Plot Changes:
* The Vatican's Role: In the book, the Vatican plays a more active and central role in the investigation, with the Pope himself being a key figure. In the movie, the Vatican's involvement is significantly reduced.
* The Ending: The novel's ending is more ambiguous and leaves the reader to interpret the true nature of the events. The movie's ending is more definitive and straightforward.
* The Illumination: In the book, the Illuminati's plan involves using the four elements to destroy the Vatican. In the movie, they instead seek to steal and use the antimatter from CERN for their own nefarious purposes.
Character Development:
* Robert Langdon: The book's Langdon is portrayed as more introspective and philosophical. The movie's Langdon is more action-oriented and less contemplative.
* Victoria Vetra: The movie's Victoria is a much more aggressive character, engaging in hand-to-hand combat and wielding weapons. In the book, she is more passive and relies on her scientific expertise.
* The Camerlengo: The movie portrays the Camerlengo as more sympathetic and conflicted than the book's depiction.
Themes:
* The movie focuses more on the action and suspense elements of the story, while the book explores deeper themes of faith, science, and the conflict between them.
* The book's central message is about the power of symbolism and the importance of interpreting the world around us. The movie's message is more about the fight between good and evil.
Other Differences:
* The movie's setting is more visually spectacular and dramatic, with a more global scope than the book.
* The movie introduces new characters and plot elements not present in the novel, such as the character of Silas and the focus on the antimatter weapon.
Overall, the movie "Angels & Demons" simplifies and streamlines the story while maintaining its core elements of suspense, action, and intrigue. However, it sacrifices some of the book's philosophical depth and complexity in favor of a more accessible and entertaining narrative.