Dan Brown discussion
Angels & Demons-Discuss the Book vs. Movie! (plot spoiler)
Book: I liked the chemistry between Robert and Vittoria and the cute stuff like her not wearing long pants into Vatican city, them chuckling a bit over the guards "clown" uniforms, and Robert's Mickey Mouse watch. OUT OF PLACE in the book was the very end...they were going to sleep together (a sin) right there overlooking Vatican city! A romantic spark and lingering kiss would've made it so much more appropriate, and sweeter I think. The lack of this romance was missed in the movie altogether...I missed it but can see how it could've taken too much away from the main compelling plot of science vs. religion.
Movie Opening of Illuminati symbol...just showing it on paper wasn't enough...it needed the book's drama that the leader of CERN had been branded it and faxed to the Vatican as in the book. Would've beefed up the science vs religion in the movie. Any thoughts?
I think the camarlengo could have been portrayed a bit more "nuts" about the science taking over religious thing. I wanted to see after he parachuted down, him atop the building as a "miracle" and then burned himself, and Mortati secretly taking his ashes away to put to rest in the previous pope's resting place like the book. THAT "miracle" would have had us on the edge of our seats, and a afterward teaser suggesting the parachute would have been great.
I hope the members join in on discussion! I'd like to discuss any views regarding Dan Brown's work!
I've read the book although not the movie. Critics say it didn't live up to the expectations. Mybe they're right...
Usama:
The book was really good in it's own right, and the movie in it's own...the story was changed out a little and worked better on the big screen. People who love to read, though, I think generally like the books better. The end of the movie was more appropriate, however for the story in general. Give it a watch-I think you may like it.
The book was really good in it's own right, and the movie in it's own...the story was changed out a little and worked better on the big screen. People who love to read, though, I think generally like the books better. The end of the movie was more appropriate, however for the story in general. Give it a watch-I think you may like it.
Read "Deception Point!" You'll love it!
I haven't seen the film for Angels & Demons yet. Waiting for the DVD because I didn't make it to the theater while it was on screen. I must say I was so excited for and so disappointed with the movie of Da Vinci Code, too many changes ruined the story. I hope A&D is better.
I think it was much better than Da Vinci code.
Annette wrote: "I think it was much better than Da Vinci code.":-) Good to know! Do you happen to know when Angels & Demons will be released on DVD?
Dustin wrote: "Annette wrote: "I think it was much better than Da Vinci code."
:-) Good to know! Do you happen to know when Angels & Demons will be released on DVD?"
My best guess is quite a while, because it seems theaters are keeping it in longer than some other "flop" movies. Then a bit of delay with hype about it first and announcing a far off release date will spur people to reserve it to buy! Check Amazon, it may come up with a date of release. Good luck!
:-) Good to know! Do you happen to know when Angels & Demons will be released on DVD?"
My best guess is quite a while, because it seems theaters are keeping it in longer than some other "flop" movies. Then a bit of delay with hype about it first and announcing a far off release date will spur people to reserve it to buy! Check Amazon, it may come up with a date of release. Good luck!
Amazon just barely got a release date for Angels & Demons on DVD! The release date is November 24th - that's the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. :-)
I just finished reading and watching Angels & Demons.I LOVED the book a lot more than I did the movie--seperately they were both great, but I didn't care for the changes in the movie -especially in the end of it. I wish they kept the "fight"scenes in the movie that were in the book especailly the luminati church tower and water fountain scenes. They were so well written and descriptive in the book and I missed seeing them in the movie. And I didn't like how the last/5th brand was changed for the movie...
The ending of the book was humorous to me and it solidified their feelings for each other that grew through out the book. The movie completely avoided this but I can see why it was left out--the relationship was not too important to the story line.
I enjoyed the greater details that were developed and intorduced in the book but avoided in the movie--like camerlango origins and how he was born...I understand that these are controversial and with filming at the vatican there were probaly many changes/things that had to be taken out.
over all a great read-one of my favorites now and the movie was worth watching too.
