After a successful test of the Large Hadron Collider which produces antimatter for the first time, a scientist is murdered and a sample stolen.

Meanwhile in the Vatican, the Catholic world mourns the passing of the last Pope, but when the four most likely candidates for the position are kidnapped. They call on Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks), the one who found the Da Vinci Code and unveiled it to the world, because they needed someone who truly understands the ancient church documents.

So he, and a colleague of the murdered scientist, go in search of the candidates who are to be murdered on the hour every hour until midnight, when the antimatter will blow up the Vatican settling the debt between the church and one of its oldest rivals - radicalised scientists.

Not unlike its predecessor, this film shows a slanted view of Christianity as outdated, uneducated and in many cases just plain stupid. Whereas scientists and agnostics are shown as articulate and clever - but this was expected.

The plot centres around a trail left by infiltrators of the church who were secretly a part of the scientific rebellion from the church, which the terrorists have followed to the letter. Leading to a race against time to save them and the Vatican.

However, the film not so subtly hints at the failings and tactics of the church over the years, including how Christmas and Easter were once pagan festivals chosen to help pagan converts to Christianity. Things that aren't exactly secrets, nor are they really an issue.

My feeling after seeing this film was that every Christian character was portrayed as an idiot or an excentric. As is prevalent in films, God is unable to help himself, calling instead on a scientist. However, the eccentricities of the Catholic Church so seem somewhat absurd to me at times, as a protestant.

In terms of a plot it was alright, but its hard to really enjoy a film when you feel like it is calling you an idiot.

see also:
Spider-man 3, Spider-man, Spider-man 2, Iron Man

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photo © Columbia Pictures.