‘Angels & Demons’, the highly anticipated follow-up to 2006 film ‘The Da Vinci Code’ premiered on Monday May 4th in Rome. However, its release was not without controversy.

Much like its predecessor, ‘Angels & Demons’ has come under criticism for its portrayal of the Catholic Church. Parts of the storyline causing concern include a Pope conceiving a child via artificial insemination and a saint apparently having sex with an angel.

The leader of a Catholic Rights group in the US has accused director Ron Howard and author Dan Brown of “smearing the Catholic Church with fabulously bogus tales.”

He told the Telegraph: “I have never dealt with two more disingenuous people. They wouldn't dare treat any other religion like this.” (Telegraph)

In a BBC article, Howard hit back, claiming the Vatican attempted to disrupt filming.

“Everything progressed very smoothly, but unofficially a couple of days before we were to start filming in several of our locations, it was explained to us that through back channels and so forth that the Vatican had exerted some influence. Was I surprised? No. Am I a little frustrated at times? Sure.” (BBC)

The Church’s official word has been quite different. In an interview with Sky News, a priest claims the film has barely even registered on the Vatican’s radar.

“I don’t think anyone at the Vatican is paying a lot of attention to the premiere of this movie. In fact, on my way over here I was explaining to some friends what I was doing and they had no idea that this movie was coming out or that it was premiering in Rome. And they work in the Vatican.” (Sky News)

Despite taking this line, the Chicago Sun-Times reports that the Church canceled a reception for the film being held at a Vatican-owned venue.

A studio executive said: “‘we just got a chilly call, informing us, the facility ‘is no longer available’.” (Chicago Sun-Times)

So how do you feel about this film? Are you planning on seeing it? Do the Vatican’s objections change your opinion?

U.S. News

Critics See Demons in Movie

May 5, 2009
(2:26)
The new movie Angels & Demons finds itself facing controversy, Newsy.com looks at both sides of the story.
   
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