's office, where his chest is mangled by the branding. The head of the Swiss guard is pointing a gun at him as well. Swiss guard police immediately shoot him and another Bishop who attempts to finish the Cmerlengo off.
THe Camerlengo eventually takes the anti-matter bomb and flies into the sky in a helicopter with it. As it blows up, he floats down via a parachute.
THere is discussion whether or not he should become Pope (which is in violation of law requiring the Pope to have been a Cardinal).
Using video-tape of the incident where the Camerlengo was branded, the truth is discovered.
The Camerlengo was using this all as a means of taking the papacy for himself. he Swiss Guard head was about to arrest/kill him to stop the madness, but the Camerlengo quickly brands himself with the Papal symbols, accusing the Swiss guard of attacking him.
THe Cemerlengo is summoned to the Conclave where he expects to be elected Pope (or the like) for his heroism. Instead, the Cardinals stare at him blankly. He quickly realizes they know the truth.
As he leaves, Swiss guard block the exits. He retreats to Peter's tomb, where he pours oil on himself and commits suicide via self-immolation.
I know, weird when I explain it, but a great film.
Crozeus
When you read the book, you'll know how terrible the movie is in comparison.
Lord Vexen
Crozeus wrote:
When you read the book, you'll know how terrible the movie is in comparison.
It wasn't terrible...just not as good.
Much as I love Ewen McGregor...the Carmelengo was Italian...not Irish.
Xander Vos
Meh haven't seen it and not too passionate to see it. Didn't quite like the book - though it was leagues better than Da Vinci Code. Probably a DVD movie for me.
Lord Invictus
Korus Zhett wrote:
Meh haven't seen it and not too passionate to see it. Didn't quite like the book - though it was leagues better than Da Vinci Code. Probably a DVD movie for me.
I disagree, and I HIGHLY recommend the movie. It's one of the best I've seen, and definitely outranked Da Vinci Code the movie (though I loved that too).
Darth Samuel
I read the book a long time ago. Early 2006 probably.
It's still good, though. Digital Fortress, also by Dan Brown, is a really good book.
Lord Vexen
Darth Samuel wrote:
It's still good, though. Digital Fortress, also by Dan Brown, is a really good book.
I found it better than the Da Vinchi Code and Angels and Demons...but something tells me if they made a movie out of it they would mess it up.
Darth Samuel
probably. It'd be cool, but i don't see how they'd be able to pull it off.
Lord Invictus
I LOVED Da Vinci Code (I find protests by ultra-conservative Christians against it ridiculous... the Vatican newspaper even gave it good reviews! ) movie, as well as Angels and Demons.
I hope to read the books this summer. My reading list thus far consists of:
-Angels And Demons
-Da Vinci Code
-Digital Fortress
-Some Warcraft crap
-Complete Idiot's Guide to German (appropriate )
-A lot of other German books
-History of disease (...I read this when I'm bored)
- Reread Harry Potter 1-7 (did that last summer, but I find I'm forgetting the books)
-Animal Farm (read 1984 earlier this year, loved it. Don't know if Animal Farm will be as good)
- And Then There Were None (never got around to reading it)
- Some other crap that my school forces me to read for a summer book report.
EDIT: BTW, is Digital Fortress any good? Haven't heard much about it...
Lord Vexen
Lord Invictus wrote:
EDIT: BTW, is Digital Fortress any good? Haven't heard much about it...
Yes. Read it.
Darth Samuel
Digital Fortress is great.
Imma read I Am America (and So Can You!)
Lord Vexen
Dan Brown also has a new book called the Lost Symbol coming out on September 15th.
Its a sequel of sorts to the DaVinchi Code and Angels and Demons.
Lord Invictus
Lord Vexen wrote:
Dan Brown also has a new book called the Lost Symbol coming out on September 15th.
Its a sequel of sorts to the DaVinchi Code and Angels and Demons.
) movie, as well as Angels and Demons.
)