JIM Reviews film "ANGELS & DEMONS" – Life & death “Jigsaw” puzzles with time limits =

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“ANGELS & DEMONS” – Life & death “Jigsaw” puzzles with time limits =
Rating: 9 of 10 stars.

(Per an advance screening:) The “Angels” are both sculptural & symbolic, & the “Demons” seem to be constantly shifting. This cleverly-constructed film is a roller-coaster thriller, with conflicts between the Catholic Church and a “resurrected” Illuminati which turned to violence when the Church turned against its members (like Galileo) who wanted to continue their scientific pursuits. Writer / Symbolist expert Robert Langdon (well played by TOM HANKS) is called upon by the Vatican to help with problems arising after the death of a progressive Pope. He’s assisted by Vittoria (AYELET ZURER) who’s trying to recover a deadly stolen item. There are loads of unexpected twists and turns as religious politicking ensnares the Camerlengo / temporary “Pope” (impressively played by EWAN McGREGOR), the seemingly-ambitious Cardinal Strauss (ARMIN MUELLER-STAHL), clashing police authorities (STELLAN SKARSGARD & PIERFRANCESCO FAVINO), and the Illuminati’s chief assassin (NIKOLAJ LIE KAAS). Hanks keeps attempting to decipher written and hidden clues, to try to save the lives of threatened innocents. You’ll revel in trying to unravel who the REAL Demons and gentle spirits REALLY are! Overall, I found it exciting, fascinating, surprising, thought-provoking & even better than its predecessor “DaVinci Codes” film.