1. Yep, pretty similar, except substitute arcane Masonic- Illuminati weirdness clues for DaVinci Clues. And key Archbishops dropping dead before they can select the next pope.

We had this discussion a while back about the female lead. We seemed to agree: undying love for Naomi Watts, but not in this role. This new chick--she's the one from Munich? Not bad. Fits the stereotypical dark sultry Mediterranean goddess role that the author depicted.

Posted at 9:14AM on Apr 24th 2008 by Cincinnati Mike

2. Dan Brown uses the most ancient of writing techniques:

Mad-Libs!

Every book is the same. Just insert a different girl, a different secret society, and a different ridiculous conspiracy theory. Seriously, they even all start the same. Some old guy gets killed by a creepy guy. Someone should put out the unofficial Dan Brown Mad-Lib.

I'd have Colonel Sanders getting murdered by an Area 51 agent over a plot to steal the Colonel's true secret: A tiny drop of blood from one of Eve's descendants made his chicken highly addictive. And now his daughter, a true descendant of Eve is being stalked by the same murdered. Can Langdon save this girl by deciphering the cryptic symbols that descendant's of Eve use to protect the most shocking secret of all: that it was she who was made first and Adam who first ate the apple!!!! Oh lord, with the Earth ever be the same!

Dan Brown would never even recognize that according to that story we are all Eve's descendants.

I just wonder if there can be a Pierre Plantard out there to make him look as stupid for Angels and Demons as he did with the DaVinci Code.

But seriously, Brown is a hack. But A&D will make a much better movie that DaVinci Code. Its much darker and fast paced.

Posted at 9:56AM on Apr 24th 2008 by bookemdano

3. The flavor of it may be the same but Angels and Demons should be a much better movie. It's about a serial killer really, and not so much about the theory of symbolism.

Posted at 10:47AM on Apr 24th 2008 by LOs

4. It's pretty much the same, except Langdon become frikkin Batman in this one.

Posted at 12:02PM on Apr 24th 2008 by will

5. I don't know about that LOs. The Serial Killer is the driving force behind the plot (and he's a HIRED killer, actually), but the clue following is still the key to all the shenanigans (thanks Juno!).

After all the Hullabaloo over DaVinci, I read it, then read A&D. I found this book better (disregarding the emphasis on CERN physics and ending on the most physics-breaking "parachute" scene ever), but one thing's for sure... the Hullabaloo was right. In A&D Dan Brown basically tries to take down Catholicism. Then in DaVinci, he goes on to try the same on Christianity at large. I'm going way out on a limb and suggesting that Mr. Brown has a problem with the whole "Christianity" and "Church" thing. Hard to tell, after all, he's so darned *subtle* about it. :)

-Pie

Posted at 12:05PM on Apr 24th 2008 by EatingPie

6. This book was definitely better (and remember folks he wrote this before DaVinci Code!). My one hope when I heard DaVinci was going to be made into a movie was for it to do well enough so that they'd do an A&D movie. Wish granted.

Posted at 12:20PM on Apr 24th 2008 by Ryan

7. I enjoyed the Angels & Demons book more than the Da Vinci Code, but yes it is very similar in theme. The action sequences are a bit more ridiculous but also would be more fun to watch on the big screen. This actress is a much better fit than Naomi Watts too.

Posted at 2:45PM on Apr 24th 2008 by Liz

8. I also enjoyed Angels and Demons more than Da Vinci Code. I'm looking forward to this adaption. The story is much more interesting, and darker.

Posted at 3:16PM on Apr 24th 2008 by treqie