I just watched Angels & Demons on DVD a few nights ago and I must say THE BOOK IS MUCH BETTER!!!!! WHY IN THE HELL DID THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSON BECOME THE POPE THAN IN THE BOOK!!!!!!!!! Like The Da Vinci Code film my biggest annoyance is the way Ron Howard has ruined the endings! Tom Hanks is not Robert Langdon but if they could just get the endings right.... I still love Angels & Demons (the Book) and I still love The Da Vinci Code (the book) :-) Sorry just had to get my feelings out there :-)
Anna wrote: "I enjoyed the greater details that were developed and intorduced in the book but avoided in the movie--like camerlango origins and how he was born...I understand that these are controversial and with filming at the vatican there were probaly many changes/things that had to be taken out.over all a great read-one of my favorites now and the movie was worth watching too.
"
I agree with you Anna - I missed that background information. It's my understanding that the film was NOT filmed at the vatican - the set was created so I don't believe that's a good excuse to let the filmmakers get away with. I also agree with you that "the movie was worth watching" - I'd just add one word - ONCE! Needless to say I've been disappointed in both films :-)
I enjoyed both of the movies but have to put my mindset seperate from the books. The books are filled with so much more detail and huge differences --I just wish they would leave more of the book in the movies...oh well...has anyone read lost symbol yet? that is next on my list of books to hunt for... :)
I read The Lost Symbol - I started a discussion topic on it in this group :-) Of all Dan Brown's books, it was my least favorite but lots of people liked it. It started out really well for me but then just became too predictable.
the book is great! but i've not seen the movie yet. is that so great too? but sometimes the movie isn't as good as the book!
For me, the book is (almost) always better and that's my opinion on both of the Dan Brown films. Too many unnecessary changes to the story in both cases.
I agree with everything Dustin has said. I yelled at the screen when the pope didn't die!!! Yes in the theater. Very aggrivating. But the books are a couple of my all time favorites. =)
Great minds think alike :-) Glad to hear from you Tyler
I totally liked the book better in terms of A&D, my husband got kind of ticked cause I was dissecting the book/movie in the theater, there was this moment where I actually found myself covering my eyes in preparation for something that I was waiting to happen because it happened in the book, and when it didn't happen in the movie I felt kind of jipped, lol.
I have read Angels & Demons book 
more than 2 times & it was superb....
Forget about Robert and Vittoria's romance there ...The facts are awesome...
I really enjoy Dan Brown’s books. Actually TDC was the first novel I read from this author because a friend of mine gave it to me because I didn’t have a book to read at that time…. Wow & I thank him for letting me know that this author’s books are just fantastic.
This is a great mystery-thriller novel which contains some Ambigrams – I just couldn’t put the book down. I was really surprised & wondered how the hell he could put all these mysterious things into a book like this. Plus I'm really glad that the author knows how to put the facts in to this novel & make it a great book.. It’s so great.
It’s a fascinating book that tells the story of the main character –Robert Langdon (Harvard Symbologist) who tries to stop the “Illuminati”- a legendary secret society. And tries to stop from terminating Vatican City with the newly revealed power –Antimatter.
And Have watched the movie maybe 2-3 times but T prefer the Book better.....all the important deatils are not in the movie but in the book.
I have read the book many times.in the cook everything seems realistic and fun. the movie has been a little changed from the book. I liked the book a lot more than the movie
Aditya wrote: "I have read the book many times.in the cook everything seems realistic and fun. the movie has been a little changed from the book. I liked the book a lot more than the movie"Hell Yeah! :-)
It would be awesome if the movie would have include Robert Langdon's dream at the beggining of the book.
I personally loved both the book and the movie. The book was so suspenseful I could barely stop reading, and the movie was so great that I now own it and watch it almost 2 or 3 times a month! When I found out about the camerlango's secret I was taken completely aback! I never would've thought anything like that would happen and certainly didn't think that "innocent" carlo ventresca could be capable of such a thing! Love everything about both and definitely recommend!!
