6.8 | / 10 |
Users | 3.6 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.6 |
A Harvard symbologist works with a nuclear physicist to solve a murder and prevent a terrorist act against the Vatican.
Starring: Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, Stellan Skarsgård, Pierfrancesco FavinoAdventure | 100% |
Thriller | 59% |
Mystery | 16% |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English, English SDH, French
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (2 BDs, 1 DVD)
Digital copy (on disc)
BD-Live
movieIQ
Region free
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Trust no one.
While The Da Vinci Code
bordered on comedy, delivering a superficially complex but ultimately paint-by-numbers laugher
of a plot with
one ridiculous contrivance after another, Angels & Demons manages to offer a somewhat
tighter, more organic, and simply far more enjoyable romp through the world of past and present
intermingled in a dangerous game of violence and deceit. It still suffers from some of the same
problems that hindered its predecessor, namely somewhat shallow and superfluous side
characters, plot contrivances, "secrets" that aren't the least bit difficult to discern well before
the characters in the film manage to do so, and a sluggish pace. Still, the problems don't destroy
the film, but they do weigh it down enough to keep this from being a real nail-biting winner. The
latest film adapted from controversial author
Dan Brown's library, Angels & Demons is billed as a sequel to The Da Vinci Code
(the two share no real common story threads), but the novel was actually published
before The Da Vinci Code. Nevertheless, Director Ron Howard, returning to once
again helm a Brown novel-turned-film, injects Angels & Demons with a bit more focus
and plenty of technical know-how, the result a film that's not great by any means but certainly
watchable and far better than the critically-panned The Da Vinci Code.
Robert Langdon mulls over another decision.
This Blu-ray release of Angels & Demons offers a fantastic 1080p, 2.40:1-framed transfer. From the beginning, the strength of the image becomes evident at the late Pope's funeral. Colors here, and elsewhere, are beautifully rendered, with the red shades in particular dominating the screen. Angels & Demons isn't an abundantly colorful film, however. The daytime exterior shots do offer a nice selection of hues found in backgrounds, but this is an earth-tone and red-dominated film; walls, floors, and buildings all seem to be of a sandy or brown shade. Nevertheless, it all comes together beautifully, and the transfer displays its colors in an exceptional field of view that remains clear and deep. Detail is excellent throughout as well; whether the sleek and modern lines of the Large Hadron Collider or the deepest and most ancient chasms within the Vatican, Angels & Demons features exceptional depth, detail, and texture in most every scene. Viewers will note the rough and slightly uneven stone tiles outside the Vatican, the wonderful clarity and texture of the buildings in several breathtaking overhead shots, or the smoothness and intricate detail of marble columns in another scene. Fine detail in faces, too, rarely fails to impress; some of the older religious leaders in particular share plenty of fine detail in wrinkly faces. Angels & Demons features plenty of dark and murky locations, and while blacks generally remain good, they can unnaturally brighten on occasion. Fortunately, the transfer handles these shots expertly, with only a hint of banding in a few places and no discernible blocking. With a subtle layer of grain that puts the finishing touches on a strong film-like transfer, Angels & Demons makes for another winning transfer from Sony.
Angels & Demons delivers a sinfully wonderful DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Every note of music is replayed with authority; from the deepest, devilishly-good bowels of the low end to the crystal-clear angelic highs, the music enjoys pristine and lifelike clarity throughout. In fact, Hans Zimmer's score seems incredibly organic; music seems not to stem from a detached orchestra but instead flows from the locations seen on-screen. It's a rare sensation to enjoy a score that so precisely fits in with the material, and Zimmer has pulled it off here, and the Blu-ray's capability of delivering each note with pinpoint accuracy, clarity, and volume does wonders for both the score and the film. Elsewhere, the particle movement inside the Collider delivers a remarkable whooshing sensation as it travels at high speed through the soundstage, and never does the track falter in delivering anything but the most pinpoint clarity through this entire mind-blowing sonic sequence. Supporting surround use is one of the track's strengths; whether more aggressive instances such as a helicopter buzzing across the soundstage or more subtle atmospherics -- dripping water, fluttering birds, or general crowd din outside the Vatican -- Angels & Demons never fails to deliver a satisfying and immersive listen. Save for a few mumbled lines that seem the fault of the actors and not the soundtrack, dialogue in Angels & Demons is accompanied by a hint of bass but nevertheless sounds clear and crisp. Angels & Demons' lossless soundtrack is, perhaps, the disc's -- and the film's -- strongest asset.
