Having read the book some years ago, I was more than curious to have the opportunity to watch this time the breathtaking plot of “Angels & Demons”, on the big screen. Although Dan Brown has been tremendously characterized negatively (and positively) for his previous book-movie “The Da Vinci Code”, one should definitely clear up his mind from all and give to Angels and Demons a fair chance.

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The movie is based on the relation between science and religion, specifically science and the Catholic Church, through a series of mysterious events which are taking place in the historic centre of Rome and in the Vatican. Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks), a symbologist coming from Harvard arrives in Rome to participate in the investigation of the Pope’s sudden death and the disappearance of four cardinals. Above all, a bomb lies under Vatican City and the name of the threat is Illuminati, a secret brotherhood that existed in the past, consisted of the most famous scientists who were disregarded by the Catholic Church.
Tom Hanks with the assistance of another scientist Vittoria Vetra (Zurer) will try to solve the mystery by following the Path of Illumination and the signs left by the brotherhood. The thrilling adventure makes you feel that you are in the streets of Rome following the protagonists to their effort of survival, rescue of the cardinals and the whole city.  You will probably be amazed by the explosions, the fast change of the sceneries, the beautiful recreations of St. Peter’s Square and Basilica (including many of the churches).
When it comes to the core of the movie and the question of direct conflict between Church and Science, a film can not really give an answer especially when the facts that been provided are not correctly true and they are more or less a fictional narrative representation of the truth. But the movie certainly gives the stimulant for further research on the matter and a strong impulse for discussions among your friends. Do not forget that our university, Catholic University of Leuven, is actually this very combination... Church and Science. The question of God existence and  how world is created cannot be solved in a movie. To intrigue your imagination we will not give you the whole story but we let you wonder: Earth, Wind, Fire, Water... Is there a fifth substance? Is the Vatican city finally rescued? Who are actually the Illuminati?