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Structure
Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 20 general entries.
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 Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
 Angels and Demons
| What significant event has just happened in the Vatican, at the beginning of the movie? | Angels and Demons
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The Pope has died.. The death of the Pope is marked by the smashing of his ring and a period of mourning. The ceremonies are presided over by the Carmerlengo, an administrative aide and personal assistant to the Pope. Until the cardinals can elect a successor, the Carmerlengo is the acting head of the Vatican. In this case the Carmerlengo, played by Ewan McGregor, is also the adoptive son of the Pope, who took him in as an orphaned eight-year-old. The Pope appears to have died due to natural causes, but it is later revealed that he has actually been murdered, by an overdose of one of his medications.
| What dangerous substance is stolen from a research facility in Switzerland? | Angels and Demons
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antimatter. In the movie, CERN has succeeded in creating antimatter, a theoretical substance that has not yet been successfully created in real life, in any measurable quantity. It is considered to be the antithesis of matter and scientists theorize that if it comes into contact with matter, an explosion will occur, of a force similar to a nuclear explosion. In the film the scientists at CERN have created three canisters of antimatter, that are kept suspended (and therefore not in contact with any matter) by a powerful electro-magnetic force. One of these canisters is stolen and the race is on to recover it before the battery runs out, allowing the antimatter to come into contact with the matter of the container, creating a blast large enough to destroy Vatican City. The estimated time of the battery running out is, of course, midnight.
Vittoria Vetra, one of the scientists involved in the production of antimatter, helps Langdon in trying to track down the canister, in the hopes that she can recharge the battery before it's too late. Vetra is played by Ayelet Zurer.
He has written a book on the Illuminati.. After the death of the Pope, the Conclave of Cardinals must elect a new Pope. Four cardinals have been identified as the preferiti, or the preferred candidates. These cardinals have been kidnapped and a note has been received from the Illuminati, threatening the public execution of these cardinals, one each hour, beginning at 8:00 p.m. The Illuminati also reveal, by live digital feed, that they are in possession of the antimatter, which is hidden somewhere in the Vatican. Because Langdon has written a book on the Illuminati, his expertise is sought in helping to understand the group. At once point Langdon asks the police why he had been invited to the Vatican, and then answers his own question, when he realizes that it is because of his book making him an expert.
Tom Hanks reprises the role of Robert Langdon.
the Swiss Guard. The Swiss Guard is made up of Swiss soldiers. The detachment that takes responsibility for the personal safety of the Pope have done so since the 15th century, first serving Pope Sixtus IV. They are historically known as a dedicated group, a fact which is emphasized by their Commander in the movie (played by Stellan Skarsgard), who points out that the position is more of a calling than just a job. They often dress in ceremonial costumes and sometimes, at least in the film, butt heads with the Vatican Police, a separate force operating within Vatican City.
a believed to be defunct group of Catholics who embraced science over the church. Langdon describes the Illuminati as a group of Catholics who chose science over the teachings of the Church, whenever the two diverged. The Church saw them as a threat and, in 1668, declared war on them by branding them with the sign of a cross and killing them, in an event known as la purga. Instead of eliminating the group, this only radicalized them and drove them underground.
The reappearance of the Illuminati, plus the threat to the four preferiti, and to the Vatican itself, is interpreted as a resurrection of this group, seeking revenge for the way they were murdered.
They are branded.. Langdon equates the kidnapping of four cardinals as being symbolic of the four pillars of science that are embraced by the Illuminati. These four pillars are earth, air, fire and water. The first cardinal is branded with the word for earth on his chest, before being suffocated by having his mouth filled with dirt. The second cardinal is found clinging to life, with the word for air branded on his chest. His lung is punctured and he dies. The third cardinal is found above a burning pyre, with the word for fire branded on his chest. Attempts to rescue him are hampered by the killer opening fire on the rescuers, and he is consumed by the fire. The fourth cardinal has the word for water branded onto his chest and he is dumped into a fountain, bound to a cart of some sort. With the help of a stranger, Langdon is able to save this man before he drowns.
| What clues, or markers does Langdon follow along the Path of Illumination, to the churches where the cardinals are murdered? | Angels and Demons
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sculptures of angels. Finally being given access to the archives, Langdon finds clues to following the Path of Illumination, in a book written by Galileo Galilei. Focusing on the line "Let angels guide you on your lofty quest", he follows the route indicated by the directions in which the angels appear to be pointing (by one method or another), consulting a map to find which churches lie along the indicated path. The sculptures are all by Bernini and take different forms, from three dimensional statues, to a flat stone in the ground, carved with an angelic face that appears to be blowing.