Ushlah wrote: "I have read Angels & Demons book 
more than 2 times & it was superb....
Forget about Robert and Vittoria's romance there ...The facts are awesome...
I really e..."
I agree... The movie is so much more understandable when you read the book first. The book has a lot of critical information that isn't revealed in the movie, and if you did read the book, then noticing small things in the movie that others don't just makes it so much better!
Donna wrote: "I totally liked the book better in terms of A&D, my husband got kind of ticked cause I was dissecting the book/movie in the theater, there was this moment where I actually found myself covering my ..."My sister hates it when I compare the book and the movie while watching the movie, but because she hates reading I feel the obligation to tell her things that would better her understanding of the plot.
a wrote: "I think the camarlengo could have been portrayed a bit more "nuts" about the science taking over religious thing. I wanted to see after he parachuted down, him atop the building as a "miracle" and..."I totally agree. It would've been great to have those parts and some others from the book in the movie. I would've loved to see when mortati tells camerlengo the truth about the late pope, and, like you said, how he had those nervous breakdowns in the necropolis.
I regret having watched both of the movies. I thought they were too choppy and should each have been split into 2 parts.I'm also seeing Tom Hanks while reading. I've lost my original vision of what I thought Robert Langdon looked like and felt it was much better..
Mike wrote: "I'm also seeing Tom Hanks while reading. I've lost my original vision of what I thought Robert Langdon looked like and felt it was much better.."Tom Hanks doesn't fit my vision of Langdon, either. Not his fault, because he's a great actor. But when he's on the big screen, I keep imagining Forrest Gump, whose deepest symbolism is, "Life is like a box of chocolates...;" and that's not Langdon's persona. Typecasts are terrible.
That's the thing about books. While reading a book you can let your imagination get the overhand. A movie will never meet your expectations because when you let 2 people read a book, they will never read the same book!
a wrote: "Movie Opening of Illuminati symbol...just showing it on paper wasn't enough...it needed the book's drama that the leader of CERN had been branded it and faxed to the Vatican as in the book. Would'..."yes very true.
Galen wrote: "Mike wrote: "I'm also seeing Tom Hanks while reading. I've lost my original vision of what I thought Robert Langdon looked like and felt it was much better.."Tom Hanks doesn't fit my vision of La..."
true.
Allison wrote: "Ushlah wrote: "I have read Angels & Demons book more than 2 times & it was superb....
Forget about Robert and Vittoria's romance there ...The facts are awesome..."
SOOO TRUE!
first i saw the movie. i was not getting it clear on how and when robert was solving the puzzles, but i watched it though. I also had the book, but i wondered whether it is worth devoting my time reading the book when i already know the mysteries. But , one fine day i started reading and it was so breathtaking that i could not stop reading it. The book is far better than the movie, there is no comparison between the two. The movie had no mention of Max Kohler, Robert langdon in the chopper at the end, Vittoria getting kidnapped, the fearful image of the Hassasin....
a wrote: "Movie Opening of Illuminati symbol...just showing it on paper wasn't enough...it needed the book's drama that the leader of CERN had been branded it and faxed to the Vatican as in the book. Would'..."Yeah! when Robert Langdon visited the CERN and came across the anagram in person, it was more effective! the movie missed it :(
Book was better than movie when it comes to Robert's visit to CERN, decrypting the code n finding the church, Story of Camerlango and his relationship with Pope, Vittoria getting kidnapped and the fight in Church of illumination... And also i loved some of the changes that was made in movie, The BBC reporters were not taken into Necropolis, Robert not going with camerlango in the helicopter and saving his life with a windshield, Camerlango not killing himself in front of public..I personally believe, The book has so much details that can't be portrayed in a movie!Its better to read Dan Brown's book than waiting for a movie on the same story
The book is ways better than the movie!
Ramya wrote: "first i saw the movie. i was not getting it clear on how and when robert was solving the puzzles, but i watched it though. I also had the book, but i wondered whether it is worth devoting my time r..."I agree. I think the movie really should've included more to show what the hassassin is like, and max Kohler would've been yet another twist in the mysterious and suspenseful (in my opinion) plot. I personally enjoyed both the book and the movie, but the movie is, like you said, not even comparable to the book.
