Angels and Demons’ Focus on Science and Religion

Angels & Demons opened this weekend with a less than expected $48 million just edging out the still hot Star Trek ($43M, $150M over two weeks). I took in the film at a 3/4 filled theater in Georgetown.

Angels is worth seeing and a better film version than Davinci Code. The film is also likely to spark conversations among movie-goers on the relationship between science and religion, a theme that is heavy throughout the film and the novel.

Without spoiling the plot, Angels features a Pope inspired by science and who views research on the so-called “God Particle” as a means for engaging the public on issues of science and faith. Of course, just like in the real world, there are other major characters in the film who for their own personal gain take actions to promote the perception of false conflict between science and religion. In fact, these actions feature as the central plot premise of the film.