Angels & Demons arrives on Blu-ray as a three-disc set, with the bulk of the extras on a
second Blu-ray disc. Disc one features both the 139-minute theatrical cut and the 146-minute
extended cuts of the film; Sony's CineChat application; BD-Live functionality;
Sony's "MovieIQ" that offers live, up-to-date details about every scene, including cast and crew
filmographies and biographies, soundtrack listings, and more; and
1080p trailers for Julie & Julia, The Da Vinci Code,
Year One, Casino Royale, Close Encounters of the Third
Kind, Whatever Works,
and
It Might Get Loud.
Disc two begins with The Path of Illumination (1080p), permitting users to go on the
journey
through Rome alongside Robert Langdon. Moving through the piece allows users to access a
wealth of
knowledge revolving around the world of Angels & Demons. Through the five primary
locations --
Piazza Del Popolo, Santa Maria Della Vittoria, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and St. Peter's Square --
users can access text and video clips that share the history of the locations, their place in the
story, and more. Also available are text-based definitions of various historical, geographical, and
technical jargon; behind-the-scenes video footage; in-depth symbology lessons; and much more.
Rome Was Not Built in a Day (1080p, 17:30) takes a look at how the production came
together. It includes a glimpse into the production design, creating seamless visual effects and
locations, and the challenge of crafting the script from Dan Brown's novel. The piece focuses
heavily on the massive sets built for the film, the accompanying special effects, the explosion at
the end of the film, and the impact of not being able to shoot at the Vatican after the controversy
surrounding The Da Vinci Code. As the piece draws to an end, it also examines the film's
sound design and Hans Zimmer's score. Writing 'Angels & Demons' (1080p, 10:09)
looks
at how the film is and is not a sequel to the filmed version of The Da Vinci Code, the
work of David Koepp and Akiva Goldsman in translating the novel into a shooting script, and
author Dan Brown's contributions to the film. Next, Characters in Search of the True
Story (1080p, 17:10) looks at the importance of well-developed, smartly-written, and
strongly-acted characters to novels, films, and Angels & Demons in particular. The piece
looks at each primary character's strengths and what they bring to the story.
CERN: Pushing the Frontiers of Knowledge (1080i, 14:52) looks at the role and purpose
of the scientific organization and its place in the film. Handling Props (1080p, 11:35)
takes an interesting look at the props of the film, including their design, interpretation
from page to screen, and more. 'Angels & Demons:' The Full Story (1080p, 9:46)
focuses on several aspects of the filmmaking process, beginning with a look at shooting in Rome,
building the intricate sets in Los Angeles, costume design, creating the film's "cool" and "stylish"
feel, and stunt work. Finally, This is an Ambigram (1080p, 4:46) features a brief history
of ambigrams and their role in the film. Disc three of this set contains a digital copy of Angels
& Demons that, unfortunately,
was unavailable for redemption at time of writing. Disc three also includes a trial version of the
"Hans
Zimmer Music Studio Powered By Sequel 2" software.
Superior to The Da Vinci Code in every regard, Angels & Demons still isn't great cinema, but it does make for passable entertainment that has on its side a decent if not predictable story, a good performance from a legendary actor, and strong technical elements that accentuate the film's gorgeous locations and sets. On the flip side, Angels & Demons is something of a meanderer, and the film becomes a bit too repetitive and dull once the novelty of the concept begins to wear thin, and it seems that it matters not how the film arrives at its ending but rather that it -- eventually -- does get there and only for a payoff that astute viewers will see coming a mile (or, in this case, a reel or two) away. Sony's Blu-ray release of Angels & Demons is, as expected, spectacular. Boasting a strong 1080p transfer, a fabulous lossless soundtrack, and a plethora of extra content spread over three discs, fans of the film or author Dan Brown's story should have absolutely no qualms about making this title a permanent member of the Blu-ray collection, but newcomers are advised to rent (alongside The Da Vinci Code) first.
Theatrical and Extended Edition
2009
Gift Set with Bookends
2009
Limited Edition Gift Set
2009
With Holographic Cell | 2-Disc
2009
Theatrical & Extended Edition
2009
Mastered in 4K
2009
2009
Mastered in 4K
2009
Project Pop Art
2009
Theatrical and Extended Edition
2009
10th Anniversary Edition
2006
2016
2006
2007
Collector's Edition
2004
Universal 100th Anniversary
2004
2011
2018
2011
2015
2012
2009
2017
Limited Edition
2007
2002
2009
2002
1999
1981
2000