The air supply to the archives is shut off.. Early in the movie we learn that, in order to preserve the aging books and documents, the oxygen level is kept low in the archives. The air is pumped into the sealed rooms. Langdon is back in the archives, seeking more clues, when the power supply is cut off, eliminating the source of oxygen. The guard with him, a smoker, passes out first, leaving Langdon alone to try to break out. Feeling dizzy and weak, he tips over a large metal bookcase, hoping that it will crack the glass, but it falls too short to do much damage. He eventually passes out while leaning against the fallen case which is, in turn, leaning on the glass. The glass eventually does shatter, seconds before the power is restored. The police had been systematically cutting off power to sections of the Vatican, in the hopes of determining where the canister is hidden. The fact that the power is cut off when Langdon is down there though, is highly suspect, and one wonders if it is indeed an attempt on his life.
No. Because of his heroic efforts, in saving the Vatican from the explosion caused by the antimatter (by flying it high in the air and then parachuting out), many of the cardinals in the conclave want to have the Carmerlengo declared the new pope. In fact when he is summoned to appear before them, it is obvious that he thinks this is what is going to happen. However Langdon and Vittoria have discovered the recordings made of the confrontation between the Carmerlengo and the head of the Swiss Guard, in which his guilt is revealed (and in which it can be seen that he brands himself). Instead of being captured by the Swiss Guard, he commits suicide by setting himself on fire.
Cardinal Baggia, the only one of the four preferiti to live (because Langdon saves him from drowning) is elected the as Pope Luke I.
Cardinal Baggia is played by Marc Fiorini.
an old and important book. Prior to the Illuminati threat, Langdon had been unsuccessfully petitioning the Vatican for permission to access the archives, specifically to study Galileo Galilei's "Diagramma della Veritas", to complete his second book on the Illuminati. It is in this book that he discovers the clues to the Path of Illumination (and from this ancient book that Vittoria rips a page). In gratitude for what Langdon has done, both for the Vatican and in saving his life, the Pope makes a gift of the book to Langdon, with a request that Langdon give it back to the Church in his will.
| Vittoria and her colleagues were researching at CERN, Geneva. They produced a small sample of antimatter, which was stored securely in a canister. How did the intruder gain access into the room that housed the canister? | Angels and Demons
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He killed a scientist and cut out his eyeball.. The room that housed the canister was equipped with the high-tech retina scan machine. Vittoria was putting her chin on the machine to get her eye scan when she noticed that the machine was smeared with blood. Upon entering the room, she was terrified to notice that there was an eyeball lying on the floor. The intruder killed one of the scientists before cutting out the poor scientist's eyeball. The cold blooded killer then used this eyeball to gain access into the room.
| Langdon was a Professor of Religious Symbology at Harvard University. A Vatican police official came to Harvard. He showed Langdon a piece of paper with an ambigrammatic word printed on it. What was the word? | Angels and Demons
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Illuminati. While Langdon was swimming in a swimming pool, he was approached by a man. The man identified himself as a Vatican police official. He explained his intention and later showed Langdon a piece of paper with the ambigrammatic word, "illuminati" printed on it.
The police official knew that Langdon was an expert in that field because he had spent many years studying that secretive ancient brotherhood. Langdon believed that Illuminati had long disappeared, but when he saw that piece of paper, he thought that the brotherhood had resurfaced.
| Langdon believed that the clue pointing to the locations of the four altars of science was hidden in "Diagramma", a book written by Galileo. What is the missing word in the poem that was found in this book? "From Santi's earthly tomb with demon’s hole, 'cross Rome the mystic elements unfold. The path of light is laid, the sacred test, let _____ guide you on your lofty quest." | Angels and Demons
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Angels. Langdon told Vetra that he needed to visit the Secret Vatican Archive because the only copy of "Diagramma" that remained in the world now was housed in that library. Inspector Olivetti took Langdon and Vetra there. Inside the archive, they found the book they were looking for.
They found the poem on page five of the book. While the book was written in Latin, the poem was written entirely in English. Langdon wanted to copy down the poem onto a piece of paper, because he knew that nobody was allowed to take the precious ancient book out of the archive. Nonetheless, Vetra said they did not have the time so she just tore the page out of the book, leaving Langdon speechless.
| Langdon recalled back the first line of the poem, "from Santi's earthly tomb with demon’s hole". He told Vetra that Santi was the last name of the famous sculptor, Raphael. Langdon then deduced the place where the first killing would take place. Where was it? | Angels and Demons
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The Pantheon. Langdon knew well that Raphael Santi's tomb was located in the Pantheon. He elaborated further that the demon’s hole referred to the oculus or the circular opening at the roof of the Pantheon building.
He and Vetra arrived at the Pantheon a few minutes before 8 p.m. They went into the building and hoped they could stop the first killing. Vetra later realized that they had come to the wrong place when she read the information on the plaque next to Raphael's tomb. According to the plaque, the Pantheon was not the original burial site of Raphael's body.
