Mon, 28 May 2012
| Index | Last | Var.(%) |
|---|---|---|
| BEL 20 | 2116.24 | -0.15 |
| DAX | 6325.63 | -0.23 |
| IBEX 30 | 6411.6 | -2.01 |
| CAC 40 | 3047.13 | -0.03 |
| FTSE 100 | 5364.42 | 0.24 |
| AEX | 293.2 | 0.15 |
| DJIA | 12454.83 | -0.60 |
| Nasdaq | 2837.53 | -0.07 |
| FTSE MIB | 13071.08 | -0.64 |
| TSX Composite | 11576.47 | 0.09 |
| ASX | 4120.2 | 0.96 |
| Hang seng | 18800.99 | 0.47 |
| Straits Times | 2787.22 | 0.52 |
| ISEQ 20 | 502.76 | 0.36 |
Text size
Picturenose's James Drew checks out the latest Dan Brown 'history mystery' adaptation, Angels & Demons.Ron Howard, Tom Hanks, Dan Brown et al suffered in the critical backlash against Howard's film version of Brown's The Da Vinci Code (2006) – and somewhat unfairly, in this reviewer's opinion.
True, the film was never going to win any awards for screenplay writing, and there were one or two notables (Sir Ian McKellen, Jürgen Prochnow, Alfred Molina) who appeared to be slumming it for the money, but there was no doubting the fact that the film, very much like the mega-bestseller that inspired it, did exactly what it said on the tin – cod history detective work, made accessible by a genuinely thrilling premise and exciting set pieces. Essentially, film and book were both a classic case of entertainment enjoyed only by audiences – think The Bodyguard (1992), perhaps?
Anyway, the sequel (which is in fact an adaptation of Brown's first novel to feature Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks)) reunites the star and director of the first film and, thankfully, David Koepp has joined script-writing forces with Akiva Goldsman (who made, as I've already acknowledged, something of a mess of ...Code).
It is a testament both to Brown's original novel and Howard's sure-handed direction that this never descends, as it quite easily could have done, into po-faced ridiculousness. Instead, we have an intriguing, genuinely thrilling narrative, with more than a few solid surprises thrown in for good measure. Hanks seems far more assured as Langdon this time around, and the chemistry between him and Ayelet Zurer is a refreshing step up from the mawkish, almost infantile relationship with Audrey Tatou in the first film. Will it bring other critics round? Tough to say, but at least the blockbuster season begins without blasphemy.
'Expatica's weekly cinema-review section is brought to you in collaboration with Picturenose.com' About our reviewers : Putting you in the picture Please check local listings before travelling. For more reviews, check out www.picturenose.com Expatica 2009
This handy guide from Expertise in Labour Mobility includes information on business hierarchy, negotiations, and etiquette.
A listing of organizations in the Paris area that cater primarily to Americans living in France. Updated April 2011.
Our handy guide to the British community in Paris, from cricket clubs to Scottish country dancing lessons to where to find a jar of Marmite.
Here's a short introduction to our Banking section for those living in France, from how to open a bank account to Islamic banking and investments.
Twitter
LinkedIn
Facebook
Google+
0
