“Angels & Demons” is an entertaining film, it’s an ambitious and beautiful looking film that looks and sounds fantastic on 4K Ultra HD. But the film does have its shortcomings and some scenes are a bit farfetched, but yet in the end, I did enjoy the film, just not as much as “The Da Vinci Code”. An entertaining sequel, watching this film again has me really anticipating the release of the third film “Inferno”. “Angels & Demons” is a film worth recommending on 4K Ultra HD!
© 2009 Columbia Pictures. All Rights Reserved.
TITLE: Angels & Demons
DATE OF FILM RELEASE: 2009
DURATION: 138 Minutes
BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 2160p Ultra High Definition (2:40:1 aspect ratio), English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 compatible), English – Audio Description Track, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish (castillan), Spanish (Latin American) 5.1 Dolby Digital. SUBTITLES: English SDH, Chinese (Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Spanish (Latin American), Swedish, Thai and Turkish.
COMPANY: Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
RATED: PG-13 (Sequences of Violence, Disturbing Images and Thematic Material)
RELEASE DATE: October 11, 2016
Based on a novel by Dan Brown
Directed by Ron Howard
Written by David Koepp and Akiva Goldsman
Executive Producer: Dan Brown, Todd Hallowell, Marco Valerio Pugini
Produced by John Calley, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard
Associate Producer: William M. Connor, Kathleen McGill, Louisa Velis
Music by Hans Zimmer
Cinematography by Salvatore Totino
Edited by Daniel P. Hanley and Mike Hill
Casting by Janet Hirshenson, Jane Jenkins and Michelle Lewitt
Production Design by Allan Cameron
Set Decoration by Robert Gould, Richard Roberts
Costume Design by Daniel Orlandi
Starring:
Tom Hanks as Robert Langdon
Ewan McGregor as Camerlengo Patrick McKenna
Ayelet Zurer as Vittoria Vetra
Stellan Skarsgard as Commander Richter
Pierfrencesco Favino as Inspector Olivetti
Nikolaj Lie Kaas as Assassin
Armin Mueller-Stahl as Cardinal Strauss
Thure Lindhardt as Chartrand
David Pasquesi as Claudio Vincenzi
Cosimo Fusco as Father Simeon
In Ron Howard’s thrilling follow-up to The Da Vinci Code, expert symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) pursues ancient clues on a heart-racing hunt through Rome to find the four Cardinals kidnapped by a deadly secret society, the Illuminati. With the Cardinals’ lives on the line, and the Camerlengo (Ewan McGregor) desperate for help, Langdon embarks on a nonstop, action-packed race through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, and the most secret vault on Earth!
Dan Brown’s controversial novel “The Da Vinci Code†was a best seller and the film adaptation of the film was box office gold as the film grossed over $758 million worldwide. Needless to say, controversy helped catapult this film and the novel and it was no surprise when it was announced that Ron Howard (“A Beautiful Mindâ€, “Frost/Nixonâ€, “Cinderella Manâ€, “Apollo 13â€) would return as director and Tom Hanks (“Forrest Gumpâ€, “Castawayâ€, “Bigâ€, “Sleepless in Seattleâ€, “Saving Private Ryanâ€) as the main character Robert Langdon in an adaptation of Dan Brown’s 2000 mystery-thriller novel “Angels & Demonsâ€.
The film would feature a screenplay by David Koepp (“Hackâ€, “War of the Worldsâ€, “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skullâ€, “Ghost Townâ€) and Akiva Goldsman (“I Am Legendâ€, “I Robotâ€, “Cinderella Manâ€). Music for the film is by Hans Zimmer (“Frost/Nixonâ€, “The Dark Knightâ€, “Kung Fu Pandaâ€, “Pirates of the Carribean†films) and cinematography by Salvatore Totino (“Cinderella Manâ€, “Changing Lanesâ€, “Frost/Nixonâ€). The film The film opened in May 2009 and like “That Da Vinci Codeâ€, received a lot of controversy and did well in the box office as “Angels & Demons†made over $485 million.
“Angels & Demon” stars Tom Hanks (“Forrest Gump”, “Saving Private Ryan”, “The Green Mile”), Ewan McGregor (“Star Wars” films, “Trainspotting”, “Big Fish”), Ayelet Zurer (“Man of Steel”, “Munich”, “Vantage Point”), Stellan Skarsgard (“Good Will Hunting”, “The Avengers”, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”, “Thor”), Pierfrancesco Favino (“Rush”, “World War Z”, “Night at the Museum”), Nikolaj Lie Kaas (“The Green Butchers”, “The Keeper of Lost Causes”, “The Absent One”), Thure Lindhardt (“Into the Wild”, “Flame and Citron”, “Fast & Furious 6”) and Armin Mueller-Stahl (“The Game”, “The Thirteenth Floor”, “The International”).
