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MantzRantz: When In Rome...
I'll never forget when I was asked the question..."Mantz, did you read 'Angels & Demons?'"
Little did I realize where this was leading: to Rome, where the junket for the film version of "A&D" was going to take place. Makes perfect sense, since most of it was filmed there. But since I was never there before, I was both excited and nervous about the prospect of traveling halfway around there world to a country where they literally didn't speak my language.
Turns out that getting there was the hardest part. Catch a flight to
Chicago, then run down three gates to catch my connection to Rome (with
just 20 minutes to spare -- fun!). Between the length of both flights
and the time change, I was gonna hit some serious jet lag. And as for
sleeping on the plane...well, fuggedaboudit.
By the time I landed, grabbed my bags and got to my hotel -- the Boscolo
Exedra in the heart of Rome -- I was way too excited to to take a nap (I
mean, really?). I also had just a couple hours to check in, get my
computer up and running and, of course, see the movie.
As for the movie, well, I can't write an official review just yet, but I
can say this: "A&D" is definitely a much better film than its talky
predecessor, 2006's "The Da Vinci Code." Where that film was loaded with
exposition as Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou literally explained everything
as it was happening, "A&D" -- a prequel book, but a sequel film -- has a
lot more action. Since the plot involves a race against time to save
the Vatican, it is intense and very suspensful. And Tom Hanks has a much
better haircut this time around.
Interviews with Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor and director Ron Howard won't
take place until later today and tomorrow, so I thought I'd get my first
real look at Rome the best (and fastest) way I knew how -- by going for
a run.
And, wow, what a run it was. In just 9 miles, I covered the Piazza
della Repubblican, the Villa Medici and the Piazza del Popolo. Then I
ran down the Via del Corso shopping area to the Coliseum. Fun dodging
all those people, let me tell ya.
And here's the interesting part. I always listen to music when I run,
and since I was still pretty out of it when I work up this morning, I
figured I'd listen to the rousing soundtrack to "The Empire Strikes Back"
to get me going. After all, when better to serve my running tour
through the Empire of Rome than with the theme from the Empire in a
galaxy far, far away?
And just when I got to the Coliseum, what started playing? The Imperial
March. Couldn't have timed it any better, but as the saying goes, "When
in Rome..."
can say this: "A&D" is definitely a much better film than its talky
predecessor, 2006's "The Da Vinci Code." Where that film was loaded with
exposition as Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou literally explained everything
as it was happening, "A&D" -- a prequel book, but a sequel film -- has a
lot more action. Since the plot involves a race against time to save
the Vatican, it is intense and very suspensful. And Tom Hanks has a much
better haircut this time around.
Interviews with Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor and director Ron Howard won't
take place until later today and tomorrow, so I thought I'd get my first
real look at Rome the best (and fastest) way I knew how -- by going for
a run.
And, wow, what a run it was. In just 9 miles, I covered the Piazza
della Repubblican, the Villa Medici and the Piazza del Popolo. Then I
ran down the Via del Corso shopping area to the Coliseum. Fun dodging
all those people, let me tell ya.
And here's the interesting part. I always listen to music when I run,
and since I was still pretty out of it when I work up this morning, I
figured I'd listen to the rousing soundtrack to "The Empire Strikes Back"
to get me going. After all, when better to serve my running tour
through the Empire of Rome than with the theme from the Empire in a
galaxy far, far away?
And just when I got to the Coliseum, what started playing? The Imperial
March. Couldn't have timed it any better, but as the saying goes, "When
in Rome..."
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