Last night I went with some friends too the cinema, too held a mini movie marathon (in other words, watch 2 movies in a row).
The first movie we saw was Wolverine, which was a really nice (cinema) movie, even though I'm not that fond of X-men. But this isn’t the topic to go on about it.
The 2nd movie we watched was Angels & Demons, a movie I've been dying to see ever I found out they where going to bring this book to the big screen.
(which was on the same day that I went to see The Da Vinci Code and I spotted a flyer hang somewhere in a corner).
Now you must know, Angels & Demons is not only my favourite Dan Browne book, it's also my all time favourite, of all books, I've read so far.
When it started I was like (in my head) see, this is going to be as good as you thought it would be, great book, so great story potential, good actors, nice shooting angles (camera wise), colours where good (matched the feeling it should have) and the specials (especially the anti matter) looked great.
However when the movie progressed I felt like they started to rush several parts of the book, and cut out some stuff that I think was vital for the story.
And the further we watched it, the stronger these feelings became. They even cut out some characters and twisted the story so that other characters took over the actions of those cut out.
At the end I was like, oh my, how can they (rape is a strong word but something like that), such a wonderful story.
I'm really disapointed by this movie, so you might guess my advice:
Don't bother going to Angels&Demons, read the book, forget the movie!
But that might be a bit harsh, because apart from the story, it was a good movie. But seriously, if you like to read books, go read it, if you don’t like to read books, then you’re missing out on something great, but I suppose the movie might actually strike you as a decent one.
gr Lumi
Well, I haven't watched the movie or read the book. However, I do recognise the complaints from when The Da Vinci Code was released. Considering that both books have many characters and plots it would be impossible to make a normal length movie out of those books. I reviewed the extended version of Da Vinci code (2h57min) a few days ago. I haven't read that book either so I can watch the movie without having any opinions of the source. That movie is good and exciting. I am sure I will say the same about A&D.
I watched this today (against all my better judgment).
Without giving away the main plot this has to be the most stupid story ever. The teaser is that the Illuminati steal evil space monkey dust from CERN and plan to blow up the Vatican with it. For some reason they don't seem to want to blow it up with a normal bomb, it has to be this special anti-matter stuff. And rather than actually just do it they feel compelled to leave a trail of clues for our heroes to follow. Even Dr Evil wouldn't be so obvious. Why they need to use esoteric sub atomic particles is never really explained but I guess if they just blew up the Vatican it would mean we would be watching a five minute movie about the Vatican exploding or something. Which actually would be more fun that this shite.
The author of the book, Dan Brown, is a mediocre writer at best but seems to be working under the assumption that he is telling a vastly complex and very cerebral story, that his readers cannot possibly follow alone. He's not and we can understand what he's writing about without any trouble at all thanks. But Dan's an egotistical git and needs to feel superior so he explains everything....I mean everything. It's like two of us having a conversation about CounterStrike
" I was playing Counterstrike last night".
" Ah yes Counter Strike, commonly abbreviated to CS which is a tactical first person shooter game that originated from a Half-Life modification, created by Minh 'Gooseman' Lee and Jess 'Cliffe' Cliffe."
" I especially like the way the game pits a team of counter-terrorists against a team of terrorists in a series of rounds. Each round is won by either completing the mission objective or eliminating the opposing force."
"I enjoyed it very much."
AAAAAARRRRGGGGHHH! This crap goes on through the whole bloody film. We learn what Italy is, what and where the Vatican City is as well as finding out what what it's for. We learn who the pope is, as well as how they pick a new one when the old one dies. Basil Exposition to the point of absurdity.
Add to that a shocking accent from Ewan McGregor (it's supposed to be Irish :blink: ), action sequences that don't have any action and a completely stupid, stupid ending and you have a film that stinks beyond endurance. The author/screenwriters also write the hero into an impossible predicament at the end and then realise they have absolutely no way to get him out of it. So rather than actually come up with a solution they just go insane and pretend the film is a cartoon for about sixty seconds. Tragic.
You just might be tempted to go and see it just to find out what the big ending is. Don't! The ending is the worst bit. It comes straight from the book so Dan Brown should take responsibility for the mess. Remember he wrote the nonsensical Da Vinci Code, so we can't expect much. And in fact we get bugger all. Just a complete cop out and an utterly underwhelming ending. In The Da Vinci Code I couldn't give a crap that Sophie Neveu was [spoiler=secret of The Da Vinci Code]the great great great.....great great grand daughter of God[/spoiler] and I similarly don't care who or what was trying to vaporise the Vatican. And neither will you. It's really not worth two hours of your life, honestly.
