UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO ANGELS AND DEMONS MOVIE: PART THREE

In the second part, we have look a little bit on the first part of the intriguing puzzle and going places. The author is very convinced that those who are not familiar with Dan Brown's work may find it tricky and a bit confusing to go through the story. It not only need concentration, you need a little background understand from the point of history and religious to understand it all.

Thus for the third part, the puzzle and the clues continue on the Path of Illumination.

SEGNO THREE - THIRD CLUE

Langdon had to head back to the Vatican Archives to search for another Bernini's sculpture that have relation with fire and in line with the preceding clue of the West Ponente. The third clue lead Langdon to another Bernini's sculpture, Ecstasy of St Theresa.

The sculpture is located at the Cornaro Chapel of Santa Maria della Vittoria Church in Rome. This marble sculpture was made in between 1647-1652.

Here, Langdon found Cardinal Guidera, another Prefereti is hanged and incinerated by the Hassassin. Despite attempts to save the Cardinal, Langdon failed but had a brief moment of encounter directly with the Hassassin. Cardinal Guidera was burnt to death with a FIRE ambigram on his chest. Again, the arrow of the angel on the sculpture lead Langdon to the final clue.

SEGNO FOUR - FOURTH CLUE

Supposedly the final sculpture, it takes Langdon to Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi or Fountain of the Four Rivers.

The fountain is located exclusively at Piazza Navona, another famous square where historically it follows the plan of an ancient Roman circus, the 1st century Stadium of Domitian, where the Romans came to watch the agones ("games")

This is another Bernini's masterpiece that was erected in 1651 in front of the Church of Sant'Agnese.

Each individual sculpture represent one major river of the four continents - Nile (Africa), Ganges (Asia), Danube (Europe) and Rio de la Plate (America). Langdon found Cardinal Biaggi, with a WATER ambigram, attempted to be drowned by the Hassassin, miraculously Langdon manages to save him with some oxygen pipe while waiting for help from the other police force. Cardinal Biaggi told Langdon the place where he and the other three Cardinals were held captive.

CHURCH OF ILLUMINATION

With tips by Cardinal Biaggi, Langdon, Vetra and the whole force storms into Castel Sant'Angelo (Castle St Angelo). This is believed to be the main lair for the Hassassin to operate under some instruction from the Illuminati.

Castel Sant'Angelo is built during the Hadrian's age which throughout the years have been used as a fortress, castle, prison and now a museum. The main statue here is a bronze statue of St Michael holding a sword which was made by the Flemish sculptor Peter Anton von Verschaffelt in 1753 replacing the original marble statue.

Langdon found the four ambigram markers except one - been missing. They managed to escape and run back to the Vatican City with an underground passageway of 800 metres in length known as Il Passetto.

THE FIFTH AMBIGRAM

They now know that the fifth mark is a double key sign - a sign of the Pope himself. The PAPAL ambigram marked on the Carmelengo chest but made upside down becomes the reference for the location of the bomb itself - St Peter's Tomb at the Vatican Hill.

Today the St Peter Basilica is build on top of the Vatican Hill, therefore St Peter's tomb is located underground of the Basilica, a huge building in the Vatican City designed by Michelangelo.

St Peter is the first pope elected after the death of Jesus Christ carrying the mission by Jesus himself. St Peter was crucified to death but in an upside-down manner from the Jesus' one.

In the movie also show recurrent display of Sistine Chapel, a private chapel for the pope and a place where Cardinals meet to elect a new pope upon the death of the preceding pope. The painting on the wall and ceiling are done by Michelangelo in 1508-1512.

YOU HAVE NOW COMPLETED THE JOURNEY OF THE CLUES AND PUZZLE IN ANGELS AND DEMONS...

UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO ANGELS AND DEMONS MOVIE: PART TWO

In the first part, we have look a little bit on the key characters inside the movie itself. The author is very convinced that those who are not familiar with Dan Brown's work may find it tricky and a bit confusing to go through the story. It not only need concentration, you need a little background understand from the point of history and religious to understand it all.

Thus for the second part, the puzzle that lead the audience and the readers to the Path of Illumination. 

COME LET US TOUR AROUND THE PATH IN ROME!

THE PUZZLE - THE PATH OF ILLUMINATION

When Robert Langdon was first briefed about the kidnap of the four Prefereti Cardinals, he was shown a video with images of the four detainees and the hidden messages left by the Illuminati. The keywords in the message help Langdon to convince that they need to follow the Path Of Illumination.

PATH OF ILLUMINATION

This is a fictionalize route used by the Illuminati to recruit new members. If one can find all the signs and to follow the route as indicated by the four historical sculptures marks that were erected by Bernini, they will be accepted into this society. It is important to note that each place represents a specific Church of Illuminati, has a specific sculptures that will lead to the next clue venue and is each marked with a distinctive tall obelisk monument on each location square. Ultimately this will lead the recruiters to the ultimate final meeting place for the Illuminati members.

SEGNO ONE - FIRST CLUE

Raphael Santi is a 16th century Italian painter and architect. His tomb is located at the Pantheon, Rome.

