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6 months ago 23rd May 08:15
But while the public loved 'Angels and Demons', the Catholic Church was hesitant from the start, banning director Ron Howard from filming in Vatican City before he'd even asked permission.
A spokesman for the Pope said: "Usually we read the script but in this case it wasn't necessary. Just the name Dan Brown was enough.
"'Angels and Demons' peddles a type of fantasy that damages our common religious beliefs, just like 'The Da Vinci Code' did."
Howard, however, was quick to find a way around bans, sending as many as 20 crew members into the Sistine Chapel posing as tourists with cameras.
"We just weren't allowed anywhere near any holy buildings. They were really upset by 'The Da Vinci Code' and this film was completely barred," he explained. "Officially, we didn't shoot in The Vatican. Not officially - but let me just say that cameras can be made really small."
As expected, Catholics worldwide were outraged by 'Angels and Demons' especially when Howard chose to hold the world premiere in Rome.
Leading the fight was the US Catholic League, which branding the movie "anti-Catholic propaganda".
The group's leader William Donohue even admitted to sending plain-clothes priests to spy on filming.
Speaking on American television, he said: "We know from a Canadian priest who hung out with Howard's crew last summer in Rome, dressed in civilian clothes, just how much they hate Catholicism."
Ron Howard furiously denied claims of discrimination, insisting the film was an exciting thriller, and nothing more.
He said: "Let me be clear: neither I nor 'Angels and Demons' are anti-Catholic. And let me be a little controversial: I believe Catholics will enjoy the movie for what it is: an exciting mystery."
Tom Hanks agrees: "If people just go see this movie they will see there's nothing sacrilegious about it at all. Yes, we had a few things go on that are completely fictionalised, but there's no reason to have a big hurly-burly over what is essentially a whodunit murder-mystery.
"There's no major theological discussion that goes on, other than science versus faith and there's no winner in that argument. I just solve the murder."
But while Catholics in the US were embroiled in a vicious war of words, The Vatican's official newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, declared the movie inaccurate, but "harmless".
A reviewer wrote: "The film is more than two hours of harmless entertainment, which hardly affects the genius and mystery of Christianity. It's like a videogame that first of all sparks curiosity and is also, maybe, a bit of fun."
The story went on to praise the film's reconstruction of iconic monuments like St Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, branding them "magnificent".
The Pope's press secretary Father Federico Lombardi also made light of the film, joking: "I'll comment only if the film production buys 1,000, 10-year subscriptions to our official newspaper."
Holy Cross University Professor Father John Wauck said the church had avoided criticism of the film to avoid a "Da Vinci situation".
He explained: "I think the church's attitude has been, from the beginning, very hands-off. When they condemned 'The Da Vinci Code', it only served to publicise the movie, and make more people go and see it.
"This time, they don't want to get involved. They're also very different films from a theological viewpoint. In 'The Da Vinci Code', there were serious issues, such as who Jesus Christ was and the very nature of the church.
"None of those things is mentioned in 'Angels and Demons'. It's just an entertaining thriller'.
While Catholics were unsure about the film's religious messages, others were equally concerned about seeing Hanks on the big screen in a pair of tight-fitting swimming trunks.
Hanks joked: "I'm pretty sure it's legal for a 52-year-old to wear Speedos in a film isn't it? It's only a short scene and once I knew my character had to swim in this movie, I was determined to do it myself.
"We got this guy in who used to work on 'Baywatch' and he completely retrained me so I could do all those backflips and stuff. I have to say, I'm very proud of my Speedo moment in the movie. I've still got it, I think."
But even though he was happy with the way his body looked, Hanks found it hard to keep up with the film's demanding stunts.
He said: "It was a tough one to shoot. Ron had me cold and miserable and air sick: 'Do it again, back in the water, stop! You're no good. We're not leaving until you get this.' I would love to be able to turn the tables."
Hanks also suspects his advancing age had something to do with the lack of sex scenes in the film.
"There was no smooching at all. It's my loss but I think it made it much easier for Ayelet, not having to kiss me," he explained. "Truth is, we really didn't have time to make out or go to bed when Cardinals are being killed on the hour. We tried to work it into the screenplay over and over again.
"We were like, 'Isn't there a bigger car with a bigger backseat?' But we were stuck with an Alfa Romeo so we didn't have an opportunity to grab some smooching on the way to the Pantheon or the Piazza Del Poppolo."
'Angels and Demons' is in cinemas across the UK.
By Kerry Coleman
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