If you must know save yourself £10 and click the spoiler.
[spoiler=big reveal]Ewan McGregor did it[/spoiler]
I saw DaVinci Code last week, it was tosh.
Skipped/rushed many important parts compard to the book which was good IMO.
OK, so he may not be the best author in the world but he tells a good yarn and my simple brain enjoyed it, as I did with Digital Fortress and Deception Point.
But I won't be rushing out to watch A&D, God Particle and all.
Smilo, destruction by light! Plus anti matter contains the god partical, so thats the whole irony, vatican killed by god partical...
And lol about your spoilers, they where hillarious.
I still haven't read Digital Fortress yet, but I think I will soon, I dont'give a crap that he over explains stuff, I like that :)
As for Deception Point, I think this book will actually provide a good movie script, if they make it like A&D and skip lots of ****. (plus I don't think they will need to twist stuff compared to the book)
Maybe it works in the books but in the film it seems horribly contrived. Two experts who know all about some specific subject still need to explain to each other the stuff they learned in their first year at university.
It reminds me of adverts. When someone say has a headache in real life we just say "You have a headache? Take some pain killers" but in advert world they say "Take some Beechamsd Whatnot, with the power to cut through pain fast!"
In Dan Brown world everyone has to explain everything to the other person even though they already know it. It's a lazy way to write and to do a screenplay. And i find it annoys me in an 'I'm and old grumpy git' sort of way.
Is Deception Point the one with the iceberg breaking up and the ridiculous rescue thereafter?
If it is, it's bang up there with the far fetched crap that happens in the A&D abomination.
I actually enjoyed the book to a point, also enjoyed Da Vinci code to a point, but here's the problem, he's ruined what was an ok book by throwing in the Smilo ending;
Quote from: Barry NormanThe author/screenwriters also write the hero into an impossible predicament at the end and then realise they have absolutely no way to get him out of it. So rather than actually come up with a solution they just go insane and pretend the film is a cartoon for about sixty seconds
If that's the bit I think it is then it sums up how I felt about the book.
It's beginning to show a pattern, ok premise, good yarn, adventure and history....romantic interest, ridiculous setup and finale, abject disappointment.
I could be an author, I never fail to disappoint.
Actually a better read might be the original 'factual' book on which Brown bases his Da Vinci Code story. It's written as fact although almost all of it is disputed by serious academics and is almost certainly utter tosh. Tony Robinson presented a Channel 4 documentary looking at the main arguements and more or less completely ripped them apart. Still the original is actually a compelling read if you forget the fact it's rubbish.
Wikipedia site (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Blood,_Holy_Grail) (warning spoils the plot of the Da Vinci Code)
Another nut case who writes interesting quasi scientific books about lost civilisations and such like is Graham Hancock. He's a complete historical snake oil salesman (IMHO) but woth a look for the audacity of some of his claims.
His entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_hancock) on the wikipedia site
Quote from: Benny;276441Is Deception Point the one with the iceberg breaking up and the ridiculous rescue thereafter?
If it is, it's bang up there with the far fetched crap that happens in the A&D abomination.
That's the one, and the rescue is very far fetched.
Wait what is this god particle? Positrons? Anti-Protons? I'm pretty sure that these are just particles and have nothing to do with god.
A friend of mine in uni was doing his final year project in Cern and his Coldhead (bit of kit that gets to a few degrees above absolute zero - used to freeze Neon/Argon to moderate positrons) was switched off when they did interviews for this film because of the noise it made.
Switching it off made it break (it shouldn't, they usually can be switched off fine) and he lost a months work of time on the system. So basically Dan Brown is slowly killing science.
(I might have jumped to a conclusion then with no basis, but I'm sure he wouldn't disapprove of my method :narnar:)
Watched this last night, fast paced and a multitude of twists and turns as with da vinci code i can't wait for the dvd/ bluray release date :D
Frankly you're weird. :D
However I will admit it was both fast paced and it did have lots of twists and turns. So I cannot fault your accuracy.
Diarrhoea is fast paced and I'm pretty sure I don't want to watch that.
Ring worm has twists and turns, pretty sure I don't want to watch that either.