Pantheon, Rome is a building built in 126AD during the Hadrian's age as a temple to all the gods of Ancient Rome. Now, Pantheon is used as a Catholic church, in fact is the oldest in Rome.

Interior design of the Pantheon featuring the oculus on the top of the roof, as seen in the movie. Robert Langdon claimed that all the sculptures and tombs are facing the east side and the oculus because of its long tradition of Pagan beliefs well before conversion to Christianity. However, Raphael's tomb is not the exact clue but the building that he designed.

The exact clue brings Langdon to Piazza del Popolo in Rome, one of a famous square in the city.

They need to locate The Church of Santa Maria del Popolo.

The exact location is the Chigi Chapel, one of the six chapels inside the church.

Bernini's Habbakuk and the Angel sculpture (left) and the Egyptian-like pyramid sculpture located inside the Chigi Chapel, as seen in the movie

The "Demon's Hole", the place where Cardinal Ebner was killed and buried, as seen in the movie. Here, they found the body of Cardinal Ebner, one of the four Preferiti, killed by asphyxation by means of dirt and soil are put into his mouth and buried under the "demon's hole". His chest was marked with an EARTH ambigram. Langdon notice that the finger of the sculpture pointing to one end, leading to the second location of the Path.

SEGNO TWO - SECOND CLUE

The Bernini's sculpture earlier on lead them to Saint Peter's Square.

St. Peter's Square as an open space was redesigned Gian Lorenzo Bernini himself from 1656-1667.

The famous square is located directly in front of St Peter's Basilica, the papal enclave office within the city of Rome.

Knowing their next clue has something to do with air, soon, they found the West Ponente (West Wind angel) ground sculpture on the floor of the St. Peter's Square. Later they found Cardinal Lamasse is killed by a puncture on his lungs and his chest was also marked with the AIR ambigram. Langdon notice that the direction of the 5 blown air lines on the sculpture of West Ponente will directly intersect to the next clue.

PULSATING, THE NEXT CLUES COMING
TO BE CONTINUE WITH THE NEXT CLUES.....

PART THREE CONTINUE FROM HERE TO THE NEXT POST

UNOFFICIAL GUIDE TO ANGELS AND DEMONS MOVIE: PART ONE

Now, the author would assumes that you have watched the movie in the cinema or you have read the novel version of it before. Or probably there are some chances that you have not either too. It's OK, let's assure that you have and you have not, both. In this article, the author would like to highlight some notable points about the movie and some facts that maybe a little confusing for those who are not familiar with the religion issues, the puzzle and the book itself. Therefore, the author recommends you to read this on before and after you watch the movie.

The first part of the series will deals on the key characters inside the movie and the differences with the original novel version.

THE CHARACTERS

APPEARS IN THE MOVIE

ROBERT LANDGDON - played by Tom Hanks. He is the Harvard's most famous symbologist and the main protagonist. His outstanding expertise and in-depth knowledge about religions and symbols convinced the Vatican to look for his help.

VITTORIA VETRA - played by Ayelet Zurer. She is the CERN scientist whose antimatter experiment has been stolen by the Illuminati. She is a physicist that deals a lot of bio-entanglement and has some knowledge about medical practice.

CAMERLENGO PATRICK McKENNA - played by Ewan McGregor, an aide of the late pope. His character is called Carlo Ventresca in the novel. As speculated, he is the main antagonist as is in the novel version. Unlike the novel, he originated from Ulster, Ireland and was adopted as the late Pope's adoptive son.

CARDINAL STRAUSS - played by Armin Mueller-Stahl, is the elector cardinal responsible for the election of the new pope. His character is called Cardinal Mortati in the novel.

COMMANDER RITCHER - played by Stellan Skarsgard, he is the head of the Swiss Guard. His character is called Captain Rocher in the novel. He is initially skeptical over Langdon but later accepted the fact that they need Langdon to guide them over the clues.

INSPECTOR ERNESTO OLIVETTI - played by Pierfrancesco Favino, a Gendarme Corps of the Vatican City States (police of Vatican City). His character is called Commander Olivetti in the novel. Main aide and believe in Langdon to guide them around.

MR GRAY - played by Nikolaj Lie Kaas, is the assassin hired by the Illuminati to ploy out the plan to kill. His character is refered as "Hassassin" in the novel.

NOT IN THE MOVIE

LEORNARDO VETRA - A scientist priest working at CERN, researching on the antimatter when he is killed by the Hassassin. He is the adoptive father of Vittoria. In the movie the character is replaced with Silvano Bentivoglio, also a scientist and priest but had no adoptive relationship with Vittoria somehow.

JANUS - The contact man of the Illuminati that deals with the Hassassin directly.

MAXIMILIAN KOHLER - the director of CERN whom is paralyse and contacts Langdon for help in finding the killer of his friend, Leornardo.

GUNTHER GLICK and CHINITA MARCI - a reporter and camera crew for the BBC, contacted by the Hassassin regarding events that have happened in the Vatican.

Next part, we will look at the specific clues and puzzles that lead to solving the cases as in such. The puzzle forms an ancient Path Of Illumination that is used as a key in the story-telling. STAY TUNED!!