I very much enjoyed both the book and the movie, but I was supremely disappointed to find that the completely removed the character for the Director of CERN. He was integral to the story and I'm not sure they recovered his influence on the plot in the movie.Also, I thought they did a good job with casting for the movie, except for Silas.
I have not read the book, but I have seen the movie. I am willing to bet that the book goes into far more detail than does the movie. I also have the book Deception Point but with life as crazy as it is these days between the kids running around for school, sports, etc and work I do not have much time to read anymore, not nearly the time that I want
I found both the book and movie incredible. Generally, I always prefer the book over the movie. There is much more description and events.
Matthew, I recommend that you read Angels & Demons first, then Deception Point. I'm sure you will be hooked to it. Enjoy every moment with your family! :)
Matthew, I recommend that you read Angels & Demons first, then Deception Point. I'm sure you will be hooked to it. Enjoy every moment with your family! :)
For me book n move both r wonderfully made from their individual points of views
Vittal wrote: "For me book n move both r wonderfully made from their individual points of views"
I completely agree with you, Vittal. I'm sure that most Dan Brown fans were very content with both the book and movie. The cast did a superb job. I just hope they will turn The Lost Symbol and Inferno into movies as well.
I completely agree with you, Vittal. I'm sure that most Dan Brown fans were very content with both the book and movie. The cast did a superb job. I just hope they will turn The Lost Symbol and Inferno into movies as well.
In the Book:Maximillihan Kohler (Director of CERN)In the Movie:This Character does not appear.
In the Book:Carlo Ventresca (Camerlango)Italian
In the Movie:Patrick McKenna (Camerlango)from Northern Ireland
In the Book:Leonardo Vetra a scientist at CERN is killed. He is Vittoria Vetra's adoptive father.
In the Movie:Silvano Bentivoglio is the scientist from CERN who is killed. He is Vittoria's colleague, but they are not related.
In the Book:The plane that takes Langdon from Harvard University to Geneva, and brings Langdon and Vittoria to Vatican City goes Mach 15.
In the Movie:This super plane is not used.
In the Book: Vittoria wears short pants while at the Vatican, and it is frowned upon.
In the Movie:She is wearing long pants.
In the Book:Commander Olivetti is the commandant of the swiss guard. His second in command is Captain Rocher.
In the Movie:Commander Richter is the head of the swiss guard.
In the Book:The assassin contacts members of the BBC to try and control part of the story.
In the Movie:This doesn't happen.
In the Book: The fourth cardinal, Cardinal Baggia, is murdered.
In the Movie:The fourth cardinal, Cardinal Baggia, is saved.
In the Book:Langdon and the Camerlengo enter the helicopter with the antimatter. The Camerlengo locks the antimatter into a cargo box and jumps out of the helicopter with a parachute. Langdon jumps from the exploding helicopter by grabbing a windshield cover and using it as a parachute.
In the Movie:The Camerlengo goes up in the Helicopter alone and parachutes down as it explodes above him.
In the Book:the fifth brand (the illuminati diamond)
In the Movie:the fifth brand (keys?)
,and so more..but still i enjoyed both the book and the movie :)
I was really disappointed with the film. There were very many revisions from the original novel such as some of the characters (including my personal favorite, Maximilian Kohler), scenes, artworks, etc. Probably this is due to lack of film budget and the fact that when it comes to storytelling, films have its limitations. Nevertheless, I do have some favorable points from the film such as (1) the fourth cardinal was alive and saved, (2) the action and murder scenes were very well presented, (3) the cardinals looked stunning in the film (LOL).
Dan Brown
Books mentioned in this topic
Angels & Demons (other topics)Angels & Demons (other topics)
Angels & Demons (other topics)
I re-read the book last week so I'd remember when
seeing the movie yesterday. What did YOU think?