Langdon then came to realize that the Santi's earthly tomb in the poem actually referred to a tomb which was designed by Raphael. The actual killing place of the first Cardinal was in a chapel at Santa Maria del Popolo.
| Langdon believed that the third killing of the night would take place in a chapel that housed a sculpture designed by Bernini and had something to do with fire. With the help from Chartrand, he found a reference to a Bernini's sculpture. Which sculpture had he identified? | Angels and Demons
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Ecstasy of St. Theresa. Langdon visited the Secret Vatican Archive for a second time that night to look up more information about Bernini's sculptures. The book was written in Latin so he needed Chartrand to translate it for him. Langdon was positive that the Ecstasy of St. Theresa was the sculpture he was looking for, when he heard the words, "angel's fiery spear", from Chartrand.
| The cold blooded assassin who kidnapped the four Cardinals executed his flawless plan. He killed them one by one every hour starting at 8p.m. Did all four Cardinals die? | Angels and Demons
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No. The first Cardinal was found dead in a chapel at Santa Maria del Popolo. It was an eerie sight for Langdon and the police when they saw that the Cardinal’s flesh was eaten up by a rat. His chest was branded with the ambigrammtic word, "earth".
The second killing of the night took place at St. Peter's Square. A girl who was playing with her doll first noticed this and she screamed in terror. Vetra tried to save the Cardinal by performing CPR but it was impossible for her to do so because the man’s lungs were punctured. The ambigrammtic word, "air" was branded on the Cardinal’s chest.
The third Cardinal was murdered in Santa Maria della Vittoria. He was burnt alive in the chapel. His chest was branded with the ambigrammtic word, "fire".
The assassin dropped off the fourth Cardinal into the fountain outside the Church of St Agnes in Agony. Langdon saw this from afar and he rushed there to save the poor man. The old man was tied with weights so Langdon could not get him out of the fountain easily. Langdon called for help. A few people nearby helped pull the Cardinal out from the fountain. The ambigrammatic word, "water" was seen branded on his chest.
| The assassin executed his plan well. He checked on his laptop about the wire transfer information. After making sure that he had received all the money promised, he escaped. What was his fate? | Angels and Demons
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He died in a car explosion.. The assassin kidnapped the four Cardinals and locked them up in cells in the Castle of Angels. After confirming that he had got the money from the final wire transfer, he escaped. He got into a car, however, when he turned on the engine, the car exploded, killing him.
| Camerlengo Patrick, Langdon and Vetra headed to the St. Peter's Tomb and they found the canister containing the antimatter. The time was running out. What eventually happened to the canister? | Angels and Demons
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It was brought up high into the sky in a helicopter flown by Camerlengo Patrick, then exploded.. Camerlengo Patrick learned how to fly helicopters while he was in the army. After locating the antimatter, he brought the canister with him onto a helicopter. He then flew the helicopter high into the sky before setting the helicopter on auto-pilot mode and jumping out of the helicopter in a parachute.
The time ran out and the canister exploded. The effect of the explosion would be catastrophic, had it exploded on the ground. Camerlengo Patrick landed and he was brought to a hospital nearby.
| After a night of chasing and actions, Langdon saved the Vatican City. The newly elected Pope gave Langdon a book as a token of appreciation. Which book was it? | Angels and Demons
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Diagramma. Langdon was very interested in the ancient brotherhood Illuminati and he had studied the secretive society for many years. He needed "Diagramma", a book written by Galileo, for more information to complete his work but every time he wrote to the Vatican, his request was turned down.
Langdon saved the Vatican City from being blown up by the highly explosive antimatter. He was extremely happy that the newly elected Pope was going to lend him "Diagramma" to complete his work.
| Vetra made a shocking discovery when she learned that the late Pope did not die of stroke. Instead, he was poisoned. Also, four Cardinals were kidnapped during the papal election. Who was the mastermind behind all these evil plans? | Angels and Demons
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Camerlengo Patrick McKenna. Camerlengo Patrick McKenna told Vetra and Langdon that the late Pope had thrombophlebitis and he needed heparin for his medication. Vetra knew that if a person was overdosed with heparin, the tongue of the dead body would appear black in color. Camerlengo Patrick brought Vetra to perform the first ever papal autopsy. Vetra learned that the late Pope was indeed poisoned, but little did she know that it was Camerlengo Patrick who poisoned his own father.
Commander Richter read the journal written by the dead scientist who was murdered in the beginning of the movie. He soon realized that Camerlengo Patrick was the mastermind behind all this madness. Apparently, Camerlengo Patrick did not think that religion should go together with science but the late Pope thought otherwise. Commander Richter met Camerlengo Patrick in private and asked him to confess in front of all the Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel.
Camerlengo Patrick then surprised Commander Richter by branding himself on his chest. Camerlengo Patrick screamed in pain and the door burst open. The innocent Commander Richter was seen pointing a gun at Camerlengo Patrick. He was immediately shot dead by the police.
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