Now “Angels & Demons†makes its debut on 4K Ultra HD to coincide with the 10th Anniversary of “The Da Vinci Code” and the theatrical release of the third Robert Langdon film, “Inferno”.
The film kicks off with Father Silvano Bentigovlio and Dr. Vittoria Vetra (portrayed by Ayalet Zurer) at the European Organization of Nuclear Research (CERN) in which the laboratory is trying to initiate a Large Handron Collider and collect the antimatter. All goes well and when Dr. Vetra goes to visit and congratulate him, she sees an eye socket ripped out and the father laying on the ground dead. Also, the antimatter has been stolen.
Meanwhile, the Roman Catholic Church mourns the death of Pope Pius XI and as the Vatican and people wait for a vote on who will be the next Pope, a group known as the Illuminati kidnap the “preferiti†(the four people nominated to become Pope) and a threat goes out that someone is in possession of the anti-matter and is threatening to kill each of the four and will destroy the Vatican. Meanwhile, while the leaders are working on their votes for the next pope, Camerlengo Patrick McKenna (portrayed by Ewan McGregor) has temporary control.
Because of the symbols of the Illuminati are being used ala Ambigram (Ampi = two, gram=words), the Vatican contacts symbiologist Robert Langdon (portrayed by Tom Hanks) who is working at Harvard University for his help and also CERN scientist Dr. Vittoria Vetra to go to Rome and help assist the Swiss Police and the Gendarme Corps of Vatican City State in stopping the person/people involved before they kill any of the four preferiti and to get back the anti-matter.
In a story about mystery, corruption and secrets, both Langdon and Vetra must find a way to stop the next killing before the Vatican is destroyed.
VIDEO:
“Angels & Demons” on 4K Ultra HD is presented ala 2160p High Definition (2:40:1 aspect ratio) features a beautiful location shots.
The film looks absolutely stunning on 4K Ultra HD.  Salvatore Totino and Ron Howard make a great filmmaking couple as the Director has trusted Totino to capture the setting in Rome and its people with clarity, amazing detail of the various architecture and the surrounds outside the Vatican. And of course, the skin pores and detail on the characters face. It’s all captured quite well and to add to that, a nice fine layer of grain. Overall, picture quality is fantastic.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW: To watch 4K Ultra HD, you will need a 4K UHD TV with HDR and an Ultra HD Blu-ray Player.
AUDIO & SUBTITLES:
“Angels & Demons” on 4K Ultra HD is presented in English Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 compatible), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish (Castillan), Spanish (Latin American) 5.1 Dolby Digital and an English – Audio Description Track.
Unlike “The Da Vinci Codeâ€, “Angels & Demons†is a film that features a lot of action scenes (which either is going to make you feel its going a bit too farfetched or will make you feel that it’s wonderful). From the gunshots from the assassin, the helicopter overhead, the cars racing and of course the anti-matter scenes, there is a good use of audio because of those action sequences. But what about the ambiance of a crowded area of the Vatican. Yes, you can hear the crowds with clarity and you can hear the people in the Vatican chit chatting, it’s a wonderful use of the soundscape. But the main thing that you will notice right off the bat is Hans Zimmer’s music.
The music plays a big part of the “Angels & Demons†in creating that feel of action, sadness or the key dramatic moments. Overall, this is another lossless soundtrack that really utilizes audio completely well. It’s not a full-on action-based film but it’s a film that does sound remarkably well.
Subtitles are presented in English SDH, Chinese (Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Spanish (Latin American), Swedish, Thai and Turkish.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
“Angels & Demons” comes with the following special features:
DISC 1 (on 4K Ultra HD):
- Extended Scenes – (9:20) Eleven extended scenes for “Angels & Demons”.
- Rome Was Not Built in a Day – (17:29) Interview with cast and crew of how to bring Dan Brown’s book to life. About the production design, the visual effects, editing and music of the film.
- Writing Angels & Demons – (10:07) Director Ron Howard and producer Brian Grazer talks about the adaptation of Dan Brown’s books to film and working with the character for “Angels & Demons”.
- Characters in Search of the True Story – (17:10) Director Ron Howard talks about the importance of the characters in the film. Cast talk about their characters and Ron Howard and author Dan Brown talks about the talent bringing the character to life.
- Cern: Pushing the Frontiers of Knowledge – (14:49) Director Ron Howard talking about working with the European Organization of Nuclear Research (CERN) laboratory and featuring the Director of Research and staff of CERN (the top laboratory for particle physics) talking about the lab and what they do at the lab and their mission. Director Ron Howard talks about how CERN is trying to recreate the “Big Bang” and the cast talk about the involvement of science in the film.
- Handling Props – (11:34) Director Ron Howard talks about the art department and the many set pieces used in the film. Interview with the prop master and she explains her and her staff’s duties during the film.
- Angels & Demons: The Full Story – (9:46) Director Ron Howard, Dan Brown and Tom Hanks talk about filming in Rome and the logistics of filming in the area. Also, the building and recreating the sets in Los Angeles and more.
- This is Ambigram – (4:44) Dan Brown talks about Ambigrams and how difficult it is to create. John Langon talks about his book “Wordplay” and the concept of ambigram and incorporating it for “Angels & Demons”.
- The Path of Illumination – Follow Robert Langdon’s journey through Rome and unlock hidden secrets of the Illuminati. Select from five marked locations on a map. And you can unearth in-depth historical facts, film clips and behind-the-scenes footage. Choose from the Piazza Del Popolo, St. Peter’s Square, Santa Maria Della Vittoria, Piazza Navona and the Pantheon. For example, if you click on Piazza Del Popolo, you get “Church” and “Obelisk”. Choose church and you will see footage of the church and commentary by Ron Howard explaining the history of that location or structures. Also, read information and detail of other subjects as well.
EXTRAS:
“Angels & Demons” will come with both the 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray plus an UltraViolet Digital HD code. Also, a slipcover.
“Angels & Demons” is one of those films that you either love or hate, as the same situation with “The Da Vinci Code”.
I found the film to be quite entertaining and the cinematography and music to really enhance the film because the biggest problem that I found was the overuse of CG. I know the goal was to show how religion and science can work together but I tend to have a disdain towards films that try to be real but overuse CG in ways that are a bit farfetched.
Also, there was a problem with character development. In “The Da Vinci Code”, there were characters that you actually cared about. With “Angels & Demons”, I could hardly care for the Dr. Vetra because she’s hardly around Robert for most of the film. That’s what I enjoyed about the last film, the characters of Audrey Tautou’s Agent Sophie Neveu and Dr. Robert Langdon were developed quite well over the course of the film, while in “Angels & Demons”…somehow the symbiologist ends up becoming an action-hero, escaping major predicaments, one after the other and it was one thing to see it happen but seeing him do it over and over again, was a bit too farfetched for my taste. I wanted to see more of that intelligence and knowledge in symbiology and history to play a big part of the film.
But the saving grace for this film was my appreciation of “Angels & Demons” cinematography and music. Similar to how Jacques Tati made the city come alive in a film like “Playtime”, Rome was captured as is.  No matter how many people were loitering near the set, director Ron Howard wanted to capture the city and its beauty and they succeeded.
This is definitely a beautiful film and the 4K Ultra HD release definitely brings out the film’s detail and clarity.  I was quite impressed with the picture quality, although the CG was just a bit too out-of-place it seemed. But the overall locations of where the film was shot and the creating of the sets to make the film come alive and make a set in Los Angeles look like Rome, a job well done by the production department.
And the lossless soundtrack is solid as well. Special features wise, “The Da Vinci Code” was packed with bonus features but “Angels & Demons” had about seven major features and no commentary track by Ron Howard either. But I did enjoy the use of “The Path of the Illumination” featuring the various areas around Rome.
For those who owned the extended edition of “Angels & Demons”, the version presented in 4K Ultra HD is the theatrical version. While scenes featured in the extended version are now presented as extended scenes in the special features, similar to “The Da Vinci Code: 10th Anniversary” 4K Ultra HD release.
Overall, “Angels & Demons” is an entertaining film, it’s an ambitious and beautiful looking film that looks and sounds fantastic on 4K Ultra HD. But the film does have its shortcomings and some scenes are a bit farfetched, but yet in the end, I did enjoy the film, just not as much as “The Da Vinci Code”. An entertaining sequel, watching this film again has me really anticipating the release of the third film “Inferno”.
“Angels & Demons” is a film worth recommending on 4K Ultra HD!
